And this morning as we look at fellowship and as we think about small groups and really the purpose for why we have a small group ministry and the purpose of fellowship and what does fellowship do for us as a people?
I want to begin to answer the question for us this morning. The question is, what's the big deal about fellowship? I mean, who cares about fellowship anyway? Why is it really important?
And so this morning, that's the question I want to try to answer is, what is the big deal about fellowship?
One writer has put it this way. He says, when we depend upon organizations, we get what organizations can do.
When we depend upon education, we get what education can do.
When we depend upon man, we get what man can do.
But when we depend upon prayer, we get what God can do.
I think a correlation can be made to fellowship.
When we depend upon superficiality, we get what superficiality brings.
But when we nurture and develop the kind of strategy for biblical fellowship that God desires for His people, we'll get what God has designed fellowship to nurture.
We'll get what God has designed fellowship to accomplish.
And this morning, as we look into the Word, I want to help us get just a new look at what fellowship does.
And I want us to see that fellowship isn't just another tangential program or tangential ministry of the church.
That fellowship is something that we do because it is the heart and soul of who we are as a church.
It is the heart and soul of who God has made us to be.
And anything good that will happen as a result of the ministry here, we'll find as a basis, we'll find as a starting point, true biblical fellowship.
Now, certainly we understand that fellowship has to begin with a relationship with God.
The Apostle John, we've been looking through the gospel of John, but John, in one of his letters to the church of Ephesus, writes this in 1 John 1.
He says,
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and have touched with our hands concerning the word of life.
And we all know that he's talking about Jesus there.
What does that relationship with Jesus do?
He says,
That which we have seen and heard we have proclaimed to you.
So that you may have fellowship with us.
And indeed, our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
God has placed us into relationship.
The initial and primary supreme relationship that we enjoy is a relationship with God.
And because of that common relationship that those who are in Christ can experience, it means that we can have relationship with one another.
It means we must have relationship with each other because of the primary relationship we have with God the Father.
What does that relationship look like?
How did that relationship begin?
Many of you may be able to recount just the beginnings of that spiritual legacy that God created in your life.
Now, we can chart our own family ancestry, but we can also begin to chart a little bit of our spiritual legacy.
What is that spiritual family tree that God has given to us?
And how did that all come about?
I had a chance in Sunday school class just to hear some testimonies of people who came to faith in Christ.
It was remarkable to hear and refreshing for me to hear how God has worked in specific lives of individuals to bring them to Christ.
What is your own experience?
My guess is that as we were to take an inventory here in our own fellowship, we would find a diversity of experiences and how God brought us to saving faith in Him.
Maybe through a parent or a grandparent.
Maybe through a Sunday school teacher who was instrumental in your life.
Maybe through an Awana leader.
Or maybe a neighbor who was living down the street.
Or maybe a sermon that you heard one Sunday morning.
Or an evangelist that came to your house.
Maybe it was something that you read.
An article.
Or something online.
Perhaps it was a sermon or a lesson you heard even over the internet.
Or something you watched on the TV.
But through the mouthpiece of individuals or through the pen of a person,
God brought the word to you.
Paul says in Romans chapter 10, he says,
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
God has chosen through the instrumentation of individuals for us to hear the message of the gospel.
And as we begin to understand and appreciate how God brought us to saving faith,
we understand that God used an individual, we'll call them maybe a spiritual mom or dad,
to help lead you into a saving relationship with Jesus.
A fellowship that you may have had with them was in your introduction of fellowship with God the Father.
A fellowship that was nurtured through other individuals,
through a church setting, through a small group, through a Bible study,
maybe even through some people in a workplace.
But God used relationships in your life not only to initiate the gospel,
initiate a relationship with him,
but also to advance his objective in your life in helping you to grow spiritually,
in helping you to have a spiritual life.
One person has said that the depth of our personal relationship with God
determines the degree of fellowship possible with each other.
Fellowship is important.
And this morning I want to answer this question,
what is the big deal about fellowship?
fellowship.
Now maybe you're looking at your notes this morning and you see four pages
and you're wondering in the next 30 minutes
how in the world we're going to get through all of this material.
And I just want to rest assured that my intention of putting it here
is not that we're going to cover it all,
it's that you can take it home and I don't have to talk about it, okay?
So my desire is not only to initiate this process of understanding,
but give you the resources that you need to be able to take this home,
to be able to look at the scriptures,
and to be encouraged throughout the week
in what God has said from his word about this very important subject,
the subject about fellowship.
Now as God has used individuals in your life to lead you to the gospel,
God has done the same for the individuals who were your spiritual mom or dad.
And on and on and on through history,
various situations and circumstances and interactions with individuals
will eventually lead us back to where it all began.
Back to what we're going to look at this morning.
This Christian movement,
the new church era that began in Acts chapter 1 and 2,
where the gospel rocketed out of Jerusalem
and affected Judea and Samaria
and the uttermost parts of the world.
It all began with this small band of 11 men
that we call disciples.
And this small group of individuals,
120 people who in chapter 1 of Acts
are praying together and encouraging one another.
And the power of God falls on that group of individuals.
And there is electricity in the air,
and there is conversion,
and there is the work of the Spirit
in working in the hearts of individuals
to lead them to faith in Jesus Christ.
Our spiritual legacy can be traced back
to that movement of individuals
that God used instrumentally
to propel the gospel out of Jerusalem
into the uttermost parts of the earth.
But in order to understand how that all began,
in order for us to recognize
the significance of fellowship,
and how does that play into our discussion today,
I want to encourage us to open our Bibles
to Mark chapter 3.
We're going to look at how this fellowship,
discipleship movement began.
We're going to see how things broke loose in Jerusalem,
and then how eventually it erupted in Antioch
some 15 to 20 years later.
And how has each subsequent generation
benefited from the strategy that Jesus laid down
early on in his ministry with the disciples,
disciples,
and then was picked up and carried along,
and to this point,
we still participate in the benefits
of this strategy that we're going to look at this morning.
Now, as you can tell,
this is just going to be a flyby.
Okay?
My desire this morning is not to dig in and to dig deep.
We don't have time for that,
but I just want to provide some exposure.
I want to give us an opportunity
to look into the Scripture
to see three key aspects of fellowship
from Mark chapter 3,
and then the continuing legacy
that fellowship brings through the Gospel of Acts,
and we're going to have to hit it rapid fire,
but I'm sure you can stick along with us,
and I hope this will be a blessing to you.
So, what is the big deal about fellowship?
Well, first of all, from Mark chapter 3,
13 to 15,
fellowship is the starting point of discipleship.
Fellowship is the starting point for discipleship.
Let me read these verses for us,
and then we'll dig in a little bit.
It says,
And he went up, of course,
that's speaking of Jesus,
on the mountain,
and called to him those whom he desired.
And they came to him,
and he appointed twelve,
whom he also named apostles,
so that they might be with him,
and he might send them out to preach,
and to have authority to cast out demons.
Now, if I were to ask you the question,
why did Jesus call the apostles?
What was the main objective?
How would we tend to answer that question?
Well, if you're anything like me,
your answer would be,
well, Jesus called the apostles to himself,
so they could make disciples of the world.
And certainly, that is true.
But we have to back up a little bit,
and we have to see
that the starting point of discipleship
is something else.
What do you see there in verse 14?
How does it all begin?
What is the first strategy of Jesus
from this text?
What does it say?
That they might do what?
Be with him.
Have you ever seen that before?
This was brought to my attention
a couple of years ago,
and I'm like,
how did I miss that?
How did I miss something
as important as that?
Discipleship must begin
in fellowshipping relationships.
Discipleship begins
as we are involved in community.
Fellowship begins
as we are coming to understand
and to know
and to love Jesus Christ.
Fellowship begins
as that relationship with him
is nurtured and developed in us
so that then we can move
outward
and reach the world.
Now, believe it or not,
here in Mark chapter 3,
a lot has taken place already
in the ministry of Jesus.
He's already been baptized.
He's already gone into the wilderness
and been tempted.
The initial call to Peter
and Andrew
and James and John
have already happened,
and they've been following him
for months.
There's been an initial call
to Matthew
and an initial call
to Nathaniel
and to Philip,
so many of his disciples
had already been following him.
And up to this point,
there was this massive crowd
that was following Jesus
wherever he went.
Not to mention the fact
there was already
significant opposition
in Jesus' ministry.
The scribes
and the Pharisees
all the way down
in Jerusalem,
all the way up
to the highest regions
of Galilee,
were beginning to congregate
and to evaluate
the ministry of Jesus.
What will he say next?
Who is this teacher
and preacher
who has taken Galilee
by storm?
Some commentators
have suggested
that Jesus may have actually
already finished
his first year of ministry
before this event
actually took place.
And not that the disciples
weren't already following him
and already engaged
in the ministry,
but now was a time
for something definitive
to happen.
Now was a time
for Jesus
to set apart
a group of individuals
who would be selected
to do something important,
something significant.
Christ initiates
this discipleship movement
through the means
of fellowship.
Jesus is interested
in setting apart
this group of individuals
to have exclusive access
to him,
to have exclusive privilege
and power,
to have exclusive mission
of being the mouthpiece
of Christ
in the word of God
and helping to lay
the foundation
for the church.
But it would happen
through the context
of this fellowship
with Jesus.
This strategy
that Christ used
would help to develop
these men
to carry on
this monumental vision
that he had
for reaching the world
for himself.
Interestingly,
this was so important
to Christ.
We find from Luke's account
that Jesus went
to the mountain
to pray
and all night
he continued
in prayer
to God.
And then when day came
he called his disciples
and chose from them
twelve
whom he named apostles.
Jesus was interested
in making sure
that the right men
were selected
for this fellowshipping
relationship with him
so they could
then be turned loose
to accomplish
the objectives
that he had
for the world.
We call this
discipling process,
we refer to this
as partnership.
The disciples
were in true
community
with Jesus.
They were in
relationship
with him.
Last year
when we had
this startup
for small groups
Pastor Knoyer
used this statement
he says
fellowship
is essential
for spiritual
life
and growth.
Another commentator
says that God
has chosen fellowship
to be the primary
channel of life
in his body.
If we want
big things
to happen
at Maranatha
if we want
big things
to happen
in Grove City
in Hilliard
in Columbus
in whatever
town
God has
placed you
it will happen
as you are
grounding yourself
in a community
of individuals
and fellowshipping
with them.
Now that raises
another question.
What is
biblical
fellowship?
What does it
mean?
And the reason
why we need
to go there
is because
society
and the world
has hijacked
this term.
So it's important
for us to
understand
what does
the Bible
mean when
it talks
about fellowship.
When we hear
the term
fellowship
we often
think of
food
and fun.
We think
of activities.
We think
of things
that stimulate
conversation.
We think
of things
that help
to initiate
some sort
of interaction
with one another
and relationship.
And we kind
of hope
that is
we're together
enough
that fellowship
will just
happen.
But fellowship
in the scripture
goes much
deeper.
Fellowship
in the scripture
involves things
that go
much,
much deeper
than just
the superficial
aspects of
what we would
call community
or fun
or relationship.
When the Bible
talks about fellowship
it has something
deeper in view.
It has unity
in view.
It has
partnership.
in view.
It has
participation
in one's
lives
in view.
Commitment
to one another.
Accountability.
Sharpening.
Sharing.
Edification.
And there
are 19 times
throughout
the New Testament
where the Bible
uses this word
koinonia
which is the word
fellowship.
And I've put
them here
in your
insert
for your
own edification.
But all 19
verses are listed
there and
my
this is not
authoritative
but just
my shot
at what
each verse
does and
how to
categorize
what fellowship
accomplishes.
You'll see here
that there are
intimate relationships
that happen
among believers.
You'll see that
there are
financial contributions
that are
taking place
and caring
for one another.
You'll see that
it describes
the intimate
relationship
we have with God
that partnering
relationship
union we have
with the Godhead.
And because of
that partnership
there must be
purity and holiness
and righteousness
in our life.
A testimony
for Christ
in our world.
And then a
joining together
in ministry.
It is our
fellowship
that leads
to
service.
Fellowship
isn't just
about
having good
relationships
with individuals.
if fellowship
ends there
then fellowship
that is taking
place in your life
is not
biblical fellowship.
Fellowship
that just has
community
in view
and interactions
in view
and conversations
in view
and sharing
common interests
in view
is a delinquent
form of fellowship.
It is not
as deep
as God
would have
it to go.
Not that it
doesn't include
those things
but it's got
to go deeper.
There's got
to be more.
There is a goal
in mind
to fellowship
and that takes
us to our
next point.
Fellowship
is a platform
for service
and sending.
Fellowship
is a platform
for service
and sending.
Let me
again read
verse 14
of chapter 3.
Mark 3
14.
Here's what it says.
And he appointed
the twelve
so that they
might be with him
and he might
send them
out to preach.
What is the goal
of fellowship?
Where does
fellowship
lead us?
Where does it
take us?
How do we know
that true
biblical fellowship
is happening?
because it says
that they might
be with him
and he might
send them
where?
Out
to preach.
The focus
of biblical
fellowship
is outward.
It's others.
the goal
of biblical
fellowship
is outside
of you.
Now that is
just counterintuitive
wouldn't you think?
That's just not
what we think of
when we think
of fellowship.
We think of
strengthening
the group.
We think of
nurturing one another
and meeting needs
and fixing
problems
and certainly
that is part
of what fellowship
accomplishes.
But fellowship
is strengthening
of self
so there can be
a going out
and strengthening
of others.
There is this
growing
concentric
circles
of community
that continues
to draw more
and more people
into the mix
as you are
enjoying
relationship
with God
and seeing
the benefits
of relationship
with others
that you will
understand
that everywhere
God has placed
you there will
be a desire
to draw more
and more people
into that community.
Understanding
that that community
only happens
through the context
of the gospel.
It only happens
through relationship
with Christ.
And so in your
workplace
there is this
enthusiasm
and excitement
for the fellowship
that you have
with God
that seeks
to draw others
in and to
include them
in to the joy
and the enthusiasm
that you are
experiencing
for yourself.
You see
the purpose
of strengthening
life
is for the purpose
of strengthening
others.
Pouring into
one's life
leads to
pouring out.
Sowing
leads to
reaping.
Receiving
leads to
giving.
Building up
leads to
building out.
And that's what
fellowship does.
Fellowship is
intended not to
have this community
that is so
introspective
that it only
considers the
needs of one
another.
But it is
the kind
of community
that looks
for ways
to share
the joy
to the people
around you.
So if that's
not happening
in your life
then I would
challenge you
to think
is biblical
fellowship
really taking
place
for you?
After all
they were
called apostles.
Apostles
were sent
ones
we
are sent
to speak
his words.
We
are sent
to show
his works.
God
shows up
in our
life
through
words
and actions
through
fellowship
in communities.
And our
union with
Christ
shapes
our
relationships
with others.
I like
how John
Piper
puts it.
He says
you cannot
commend
what you
do not
cherish.
I'll say
that one
more time.
You cannot
commend
what you
do not
cherish.
You're not
going to
talk about
Jesus
if he's
not the
sweetest
thing
that has
ever
happened
in your
life.
But as
he becomes
supreme
and ultimate
for you
as you
begin to
cherish
him
you cannot
help
but commend
him to
others.
And that's
what fellowship
is intended
to do.
It's to
nurture
that loving
relationship
with God.
Nurture
the loving
relationships
we have
with others
so that we
have something
to talk
about in
our world.
It will
be attractive
to those
in our
communities
in our
workplace
wherever
God may
place us
as they
see the
sweetness
of Jesus
and the
sweetness
of relationship
that you're
enjoying
with God's
people.
So the
focus of
biblical
fellowship
is others
then how
is that
expressed?
How do
we get to
the business
of showing
that to
other people?
Well the
expression
this is the
next point
the expression
of biblical
fellowship
is through
one another
commands.
And I put
them here
in your
notes as
just kind
of a
sampling
of all
of the
one another
commands
that God
gives to
us as
a church.
All those
things that
God tells
us to do
to express
that
fellowshipping
relationship
that we have
with one
another.
There are
some 60
one another
commands
throughout the
New Testament.
Some are
repeated but
they show up
in so many
different ways.
And like I
said this is
just a sampling
of what you
can expect.
Things like
loving one
another,
praying for
one another,
bearing one
another's
burdens,
singing to
one another,
comforting one
another,
confessing your
faults to
one another,
being kindly
affectionate to
one another,
preferring one
another,
stirring one
another up to
love and good
deeds.
All of the
things that we
can only do
when we are
in community.
You cannot
obey God's
commands unless
you are with
God's people.
You cannot
carry out
the things that
God has called
you to do.
You cannot
grow in your
Christian life
unless you are
expressing the
wonder of these
one another
commands that
God has set
up, not only
in giving but
also in
receiving the
beauty of what
fellowship is
designed to do.
The significance
of fellowship in
terms of being a
platform for
service and for
sending.
So what is the
big deal about
fellowship?
discipleship?
Well, it's the
starting point for
discipleship.
It's the platform
for service and
sending.
And thirdly, it is
the channel of
divine strength.
The channel of
divine strength.
Notice again,
coming back to our
text in chapter 3
of Mark, it says,
He appointed the
twelve, whom He also
named apostles, so
they might be with
Him and He might
send them out to
preach and have
authority to cast
out demons.
This word for
authority is the
word, the Greek
word exousia.
It's the word for
jurisdiction or
control or authority
to rule.
It's the word for
supernatural power or
the right to judge.
It's the same word
that we find in
Matthew 28, 19 or
18 through 20 where
Jesus says, all
authority in heaven
and on earth has
been given to me,
so go and make
disciples.
All authority has
been given to
Christ.
Christ has been
given to the
church and so the
church can enjoy
the power of God
because of Christ
and fellowshipping
with Him and
express that power
in this world.
There is divine
strength that comes
to the believer,
that comes to the
church because of
our position in
Christ Jesus.
He has authority
and because of
being in Christ,
we have authority
and power.
A few years ago
when I was working
through the letters
of Paul to the
churches, this
continued to just
come home to my
heart.
Listen to a sampling
of what Paul says
in Ephesians 1.
He says, I'm
praying for you
that you would
know the
immeasurable
greatness of
His power towards
us who believe.
Later on in
chapter 3, he
says, I'm
praying on my
knees to the
Father for you
that you would
be strengthened
with power
through His
Spirit in your
inner being.
And in
chapter 6, he
says, be
strong in the
Lord and in the
power of His
might.
in Philippians
chapter 3, verse
10, he says, I
am praying for
myself that I
would know Him
in the power of
His resurrection.
In Colossians
chapter 1, he's
praying for the
church again.
He says, I
haven't ceased to
pray for you that
you would be
strengthened with
power according to
His glorious
might.
Would you
characterize your
life as one of
power?
maybe the
reason why you
feel so
powerless in
this life is
because we have
not dialed in to
the kind of
fellowship that
God has called
us to have.
Fellowshiping
relationships that
are channels of
divine strength and
power.
And throughout
the gospel of
Acts, or
throughout the
book of Acts,
you see how
that power shows
up corporately for
the church.
Really, as you
look through the
New Testament,
anywhere that
power is used,
it really is used
in conjunction
with the church at
large, not to
individuals.
If you want to
recognize and
experience the power
of God in your
life, it has to
happen through
relationships with
God's people.
Okay, so
drawing this to
a close, you're
asking yourself the
question, I know you
are.
He says, okay,
we've seen how
fellowship is
important to the
church.
We see how Christ
kind of initiated
this fellowshipping
relationships, but
come on now, is
this really the
strategy for the
future?
Is this really how
God intends for
this to happen in
his church?
And I'd like to
just quickly run
through some
examples in Acts
and show you that
fellowship is God's
enduring strategy.
fellowship is God's
enduring strategy.
So in Acts
chapter 1, and I'm
just going to
summarize this for
sake of time.
Acts chapter 1, the
disciples find
themselves having
just said goodbye
to Jesus.
Jesus has just
ascended to heaven
and he's given
them instructions.
He says, go and
wait in Jerusalem.
Wait in Jerusalem
for my power to
show up.
And when it
does, you will be
my witnesses
everywhere.
So they do.
In beginning in
verse 12, we find
them obeying the
instructions of
Christ.
Acts chapter 1,
verse 12.
If you're following
along, it's on page
909.
It says, they
returned to
Jerusalem from the
mount called
Olivet, which is
near Jerusalem, a
Sabbath day's
journey away.
And when they had
entered, they went
to the upper room
where they were
staying.
Now, this is
important.
I want you to
recognize that they
didn't all go to
their own individual
places.
They went
together to a
house in
Jerusalem.
They were there
together.
And they
understood that
waiting did not
just mean sitting
on the couch
watching a football
game, as great as
that might be.
Waiting meant
praying.
If they had
learned anything
from Jesus, they
understood that
waiting and praying
went hand in
hand.
So that's what
they're doing.
They entered the
upper room, and
there they are
together.
And it says in
verse 14, all
these with one
accord were
devoting themselves
to prayer.
together with the
women and the
Mary, the mother
of Jesus and
his brothers.
This word, one
accord, is used
11 times in the
New Testament, and
10 of them show
up in Acts.
That's how
significant it was
for this early
church to express
their oneness,
their like-mindedness,
their singular
vision and focus
for ministry was
collaborative.
And there they
are together, and
when they are
together, God's
power shows up.
See that in
chapter 2, verse
1, it says,
when the day of
Pentecost arrived,
they were all
together in one
place, there it is
again, and
suddenly there came
from heaven a
sound like a
mighty rushing
wind.
We find all
the same hallmarks
of fellowship
taking place
here.
Singular devotion,
togetherness, unity,
and partnership, and
praying together, and
we didn't have time
to look at this, but
the word of God
being taught in
their midst.
And then the
power of God
comes through the
channel of this
fellowshipping
relationship.
Turn to the
page of chapter 2.
Acts chapter 2,
verses 42 to 47.
This is a
familiar verse to
you, and I just
want to point out
some specific
words.
First, in verse
42, it says,
and, what's that
word, that next
word?
They, this group
of 2,000 believers,
this brand new
church era had
begun, and they
are all together.
Every single one
of them together,
fellowshipping, it
says.
They devoted
themselves to the
apostles' teaching
and the
fellowship.
And throughout the
rest of this
passage, you're going
to find how that
community, how that
community partnered
with each other to
distribute for each
other's needs, to be
interested in care.
And as a result of
the fellowshipping
relationship they had
with one another, we
find the result in
verse 47.
It changed everything
about them, praising
God and having favor
with all the people, and
the Lord added to their
number day by day, those
who are being saved.
Do you want that?
Do you want that as a
church?
Do you want God to show
up in relationships that
we have with one another?
This explosive work of
God in the hearts of his
people that is creating
evidence of that work in
the world?
Well, maybe you'll say,
that's good for the
apostles.
But what about us?
We don't have the same
gifts.
So briefly, turn to
chapter 11.
This is where it explodes
out of Antioch.
And now, 15 to 20 years
later, the church era
has begun, and Antioch
will become the launch
pad for worldwide
evangelism.
It will turn the world
upside down with the
gospel from this city
of Antioch, made up of
a bunch of ragtag
misfits from Jerusalem
who got kicked out
because of persecution.
Briefly, verse 19.
Those who were scattered
because of persecution
that arose over Stephen
traveled as far as
Phoenicia and Cyprus and
Antioch, speaking the
word to no one except
the Jews.
That's one group.
But, verse 20, there
were some of them, men
of Cyprus and Cyrene,
who on coming to Antioch
spoke to the Hellenists
and also preaching the
Lord Jesus.
And what was the result?
Verse 21.
In the hand of the Lord
was with them, and a
great number who
believed turned to the
Lord.
Hallelujah.
Word gets back to
Jerusalem.
And the apostles
send this no-name guy,
at least at the time,
the son of encouragement
named Barnabas, to go
and try to encourage
this band of people.
He shows up in verse
22, and then he says,
in verse 23, he came
and saw the grace of God.
He was glad and exhorted
them to remain faithful.
And then jumping down to
the end of verse 24,
before, and a great
many people were added
to the Lord, because
an encouraging ministry
of Barnabas.
And now fellowship
begins to really take
place.
Barnabas goes and finds
Saul, who is also
known as Paul.
The two of them team
teach for the next
year.
We find the results of
that at the end of
verse 26.
For a whole year, they
met with the church and
taught, and a great
many people were
instructed.
And in Antioch, the
disciples were first
called Christians.
And then finally, this
last group of individuals
known as prophets, they
also show up, and they
add their little giftedness
to the mix.
We see five different
ways the word of God is
brought to this group of
people.
It's spoken, it's
preached, it's encouraged,
it's taught, and now
it's prophesied.
And as a result of that,
we find in the remaining
verses 27 to 30, that
fellowship not only
happens amongst the
people of God there in
Antioch, but it spills
out to Judea, where
they're now sharing
gifts and care and
love to the churches
who will be hurting
someday in the near
future because of a
famine.
It says in verse 29,
the disciples determined
everyone according to
his ability to send
relief to the brothers
living in Judea.
That's what happens
when true biblical
fellowship is taking
place.
It always has an
outward component.
It is nurturing the
strength of individuals
so they can be
strengthened for
nurturing and helping
others.
Big things happen
when we are about
biblical fellowship.
So we end where we
began.
The question is,
what is the big deal
about fellowship?
And I trust this
morning as we have
looked into the
scriptures, we can see
fellowship is a big
deal.
It's part of God's
program to do big
things in this world.
And so we as a
church have designed
a small group
ministry for you to
plug in and not just
to have conversations
and interaction.
We want that to take
place.
But we are nurturing
disciples so that you
can go.
We're nurturing
relationships that you
can invite and
encourage others to
participate in.
That's why so many of
the small groups are
actually in communities.
It's our hope that
your neighbors might
benefit from that
touch that small
groups will have in
that immediate
context.
And by God's grace
grace and
according to his
power, we'll see
God show up through
this small group
ministry, not only for
you individually, but
we'll begin to see how
God will nurture us and
strengthen us and
strengthen our
children so that we
can have an impact in
the world around us.
I wonder if a hundred
years from now,
someone might say,
you know, it was
because of my great
granddaddy in the
faith who was
nurtured in this
fellowshipping
relationship at
Maranatha Baptist
that I stand here
today.
May God use these
small group ministries
to fan the flames of
gospel in your life
and help us be more
impactful in the world
around us.
Let's pray.
God, we praise you
this morning for the
example of Jesus who
got this all started.
You who initiated
fellowshipping
relationships with
these twelve men who
would then become
eleven.
You initiated that in
their lives and you
fanned the flames of
knowledge and love for
God so they could come
to cherish you and in
cherishing you, they
could commend you to
others.
We stand here today
because of the legacy
of faithfulness in that
first century and the
legacy of faithfulness
that continued on
through the ages to the
person who ministered
the gospel to us and we
praise you.
How you understood that
whole process and you
instrumentally put those
individuals in our lives.
Thank you for bringing us
to faith in Christ and
help us in our
relationship with you to
convey relationship and
love and care to the
community of believers
around us so that we
can be strengthened to
reach this world for
Christ.
We pray these things in
Jesus' name.
Amen.