WEBVTT

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 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?

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 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?

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 And so this morning, that's the question I want to try to answer is, what is the big deal about fellowship?

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 One writer has put it this way. He says, when we depend upon organizations, we get what organizations can do.

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 When we depend upon education, we get what education can do.

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 When we depend upon man, we get what man can do.

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 But when we depend upon prayer, we get what God can do.

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 I think a correlation can be made to fellowship.

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 When we depend upon superficiality, we get what superficiality brings.

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 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.

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 We'll get what God has designed fellowship to accomplish.

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 And this morning, as we look into the Word, I want to help us get just a new look at what fellowship does.

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 And I want us to see that fellowship isn't just another tangential program or tangential ministry of the church.

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 That fellowship is something that we do because it is the heart and soul of who we are as a church.

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 It is the heart and soul of who God has made us to be.

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 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.

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 Now, certainly we understand that fellowship has to begin with a relationship with God.

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 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.

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 He says,

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 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.

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 And we all know that he's talking about Jesus there.

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 What does that relationship with Jesus do?

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 He says,

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 That which we have seen and heard we have proclaimed to you.

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 So that you may have fellowship with us.

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 And indeed, our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

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 God has placed us into relationship.

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 The initial and primary supreme relationship that we enjoy is a relationship with God.

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 And because of that common relationship that those who are in Christ can experience, it means that we can have relationship with one another.

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 It means we must have relationship with each other because of the primary relationship we have with God the Father.

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 What does that relationship look like?

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 How did that relationship begin?

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 Many of you may be able to recount just the beginnings of that spiritual legacy that God created in your life.

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 Now, we can chart our own family ancestry, but we can also begin to chart a little bit of our spiritual legacy.

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 What is that spiritual family tree that God has given to us?

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 And how did that all come about?

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 I had a chance in Sunday school class just to hear some testimonies of people who came to faith in Christ.

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 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.

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 What is your own experience?

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 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.

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 Maybe through a parent or a grandparent.

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 Maybe through a Sunday school teacher who was instrumental in your life.

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 Maybe through an Awana leader.

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 Or maybe a neighbor who was living down the street.

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 Or maybe a sermon that you heard one Sunday morning.

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 Or an evangelist that came to your house.

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 Maybe it was something that you read.

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 An article.

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 Or something online.

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 Perhaps it was a sermon or a lesson you heard even over the internet.

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 Or something you watched on the TV.

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 But through the mouthpiece of individuals or through the pen of a person,

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 God brought the word to you.

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 Paul says in Romans chapter 10, he says,

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 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

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 God has chosen through the instrumentation of individuals for us to hear the message of the gospel.

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 And as we begin to understand and appreciate how God brought us to saving faith,

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 we understand that God used an individual, we'll call them maybe a spiritual mom or dad,

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 to help lead you into a saving relationship with Jesus.

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 A fellowship that you may have had with them was in your introduction of fellowship with God the Father.

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 A fellowship that was nurtured through other individuals,

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 through a church setting, through a small group, through a Bible study,

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 maybe even through some people in a workplace.

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 But God used relationships in your life not only to initiate the gospel,

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 initiate a relationship with him,

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 but also to advance his objective in your life in helping you to grow spiritually,

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 in helping you to have a spiritual life.

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 One person has said that the depth of our personal relationship with God

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 determines the degree of fellowship possible with each other.

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 Fellowship is important.

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 And this morning I want to answer this question,

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 what is the big deal about fellowship?

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 fellowship.

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 Now maybe you're looking at your notes this morning and you see four pages

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 and you're wondering in the next 30 minutes

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 how in the world we're going to get through all of this material.

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 And I just want to rest assured that my intention of putting it here

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 is not that we're going to cover it all,

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 it's that you can take it home and I don't have to talk about it, okay?

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 So my desire is not only to initiate this process of understanding,

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 but give you the resources that you need to be able to take this home,

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 to be able to look at the scriptures,

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 and to be encouraged throughout the week

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 in what God has said from his word about this very important subject,

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 the subject about fellowship.

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 Now as God has used individuals in your life to lead you to the gospel,

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 God has done the same for the individuals who were your spiritual mom or dad.

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 And on and on and on through history,

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 various situations and circumstances and interactions with individuals

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 will eventually lead us back to where it all began.

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 Back to what we're going to look at this morning.

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 This Christian movement,

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 the new church era that began in Acts chapter 1 and 2,

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 where the gospel rocketed out of Jerusalem

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 and affected Judea and Samaria

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 and the uttermost parts of the world.

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 It all began with this small band of 11 men

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 that we call disciples.

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 And this small group of individuals,

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 120 people who in chapter 1 of Acts

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 are praying together and encouraging one another.

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 And the power of God falls on that group of individuals.

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 And there is electricity in the air,

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 and there is conversion,

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 and there is the work of the Spirit

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 in working in the hearts of individuals

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 to lead them to faith in Jesus Christ.

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 Our spiritual legacy can be traced back

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 to that movement of individuals

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 that God used instrumentally

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 to propel the gospel out of Jerusalem

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 into the uttermost parts of the earth.

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 But in order to understand how that all began,

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 in order for us to recognize

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 the significance of fellowship,

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 and how does that play into our discussion today,

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 I want to encourage us to open our Bibles

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 to Mark chapter 3.

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 We're going to look at how this fellowship,

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 discipleship movement began.

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 We're going to see how things broke loose in Jerusalem,

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 and then how eventually it erupted in Antioch

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 some 15 to 20 years later.

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 And how has each subsequent generation

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 benefited from the strategy that Jesus laid down

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 early on in his ministry with the disciples,

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 disciples,

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 and then was picked up and carried along,

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 and to this point,

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 we still participate in the benefits

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 of this strategy that we're going to look at this morning.

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 Now, as you can tell,

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 this is just going to be a flyby.

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 Okay?

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 My desire this morning is not to dig in and to dig deep.

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 We don't have time for that,

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 but I just want to provide some exposure.

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 I want to give us an opportunity

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 to look into the Scripture

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 to see three key aspects of fellowship

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 from Mark chapter 3,

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 and then the continuing legacy

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 that fellowship brings through the Gospel of Acts,

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 and we're going to have to hit it rapid fire,

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 but I'm sure you can stick along with us,

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 and I hope this will be a blessing to you.

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 So, what is the big deal about fellowship?

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 Well, first of all, from Mark chapter 3,

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 13 to 15,

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 fellowship is the starting point of discipleship.

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 Fellowship is the starting point for discipleship.

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 Let me read these verses for us,

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 and then we'll dig in a little bit.

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 It says,

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 And he went up, of course,

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 that's speaking of Jesus,

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 on the mountain,

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 and called to him those whom he desired.

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 And they came to him,

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 and he appointed twelve,

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 whom he also named apostles,

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 so that they might be with him,

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 and he might send them out to preach,

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 and to have authority to cast out demons.

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 Now, if I were to ask you the question,

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 why did Jesus call the apostles?

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 What was the main objective?

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 How would we tend to answer that question?

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 Well, if you're anything like me,

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 your answer would be,

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 well, Jesus called the apostles to himself,

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 so they could make disciples of the world.

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 And certainly, that is true.

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 But we have to back up a little bit,

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 and we have to see

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 that the starting point of discipleship

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 is something else.

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 What do you see there in verse 14?

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 How does it all begin?

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 What is the first strategy of Jesus

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 from this text?

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 What does it say?

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 That they might do what?

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 Be with him.

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 Have you ever seen that before?

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 This was brought to my attention

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 a couple of years ago,

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 and I'm like,

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 how did I miss that?

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 How did I miss something

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 as important as that?

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 Discipleship must begin

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 in fellowshipping relationships.

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 Discipleship begins

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 as we are involved in community.

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 Fellowship begins

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 as we are coming to understand

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 and to know

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 and to love Jesus Christ.

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 Fellowship begins

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 as that relationship with him

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 is nurtured and developed in us

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 so that then we can move

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 outward

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 and reach the world.

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 Now, believe it or not,

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 here in Mark chapter 3,

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 a lot has taken place already

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 in the ministry of Jesus.

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 He's already been baptized.

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 He's already gone into the wilderness

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 and been tempted.

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 The initial call to Peter

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 and Andrew

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 and James and John

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 have already happened,

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 and they've been following him

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 for months.

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 There's been an initial call

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 to Matthew

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 and an initial call

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 to Nathaniel

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 and to Philip,

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 so many of his disciples

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 had already been following him.

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 And up to this point,

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 there was this massive crowd

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 that was following Jesus

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 wherever he went.

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 Not to mention the fact

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 there was already

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 significant opposition

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 in Jesus' ministry.

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 The scribes

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 and the Pharisees

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 all the way down

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 in Jerusalem,

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 all the way up

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 to the highest regions

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 of Galilee,

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 were beginning to congregate

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 and to evaluate

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 the ministry of Jesus.

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 What will he say next?

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 Who is this teacher

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 and preacher

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 who has taken Galilee

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 by storm?

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 Some commentators

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 have suggested

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 that Jesus may have actually

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 already finished

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 his first year of ministry

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 before this event

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 actually took place.

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 And not that the disciples

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 weren't already following him

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 and already engaged

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 in the ministry,

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 but now was a time

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 for something definitive

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 to happen.

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 Now was a time

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 for Jesus

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 to set apart

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 a group of individuals

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 who would be selected

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 to do something important,

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 something significant.

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 Christ initiates

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 this discipleship movement

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 through the means

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 of fellowship.

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 Jesus is interested

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 in setting apart

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 this group of individuals

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 to have exclusive access

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 to have exclusive access

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 to him,

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 to have exclusive privilege

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 and power,

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 to have exclusive mission

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 of being the mouthpiece

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 of Christ

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 in the word of God

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 and helping to lay

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 the foundation

00:14:59.660 --> 00:15:00.480
 for the church.

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 But it would happen

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 through the context

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 of this fellowship

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 with Jesus.

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 This strategy

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 that Christ used

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 would help to develop

00:15:11.920 --> 00:15:12.540
 these men

00:15:12.539 --> 00:15:13.319
 to carry on

00:15:13.319 --> 00:15:14.839
 this monumental vision

00:15:14.839 --> 00:15:15.439
 that he had

00:15:15.439 --> 00:15:16.919
 for reaching the world

00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:17.860
 for himself.

00:15:19.799 --> 00:15:20.279
 Interestingly,

00:15:20.699 --> 00:15:21.980
 this was so important

00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:22.639
 to Christ.

00:15:22.899 --> 00:15:25.459
 We find from Luke's account

00:15:25.459 --> 00:15:26.719
 that Jesus went

00:15:26.719 --> 00:15:27.279
 to the mountain

00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:27.819
 to pray

00:15:27.819 --> 00:15:28.980
 and all night

00:15:28.980 --> 00:15:29.779
 he continued

00:15:29.779 --> 00:15:30.819
 in prayer

00:15:30.819 --> 00:15:31.779
 to God.

00:15:32.439 --> 00:15:33.779
 And then when day came

00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:34.899
 he called his disciples

00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:36.279
 and chose from them

00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:36.639
 twelve

00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:37.839
 whom he named apostles.

00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:41.740
 Jesus was interested

00:15:41.740 --> 00:15:42.700
 in making sure

00:15:42.700 --> 00:15:44.040
 that the right men

00:15:44.040 --> 00:15:44.759
 were selected

00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:46.340
 for this fellowshipping

00:15:46.340 --> 00:15:47.420
 relationship with him

00:15:47.420 --> 00:15:48.879
 so they could

00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:50.180
 then be turned loose

00:15:50.180 --> 00:15:51.200
 to accomplish

00:15:51.200 --> 00:15:52.000
 the objectives

00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:52.600
 that he had

00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:53.180
 for the world.

00:15:54.580 --> 00:15:55.500
 We call this

00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:57.019
 discipling process,

00:15:57.320 --> 00:15:58.660
 we refer to this

00:15:58.660 --> 00:15:59.420
 as partnership.

00:16:00.660 --> 00:16:01.180
 The disciples

00:16:01.180 --> 00:16:02.420
 were in true

00:16:02.420 --> 00:16:03.160
 community

00:16:03.160 --> 00:16:04.259
 with Jesus.

00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:06.120
 They were in

00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:06.860
 relationship

00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:07.519
 with him.

00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:10.259
 Last year

00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:12.160
 when we had

00:16:12.160 --> 00:16:12.740
 this startup

00:16:12.740 --> 00:16:13.660
 for small groups

00:16:13.660 --> 00:16:15.420
 Pastor Knoyer

00:16:15.420 --> 00:16:16.280
 used this statement

00:16:16.280 --> 00:16:16.660
 he says

00:16:16.660 --> 00:16:17.139
 fellowship

00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:18.120
 is essential

00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:19.360
 for spiritual

00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:20.200
 life

00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:21.120
 and growth.

00:16:22.200 --> 00:16:23.080
 Another commentator

00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:23.800
 says that God

00:16:23.800 --> 00:16:25.040
 has chosen fellowship

00:16:25.040 --> 00:16:26.440
 to be the primary

00:16:26.440 --> 00:16:27.759
 channel of life

00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:28.879
 in his body.

00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:31.680
 If we want

00:16:31.680 --> 00:16:32.840
 big things

00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:33.379
 to happen

00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:34.060
 at Maranatha

00:16:34.060 --> 00:16:34.840
 if we want

00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:35.500
 big things

00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:36.019
 to happen

00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:37.180
 in Grove City

00:16:37.179 --> 00:16:38.039
 in Hilliard

00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:38.819
 in Columbus

00:16:38.819 --> 00:16:39.559
 in whatever

00:16:39.559 --> 00:16:40.339
 town

00:16:40.339 --> 00:16:41.139
 God has

00:16:41.139 --> 00:16:41.959
 placed you

00:16:41.959 --> 00:16:43.639
 it will happen

00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:44.799
 as you are

00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:46.500
 grounding yourself

00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:47.339
 in a community

00:16:47.339 --> 00:16:48.120
 of individuals

00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:49.399
 and fellowshipping

00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:50.179
 with them.

00:16:51.239 --> 00:16:52.179
 Now that raises

00:16:52.179 --> 00:16:52.919
 another question.

00:16:54.179 --> 00:16:55.279
 What is

00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:55.759
 biblical

00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:56.399
 fellowship?

00:16:56.959 --> 00:16:57.639
 What does it

00:16:57.639 --> 00:16:58.019
 mean?

00:16:58.139 --> 00:16:59.039
 And the reason

00:16:59.039 --> 00:16:59.500
 why we need

00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:00.000
 to go there

00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:00.579
 is because

00:17:00.579 --> 00:17:01.399
 society

00:17:01.399 --> 00:17:01.899
 and the world

00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:02.699
 has hijacked

00:17:02.700 --> 00:17:03.259
 this term.

00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:04.779
 So it's important

00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.240
 for us to

00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:05.759
 understand

00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:06.500
 what does

00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:06.960
 the Bible

00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:07.500
 mean when

00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:07.940
 it talks

00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:08.960
 about fellowship.

00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:11.100
 When we hear

00:17:11.100 --> 00:17:11.680
 the term

00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:12.120
 fellowship

00:17:12.120 --> 00:17:12.600
 we often

00:17:12.600 --> 00:17:13.000
 think of

00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:13.360
 food

00:17:13.360 --> 00:17:14.580
 and fun.

00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:15.240
 We think

00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:15.860
 of activities.

00:17:16.019 --> 00:17:16.279
 We think

00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:17.019
 of things

00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:17.779
 that stimulate

00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:18.620
 conversation.

00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:19.620
 We think

00:17:19.620 --> 00:17:20.380
 of things

00:17:20.380 --> 00:17:20.940
 that help

00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:21.779
 to initiate

00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:22.960
 some sort

00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:25.500
 of interaction

00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:26.160
 with one another

00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:27.039
 and relationship.

00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:27.880
 And we kind

00:17:27.880 --> 00:17:28.440
 of hope

00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:29.460
 that is

00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:30.220
 we're together

00:17:30.220 --> 00:17:30.759
 enough

00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:32.259
 that fellowship

00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:32.900
 will just

00:17:32.900 --> 00:17:33.340
 happen.

00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:35.840
 But fellowship

00:17:35.840 --> 00:17:36.380
 in the scripture

00:17:36.380 --> 00:17:37.000
 goes much

00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:37.340
 deeper.

00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:38.200
 Fellowship

00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:38.740
 in the scripture

00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:40.480
 involves things

00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:41.200
 that go

00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:41.960
 much,

00:17:42.380 --> 00:17:43.039
 much deeper

00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:43.840
 than just

00:17:43.840 --> 00:17:44.720
 the superficial

00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:46.019
 aspects of

00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:46.680
 what we would

00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:47.779
 call community

00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:48.680
 or fun

00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:49.600
 or relationship.

00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:51.120
 When the Bible

00:17:51.120 --> 00:17:52.160
 talks about fellowship

00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:52.940
 it has something

00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:54.120
 deeper in view.

00:17:54.259 --> 00:17:55.440
 It has unity

00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:56.400
 in view.

00:17:57.080 --> 00:17:57.620
 It has

00:17:57.620 --> 00:17:58.400
 partnership.

00:17:58.440 --> 00:17:59.440
 in view.

00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:00.680
 It has

00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:01.519
 participation

00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:02.660
 in one's

00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:03.220
 lives

00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:04.000
 in view.

00:18:04.900 --> 00:18:05.360
 Commitment

00:18:05.360 --> 00:18:06.059
 to one another.

00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.140
 Accountability.

00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:08.039
 Sharpening.

00:18:08.360 --> 00:18:08.720
 Sharing.

00:18:09.120 --> 00:18:09.480
 Edification.

00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:11.779
 And there

00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:12.860
 are 19 times

00:18:12.860 --> 00:18:13.279
 throughout

00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:14.059
 the New Testament

00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:15.440
 where the Bible

00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:16.539
 uses this word

00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:17.019
 koinonia

00:18:17.019 --> 00:18:17.820
 which is the word

00:18:17.820 --> 00:18:18.480
 fellowship.

00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:19.299
 And I've put

00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:19.860
 them here

00:18:19.860 --> 00:18:20.519
 in your

00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:22.080
 insert

00:18:22.080 --> 00:18:23.400
 for your

00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:24.220
 own edification.

00:18:24.580 --> 00:18:25.640
 But all 19

00:18:25.640 --> 00:18:26.380
 verses are listed

00:18:26.380 --> 00:18:27.160
 there and

00:18:27.160 --> 00:18:27.840
 my

00:18:27.839 --> 00:18:28.720
 this is not

00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:30.339
 authoritative

00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:30.720
 but just

00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:32.059
 my shot

00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:33.299
 at what

00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:34.199
 each verse

00:18:34.199 --> 00:18:35.079
 does and

00:18:35.079 --> 00:18:35.339
 how to

00:18:35.339 --> 00:18:36.139
 categorize

00:18:36.139 --> 00:18:36.779
 what fellowship

00:18:36.779 --> 00:18:37.619
 accomplishes.

00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:38.799
 You'll see here

00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:39.359
 that there are

00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:40.379
 intimate relationships

00:18:40.379 --> 00:18:40.859
 that happen

00:18:40.859 --> 00:18:41.519
 among believers.

00:18:42.159 --> 00:18:42.679
 You'll see that

00:18:42.679 --> 00:18:43.059
 there are

00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:44.379
 financial contributions

00:18:44.379 --> 00:18:44.819
 that are

00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:45.879
 taking place

00:18:45.879 --> 00:18:46.799
 and caring

00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:47.519
 for one another.

00:18:48.099 --> 00:18:48.679
 You'll see that

00:18:48.679 --> 00:18:49.759
 it describes

00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:50.740
 the intimate

00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.519
 relationship

00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.279
 we have with God

00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:53.659
 that partnering

00:18:53.659 --> 00:18:54.519
 relationship

00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:55.439
 union we have

00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:56.059
 with the Godhead.

00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:57.700
 And because of

00:18:57.700 --> 00:18:58.259
 that partnership

00:18:58.259 --> 00:18:58.920
 there must be

00:18:58.920 --> 00:19:00.279
 purity and holiness

00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:01.279
 and righteousness

00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:02.039
 in our life.

00:19:02.320 --> 00:19:02.920
 A testimony

00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:03.920
 for Christ

00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:04.620
 in our world.

00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:05.720
 And then a

00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:06.559
 joining together

00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:07.539
 in ministry.

00:19:08.539 --> 00:19:09.240
 It is our

00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:10.120
 fellowship

00:19:10.120 --> 00:19:11.360
 that leads

00:19:11.360 --> 00:19:11.880
 to

00:19:11.880 --> 00:19:12.940
 service.

00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:16.700
 Fellowship

00:19:16.700 --> 00:19:17.940
 isn't just

00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:18.340
 about

00:19:18.340 --> 00:19:19.720
 having good

00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:20.200
 relationships

00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:20.900
 with individuals.

00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:23.100
 if fellowship

00:19:23.100 --> 00:19:24.560
 ends there

00:19:24.560 --> 00:19:25.720
 then fellowship

00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:26.519
 that is taking

00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:27.280
 place in your life

00:19:27.280 --> 00:19:27.840
 is not

00:19:27.840 --> 00:19:28.700
 biblical fellowship.

00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:30.540
 Fellowship

00:19:30.540 --> 00:19:31.400
 that just has

00:19:31.400 --> 00:19:32.740
 community

00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:33.480
 in view

00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:34.860
 and interactions

00:19:34.860 --> 00:19:35.519
 in view

00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:36.660
 and conversations

00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:37.480
 in view

00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:38.400
 and sharing

00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:39.420
 common interests

00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:39.920
 in view

00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:41.580
 is a delinquent

00:19:41.580 --> 00:19:43.180
 form of fellowship.

00:19:44.560 --> 00:19:45.220
 It is not

00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:46.040
 as deep

00:19:46.040 --> 00:19:46.440
 as God

00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:46.920
 would have

00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:47.519
 it to go.

00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:48.120
 Not that it

00:19:48.120 --> 00:19:48.780
 doesn't include

00:19:48.780 --> 00:19:49.340
 those things

00:19:49.340 --> 00:19:50.120
 but it's got

00:19:50.120 --> 00:19:50.660
 to go deeper.

00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:51.980
 There's got

00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:52.519
 to be more.

00:19:53.840 --> 00:19:54.700
 There is a goal

00:19:54.700 --> 00:19:55.360
 in mind

00:19:55.360 --> 00:19:55.900
 to fellowship

00:19:55.900 --> 00:19:56.480
 and that takes

00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:57.100
 us to our

00:19:57.100 --> 00:19:58.040
 next point.

00:19:58.680 --> 00:19:59.300
 Fellowship

00:19:59.300 --> 00:20:00.240
 is a platform

00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:01.780
 for service

00:20:01.780 --> 00:20:02.860
 and sending.

00:20:04.300 --> 00:20:04.940
 Fellowship

00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:05.800
 is a platform

00:20:05.800 --> 00:20:06.800
 for service

00:20:06.800 --> 00:20:07.780
 and sending.

00:20:08.620 --> 00:20:08.880
 Let me

00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:09.680
 again read

00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:11.320
 verse 14

00:20:11.320 --> 00:20:12.160
 of chapter 3.

00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.080
 Mark 3

00:20:13.080 --> 00:20:13.660
 14.

00:20:13.800 --> 00:20:14.440
 Here's what it says.

00:20:15.600 --> 00:20:16.440
 And he appointed

00:20:16.440 --> 00:20:17.180
 the twelve

00:20:17.180 --> 00:20:18.080
 so that they

00:20:18.080 --> 00:20:19.240
 might be with him

00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:20.740
 and he might

00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:21.660
 send them

00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:23.259
 out to preach.

00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:25.980
 What is the goal

00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:27.019
 of fellowship?

00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:28.960
 Where does

00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:29.579
 fellowship

00:20:29.579 --> 00:20:30.640
 lead us?

00:20:31.339 --> 00:20:31.920
 Where does it

00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:32.920
 take us?

00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:34.099
 How do we know

00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:34.680
 that true

00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:35.500
 biblical fellowship

00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:36.380
 is happening?

00:20:36.380 --> 00:20:41.440
 because it says

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.559
 that they might

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:43.299
 be with him

00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:44.920
 and he might

00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:46.019
 send them

00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:46.440
 where?

00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:48.620
 Out

00:20:48.620 --> 00:20:49.799
 to preach.

00:20:50.900 --> 00:20:51.860
 The focus

00:20:51.860 --> 00:20:53.059
 of biblical

00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:53.640
 fellowship

00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:54.660
 is outward.

00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:56.539
 It's others.

00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:58.339
 the goal

00:20:58.339 --> 00:20:59.399
 of biblical

00:20:59.399 --> 00:20:59.879
 fellowship

00:20:59.879 --> 00:21:01.079
 is outside

00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:01.619
 of you.

00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:03.440
 Now that is

00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:04.759
 just counterintuitive

00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:05.359
 wouldn't you think?

00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:06.799
 That's just not

00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:07.680
 what we think of

00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:08.159
 when we think

00:21:08.159 --> 00:21:08.839
 of fellowship.

00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:09.779
 We think of

00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:10.599
 strengthening

00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:11.700
 the group.

00:21:11.879 --> 00:21:12.539
 We think of

00:21:12.539 --> 00:21:13.759
 nurturing one another

00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:15.220
 and meeting needs

00:21:15.220 --> 00:21:16.059
 and fixing

00:21:16.059 --> 00:21:16.700
 problems

00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:17.639
 and certainly

00:21:17.639 --> 00:21:18.440
 that is part

00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:19.240
 of what fellowship

00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:20.180
 accomplishes.

00:21:21.460 --> 00:21:22.099
 But fellowship

00:21:22.099 --> 00:21:23.399
 is strengthening

00:21:23.399 --> 00:21:24.079
 of self

00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:25.079
 so there can be

00:21:25.079 --> 00:21:26.339
 a going out

00:21:26.339 --> 00:21:27.220
 and strengthening

00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:28.199
 of others.

00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:30.759
 There is this

00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:31.759
 growing

00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.639
 concentric

00:21:32.639 --> 00:21:33.240
 circles

00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:34.019
 of community

00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:34.899
 that continues

00:21:34.899 --> 00:21:35.759
 to draw more

00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:36.579
 and more people

00:21:36.579 --> 00:21:37.740
 into the mix

00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:39.139
 as you are

00:21:39.139 --> 00:21:39.720
 enjoying

00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:40.379
 relationship

00:21:40.379 --> 00:21:41.099
 with God

00:21:41.099 --> 00:21:41.879
 and seeing

00:21:41.879 --> 00:21:42.379
 the benefits

00:21:42.379 --> 00:21:43.039
 of relationship

00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:43.639
 with others

00:21:43.639 --> 00:21:44.839
 that you will

00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:45.500
 understand

00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:46.079
 that everywhere

00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:47.019
 God has placed

00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:47.419
 you there will

00:21:47.419 --> 00:21:48.059
 be a desire

00:21:48.059 --> 00:21:49.220
 to draw more

00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:50.119
 and more people

00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:51.639
 into that community.

00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:53.220
 Understanding

00:21:53.220 --> 00:21:54.000
 that that community

00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:55.039
 only happens

00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:56.399
 through the context

00:21:56.399 --> 00:21:57.339
 of the gospel.

00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:58.420
 It only happens

00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:59.619
 through relationship

00:21:59.619 --> 00:22:00.500
 with Christ.

00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:02.960
 And so in your

00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:03.399
 workplace

00:22:03.399 --> 00:22:04.700
 there is this

00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:05.980
 enthusiasm

00:22:05.980 --> 00:22:06.940
 and excitement

00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:08.139
 for the fellowship

00:22:08.139 --> 00:22:08.700
 that you have

00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:09.159
 with God

00:22:09.159 --> 00:22:09.799
 that seeks

00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:10.659
 to draw others

00:22:10.659 --> 00:22:11.480
 in and to

00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:12.339
 include them

00:22:12.339 --> 00:22:13.740
 in to the joy

00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:15.539
 and the enthusiasm

00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.420
 that you are

00:22:16.420 --> 00:22:17.019
 experiencing

00:22:17.019 --> 00:22:17.759
 for yourself.

00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:20.539
 You see

00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:22.220
 the purpose

00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:23.599
 of strengthening

00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.119
 life

00:22:24.119 --> 00:22:26.240
 is for the purpose

00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:27.139
 of strengthening

00:22:27.139 --> 00:22:27.940
 others.

00:22:29.159 --> 00:22:29.960
 Pouring into

00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:31.079
 one's life

00:22:31.079 --> 00:22:31.680
 leads to

00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:32.579
 pouring out.

00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:33.879
 Sowing

00:22:33.879 --> 00:22:34.980
 leads to

00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:35.440
 reaping.

00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:36.659
 Receiving

00:22:36.659 --> 00:22:37.480
 leads to

00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:37.799
 giving.

00:22:38.639 --> 00:22:39.379
 Building up

00:22:39.379 --> 00:22:40.480
 leads to

00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:41.240
 building out.

00:22:41.659 --> 00:22:42.139
 And that's what

00:22:42.139 --> 00:22:43.039
 fellowship does.

00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:44.599
 Fellowship is

00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:45.519
 intended not to

00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:47.039
 have this community

00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:48.019
 that is so

00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:48.920
 introspective

00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:49.440
 that it only

00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:50.500
 considers the

00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.019
 needs of one

00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:51.340
 another.

00:22:51.640 --> 00:22:52.420
 But it is

00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:53.259
 the kind

00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:53.900
 of community

00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:55.259
 that looks

00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:55.960
 for ways

00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:56.720
 to share

00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:57.300
 the joy

00:22:57.300 --> 00:22:58.460
 to the people

00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:59.160
 around you.

00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:02.320
 So if that's

00:23:02.320 --> 00:23:02.980
 not happening

00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:04.759
 in your life

00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:06.140
 then I would

00:23:06.140 --> 00:23:07.240
 challenge you

00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:07.700
 to think

00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:08.580
 is biblical

00:23:08.580 --> 00:23:09.300
 fellowship

00:23:09.300 --> 00:23:10.039
 really taking

00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:10.560
 place

00:23:10.560 --> 00:23:11.480
 for you?

00:23:12.560 --> 00:23:13.140
 After all

00:23:13.140 --> 00:23:13.420
 they were

00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:14.300
 called apostles.

00:23:15.380 --> 00:23:16.100
 Apostles

00:23:16.100 --> 00:23:17.200
 were sent

00:23:17.200 --> 00:23:17.840
 ones

00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:19.339
 we

00:23:19.339 --> 00:23:20.439
 are sent

00:23:20.439 --> 00:23:21.199
 to speak

00:23:21.199 --> 00:23:22.159
 his words.

00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:22.839
 We

00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:23.559
 are sent

00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:24.179
 to show

00:23:24.179 --> 00:23:25.059
 his works.

00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:27.539
 God

00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.439
 shows up

00:23:28.439 --> 00:23:28.959
 in our

00:23:28.959 --> 00:23:29.379
 life

00:23:29.379 --> 00:23:29.819
 through

00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:30.279
 words

00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:31.019
 and actions

00:23:31.019 --> 00:23:31.839
 through

00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:32.399
 fellowship

00:23:32.399 --> 00:23:33.220
 in communities.

00:23:34.159 --> 00:23:34.480
 And our

00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:34.919
 union with

00:23:34.919 --> 00:23:35.220
 Christ

00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:35.699
 shapes

00:23:35.699 --> 00:23:36.159
 our

00:23:36.159 --> 00:23:36.639
 relationships

00:23:36.639 --> 00:23:37.599
 with others.

00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:38.959
 I like

00:23:38.959 --> 00:23:39.779
 how John

00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:40.059
 Piper

00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:40.559
 puts it.

00:23:41.439 --> 00:23:42.079
 He says

00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:43.459
 you cannot

00:23:43.459 --> 00:23:44.279
 commend

00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:45.240
 what you

00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:45.659
 do not

00:23:45.659 --> 00:23:46.119
 cherish.

00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:47.240
 I'll say

00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:47.480
 that one

00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:47.860
 more time.

00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:49.039
 You cannot

00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:49.720
 commend

00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.779
 what you

00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:51.299
 do not

00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:51.940
 cherish.

00:23:52.900 --> 00:23:53.460
 You're not

00:23:53.460 --> 00:23:53.660
 going to

00:23:53.660 --> 00:23:54.319
 talk about

00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:54.799
 Jesus

00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.460
 if he's

00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:55.860
 not the

00:23:55.860 --> 00:23:56.420
 sweetest

00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:56.860
 thing

00:23:56.860 --> 00:23:57.319
 that has

00:23:57.319 --> 00:23:57.579
 ever

00:23:57.579 --> 00:23:58.059
 happened

00:23:58.059 --> 00:23:58.420
 in your

00:23:58.420 --> 00:23:58.920
 life.

00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:00.779
 But as

00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:01.539
 he becomes

00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:02.220
 supreme

00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:03.200
 and ultimate

00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:03.759
 for you

00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.319
 as you

00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:04.880
 begin to

00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:05.259
 cherish

00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:05.579
 him

00:24:05.579 --> 00:24:06.240
 you cannot

00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:06.779
 help

00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:07.680
 but commend

00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.079
 him to

00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:08.440
 others.

00:24:09.380 --> 00:24:09.880
 And that's

00:24:09.880 --> 00:24:10.500
 what fellowship

00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.079
 is intended

00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:11.539
 to do.

00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:12.299
 It's to

00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:12.660
 nurture

00:24:12.660 --> 00:24:13.740
 that loving

00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:14.339
 relationship

00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:14.880
 with God.

00:24:15.380 --> 00:24:15.819
 Nurture

00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:16.439
 the loving

00:24:16.439 --> 00:24:17.019
 relationships

00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:17.419
 we have

00:24:17.419 --> 00:24:17.799
 with others

00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:18.480
 so that we

00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.139
 have something

00:24:19.139 --> 00:24:20.279
 to talk

00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:20.659
 about in

00:24:20.659 --> 00:24:21.439
 our world.

00:24:23.379 --> 00:24:23.679
 It will

00:24:23.679 --> 00:24:24.299
 be attractive

00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:25.079
 to those

00:24:25.079 --> 00:24:25.740
 in our

00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.500
 communities

00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:26.980
 in our

00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:27.619
 workplace

00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:28.279
 wherever

00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:29.139
 God may

00:24:29.139 --> 00:24:29.980
 place us

00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:30.879
 as they

00:24:30.879 --> 00:24:31.399
 see the

00:24:31.399 --> 00:24:31.859
 sweetness

00:24:31.859 --> 00:24:32.519
 of Jesus

00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:33.539
 and the

00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:33.879
 sweetness

00:24:33.879 --> 00:24:34.619
 of relationship

00:24:34.619 --> 00:24:35.059
 that you're

00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:35.539
 enjoying

00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:36.399
 with God's

00:24:36.399 --> 00:24:36.679
 people.

00:24:36.680 --> 00:24:36.820
 people.

00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:40.019
 So the

00:24:40.019 --> 00:24:41.180
 focus of

00:24:41.180 --> 00:24:41.440
 biblical

00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:41.860
 fellowship

00:24:41.860 --> 00:24:42.779
 is others

00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:43.980
 then how

00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:44.580
 is that

00:24:44.580 --> 00:24:45.279
 expressed?

00:24:45.980 --> 00:24:46.440
 How do

00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:47.140
 we get to

00:24:47.140 --> 00:24:47.680
 the business

00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:49.019
 of showing

00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:49.700
 that to

00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:50.299
 other people?

00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:52.100
 Well the

00:24:52.100 --> 00:24:52.600
 expression

00:24:52.600 --> 00:24:53.759
 this is the

00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:54.240
 next point

00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:54.900
 the expression

00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:55.380
 of biblical

00:24:55.380 --> 00:24:55.860
 fellowship

00:24:55.860 --> 00:24:57.019
 is through

00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:57.539
 one another

00:24:57.539 --> 00:24:58.100
 commands.

00:24:59.259 --> 00:24:59.860
 And I put

00:24:59.860 --> 00:25:00.340
 them here

00:25:00.340 --> 00:25:00.820
 in your

00:25:00.820 --> 00:25:02.080
 notes as

00:25:02.080 --> 00:25:02.440
 just kind

00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:02.680
 of a

00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:03.080
 sampling

00:25:03.080 --> 00:25:03.960
 of all

00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:04.200
 of the

00:25:04.200 --> 00:25:04.560
 one another

00:25:04.560 --> 00:25:05.100
 commands

00:25:05.099 --> 00:25:05.539
 that God

00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:06.379
 gives to

00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:06.699
 us as

00:25:06.699 --> 00:25:07.219
 a church.

00:25:07.639 --> 00:25:08.359
 All those

00:25:08.359 --> 00:25:08.859
 things that

00:25:08.859 --> 00:25:09.919
 God tells

00:25:09.919 --> 00:25:10.679
 us to do

00:25:10.679 --> 00:25:11.779
 to express

00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:12.159
 that

00:25:12.159 --> 00:25:13.439
 fellowshipping

00:25:13.439 --> 00:25:14.019
 relationship

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:14.539
 that we have

00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:14.819
 with one

00:25:14.819 --> 00:25:15.079
 another.

00:25:15.859 --> 00:25:16.240
 There are

00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:17.139
 some 60

00:25:17.139 --> 00:25:18.000
 one another

00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:18.619
 commands

00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:19.119
 throughout the

00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:19.619
 New Testament.

00:25:20.719 --> 00:25:21.139
 Some are

00:25:21.139 --> 00:25:21.799
 repeated but

00:25:21.799 --> 00:25:22.959
 they show up

00:25:22.959 --> 00:25:23.859
 in so many

00:25:23.859 --> 00:25:24.579
 different ways.

00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:25.639
 And like I

00:25:25.639 --> 00:25:26.000
 said this is

00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:26.759
 just a sampling

00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:27.659
 of what you

00:25:27.659 --> 00:25:28.459
 can expect.

00:25:28.939 --> 00:25:29.639
 Things like

00:25:29.639 --> 00:25:30.279
 loving one

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.559
 another,

00:25:30.959 --> 00:25:31.480
 praying for

00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:32.000
 one another,

00:25:32.399 --> 00:25:32.879
 bearing one

00:25:32.879 --> 00:25:33.199
 another's

00:25:33.199 --> 00:25:33.539
 burdens,

00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:34.779
 singing to

00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:35.200
 one another,

00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:36.220
 comforting one

00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:36.460
 another,

00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:37.359
 confessing your

00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:37.759
 faults to

00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:38.099
 one another,

00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:39.119
 being kindly

00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:39.859
 affectionate to

00:25:39.859 --> 00:25:40.339
 one another,

00:25:40.700 --> 00:25:41.319
 preferring one

00:25:41.319 --> 00:25:41.539
 another,

00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:42.319
 stirring one

00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:42.819
 another up to

00:25:42.819 --> 00:25:43.420
 love and good

00:25:43.420 --> 00:25:43.720
 deeds.

00:25:43.879 --> 00:25:44.519
 All of the

00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:45.160
 things that we

00:25:45.160 --> 00:25:46.139
 can only do

00:25:46.139 --> 00:25:46.980
 when we are

00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:48.019
 in community.

00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:50.740
 You cannot

00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:52.859
 obey God's

00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:54.399
 commands unless

00:25:54.399 --> 00:25:55.599
 you are with

00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:56.660
 God's people.

00:25:58.359 --> 00:25:59.279
 You cannot

00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:00.500
 carry out

00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:02.019
 the things that

00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:02.740
 God has called

00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:03.299
 you to do.

00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:03.839
 You cannot

00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:04.679
 grow in your

00:26:04.679 --> 00:26:05.579
 Christian life

00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:06.619
 unless you are

00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:07.859
 expressing the

00:26:07.859 --> 00:26:09.199
 wonder of these

00:26:09.199 --> 00:26:10.000
 one another

00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:10.539
 commands that

00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:11.019
 God has set

00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:12.359
 up, not only

00:26:12.359 --> 00:26:13.199
 in giving but

00:26:13.199 --> 00:26:13.899
 also in

00:26:13.899 --> 00:26:15.459
 receiving the

00:26:15.459 --> 00:26:17.279
 beauty of what

00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:17.899
 fellowship is

00:26:17.899 --> 00:26:18.519
 designed to do.

00:26:19.639 --> 00:26:20.779
 The significance

00:26:20.779 --> 00:26:22.639
 of fellowship in

00:26:22.639 --> 00:26:23.799
 terms of being a

00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:24.919
 platform for

00:26:24.919 --> 00:26:26.559
 service and for

00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:26.939
 sending.

00:26:28.699 --> 00:26:29.659
 So what is the

00:26:29.659 --> 00:26:30.159
 big deal about

00:26:30.159 --> 00:26:30.480
 fellowship?

00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:30.640
 discipleship?

00:26:31.220 --> 00:26:32.039
 Well, it's the

00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:33.960
 starting point for

00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:34.680
 discipleship.

00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:36.079
 It's the platform

00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:37.120
 for service and

00:26:37.120 --> 00:26:37.460
 sending.

00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:39.099
 And thirdly, it is

00:26:39.099 --> 00:26:40.539
 the channel of

00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:42.059
 divine strength.

00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:43.880
 The channel of

00:26:43.880 --> 00:26:45.440
 divine strength.

00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:47.200
 Notice again,

00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:48.299
 coming back to our

00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:50.039
 text in chapter 3

00:26:50.039 --> 00:26:51.579
 of Mark, it says,

00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:52.799
 He appointed the

00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:54.420
 twelve, whom He also

00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:56.120
 named apostles, so

00:26:56.120 --> 00:26:56.839
 they might be with

00:26:56.839 --> 00:26:58.299
 Him and He might

00:26:58.299 --> 00:26:59.339
 send them out to

00:26:59.339 --> 00:27:01.740
 preach and have

00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:03.279
 authority to cast

00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:04.059
 out demons.

00:27:05.379 --> 00:27:06.359
 This word for

00:27:06.359 --> 00:27:07.079
 authority is the

00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:07.779
 word, the Greek

00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.699
 word exousia.

00:27:09.699 --> 00:27:11.000
 It's the word for

00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:12.139
 jurisdiction or

00:27:12.139 --> 00:27:13.799
 control or authority

00:27:13.799 --> 00:27:14.459
 to rule.

00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:15.959
 It's the word for

00:27:15.959 --> 00:27:17.699
 supernatural power or

00:27:17.699 --> 00:27:18.939
 the right to judge.

00:27:19.639 --> 00:27:20.500
 It's the same word

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.240
 that we find in

00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:23.119
 Matthew 28, 19 or

00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:24.379
 18 through 20 where

00:27:24.379 --> 00:27:25.799
 Jesus says, all

00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:27.480
 authority in heaven

00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:28.759
 and on earth has

00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.700
 been given to me,

00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:31.579
 so go and make

00:27:31.579 --> 00:27:32.079
 disciples.

00:27:35.079 --> 00:27:36.759
 All authority has

00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.480
 been given to

00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.039
 Christ.

00:27:39.139 --> 00:27:40.500
 Christ has been

00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.099
 given to the

00:27:41.099 --> 00:27:42.919
 church and so the

00:27:42.919 --> 00:27:44.220
 church can enjoy

00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:45.460
 the power of God

00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:47.139
 because of Christ

00:27:47.139 --> 00:27:48.099
 and fellowshipping

00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:49.460
 with Him and

00:27:49.460 --> 00:27:50.599
 express that power

00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:51.180
 in this world.

00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:53.980
 There is divine

00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:56.099
 strength that comes

00:27:56.099 --> 00:27:57.059
 to the believer,

00:27:57.400 --> 00:27:58.360
 that comes to the

00:27:58.360 --> 00:28:00.160
 church because of

00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:01.319
 our position in

00:28:01.319 --> 00:28:01.940
 Christ Jesus.

00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:03.759
 He has authority

00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:04.420
 and because of

00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:05.420
 being in Christ,

00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:07.599
 we have authority

00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:08.259
 and power.

00:28:09.660 --> 00:28:10.620
 A few years ago

00:28:10.620 --> 00:28:11.640
 when I was working

00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:12.900
 through the letters

00:28:12.900 --> 00:28:14.220
 of Paul to the

00:28:14.220 --> 00:28:15.720
 churches, this

00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:17.259
 continued to just

00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:18.660
 come home to my

00:28:18.660 --> 00:28:19.200
 heart.

00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:21.019
 Listen to a sampling

00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:22.279
 of what Paul says

00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:23.519
 in Ephesians 1.

00:28:23.619 --> 00:28:24.420
 He says, I'm

00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:25.319
 praying for you

00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:26.339
 that you would

00:28:26.339 --> 00:28:26.740
 know the

00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.539
 immeasurable

00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:29.000
 greatness of

00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:30.059
 His power towards

00:28:30.059 --> 00:28:30.859
 us who believe.

00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:32.579
 Later on in

00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:33.259
 chapter 3, he

00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:33.700
 says, I'm

00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.759
 praying on my

00:28:34.759 --> 00:28:35.460
 knees to the

00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:36.240
 Father for you

00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:37.039
 that you would

00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:37.819
 be strengthened

00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:39.180
 with power

00:28:39.180 --> 00:28:39.819
 through His

00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:40.500
 Spirit in your

00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:41.039
 inner being.

00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:42.879
 And in

00:28:42.879 --> 00:28:43.660
 chapter 6, he

00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:44.559
 says, be

00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:45.559
 strong in the

00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:46.500
 Lord and in the

00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.559
 power of His

00:28:47.559 --> 00:28:48.000
 might.

00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:49.779
 in Philippians

00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:50.759
 chapter 3, verse

00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:51.940
 10, he says, I

00:28:51.940 --> 00:28:52.660
 am praying for

00:28:52.660 --> 00:28:54.279
 myself that I

00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:55.160
 would know Him

00:28:55.160 --> 00:28:57.099
 in the power of

00:28:57.099 --> 00:28:57.759
 His resurrection.

00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:00.579
 In Colossians

00:29:00.579 --> 00:29:01.380
 chapter 1, he's

00:29:01.380 --> 00:29:02.079
 praying for the

00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:02.619
 church again.

00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:04.099
 He says, I

00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:04.980
 haven't ceased to

00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:06.099
 pray for you that

00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:06.559
 you would be

00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:07.680
 strengthened with

00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:09.240
 power according to

00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:09.839
 His glorious

00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:10.279
 might.

00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:13.160
 Would you

00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:14.519
 characterize your

00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:16.180
 life as one of

00:29:16.180 --> 00:29:16.599
 power?

00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:21.099
 maybe the

00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:22.119
 reason why you

00:29:22.119 --> 00:29:23.279
 feel so

00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:24.079
 powerless in

00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:25.779
 this life is

00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:26.799
 because we have

00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:28.640
 not dialed in to

00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:29.240
 the kind of

00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:30.380
 fellowship that

00:29:30.380 --> 00:29:31.099
 God has called

00:29:31.099 --> 00:29:31.819
 us to have.

00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:34.000
 Fellowshiping

00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:36.559
 relationships that

00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:38.220
 are channels of

00:29:38.220 --> 00:29:39.339
 divine strength and

00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:39.599
 power.

00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:41.500
 And throughout

00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:42.339
 the gospel of

00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:43.099
 Acts, or

00:29:43.099 --> 00:29:43.660
 throughout the

00:29:43.660 --> 00:29:44.339
 book of Acts,

00:29:44.400 --> 00:29:45.240
 you see how

00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:46.299
 that power shows

00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:47.759
 up corporately for

00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.279
 the church.

00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.619
 Really, as you

00:29:49.619 --> 00:29:50.000
 look through the

00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:50.500
 New Testament,

00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:51.500
 anywhere that

00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:52.900
 power is used,

00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:54.000
 it really is used

00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:54.779
 in conjunction

00:29:54.779 --> 00:29:56.339
 with the church at

00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:57.879
 large, not to

00:29:57.879 --> 00:29:58.500
 individuals.

00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:00.859
 If you want to

00:30:00.859 --> 00:30:01.660
 recognize and

00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:02.960
 experience the power

00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:03.619
 of God in your

00:30:03.619 --> 00:30:06.180
 life, it has to

00:30:06.180 --> 00:30:07.059
 happen through

00:30:07.059 --> 00:30:08.460
 relationships with

00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:09.059
 God's people.

00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:11.859
 Okay, so

00:30:11.859 --> 00:30:12.619
 drawing this to

00:30:12.619 --> 00:30:14.200
 a close, you're

00:30:14.200 --> 00:30:15.000
 asking yourself the

00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:15.660
 question, I know you

00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:15.940
 are.

00:30:16.340 --> 00:30:16.860
 He says, okay,

00:30:17.360 --> 00:30:18.279
 we've seen how

00:30:18.279 --> 00:30:19.259
 fellowship is

00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:20.400
 important to the

00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:20.660
 church.

00:30:20.779 --> 00:30:22.000
 We see how Christ

00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:23.120
 kind of initiated

00:30:23.120 --> 00:30:24.580
 this fellowshipping

00:30:24.580 --> 00:30:25.480
 relationships, but

00:30:25.480 --> 00:30:27.400
 come on now, is

00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:28.160
 this really the

00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:29.279
 strategy for the

00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:29.560
 future?

00:30:29.820 --> 00:30:30.580
 Is this really how

00:30:30.580 --> 00:30:31.779
 God intends for

00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:32.720
 this to happen in

00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:33.660
 his church?

00:30:35.400 --> 00:30:36.400
 And I'd like to

00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:37.960
 just quickly run

00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:38.640
 through some

00:30:38.640 --> 00:30:39.759
 examples in Acts

00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:41.000
 and show you that

00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:42.220
 fellowship is God's

00:30:42.220 --> 00:30:43.340
 enduring strategy.

00:30:43.339 --> 00:30:45.939
 fellowship is God's

00:30:45.939 --> 00:30:47.379
 enduring strategy.

00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:49.599
 So in Acts

00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:51.159
 chapter 1, and I'm

00:30:51.159 --> 00:30:51.519
 just going to

00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:52.480
 summarize this for

00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:53.139
 sake of time.

00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:55.059
 Acts chapter 1, the

00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:55.959
 disciples find

00:30:55.959 --> 00:30:57.359
 themselves having

00:30:57.359 --> 00:30:58.439
 just said goodbye

00:30:58.439 --> 00:30:59.119
 to Jesus.

00:30:59.879 --> 00:31:00.819
 Jesus has just

00:31:00.819 --> 00:31:02.559
 ascended to heaven

00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:03.500
 and he's given

00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:04.279
 them instructions.

00:31:04.439 --> 00:31:05.579
 He says, go and

00:31:05.579 --> 00:31:06.679
 wait in Jerusalem.

00:31:07.859 --> 00:31:09.099
 Wait in Jerusalem

00:31:09.099 --> 00:31:11.019
 for my power to

00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:11.459
 show up.

00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:12.100
 And when it

00:31:12.100 --> 00:31:13.140
 does, you will be

00:31:13.140 --> 00:31:13.640
 my witnesses

00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:14.500
 everywhere.

00:31:16.039 --> 00:31:16.840
 So they do.

00:31:18.039 --> 00:31:18.660
 In beginning in

00:31:18.660 --> 00:31:19.799
 verse 12, we find

00:31:19.799 --> 00:31:20.620
 them obeying the

00:31:20.620 --> 00:31:21.960
 instructions of

00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:22.440
 Christ.

00:31:23.059 --> 00:31:23.960
 Acts chapter 1,

00:31:24.299 --> 00:31:25.079
 verse 12.

00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:26.240
 If you're following

00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:27.180
 along, it's on page

00:31:27.180 --> 00:31:28.420
 909.

00:31:29.100 --> 00:31:29.680
 It says, they

00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:30.420
 returned to

00:31:30.420 --> 00:31:31.539
 Jerusalem from the

00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:32.059
 mount called

00:31:32.059 --> 00:31:33.279
 Olivet, which is

00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:34.200
 near Jerusalem, a

00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:34.740
 Sabbath day's

00:31:34.740 --> 00:31:35.360
 journey away.

00:31:35.819 --> 00:31:36.559
 And when they had

00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:37.500
 entered, they went

00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:38.299
 to the upper room

00:31:38.299 --> 00:31:39.940
 where they were

00:31:39.940 --> 00:31:40.220
 staying.

00:31:40.220 --> 00:31:40.680
 Now, this is

00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:41.059
 important.

00:31:41.940 --> 00:31:42.759
 I want you to

00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:43.700
 recognize that they

00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:44.600
 didn't all go to

00:31:44.600 --> 00:31:45.519
 their own individual

00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:46.240
 places.

00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:49.480
 They went

00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:52.000
 together to a

00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:53.539
 house in

00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:54.000
 Jerusalem.

00:31:54.940 --> 00:31:56.039
 They were there

00:31:56.039 --> 00:31:56.539
 together.

00:31:56.700 --> 00:31:56.960
 And they

00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:59.100
 understood that

00:31:59.100 --> 00:32:00.460
 waiting did not

00:32:00.460 --> 00:32:01.660
 just mean sitting

00:32:01.660 --> 00:32:02.259
 on the couch

00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:02.980
 watching a football

00:32:02.980 --> 00:32:04.539
 game, as great as

00:32:04.539 --> 00:32:05.200
 that might be.

00:32:06.900 --> 00:32:08.100
 Waiting meant

00:32:08.100 --> 00:32:08.559
 praying.

00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:09.599
 If they had

00:32:09.599 --> 00:32:10.700
 learned anything

00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:12.500
 from Jesus, they

00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:13.579
 understood that

00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:14.919
 waiting and praying

00:32:14.919 --> 00:32:16.079
 went hand in

00:32:16.079 --> 00:32:16.299
 hand.

00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:18.139
 So that's what

00:32:18.139 --> 00:32:18.440
 they're doing.

00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:20.779
 They entered the

00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:21.359
 upper room, and

00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:22.399
 there they are

00:32:22.399 --> 00:32:22.859
 together.

00:32:23.119 --> 00:32:23.799
 And it says in

00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:24.940
 verse 14, all

00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:26.599
 these with one

00:32:26.599 --> 00:32:27.740
 accord were

00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:28.980
 devoting themselves

00:32:28.980 --> 00:32:30.579
 to prayer.

00:32:30.579 --> 00:32:33.220
 together with the

00:32:33.220 --> 00:32:34.000
 women and the

00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:35.079
 Mary, the mother

00:32:35.079 --> 00:32:35.960
 of Jesus and

00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:36.419
 his brothers.

00:32:37.619 --> 00:32:38.379
 This word, one

00:32:38.379 --> 00:32:40.339
 accord, is used

00:32:40.339 --> 00:32:41.919
 11 times in the

00:32:41.919 --> 00:32:43.039
 New Testament, and

00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:44.639
 10 of them show

00:32:44.639 --> 00:32:45.500
 up in Acts.

00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:46.919
 That's how

00:32:46.919 --> 00:32:47.859
 significant it was

00:32:47.859 --> 00:32:49.199
 for this early

00:32:49.199 --> 00:32:50.480
 church to express

00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:52.139
 their oneness,

00:32:52.859 --> 00:32:54.659
 their like-mindedness,

00:32:54.759 --> 00:32:55.879
 their singular

00:32:55.880 --> 00:32:58.000
 vision and focus

00:32:58.000 --> 00:33:00.100
 for ministry was

00:33:00.100 --> 00:33:01.400
 collaborative.

00:33:02.760 --> 00:33:03.340
 And there they

00:33:03.340 --> 00:33:04.420
 are together, and

00:33:04.420 --> 00:33:05.720
 when they are

00:33:05.720 --> 00:33:07.860
 together, God's

00:33:07.860 --> 00:33:09.600
 power shows up.

00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:11.160
 See that in

00:33:11.160 --> 00:33:12.980
 chapter 2, verse

00:33:12.980 --> 00:33:13.480
 1, it says,

00:33:13.600 --> 00:33:13.940
 when the day of

00:33:13.940 --> 00:33:15.240
 Pentecost arrived,

00:33:15.360 --> 00:33:16.460
 they were all

00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:17.180
 together in one

00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:17.820
 place, there it is

00:33:17.820 --> 00:33:19.160
 again, and

00:33:19.160 --> 00:33:20.120
 suddenly there came

00:33:20.120 --> 00:33:20.780
 from heaven a

00:33:20.780 --> 00:33:21.940
 sound like a

00:33:21.940 --> 00:33:22.640
 mighty rushing

00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:23.020
 wind.

00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:25.000
 We find all

00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:26.180
 the same hallmarks

00:33:26.180 --> 00:33:27.200
 of fellowship

00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:27.879
 taking place

00:33:27.879 --> 00:33:28.119
 here.

00:33:28.619 --> 00:33:29.559
 Singular devotion,

00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:32.019
 togetherness, unity,

00:33:32.579 --> 00:33:33.859
 and partnership, and

00:33:33.859 --> 00:33:34.819
 praying together, and

00:33:34.819 --> 00:33:35.779
 we didn't have time

00:33:35.779 --> 00:33:36.440
 to look at this, but

00:33:36.440 --> 00:33:37.539
 the word of God

00:33:37.539 --> 00:33:38.460
 being taught in

00:33:38.460 --> 00:33:38.960
 their midst.

00:33:39.639 --> 00:33:40.319
 And then the

00:33:40.319 --> 00:33:41.259
 power of God

00:33:41.259 --> 00:33:43.579
 comes through the

00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.799
 channel of this

00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:45.379
 fellowshipping

00:33:45.379 --> 00:33:46.139
 relationship.

00:33:47.039 --> 00:33:47.440
 Turn to the

00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:48.339
 page of chapter 2.

00:33:49.940 --> 00:33:50.819
 Acts chapter 2,

00:33:51.279 --> 00:33:52.680
 verses 42 to 47.

00:33:52.680 --> 00:33:53.420
 This is a

00:33:53.420 --> 00:33:54.380
 familiar verse to

00:33:54.380 --> 00:33:54.700
 you, and I just

00:33:54.700 --> 00:33:55.360
 want to point out

00:33:55.360 --> 00:33:56.560
 some specific

00:33:56.560 --> 00:33:56.960
 words.

00:33:57.880 --> 00:33:59.060
 First, in verse

00:33:59.060 --> 00:33:59.799
 42, it says,

00:34:00.299 --> 00:34:01.519
 and, what's that

00:34:01.519 --> 00:34:02.180
 word, that next

00:34:02.180 --> 00:34:02.460
 word?

00:34:03.600 --> 00:34:06.860
 They, this group

00:34:06.860 --> 00:34:08.340
 of 2,000 believers,

00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:10.920
 this brand new

00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:12.960
 church era had

00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:15.000
 begun, and they

00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:15.760
 are all together.

00:34:16.340 --> 00:34:18.220
 Every single one

00:34:18.220 --> 00:34:19.460
 of them together,

00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:21.139
 fellowshipping, it

00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:21.519
 says.

00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:22.380
 They devoted

00:34:22.380 --> 00:34:23.300
 themselves to the

00:34:23.300 --> 00:34:24.199
 apostles' teaching

00:34:24.199 --> 00:34:25.519
 and the

00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:25.900
 fellowship.

00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:27.639
 And throughout the

00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:28.119
 rest of this

00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:28.659
 passage, you're going

00:34:28.659 --> 00:34:29.619
 to find how that

00:34:29.619 --> 00:34:31.139
 community, how that

00:34:31.139 --> 00:34:32.219
 community partnered

00:34:32.219 --> 00:34:33.619
 with each other to

00:34:33.619 --> 00:34:34.440
 distribute for each

00:34:34.440 --> 00:34:35.679
 other's needs, to be

00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:36.699
 interested in care.

00:34:37.039 --> 00:34:38.719
 And as a result of

00:34:38.719 --> 00:34:39.340
 the fellowshipping

00:34:39.340 --> 00:34:40.179
 relationship they had

00:34:40.179 --> 00:34:41.280
 with one another, we

00:34:41.280 --> 00:34:42.639
 find the result in

00:34:42.639 --> 00:34:43.420
 verse 47.

00:34:43.780 --> 00:34:44.759
 It changed everything

00:34:44.759 --> 00:34:46.679
 about them, praising

00:34:46.679 --> 00:34:47.880
 God and having favor

00:34:47.880 --> 00:34:48.980
 with all the people, and

00:34:48.980 --> 00:34:49.940
 the Lord added to their

00:34:49.940 --> 00:34:51.500
 number day by day, those

00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:52.400
 who are being saved.

00:34:55.119 --> 00:34:56.039
 Do you want that?

00:34:57.559 --> 00:34:58.860
 Do you want that as a

00:34:58.860 --> 00:34:59.139
 church?

00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:01.599
 Do you want God to show

00:35:01.599 --> 00:35:04.780
 up in relationships that

00:35:04.780 --> 00:35:05.780
 we have with one another?

00:35:06.360 --> 00:35:08.800
 This explosive work of

00:35:08.800 --> 00:35:10.099
 God in the hearts of his

00:35:10.099 --> 00:35:11.940
 people that is creating

00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:14.539
 evidence of that work in

00:35:14.539 --> 00:35:14.860
 the world?

00:35:16.300 --> 00:35:17.279
 Well, maybe you'll say,

00:35:17.579 --> 00:35:18.340
 that's good for the

00:35:18.340 --> 00:35:18.759
 apostles.

00:35:19.960 --> 00:35:21.000
 But what about us?

00:35:21.019 --> 00:35:22.019
 We don't have the same

00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:22.360
 gifts.

00:35:23.239 --> 00:35:24.239
 So briefly, turn to

00:35:24.239 --> 00:35:24.800
 chapter 11.

00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:27.279
 This is where it explodes

00:35:27.279 --> 00:35:28.199
 out of Antioch.

00:35:28.340 --> 00:35:31.000
 And now, 15 to 20 years

00:35:31.000 --> 00:35:33.159
 later, the church era

00:35:33.159 --> 00:35:35.559
 has begun, and Antioch

00:35:35.559 --> 00:35:37.940
 will become the launch

00:35:37.940 --> 00:35:39.940
 pad for worldwide

00:35:39.940 --> 00:35:41.059
 evangelism.

00:35:41.059 --> 00:35:43.400
 It will turn the world

00:35:43.400 --> 00:35:45.480
 upside down with the

00:35:45.480 --> 00:35:47.320
 gospel from this city

00:35:47.320 --> 00:35:49.820
 of Antioch, made up of

00:35:49.820 --> 00:35:51.279
 a bunch of ragtag

00:35:51.279 --> 00:35:52.820
 misfits from Jerusalem

00:35:52.820 --> 00:35:54.019
 who got kicked out

00:35:54.019 --> 00:35:54.980
 because of persecution.

00:35:57.739 --> 00:35:59.059
 Briefly, verse 19.

00:36:00.199 --> 00:36:01.420
 Those who were scattered

00:36:01.420 --> 00:36:02.360
 because of persecution

00:36:02.360 --> 00:36:03.719
 that arose over Stephen

00:36:03.719 --> 00:36:04.719
 traveled as far as

00:36:04.719 --> 00:36:05.799
 Phoenicia and Cyprus and

00:36:05.799 --> 00:36:07.779
 Antioch, speaking the

00:36:07.779 --> 00:36:08.920
 word to no one except

00:36:08.920 --> 00:36:09.360
 the Jews.

00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:10.119
 That's one group.

00:36:11.059 --> 00:36:13.420
 But, verse 20, there

00:36:13.420 --> 00:36:14.579
 were some of them, men

00:36:14.579 --> 00:36:15.840
 of Cyprus and Cyrene,

00:36:16.099 --> 00:36:17.199
 who on coming to Antioch

00:36:17.199 --> 00:36:18.279
 spoke to the Hellenists

00:36:18.279 --> 00:36:20.279
 and also preaching the

00:36:20.279 --> 00:36:21.219
 Lord Jesus.

00:36:21.699 --> 00:36:22.539
 And what was the result?

00:36:23.840 --> 00:36:24.420
 Verse 21.

00:36:25.219 --> 00:36:26.900
 In the hand of the Lord

00:36:26.900 --> 00:36:28.559
 was with them, and a

00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:30.139
 great number who

00:36:30.139 --> 00:36:32.460
 believed turned to the

00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:32.840
 Lord.

00:36:33.880 --> 00:36:34.480
 Hallelujah.

00:36:35.940 --> 00:36:37.119
 Word gets back to

00:36:37.119 --> 00:36:37.599
 Jerusalem.

00:36:37.599 --> 00:36:37.659
 Jerusalem.

00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:39.339
 And the apostles

00:36:39.339 --> 00:36:42.059
 send this no-name guy,

00:36:42.159 --> 00:36:42.940
 at least at the time,

00:36:43.500 --> 00:36:44.480
 the son of encouragement

00:36:44.480 --> 00:36:45.980
 named Barnabas, to go

00:36:45.980 --> 00:36:46.719
 and try to encourage

00:36:46.719 --> 00:36:47.480
 this band of people.

00:36:48.920 --> 00:36:50.159
 He shows up in verse

00:36:50.159 --> 00:36:52.880
 22, and then he says,

00:36:53.159 --> 00:36:54.699
 in verse 23, he came

00:36:54.699 --> 00:36:56.299
 and saw the grace of God.

00:36:56.579 --> 00:36:57.759
 He was glad and exhorted

00:36:57.759 --> 00:36:58.960
 them to remain faithful.

00:37:00.039 --> 00:37:01.179
 And then jumping down to

00:37:01.179 --> 00:37:02.239
 the end of verse 24,

00:37:02.239 --> 00:37:03.699
 before, and a great

00:37:03.699 --> 00:37:05.579
 many people were added

00:37:05.579 --> 00:37:07.479
 to the Lord, because

00:37:07.479 --> 00:37:09.059
 an encouraging ministry

00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:09.699
 of Barnabas.

00:37:10.679 --> 00:37:11.539
 And now fellowship

00:37:11.539 --> 00:37:12.799
 begins to really take

00:37:12.799 --> 00:37:13.359
 place.

00:37:13.500 --> 00:37:14.459
 Barnabas goes and finds

00:37:14.459 --> 00:37:16.899
 Saul, who is also

00:37:16.899 --> 00:37:17.599
 known as Paul.

00:37:17.919 --> 00:37:18.959
 The two of them team

00:37:18.959 --> 00:37:19.799
 teach for the next

00:37:19.799 --> 00:37:20.199
 year.

00:37:20.759 --> 00:37:21.779
 We find the results of

00:37:21.779 --> 00:37:22.399
 that at the end of

00:37:22.399 --> 00:37:23.159
 verse 26.

00:37:23.439 --> 00:37:24.479
 For a whole year, they

00:37:24.479 --> 00:37:25.859
 met with the church and

00:37:25.859 --> 00:37:27.299
 taught, and a great

00:37:27.299 --> 00:37:29.500
 many people were

00:37:29.500 --> 00:37:29.959
 instructed.

00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:32.420
 And in Antioch, the

00:37:32.420 --> 00:37:33.480
 disciples were first

00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:34.460
 called Christians.

00:37:35.740 --> 00:37:36.720
 And then finally, this

00:37:36.720 --> 00:37:37.840
 last group of individuals

00:37:37.840 --> 00:37:39.119
 known as prophets, they

00:37:39.119 --> 00:37:40.539
 also show up, and they

00:37:40.539 --> 00:37:42.340
 add their little giftedness

00:37:42.340 --> 00:37:42.900
 to the mix.

00:37:43.740 --> 00:37:45.220
 We see five different

00:37:45.220 --> 00:37:46.460
 ways the word of God is

00:37:46.460 --> 00:37:47.320
 brought to this group of

00:37:47.320 --> 00:37:47.579
 people.

00:37:47.780 --> 00:37:49.079
 It's spoken, it's

00:37:49.079 --> 00:37:50.559
 preached, it's encouraged,

00:37:50.740 --> 00:37:52.300
 it's taught, and now

00:37:52.300 --> 00:37:53.320
 it's prophesied.

00:37:53.400 --> 00:37:54.440
 And as a result of that,

00:37:54.619 --> 00:37:55.720
 we find in the remaining

00:37:55.720 --> 00:37:58.039
 verses 27 to 30, that

00:37:58.039 --> 00:37:58.940
 fellowship not only

00:37:58.940 --> 00:38:00.440
 happens amongst the

00:38:00.440 --> 00:38:01.659
 people of God there in

00:38:01.659 --> 00:38:03.840
 Antioch, but it spills

00:38:03.840 --> 00:38:05.500
 out to Judea, where

00:38:05.500 --> 00:38:06.599
 they're now sharing

00:38:06.599 --> 00:38:08.599
 gifts and care and

00:38:08.599 --> 00:38:09.639
 love to the churches

00:38:09.639 --> 00:38:10.720
 who will be hurting

00:38:10.720 --> 00:38:12.220
 someday in the near

00:38:12.220 --> 00:38:13.099
 future because of a

00:38:13.099 --> 00:38:13.360
 famine.

00:38:14.500 --> 00:38:15.519
 It says in verse 29,

00:38:15.820 --> 00:38:16.940
 the disciples determined

00:38:16.940 --> 00:38:18.400
 everyone according to

00:38:18.400 --> 00:38:19.559
 his ability to send

00:38:19.559 --> 00:38:20.880
 relief to the brothers

00:38:20.880 --> 00:38:21.980
 living in Judea.

00:38:22.780 --> 00:38:24.019
 That's what happens

00:38:24.019 --> 00:38:26.059
 when true biblical

00:38:26.059 --> 00:38:26.820
 fellowship is taking

00:38:26.820 --> 00:38:27.280
 place.

00:38:28.480 --> 00:38:30.480
 It always has an

00:38:30.480 --> 00:38:31.460
 outward component.

00:38:31.600 --> 00:38:33.039
 It is nurturing the

00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:34.900
 strength of individuals

00:38:34.900 --> 00:38:35.880
 so they can be

00:38:35.880 --> 00:38:36.660
 strengthened for

00:38:36.660 --> 00:38:37.960
 nurturing and helping

00:38:37.960 --> 00:38:38.700
 others.

00:38:40.780 --> 00:38:42.019
 Big things happen

00:38:42.019 --> 00:38:43.820
 when we are about

00:38:43.820 --> 00:38:45.480
 biblical fellowship.

00:38:46.220 --> 00:38:47.660
 So we end where we

00:38:47.660 --> 00:38:48.120
 began.

00:38:49.080 --> 00:38:49.980
 The question is,

00:38:50.160 --> 00:38:51.940
 what is the big deal

00:38:51.940 --> 00:38:53.400
 about fellowship?

00:38:53.400 --> 00:38:55.639
 And I trust this

00:38:55.639 --> 00:38:56.920
 morning as we have

00:38:56.920 --> 00:38:57.660
 looked into the

00:38:57.660 --> 00:38:58.900
 scriptures, we can see

00:38:58.900 --> 00:39:01.539
 fellowship is a big

00:39:01.539 --> 00:39:01.900
 deal.

00:39:02.900 --> 00:39:04.139
 It's part of God's

00:39:04.139 --> 00:39:05.539
 program to do big

00:39:05.539 --> 00:39:06.380
 things in this world.

00:39:07.840 --> 00:39:09.700
 And so we as a

00:39:09.700 --> 00:39:11.280
 church have designed

00:39:11.280 --> 00:39:11.900
 a small group

00:39:11.900 --> 00:39:13.820
 ministry for you to

00:39:13.820 --> 00:39:15.519
 plug in and not just

00:39:15.519 --> 00:39:17.460
 to have conversations

00:39:17.460 --> 00:39:18.160
 and interaction.

00:39:18.280 --> 00:39:18.960
 We want that to take

00:39:18.960 --> 00:39:19.480
 place.

00:39:19.480 --> 00:39:21.360
 But we are nurturing

00:39:21.360 --> 00:39:23.079
 disciples so that you

00:39:23.079 --> 00:39:23.840
 can go.

00:39:24.559 --> 00:39:25.460
 We're nurturing

00:39:25.460 --> 00:39:27.599
 relationships that you

00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:29.139
 can invite and

00:39:29.139 --> 00:39:30.340
 encourage others to

00:39:30.340 --> 00:39:31.119
 participate in.

00:39:31.960 --> 00:39:33.179
 That's why so many of

00:39:33.179 --> 00:39:33.860
 the small groups are

00:39:33.860 --> 00:39:35.019
 actually in communities.

00:39:35.940 --> 00:39:37.099
 It's our hope that

00:39:37.099 --> 00:39:38.519
 your neighbors might

00:39:38.519 --> 00:39:40.280
 benefit from that

00:39:40.280 --> 00:39:41.699
 touch that small

00:39:41.699 --> 00:39:42.880
 groups will have in

00:39:42.880 --> 00:39:43.500
 that immediate

00:39:43.500 --> 00:39:44.179
 context.

00:39:45.860 --> 00:39:46.920
 And by God's grace

00:39:46.920 --> 00:39:48.180
 grace and

00:39:48.180 --> 00:39:48.840
 according to his

00:39:48.840 --> 00:39:50.079
 power, we'll see

00:39:50.079 --> 00:39:51.260
 God show up through

00:39:51.260 --> 00:39:52.639
 this small group

00:39:52.639 --> 00:39:53.720
 ministry, not only for

00:39:53.720 --> 00:39:55.480
 you individually, but

00:39:55.480 --> 00:39:56.400
 we'll begin to see how

00:39:56.400 --> 00:39:57.619
 God will nurture us and

00:39:57.619 --> 00:39:58.820
 strengthen us and

00:39:58.820 --> 00:39:59.680
 strengthen our

00:39:59.680 --> 00:40:02.280
 children so that we

00:40:02.280 --> 00:40:03.139
 can have an impact in

00:40:03.139 --> 00:40:04.000
 the world around us.

00:40:04.420 --> 00:40:06.159
 I wonder if a hundred

00:40:06.159 --> 00:40:06.980
 years from now,

00:40:07.039 --> 00:40:07.940
 someone might say,

00:40:07.940 --> 00:40:11.039
 you know, it was

00:40:11.039 --> 00:40:13.760
 because of my great

00:40:13.760 --> 00:40:14.840
 granddaddy in the

00:40:14.840 --> 00:40:16.720
 faith who was

00:40:16.720 --> 00:40:17.519
 nurtured in this

00:40:17.519 --> 00:40:18.139
 fellowshipping

00:40:18.139 --> 00:40:19.139
 relationship at

00:40:19.139 --> 00:40:20.400
 Maranatha Baptist

00:40:20.400 --> 00:40:22.400
 that I stand here

00:40:22.400 --> 00:40:22.740
 today.

00:40:23.740 --> 00:40:26.320
 May God use these

00:40:26.320 --> 00:40:27.320
 small group ministries

00:40:27.320 --> 00:40:28.980
 to fan the flames of

00:40:28.980 --> 00:40:29.920
 gospel in your life

00:40:29.920 --> 00:40:32.079
 and help us be more

00:40:32.079 --> 00:40:33.119
 impactful in the world

00:40:33.119 --> 00:40:33.760
 around us.

00:40:34.159 --> 00:40:34.639
 Let's pray.

00:40:34.639 --> 00:40:37.400
 God, we praise you

00:40:37.400 --> 00:40:39.199
 this morning for the

00:40:39.199 --> 00:40:40.400
 example of Jesus who

00:40:40.400 --> 00:40:42.179
 got this all started.

00:40:43.219 --> 00:40:45.000
 You who initiated

00:40:45.000 --> 00:40:46.239
 fellowshipping

00:40:46.239 --> 00:40:47.179
 relationships with

00:40:47.179 --> 00:40:49.579
 these twelve men who

00:40:49.579 --> 00:40:50.199
 would then become

00:40:50.199 --> 00:40:50.579
 eleven.

00:40:52.779 --> 00:40:54.259
 You initiated that in

00:40:54.259 --> 00:40:55.379
 their lives and you

00:40:55.379 --> 00:40:57.059
 fanned the flames of

00:40:57.059 --> 00:40:58.599
 knowledge and love for

00:40:58.599 --> 00:41:01.159
 God so they could come

00:41:01.159 --> 00:41:03.119
 to cherish you and in

00:41:03.119 --> 00:41:04.519
 cherishing you, they

00:41:04.519 --> 00:41:05.599
 could commend you to

00:41:05.599 --> 00:41:05.940
 others.

00:41:06.780 --> 00:41:08.239
 We stand here today

00:41:08.239 --> 00:41:11.259
 because of the legacy

00:41:11.259 --> 00:41:13.719
 of faithfulness in that

00:41:13.719 --> 00:41:15.639
 first century and the

00:41:15.639 --> 00:41:16.840
 legacy of faithfulness

00:41:16.840 --> 00:41:17.739
 that continued on

00:41:17.739 --> 00:41:19.719
 through the ages to the

00:41:19.719 --> 00:41:22.119
 person who ministered

00:41:22.119 --> 00:41:23.340
 the gospel to us and we

00:41:23.340 --> 00:41:23.920
 praise you.

00:41:24.880 --> 00:41:26.719
 How you understood that

00:41:26.719 --> 00:41:28.259
 whole process and you

00:41:28.259 --> 00:41:29.579
 instrumentally put those

00:41:29.579 --> 00:41:30.759
 individuals in our lives.

00:41:31.800 --> 00:41:34.239
 Thank you for bringing us

00:41:34.239 --> 00:41:35.419
 to faith in Christ and

00:41:35.419 --> 00:41:38.059
 help us in our

00:41:38.059 --> 00:41:39.699
 relationship with you to

00:41:39.699 --> 00:41:42.119
 convey relationship and

00:41:42.119 --> 00:41:43.679
 love and care to the

00:41:43.679 --> 00:41:44.899
 community of believers

00:41:44.899 --> 00:41:46.639
 around us so that we

00:41:46.639 --> 00:41:47.819
 can be strengthened to

00:41:47.819 --> 00:41:48.839
 reach this world for

00:41:48.839 --> 00:41:49.219
 Christ.

00:41:50.219 --> 00:41:51.099
 We pray these things in

00:41:51.099 --> 00:41:51.699
 Jesus' name.

00:41:51.919 --> 00:41:52.159
 Amen.

00:41:52.159 --> 00:41:53.819
 Amen.

00:41:53.819 --> 00:41:53.819


00:41:53.819 --> 00:41:53.819


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00:41:53.819 --> 00:41:53.819