WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.339 All right, church, we are considering on with our series called Community this morning. 00:00:05.560 --> 00:00:12.179 So I'm going to ask you to turn to Acts chapter 2, the book of Acts chapter 2. 00:00:12.280 --> 00:00:16.359 We're talking about community, lessons from the early church. 00:00:17.339 --> 00:00:24.660 While you're turning, I'm thankful for how Jared and the choir kind of handled that whole 00:00:24.660 --> 00:00:27.879 mess up with the technology going on. 00:00:27.879 --> 00:00:31.979 And if you would have been in here before church this morning, we tried that track. 00:00:32.060 --> 00:00:32.780 It worked perfectly. 00:00:32.920 --> 00:00:33.619 Everything was fine. 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:36.739 And then the devil decided to get in and try to mess it up. 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:40.700 But I'm thankful that it came together and we're still able to praise the Lord together. 00:00:41.939 --> 00:00:46.299 It's all about speaking Jesus, whether we're doing it inside the church building or outside 00:00:46.299 --> 00:00:47.019 the church building. 00:00:47.399 --> 00:00:48.560 That's what we're called to do. 00:00:48.780 --> 00:00:53.359 We're called to speak Jesus to one another, to ourselves, and to the world around us. 00:00:53.359 --> 00:01:00.399 As we worship together, as we grow together, we do it in community. 00:01:01.399 --> 00:01:08.620 It is an absolutely essential ingredient to a healthy, Christ-centered church. 00:01:09.620 --> 00:01:17.920 You cannot be a healthy, Christ-centered Christian if you are not in community with other believers. 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:22.599 Now, you might be all alone on an island. 00:01:23.320 --> 00:01:28.060 You might be the only one in your area that is a Christ follower. 00:01:28.620 --> 00:01:32.719 But God calls us and designed us to be in community with one another. 00:01:33.260 --> 00:01:38.640 So it's going to be difficult for you to grow in your faith unless you're surrounded by a 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:42.799 Christian community, which is why God ordained the local church. 00:01:43.299 --> 00:01:44.460 He ordained the family. 00:01:44.859 --> 00:01:46.040 He ordained the church. 00:01:46.040 --> 00:01:49.620 It's because we were not meant to do this alone. 00:01:50.260 --> 00:01:51.920 We're meant to do this in community. 00:01:52.340 --> 00:01:56.760 So last Sunday, we talked about how we study truth together. 00:01:57.280 --> 00:02:00.860 This was kind of the first lesson that we receive from the early church. 00:02:00.900 --> 00:02:06.600 As we do community, as we do Christ-centered worship together, we study truth together. 00:02:06.600 --> 00:02:13.379 And our takeaway was, will I commit to grow with my church community in studying truth together? 00:02:13.460 --> 00:02:14.060 It's a commitment. 00:02:14.060 --> 00:02:16.759 We see that in Acts chapter 2. 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:18.180 So let's get back into it. 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:20.860 If you're there, would you stand together? 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:23.920 And we'll read from Acts chapter 2. 00:02:23.979 --> 00:02:26.199 I want to remind you of this quote we looked at last Sunday. 00:02:26.300 --> 00:02:27.420 The church is the church. 00:02:27.620 --> 00:02:29.640 Only when it exists for others. 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:31.280 The church is not about us. 00:02:31.500 --> 00:02:32.920 The church is about Christ. 00:02:32.919 --> 00:02:38.299 And Christ has established this church to exist for others. 00:02:38.299 --> 00:02:45.519 For one another within the body and for those outside the body who need to hear the saving message of Jesus. 00:02:45.739 --> 00:02:49.219 So the church is the church only when it exists for others. 00:02:49.219 --> 00:02:52.539 Let's look at Acts chapter 2 and verse 42. 00:02:52.539 --> 00:02:55.659 I'm reading from the Christian Standard Bible. 00:02:55.659 --> 00:02:57.259 Beginning in verse 42. 00:02:57.259 --> 00:03:07.719 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship and to sharing in meals, including the Lord's Supper, and to prayer. 00:03:08.199 --> 00:03:11.459 A deep sense of awe came over them all. 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:16.819 And the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 00:03:16.819 --> 00:03:22.299 All the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:27.180 They sold their property and their possessions and they shared the money with those in need. 00:03:27.280 --> 00:03:30.280 They worshiped together at the temple each day. 00:03:30.620 --> 00:03:38.039 And they met in homes for the Lord's Supper and shared their meals with great joy and generosity. 00:03:38.259 --> 00:03:38.740 Watch this. 00:03:38.900 --> 00:03:45.740 All the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. 00:03:45.740 --> 00:03:48.320 And each day, what was the result of all this? 00:03:48.920 --> 00:03:54.020 The Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. 00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:56.320 What an amazing start. 00:03:57.439 --> 00:04:07.400 It's no wonder that the church, this movement that got its start, as we read back here in the first century, survived to this day. 00:04:08.240 --> 00:04:09.160 We still gather. 00:04:10.120 --> 00:04:12.860 We still meet together in the church building. 00:04:12.860 --> 00:04:17.800 And then we go into our homes and we fellowship together and we share meals together. 00:04:18.439 --> 00:04:21.480 And we enjoy the goodwill of all the people. 00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:22.720 Praising God. 00:04:23.280 --> 00:04:24.060 And what happens? 00:04:24.199 --> 00:04:28.240 The Lord adds to our fellowship those who are being saved. 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:29.340 May we pray together? 00:04:29.840 --> 00:04:31.900 God, I pray that you would bless the reading of your word. 00:04:31.899 --> 00:04:39.259 I pray that you would quiet our hearts and minds and you would focus on your scriptures and your truth. 00:04:39.560 --> 00:04:42.099 God, we study truth together and we're doing that right now. 00:04:42.919 --> 00:04:51.459 So I pray that you would individually apply the lessons from the early church, from your word, to each person in this room. 00:04:51.459 --> 00:04:59.319 That we would all walk away challenged, edified, encouraged, and refocused on our need for you and for one another. 00:04:59.459 --> 00:05:00.479 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:05:00.859 --> 00:05:01.099 Amen. 00:05:01.259 --> 00:05:01.859 You may be seated. 00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:09.899 Would y'all look at the screens for a minute and check out this picture? 00:05:13.139 --> 00:05:14.139 What's happening here? 00:05:14.139 --> 00:05:18.759 They're on their phones, right? 00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:21.259 Anybody have a witty comment for that? 00:05:22.159 --> 00:05:24.079 They're enjoying each other's company, right? 00:05:25.779 --> 00:05:28.620 Four dear friends getting together for lunch. 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:30.779 Having a great time together. 00:05:31.379 --> 00:05:32.740 Individually on their devices. 00:05:33.939 --> 00:05:36.399 They're not really fellowshipping, are they? 00:05:37.079 --> 00:05:40.039 They're gathered, but they're not really fellowshipping. 00:05:40.819 --> 00:05:42.979 There's not really community happening. 00:05:42.980 --> 00:05:47.960 They could be doing this completely separate from each other. 00:05:48.640 --> 00:05:50.520 Nothing would really change that much. 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:55.400 They're completely focused on what's going on themselves. 00:05:57.040 --> 00:06:04.480 So, I love hanging out with people who make me forget to look at my phone. 00:06:06.700 --> 00:06:10.640 This is obviously an epidemic in our culture, right? 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:16.500 We are very technology dependent in today's world. 00:06:16.699 --> 00:06:21.560 And each new generation that comes up is just more technology centric. 00:06:22.300 --> 00:06:23.959 That can be a good thing. 00:06:24.060 --> 00:06:25.419 It certainly has its advantages. 00:06:25.919 --> 00:06:28.959 But obviously it comes with severe disadvantages as well. 00:06:28.959 --> 00:06:33.099 And one of these is the loss of community. 00:06:33.539 --> 00:06:34.620 The lack of community. 00:06:35.419 --> 00:06:37.459 We talked about this a little bit last week. 00:06:37.539 --> 00:06:50.560 And we showed a graphic on the screen that showed as a result of the isolation that we experienced during the epidemic, the pandemic, COVID-19, when people were isolated, especially in other places. 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:52.319 See, I wasn't living in Texas at the time. 00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:54.860 I was living in the People's Republic of Nevada. 00:06:58.120 --> 00:06:59.180 Nothing against Nevada. 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:01.819 It's just they pretty much do whatever California does. 00:07:01.899 --> 00:07:05.600 So, enough said there as far as their politics go. 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:09.360 But listen, it was so isolated. 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:18.120 You know, they were extremely serious about their rules and regulations of where you could go and where you couldn't go and who had to stay home, etc. 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:22.400 So, yeah, isolation was a very real thing. 00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:30.060 And especially for those who were dealing with pre-existing conditions and health problems and really couldn't be exposed to this. 00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:35.020 Because if they got that virus, there was very serious dangers to their health. 00:07:35.019 --> 00:07:41.560 And then those kinds of people, I know many in this room, probably experienced some prolonged isolation during that time. 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:45.879 And all the studies have agreed that that was not good for humanity. 00:07:46.359 --> 00:07:48.180 That was not good for our minds. 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:49.599 That was not good for our emotions. 00:07:49.799 --> 00:07:53.839 It wasn't good for our souls to be isolated from one another. 00:07:54.379 --> 00:07:56.740 We were designed to live in community. 00:07:56.740 --> 00:08:03.819 But the world around us and all of its technology and everything that makes, puts the world at our fingertips. 00:08:04.340 --> 00:08:11.980 And yet somehow, even though we can talk with people across the globe at a moment's notice, somehow we fellowship less than ever before. 00:08:12.139 --> 00:08:15.980 Somehow we are in community with one another less than ever before. 00:08:16.139 --> 00:08:20.660 So, maybe there are people in your life that make you forget to put down your phone. 00:08:20.860 --> 00:08:22.100 Or maybe there aren't. 00:08:22.100 --> 00:08:26.120 But the people around you, look around this room. 00:08:27.200 --> 00:08:28.640 Make it awkward, look around the room. 00:08:28.760 --> 00:08:29.020 Come on. 00:08:31.220 --> 00:08:31.960 There you go. 00:08:33.480 --> 00:08:38.800 The people in this room are supposed to be the people that make us forget to look at our phones. 00:08:38.899 --> 00:08:43.580 The people in this room are supposed to be the people that we share community with. 00:08:45.899 --> 00:08:49.820 So, let's look at what the Word of God has to say about it. 00:08:49.820 --> 00:08:51.379 We read it just a moment ago. 00:08:51.460 --> 00:08:52.960 Acts chapter 2 and verse 42. 00:08:53.700 --> 00:08:59.440 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship. 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:06.120 So, that's lesson number two or ingredient number two in healthy church community. 00:09:06.780 --> 00:09:08.360 And let me share this with you. 00:09:09.000 --> 00:09:15.460 It's also ingredient number two in our discipleship groups that are starting up next week. 00:09:15.460 --> 00:09:19.320 Next Sunday, we're going to unroll all the groups. 00:09:19.420 --> 00:09:20.980 You're going to hear all the details about them. 00:09:21.500 --> 00:09:23.400 Meet the group leaders, etc. 00:09:24.560 --> 00:09:31.580 And we are giving you the ingredients for what these groups are going to be about. 00:09:32.139 --> 00:09:33.980 Say, how are these groups different than Sunday school? 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:35.900 How are these groups different than a church service? 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:39.800 How are these groups different than me just getting together with my buddies? 00:09:39.799 --> 00:09:42.079 Even if they're friends from church. 00:09:42.279 --> 00:09:43.659 How are these groups different? 00:09:43.959 --> 00:09:47.859 Because they contain these ingredients that the early church started with. 00:09:48.279 --> 00:09:54.779 And it's what God meant for us to be faithful in in practicing community. 00:09:54.959 --> 00:09:57.620 So, last week, we're going to study the Word of God together. 00:09:57.779 --> 00:09:59.000 We're going to study truth together. 00:09:59.699 --> 00:10:03.039 And then this week, we're going to fellowship together. 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:04.559 Fellowship. 00:10:04.559 --> 00:10:04.639 Fellowship. 00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:09.679 So, we fellowship together is the theme for today. 00:10:09.799 --> 00:10:11.319 Where do we get this word fellowship? 00:10:11.539 --> 00:10:12.219 What does it mean? 00:10:13.079 --> 00:10:15.439 Throughout the Bible, there's this Greek word. 00:10:15.539 --> 00:10:18.699 In case you weren't aware, the Bible wasn't originally written in English. 00:10:20.599 --> 00:10:22.759 Some of you might have been realizing that for the first time. 00:10:22.819 --> 00:10:23.299 That's okay. 00:10:23.459 --> 00:10:24.019 That's all right. 00:10:24.139 --> 00:10:25.399 I'm not pointing the finger at you. 00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:28.099 The Bible was written many, many years ago. 00:10:29.259 --> 00:10:32.500 Old Testament was written in Hebrew and parts of it in Aramaic. 00:10:32.500 --> 00:10:33.939 This old ancient language. 00:10:33.940 --> 00:10:37.220 And then the New Testament was primarily written in Greek. 00:10:37.560 --> 00:10:39.580 Koine Greek, which is now a dead language. 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:41.960 Koine means, Jared, where'd he go? 00:10:42.500 --> 00:10:43.320 What does koine mean? 00:10:43.700 --> 00:10:44.140 Common. 00:10:44.260 --> 00:10:44.680 There you go. 00:10:45.160 --> 00:10:47.380 He's doing some seminary online right now. 00:10:48.040 --> 00:10:49.060 He's learning all that. 00:10:49.340 --> 00:10:50.160 But, yeah. 00:10:50.260 --> 00:10:51.620 So, the common man's Greek. 00:10:51.760 --> 00:10:55.760 It was kind of the working class Greek was what the New Testament was mostly written in. 00:10:55.920 --> 00:11:00.500 And so, koine Greek, we have this word koinonia. 00:11:01.640 --> 00:11:02.040 Koinonia. 00:11:02.039 --> 00:11:02.439 Koine. 00:11:02.439 --> 00:11:08.240 When we see this word fellowship in the Bible, it came from this Greek word koinonia. 00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:10.899 Now, I took my Greek back in Bible college. 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:12.219 I took two semesters of it. 00:11:12.419 --> 00:11:13.919 And I moved on. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:14.919 And I'm not going back to that. 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:15.139 Okay? 00:11:15.219 --> 00:11:16.679 So, we're not getting into Greek class. 00:11:16.679 --> 00:11:24.899 My Greek professor would be very pleased that I'm not getting into Greek class with y'all because he would say you're nowhere near qualified to do that. 00:11:25.819 --> 00:11:29.259 But, there are all kinds of tools online that brought that back to me. 00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:32.080 And I remembered enough to be able to share this with you today. 00:11:32.179 --> 00:11:34.279 It's really important for us to get this concept down. 00:11:34.919 --> 00:11:37.779 What is the Bible saying when it uses this word fellowship? 00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:38.439 Koinonia. 00:11:38.939 --> 00:11:43.740 To be drawn together by intimate participation and fellowship. 00:11:44.139 --> 00:11:50.159 To be drawn together by intimate participation and fellowship. 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:57.759 Now, this is incredibly important for us to wrap our heads around. 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:01.980 Because, number one, fellowship is drawing us together. 00:12:02.679 --> 00:12:03.219 Why? 00:12:03.220 --> 00:12:07.240 Because, naturally, we're not going to be drawn together. 00:12:07.899 --> 00:12:10.620 Who do we naturally gravitate toward? 00:12:10.820 --> 00:12:12.279 Anybody want to take a stab at it? 00:12:14.100 --> 00:12:14.540 Anybody? 00:12:15.180 --> 00:12:15.960 Don't be shy. 00:12:16.379 --> 00:12:18.360 Who do we naturally want to hang out with? 00:12:19.779 --> 00:12:20.940 People like us. 00:12:21.060 --> 00:12:21.680 Very good. 00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:27.680 Now, you might be a social recluse and you're like, the person I enjoy hanging out with most is me. 00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:30.440 And that's all right. 00:12:30.540 --> 00:12:31.120 That's okay. 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:32.700 Sometimes I sympathize with you. 00:12:32.700 --> 00:12:33.879 Sometimes with you. 00:12:33.980 --> 00:12:35.420 Sometimes I'm in that headspace, you know. 00:12:35.520 --> 00:12:37.379 I just want to have some me time. 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:42.240 But we must be drawn together. 00:12:42.400 --> 00:12:44.800 We have to step outside of our comfort zone. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:46.640 You know, can I just be honest with you? 00:12:46.860 --> 00:12:56.500 There have been times in my life as a Christian, as an adult, leading a family, that I have not wanted to go to my group. 00:12:57.620 --> 00:13:02.660 You know, I'm in a church where they have groups and I'm involved in one with my family. 00:13:02.700 --> 00:13:07.900 And I just, the last thing that I wanted to do that evening was go to the group. 00:13:08.660 --> 00:13:12.400 But because I made a commitment to go to the group, I went ahead and went. 00:13:12.800 --> 00:13:15.580 And by the time I went home, what happened? 00:13:16.860 --> 00:13:17.980 Anybody want to take a guess? 00:13:17.980 --> 00:13:18.980 I was glad I went. 00:13:18.980 --> 00:13:19.940 I was glad I went. 00:13:20.080 --> 00:13:20.379 Yes. 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:22.539 It's not, you know, a big surprise. 00:13:22.820 --> 00:13:23.060 Yeah. 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:24.100 I was glad I went. 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:29.500 And my wife and I would look at each other and, you know, we didn't really feel like going, but I'm really glad we went. 00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:37.399 Because we have to push ourselves to step outside of our comfort zone and allow ourselves to be drawn together. 00:13:37.580 --> 00:13:41.840 Because when we are together, we sharpen one another. 00:13:42.539 --> 00:13:45.779 When we are together, we uplift one another. 00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:51.580 When we are together, we might be needfully corrected by one another. 00:13:51.580 --> 00:13:54.020 We're convicted by one another. 00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:57.879 And it doesn't even have to be that they're pointing the finger at us saying, you're doing wrong. 00:13:57.960 --> 00:13:58.680 You need to fix it. 00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:03.020 But it might be hearing a testimony from somebody else that convicts us. 00:14:03.420 --> 00:14:05.200 Man, I got to be there. 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:06.300 I got to get there. 00:14:07.160 --> 00:14:09.920 I am not there in my walk with God where they are. 00:14:10.060 --> 00:14:11.600 And I know I need to be. 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:14.100 They're walking so closely with him. 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:16.460 And I see the evidence of that in their life. 00:14:16.540 --> 00:14:17.680 And God's blessing them. 00:14:17.779 --> 00:14:19.080 And I need that. 00:14:19.800 --> 00:14:21.519 So we're there to sharpen one another. 00:14:21.639 --> 00:14:24.159 To encourage one another through tough times. 00:14:24.340 --> 00:14:26.980 To sometimes you just get this adrenaline. 00:14:27.159 --> 00:14:36.560 You get this vitamin B12 shot from going and being around the community of fellow Christ followers. 00:14:37.060 --> 00:14:39.560 So we're drawn together by, what's that next word? 00:14:39.940 --> 00:14:40.420 Intimate. 00:14:40.419 --> 00:14:40.779 Intimate. 00:14:41.379 --> 00:14:43.559 Intimate participation and fellowship. 00:14:44.299 --> 00:14:48.659 There's this kind of unwritten rule in the city of Las Vegas. 00:14:49.539 --> 00:14:50.500 What happens? 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:54.120 Yes, we're in Henrietta, Texas. 00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:55.059 And y'all know that. 00:14:55.860 --> 00:14:57.500 I'm not going to ask how you know that. 00:14:58.199 --> 00:14:59.379 I used to live in Nevada. 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:00.479 So that's how I know that. 00:15:00.539 --> 00:15:01.879 I traveled in Vegas all the time. 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:03.519 It's kind of the mantra, right? 00:15:03.839 --> 00:15:07.399 By the way, in the age of the internet, what happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas. 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:10.240 So don't try to apply that to life, okay? 00:15:10.419 --> 00:15:15.959 What happens at group stays at group, okay? 00:15:15.960 --> 00:15:27.139 When you are in a discipleship group, and honestly, this should go beyond group, but any confidential information that's shared between believers should certainly be respected, right? 00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:31.600 But you might open up because of the intimacy of the setting. 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:39.980 And as you spend more time fellowshipping with one another, drawn together, then you tend to open up more. 00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:43.139 You tend to start to build trust with those people. 00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:55.159 And the intimacy of that setting can allow for healthy, emphasis on healthy there, healthy sharing of what's going on in your life, the things you're struggling with. 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:59.620 Maybe there's somebody in that group, men, that could be an accountability partner for you. 00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:12.200 Maybe there's someone in that group, ladies, who could be someone who could be that shoulder to cry on sometimes when it's just overwhelming and you have no one who understands what you're going through. 00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:15.379 Maybe somebody could be there to be that person for you. 00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:24.299 There's an intimacy in group fellowship that is hard to find other places. 00:16:24.299 --> 00:16:32.299 You might see one another in church on a Sunday morning, might see each other out in the town or the community, might run into each other at Target in Wichita Falls. 00:16:33.899 --> 00:16:39.939 But it's different when you're doing life together week by week in intimate fellowship. 00:16:41.099 --> 00:16:42.439 So that's what it is. 00:16:42.699 --> 00:16:50.539 Koinonia, when we see that word fellowship in the Bible, it's to be drawn together by intimate participation and fellowship. 00:16:50.539 --> 00:16:53.319 The key to all this is participation. 00:16:54.299 --> 00:16:55.079 You've got to be there. 00:16:56.339 --> 00:17:00.399 If you show up once in a blue moon, it's hard to be drawn together. 00:17:00.859 --> 00:17:02.339 It's hard to develop that intimacy. 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:07.799 It's hard to develop the blessings that come when you're not participating. 00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:10.859 So let's look at Philippians 1.5. 00:17:10.940 --> 00:17:14.720 That was a long introduction and the rest of this is going to go pretty quickly. 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:19.139 So try to listen closely, listen fast, and let's get through it here. 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:23.879 I hope God speaks to you as he has to me in preparation for this. 00:17:23.880 --> 00:17:25.340 Philippians 1.5. 00:17:25.540 --> 00:17:29.960 I give thanks to my God because of your partnership in the gospel. 00:17:30.340 --> 00:17:31.760 You know what the really cool thing is? 00:17:32.120 --> 00:17:35.040 The word, the Greek word, remember the New Testament was written in Greek? 00:17:35.260 --> 00:17:38.420 The Greek word for partnership right here is koinonia. 00:17:39.520 --> 00:17:41.400 Same one we just studied. 00:17:41.820 --> 00:17:43.060 Same one we just looked at. 00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:48.859 So this gives a whole other aspect, a whole other curveball to this word koinonia. 00:17:49.139 --> 00:17:51.220 It also can mean partnership. 00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:58.379 So when you bring in that part of it, you say when we're fellowshipping together, we're partnering together. 00:17:59.099 --> 00:18:05.099 Y'all, if we don't partner together, then God's mission is never going to be fulfilled. 00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:09.039 So what we learn from this is fellowship is partnering. 00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:13.099 If you're writing things down in your notes, fellowship is partnering. 00:18:13.879 --> 00:18:14.779 Acts 2.42. 00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:18.639 The believers devoted themselves to this fellowship. 00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:20.519 It was a commitment. 00:18:20.899 --> 00:18:25.019 We talked about that some last week when we talked about studying truth together. 00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:26.639 It takes a commitment. 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:27.859 It takes a partnership. 00:18:28.899 --> 00:18:32.500 You ever been in a partnership where two sides were not equally giving? 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:34.519 It was out of balance. 00:18:35.059 --> 00:18:36.819 One was giving far more than the other. 00:18:37.380 --> 00:18:38.180 Maybe it was a marriage. 00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:39.359 Maybe it was a work partnership. 00:18:39.559 --> 00:18:40.259 Maybe it was a friendship. 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:45.359 But whatever it was, it just wasn't working because the partnership wasn't there. 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:46.980 True partnership wasn't there. 00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:49.559 Ecclesiastes 4 gives us some insight on that. 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:53.099 Two people are better off than one because they can help each other succeed. 00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:55.680 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. 00:18:55.900 --> 00:18:59.220 But someone who falls alone, real trouble, man. 00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:02.539 Two people lying close together can keep each other warm. 00:19:02.600 --> 00:19:04.400 But how can one be worn by themselves? 00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:07.779 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated. 00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:12.180 But two can stand back to back in partnership and conquer. 00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:13.700 And I love the way this ends. 00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:19.279 Three are even better for a triple braided cord is not easily broken. 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:30.879 The more we bring into this partnership, the healthier and stronger and more protected against outside attacks, it is. 00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:33.839 That's what God intended for us. 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.579 Be in partnership. 00:19:36.299 --> 00:19:37.099 Be in community. 00:19:37.720 --> 00:19:39.480 Be in fellowship with one another. 00:19:40.379 --> 00:19:41.579 There's strength in partnership. 00:19:43.019 --> 00:19:44.119 There is strength. 00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:44.980 Just like that cord. 00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:46.799 You can't easily break that cord. 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:55.359 The more you start braiding around, the more cords you start binding together, it creates something that's so hard to break. 00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:59.419 I want to share this quote with you from former President John F. Kennedy. 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:03.480 Partnership is not a posture, but a process. 00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:07.559 In other words, it's not just something you're going to say I'm in. 00:20:07.639 --> 00:20:08.980 I am now in partnership. 00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:17.900 It is a continuous process that grows stronger each year as we devote ourselves to common tasks. 00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:20.099 So what does that look like for a church? 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:22.519 What does that look like for a discipleship group? 00:20:22.940 --> 00:20:25.799 The common tasks are we study truth together. 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:27.799 We fellowship together. 00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:33.960 And then we'll unpack the next two Sundays with those other tasks are, our common tasks from Acts 2.42. 00:20:34.339 --> 00:20:36.119 But you can cheat and look ahead if you'd like to. 00:20:36.180 --> 00:20:36.599 That's fine. 00:20:37.639 --> 00:20:38.079 Philemon. 00:20:38.399 --> 00:20:40.159 Philemon verses 4 through 7. 00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:49.799 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all saints. 00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:57.259 So Paul was writing to this brother in the faith, Onesimus, and he says, I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers. 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:59.559 I hear about this great reputation you have. 00:20:59.899 --> 00:21:01.399 And then he gets a little bit further. 00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:04.019 Okay, I just lost control of this. 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:06.460 Would you take me to the next slide, please? 00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:07.919 Verse 6. 00:21:09.619 --> 00:21:09.940 Uh-oh. 00:21:11.879 --> 00:21:14.279 Y'all, the devil is in the technology this morning, okay? 00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:18.779 I'm just going to read it from here, and y'all just trust that I'm reading the Bible. 00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:21.960 If you want to turn to Philemon and follow along, that's totally fine. 00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:32.119 I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for the sake of Christ. 00:21:32.379 --> 00:21:35.519 The fellowship of your faith is what he's talking about. 00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:37.960 The fellowship of your faith. 00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:38.359 There we go. 00:21:38.379 --> 00:21:38.700 We're back. 00:21:38.700 --> 00:21:45.120 It would become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for the sake of Christ. 00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:47.559 For I have had great joy and comfort in your love. 00:21:47.860 --> 00:21:48.360 Watch this. 00:21:48.620 --> 00:21:53.059 Because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you. 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:57.779 Can I just take one tiny little rabbit trail and ask you a question? 00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:05.920 How many people would say their hearts are refreshed by you? 00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:15.500 There's all kinds of other questions that we could ask that maybe you would be able to give positive answers to. 00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:22.519 But how many people would truly be able to say, my heart is refreshed through that person? 00:22:23.600 --> 00:22:28.059 I pray that God would use me to refresh hearts. 00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:34.920 My prayer for you is even more that God would use you to refresh the hearts of one another. 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:42.180 And I say even more because so many people in this room have known each other for years, for decades. 00:22:42.340 --> 00:22:50.340 And I pray that God would use that familiarity, that intimacy to bind you together for the purpose of refreshing each other. 00:22:52.740 --> 00:22:54.940 That is what this fellowship looks like. 00:22:54.940 --> 00:22:57.960 That's what we read here in Philemon. 00:22:58.320 --> 00:23:02.299 What a testimony that Paul was able to write to this man and say, 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:08.180 The hearts of the saints around you have been refreshed because of the fellowship of your faith. 00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:12.920 So fellowship is strengthening, but it's also refreshing. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.820 It's also refreshing. 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:15.640 We need it. 00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:19.440 Y'all, we've been needing some refreshing from this heat this summer, right? 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:21.400 And we're starting to get it now. 00:23:21.820 --> 00:23:26.039 I've never been so happy to see like 90s and now we're getting into the 80s. 00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:27.200 It's awesome. 00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:30.620 This refreshing is fantastic. 00:23:31.100 --> 00:23:37.920 Now, I noticed that when we went out of town, man, it's a month and a half, a couple months ago. 00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:45.279 We went out of town for a Monday through Friday and went to see my parents down in Louisiana for a little bit. 00:23:45.600 --> 00:23:48.320 And when we're out of town, what do you do to the thermostat? 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:51.279 What do you do to the thermostat when you leave the house for a while? 00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:52.519 What do you do? 00:23:53.419 --> 00:23:54.419 Turn it up, right? 00:23:54.899 --> 00:23:57.899 You turn it up to 80 or 85. 00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:59.879 You don't turn it off, do you? 00:24:01.059 --> 00:24:01.419 Right. 00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:04.559 You don't do that because mold, if you do, stop, okay? 00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:05.519 Don't do it. 00:24:06.179 --> 00:24:07.919 Talk to people that are experts in that thing. 00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:08.460 Google it. 00:24:08.639 --> 00:24:09.019 Google it. 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:11.759 There's reasons that you're not supposed to turn it off. 00:24:12.919 --> 00:24:16.419 But just like in the wintertime, you don't ever turn the heat completely off. 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:17.439 You just turn it way down. 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.840 Those pipes will freeze, right? 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:21.460 So you turn it off. 00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:29.320 Well, inevitably, when I come home from that trip, is the house nice and refreshing when I walk in? 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:31.620 No, it's not. 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:32.820 I hate that. 00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:34.360 I hate it so much. 00:24:34.660 --> 00:24:38.700 Because I want to walk in, and I'm always tired from the drive, you know? 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:43.900 It's like, man, I just want to get the stuff out of the car, put the kids down, and let's go to bed. 00:24:43.900 --> 00:24:47.920 But I got to wait for the house to cool down. 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:51.720 Because I'm missing that refreshment. 00:24:52.160 --> 00:25:00.980 But when that air kicks on, and that steamy, stuffy, muggy house starts cooling down, 00:25:01.380 --> 00:25:05.880 it feels like as close as we're going to get to heaven on this earth, man. 00:25:05.880 --> 00:25:09.900 It's just like, yes, give me all the AC. 00:25:11.180 --> 00:25:12.260 First world problems. 00:25:13.600 --> 00:25:14.920 The age in which we live. 00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:19.500 The people who live before air conditioning are like, man, you're so soft. 00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:20.600 Yes, it's true. 00:25:20.800 --> 00:25:21.980 Society has made us this way. 00:25:22.980 --> 00:25:25.980 But it is so refreshing to feel that air conditioning. 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:30.500 Y'all, I want to be an air conditioning unit for somebody else. 00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:32.779 And I want you to be the same thing. 00:25:33.299 --> 00:25:38.140 I want, when this church fellowships together and comes together, 00:25:38.360 --> 00:25:42.319 it is like a blast of AC on a hot, muggy day. 00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:50.660 2 Timothy 1.16, we get a little reminder of this from Paul. 00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:51.360 He's writing in Timothy. 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:56.679 He says, may the Lord grant mercy to the house sold of Onesiphorus 00:25:56.679 --> 00:26:02.740 because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 00:26:03.059 --> 00:26:07.799 This is the second person that Paul is saying was a refreshment. 00:26:08.619 --> 00:26:12.399 He was so encouraging, uplifting to be around. 00:26:12.479 --> 00:26:14.219 He's like a breath of fresh air. 00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:16.279 Is that our testimony? 00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:25.119 Is that something that anyone would genuinely, truthfully say about you in an honest moment? 00:26:26.379 --> 00:26:28.259 Would they say they refresh me? 00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:31.940 Number one, they strengthen me. 00:26:32.639 --> 00:26:34.740 Number two, they refresh me. 00:26:35.879 --> 00:26:40.579 If you're only a refreshment to somebody else and you don't strengthen them, 00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:43.579 could be that you're not really helping them. 00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:50.659 If you're only a strengthening presence to someone else and you're not refreshing, 00:26:51.659 --> 00:26:57.679 it could be that your voice with that person will eventually run its course 00:26:57.679 --> 00:27:00.699 because you're hard to listen to. 00:27:01.059 --> 00:27:02.139 You're hard to hear. 00:27:04.339 --> 00:27:04.899 Abrasive. 00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:05.819 Grating. 00:27:05.819 --> 00:27:13.259 God needs his people to be in community with one another. 00:27:13.819 --> 00:27:15.279 He designed us that way. 00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:17.500 I read a little devotional. 00:27:17.679 --> 00:27:21.759 I shared it with our little group on Wednesday night this last week 00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:25.519 that talked about how God made us incomplete. 00:27:26.859 --> 00:27:30.319 Now that sounds like heresy, doesn't it? 00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.919 God made us incomplete. 00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:34.340 Well, he made us intentionally incomplete 00:27:34.340 --> 00:27:38.300 because we're supposed to live in community with one another. 00:27:39.180 --> 00:27:42.759 If he gave us everything we need all on our own 00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:44.480 and we're completely self-sufficient, 00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:46.960 then why do we need each other? 00:27:47.740 --> 00:27:51.259 But he made us incomplete intentionally 00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:54.960 where number one, we would gain everything we have from him, 00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:56.400 but how do we do that? 00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:57.660 How does that play out? 00:27:57.660 --> 00:28:00.519 How does God give us everything we need? 00:28:00.860 --> 00:28:03.440 Oftentimes, he uses people to do it. 00:28:04.040 --> 00:28:07.140 He uses people to accomplish his will and purposes on this earth. 00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:10.880 And he uses the body of believers to encourage, uplift, 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:14.120 strengthen, and refresh one another. 00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:15.680 So in closing, 00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:19.560 the takeaway for this Sunday is this. 00:28:19.620 --> 00:28:20.160 It's very simple. 00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:23.120 Well, I commit to partner with my community, 00:28:24.320 --> 00:28:27.240 church community, in fellowship together. 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:31.640 That means I've got to be willing to be strengthened 00:28:31.640 --> 00:28:33.860 and strengthen somebody else. 00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:36.820 I've got to be willing to refresh 00:28:36.820 --> 00:28:39.540 and be refreshed by somebody else. 00:28:40.040 --> 00:28:41.880 It means I've got to open myself up. 00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:46.160 It means I've got to be willing to put trust on the line. 00:28:47.340 --> 00:28:49.680 It means I've got to be willing to make a commitment 00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:51.540 and not go halfway. 00:28:52.940 --> 00:28:54.940 It means I've got to be willing to say, 00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:57.840 God, I understand the value of community. 00:28:58.000 --> 00:29:01.360 I understand why you created us to be this way. 00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:05.220 And I'm going to do my part in being in community 00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:08.660 and providing community for someone else. 00:29:09.600 --> 00:29:11.299 May God strengthen us. 00:29:11.600 --> 00:29:15.220 May he refresh us by his spirit and through one another 00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:18.980 so we can be on mission for him 00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:21.680 and we can take his gospel message 00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:23.579 to the people who need to hear it most. 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:26.120 But man, we've got to get our souls fed. 00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:28.799 And that's going to come from this koinonia, 00:29:29.360 --> 00:29:31.220 this fellowship with one another. 00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:32.319 Would you pray with me? 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:34.440 God, I pray that you would convict us 00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:36.339 because right now I believe that our church 00:29:36.339 --> 00:29:38.059 is in need of more community. 00:29:38.599 --> 00:29:40.680 I believe our church is in need of more fellowship 00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:41.460 with one another. 00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:44.900 So many of us, we see each other on Sunday mornings 00:29:44.900 --> 00:29:46.180 and that might be about it. 00:29:46.180 --> 00:29:48.340 And maybe in passing on Wednesday night, 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:50.160 maybe here and there in the community, 00:29:50.320 --> 00:29:53.820 but it's so hard to find time in our busy schedule 00:29:53.820 --> 00:29:55.900 to sit down and fellowship. 00:29:57.160 --> 00:29:58.799 God, I pray that these discipleship groups 00:29:58.799 --> 00:29:59.539 would help with that. 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:02.680 There's people that are finding that 00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:03.759 in their Sunday school class. 00:30:03.840 --> 00:30:04.620 I thank you for that. 00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:05.960 And I pray that you would bless that 00:30:05.960 --> 00:30:08.200 and expand it and help it to thrive. 00:30:09.180 --> 00:30:11.680 I pray that through all the different gatherings 00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:13.180 and ministries of this church, 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:16.039 they wouldn't just be just to do them. 00:30:16.180 --> 00:30:17.560 Because that's what we do. 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:20.820 But as we would see the value 00:30:20.820 --> 00:30:22.480 of coming together in those times, 00:30:23.400 --> 00:30:25.519 tonight for prayer, for church prayer, 00:30:26.360 --> 00:30:28.360 could be such a valuable time of fellowship, 00:30:29.880 --> 00:30:30.519 praying together. 00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:32.320 We're gonna look in just a couple of weeks 00:30:32.320 --> 00:30:35.820 about how prayer is one of the key ingredients 00:30:35.820 --> 00:30:39.120 of community in our church. 00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:45.679 I pray that you would use the challenge 00:30:45.679 --> 00:30:47.419 from your word today from the book of Acts. 00:30:47.959 --> 00:30:50.839 We look back at how that group got together 00:30:50.839 --> 00:30:54.979 and how you made their community spread like wildfire. 00:30:56.939 --> 00:30:58.439 How that could happen again today. 00:30:59.939 --> 00:31:01.219 There's no limit to you, God. 00:31:01.239 --> 00:31:02.459 There's no limit to what you can do. 00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:05.519 We're the ones usually who hold you back. 00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:09.380 I pray that you'd bind us together 00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:11.700 through our common faith in you. 00:31:14.059 --> 00:31:15.700 That we would strengthen one another. 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:18.019 That we would refresh one another. 00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:20.720 Let our spirits reflect that. 00:31:20.819 --> 00:31:22.319 Let our words reflect that. 00:31:23.299 --> 00:31:24.920 Let our actions reflect that. 00:31:25.420 --> 00:31:27.759 Let our showing up reflect that. 00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:32.359 Let our being willing to open up and share, 00:31:33.400 --> 00:31:37.700 reflect that willingness to be used by God. 00:31:38.640 --> 00:31:40.140 We'll give you all the glory for it.