Relationship Through Fellowship- Why We Come To Church

By Pastor Walt Scott

January 21, 2013

WEBSTER’S DEFINITION—Relationship: State or character of being related or interrelated.

WEBSTER’S DEFINITION—Fellowship: Community of interest, activity, feeling or experience. Intimate personal interaction.

Why do we come to church? To listen to the music, the Pastor, fellowship, seek relationship, or something else? Or all of these?

Hebrews 10:24-25(Author unknown)

24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

1 Cor 1:9 (Paul)

9God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Why do we really feel, in our heart and soul, the need to worship and fellowship in God’s house? I think it’s because the church is the Body of Christ and we are all a part of that body, Jesus Christ is the head. The Holy Spirit is the Blood. We are all interrelated, connected parts of this body, and need each other for the body to function properly.

Hebrews 2:11-13 (Author unknown)

11Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 12He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.” 13And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me”

Philippians 2:1-4 (Paul)

1Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Often in the current church environment we refer to relationship and fellowship. We seek relationship with Christian brothers and sisters because of the multiple benefits of this fellowship. Some of these benefits are love, peace, joy and trust. This is because we are a world community of mutual belief in our father God, His son Jesus Christ, and our Counselor, the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 133:1 (David)

1How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

Ephesians 4:1-8

1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”

Romans 12:9-13 (Paul)

9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Why then, when we enter God’s house do some of us greet, shake hands, hug, laugh and talk to some people and avoid others? And then gravitate to our comfort zone group? This is our choice; and act of free will. Aren’t we all brothers and sisters in this world, regardless of ethnicity or, other challenges life has brought our way? Didn’t Jesus say the most important thing is to love God with all your heart, mind, body and soul and also important is to love each other? (Matthew 22:37-40) Yes, He did.

Mark 3:33-35 (Jesus)

33“Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. 34Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Matthew 7:1-2(Jesus)

1“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

The communal relationship and fellowship that we strive for should be identical (non-denominational) throughout the body of Jesus Christ, the Church. Communal and church means any time, place, or situation where believers gather.

Galatians 3:26-29 (Paul) By God’s Grace

26So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

We come to church to find peace, joy, trust, honesty, serenity, hope and love that is impossible to find or achieve in the world outside, even though some of us never realize this and never stop searching. We have always asked for and pursued these multiple mutual benefits associated with the fellowship of relationship.

1 John 3:1-2 (John?)

1See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Proverbs 17:17

17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

Often (more so in the secular world than Christian life) we are longing for, pursuing and searching for this relationship without even knowing or realizing it. We are programmed at conception, by God, to seek Him. This is for our eternal benefit, because He loves us so much. He wants to spend eternity with us. Finding this is called FREEDOM! This is what God intended for us to abide in—real spiritual freedom and everlasting life when we leave this world. This is the benefit of a sincere relationship with the triune God. No more fear, worry, hopelessness, etc. but peace, joy, thanksgiving, and a desire to serve Him. Believe, trust, have faith.

Romans 8:13-17(Paul) (My quote: “Be forever absent from the presence of God”.)

13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[37] And by him we cry, “Abba,[38] Father.” 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

John 8:36 (John)

36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

We sometimes search our entire lives for relationship, often in all the wrong places, and making major life mistakes along the way. All this, when He is right there in front of us all the time. We all have equality of opportunity. Many of us know who Jesus Christ is, but will not accept Him.

Who can, or should, you blame for this? Perhaps your parents (when you were very young), but that only lasts until you are old enough to become responsible and accountable for your own actions, words, and beliefs. Keep an open mind, step out in faith, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit can then live in you and teach, counsel, and guide you into a glorious life.

Philippians 3:10-11

10I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Psalm 119:45 (David)

45 I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.

We are believers and the faithful. God sent his son Jesus with a promise for us. We are the reality of that promise to the unbelieving, confused people, (seekers) of this world. We believe what God’s word says. We believe and have faith that every word spoken is true and has happened, or will happen, and is relevant and applicable today. Should we abide by it? Yes, absolutely! How does God’s word speak to you? Isn’t the Bible all about God’s love for us, and His forgiveness? Yes, it sometimes takes discipline from God to remind us to walk in faith and obedience.

Hebrews 12:4-11(Author unknown)

4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” 7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

2 Cor 6:14 (Paul)

14Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

Proverbs 6:16-19 (Solomon)

16There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:

17haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

This relationship with the Triune God will allow you to see others as God wants you to see them. You will learn to love, forgive, trust, experience joy, and enter into relationship and fellowship as you have never before experienced.

John 15:12-13 (John?)

12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Only through understanding God’s love for us, by the example of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice and by His (God’s) grace can we achieve the Kingdom of Heaven. Would He have sacrificed everything for us if He didn’t love us and think of us as brothers, sisters and friends?

1 John 3:14&15

14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.

If we can be loving brothers and sisters in church with believers, why not outside the church? If we can’t at least be like this to everyone in church we need healing and reconciliation. If we are to be called Christians that follow after Jesus Christ and His teachings, we have to live it and be it, continuously. Be the Good News. Talk to people. Let the Spirit move in you when you tell others the Good News. You can laugh, cry, rejoice in the joy that revelation brings. Just don’t scare people with visions of hell or try to push beyond what they are willing to accept at that time. That only pushes people away and confirms what the world thinks about Christians. Slow and easy. Live it and be it.

Luke 17:3-4 (Luke)

3So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister[55] sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

James 2:14-19 (James)

14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

1 Peter 2:17

17Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

Can we, as brothers and sisters, believers and faithful in following the teachings of Father God and his son Jesus, hold our bibles high and proclaim a covenant with him—that we will daily make every effort to speak to the unspoken-to, teach the untaught, and pray for and with the unbelievers for their deliverance and for them to be born again?

WEBSTER’S DEFINITION: Covenant—Formal, solemn, binding agreement. A written agreement or promise under seal between two or more parties for the performance of some action.

John 8:31-32 (John)

31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Galatians 5:1 (Paul)

1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

2 Corinthians 3:17(Paul)

17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

1Peter 3:8 & 9 (Peter)

8Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Do you believe Father God and His son Jesus Christ love you? Do you love Him? Does the Holy Spirit live in you? Praise God! Thank you Jesus! Thank you for what and who we are, what we have, and what we are to become. AMEN!