Fellowship & Church

The Christian life cannot be done solo. That’s by design! We were created by God to need each other. Families, communities, and even nations exist because humans need other humans to survive and thrive in life. This is also true when it comes to the Christian life.

You are a part of the Body of Christ

Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Read Ephesians 4:4-16

Read Romans 12:4-6

• What is the analogy Paul uses for the Church?

• Why is unity important?

• What is it that unifies us as Christians?

• Why is diversity of gifting important?

• What really stood out to you personally about these passages?

The Body of Christ is similar to an actual body in that every person plays an important role. When you become part of the Body of Christ, you are filling an important role and without you, the body suffers! You matter! But you also need the rest of the body.

You Can't do this alone

There are so many Christians who believe that their faith is merely a personal relationship with Jesus and they don’t need church in order to have a healthy faith. This is a lie! Yes, a personal relationship with Jesus is necessary, but according to the scriptures, one of the primary ways we interact with Jesus is through His Body, the Church!

The scriptures are full of commands that can only be lived out inside of a healthy Christian community. We are commanded to love one another, bear one another’s burdens, rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn, confess our sins to one another, forgive one another, pray for one another, minister healing to one another, encourage one another, and exercise spiritual gifts for the purpose of building one another up. None of these can be done in isolation!

The benefits of the body are not felt when you simply stare at the back of someone’s head on Sunday morning! Singing and a sermon is not Christianity! Christianity is done in community and we need to actually interact with one another in order to benefit from the diversity of gifts, contribute your own gift, and fulfill the commands of scripture.

• Whether or not you go to church, what do you believe a healthy Christian community would look like?

• Is there someone in your life with whom you can begin true Christian fellowship?

• Are there ways you have avoided fellowship in your life? If so, why do you think that is?

True fellowship requires vulnerability. It's very difficult to be vulnerable, especially when you have been hurt or disappointed by people before. Whether it came through the church, through family, through school, or through friend groups, past wounds can become very isolating if we allow it to be.

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

• What are some of the ways you can practically show love to those around you?

• Is it possible to be patient, forgiving, or slow to anger if everyone around you is perfect?

The biblical definition of love has a built-in expectation of being wronged. That means we cannot show love to its fullest extent until people around us fail. The church is not a perfect place yet. You will be disappointed by other Christians in your life from time-to-time and other Christians will be disappointed by you too. The key to true Christian fellowship is how we treat our Christian family when they fail to represent Jesus accurately.

Now some have faced horrific treatment in church and certainly, there is no need to continue going to a church that is engaging in active abuse, but without bonds of love, peace, forgiveness, and patience, true Christian fellowship is impossible.

Watch these videos, either with your Christian friend or before you meet: