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Fellowship: Making Challenging Choices. Christian Fellowship Is A Special Privilege. Christian fellowship is a common sharing, participation, association, and communion with God and with God’s people. Strong’s: 2842, 2844, 3348, 3352, 4790 Christian Fellowship ≠ Social Recreation
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Christian Fellowship Is A Special Privilege • Christian fellowship is a common sharing, participation, association, and communion with God and with God’s people. • Strong’s: 2842, 2844, 3348, 3352, 4790 • Christian Fellowship ≠ Social Recreation • Not To Be Neglected • Hebrews 13:16
Basis of Christian Fellowship • We Share A Common Father, Savior, & Spirit • 1 John 1:3, 2 Corinthians 13:14 • We Share A Variety of Associations In: • Worship: 1 Corinthians 10:16 • Good Works: Philippians 4:14-16, 2 Corinthians 8:4 • Daily Life: Acts 2:46-47 • Fellowship describes and demonstrates who we belong with. • Hebrews 7:13, 2 Corinthians 6:14
Fellowship Demands Careful Choices • We must choose who we count as a partner. • Galatians 2:1-9, Philemon 1:17 • We must choose what works we partner in. • Ephesians 5:11, 2 John 1:6-11 • We must choose to stand with brethren even if it has great cost. • Hebrews 10:33 • We must choose to break some bonds of fellowship. • Revelation 18:4
Limiting Fellowship • Am I dealing with a worldly person or a “so called brother”? • 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 • When God’s commands are rejected by a Christian, love is extended but fellowship is not. • 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 • Disobedient brethren are to be treated as we would treat an un-Godly person. • Matthew 18:17 • This impacts all areas of our association. • “Not even to eat with such a one.” 1 Corinthians 5:11
Common Questions • What About Public Restaurants? • What About Other Activities? • What About Family? • We Must Remember Both Sides Of Our Responsibility: • Fellowshipping The Disobedient Is Sinful • Failing To Love The Disobedient Is Just As Sinful
Our Hope Always Remains The Same • We hope to be able to enjoy the wonderful bonds of fellowship available in God, so we do our best. • “And have mercy on some, who are doubting, save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garments polluted by the flesh.” (Jude 22-23)