Trending
You've heard it before, or perhaps, like me, you've said it: "Join us for a picnic after the service for food, fun and fellowship." It's a catchy phrase, and "fellowship" fits nicely as the third "F," but what do we really mean when we talk about fellowship? For many, the word has become synonymous with simply being together as Christians.
I grew up in a church that had a "fellowship hall," and that's where you'd find the donuts before the service. But is that all fellowship is? Donuts in the fellowship hall?
While donuts may bring people together, what really matters is what happens after they're served. Biblical fellowship is about more than gathering in the same room -- it's about being together with purpose. So how should we think about fellowship?
Biblical fellowship is not just spending time together; it's being together with the goal of helping each other grow in Christlikeness. Fellowship is love with a purpose -- a shared commitment to help one another follow Jesus more faithfully. This is what the early church practiced in Acts 2:42 when they devoted themselves "to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." Their fellowship wasn't merely about shared meals or friendly conversations; it was about spurring one another on toward godliness.
This understanding of fellowship reminds us that it can take many forms. Fellowship is arriving early on a Sunday morning to ask others how you can be praying for them. It's inviting someone to lunch after church to talk about the sermon. It's joining a Bible study with the intention of encouraging and challenging each other in the faith. It's sharing a meal with someone going through a tough time, memorizing Scripture with a friend or praying with someone after the service.
Fellowship is not one specific activity; it's about loving others in ways that help them become more like Christ. As you read the Word and pray, you grow personally, but you also prepare yourself to share those insights and prayers with others. The Bible consistently calls us to this kind of intentional, purposeful fellowship.
Given the importance of fellowship, how do we live it out in our churches? While fellowship can take many forms, the key is to approach our relationships with a Christ-centered purpose. Here are three ways to pursue biblical fellowship:
1. Help others draw nearer to God. This can happen through deep conversations about theology, diving into Scripture together or discussing Christian books. The goal is to know God more deeply and worship Him more fully. Fellowship involves sharing what God is teaching us and helping others grow in their knowledge and love for Him.
2. Share what God is doing in your life. Ask fellow believers how you can pray for them. Discuss what God taught them through the sermon. Invite someone over for dinner and ask them to share their testimony. Following up on someone's struggles or joys keeps you connected and opens the door for mutual encouragement. Fellowship isn't just about getting together; it's about staying engaged with what God is doing in each other's lives.
3. Bear one another's burdens. True fellowship also involves serving one another in practical ways. Whether it's bringing a meal to someone in need or offering a helping hand during a difficult season, meeting physical needs can be a powerful expression of Christ's love. As John Calvin put it, believers are gathered into "the Society of Christ on the principle that whatever benefits God confers upon them, they should in turn share with one another."
Biblical fellowship isn't a side activity -- it's central to our walk with Christ. As you gather with others, seek to love, serve and encourage them with intentionality. By doing so, you reflect the love of Christ and help others grow in their faith.
-- -- -- --
Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week's column comes from Aaron Batdorf, Associate Pastor of Discipleship at Big Woods Bible Church.