Tag: fellowship

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Acts Devotionals

No need for Christian fellowship?

Acts

And [Paul and Barnabas] spent a considerable time with the disciples. (Acts 14:28)

Paul and Barnabas were very strong Christians. Not only that, they were very active in the Lord’s work. And yet, it’s very clear they considered Christian fellowship as vital.

It would have been so easy for them to say, “Jesus and I are good. I don’t need other Christians.” Or, “I’m doing important work for God. I don’t have time for Christian fellowship.” 

But they didn’t do that. Rather, they spent considerable time with the Christians in their home church. 

Why? Probably one reason was that they could strengthen and encourage them. But another reason was probably so that they themselves could be refreshed. 

Right now, there are many of us who can’t meet in person at church. But do we put a priority on Christian fellowship?

We need each other. And even in this time of pandemic, we can still do things like sending email, doing video chats, or just do an old-fashioned phone call. 

Who can you touch today? 

Categories
Romans

But don’t we need to go out?

Romans

I suppose I should address an objection that people might make concerning my last blog.

I said that one reason Christian fellowship is necessary is that we need each other. We all have a role to play in the body of Christ, and that we have a responsibility to use our gifts to minister to each other.

Some might object, “But shouldn’t we be using our gifts to bless the world, not just the church?”

Yes, we should.

But remember that many of the gifts we are given are meant first and foremost for the church.

Paul in Ephesians, for example says,

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers. (Ephesians 4:11)

Why did Christ do this?

To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:12-13)

Think about evangelists for a moment.

If there is one gifting that is used to be outside of the church, it’s that one.

But Paul specifically tells us that one of the main purposes of the evangelist is to prepare God’s people for works of service.

As well as preaching the gospel, evangelists help encourage other believers to share their faith too. They show other believers how it is possible to make a difference in the lives of their unbelieving friends.

And as each of these people Paul lists use their gifts, we all grow up in unity in the faith and become mature.

“Okay, Bruce,” you may say, “but my gifting is not from that list.”

It doesn’t matter. Paul goes on to say,

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:15-16)

Again, we see that everyone in the church, every supporting ligament, every part, needs to do its work that we may all build each other up and become mature.

That’s why Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:10,

As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:10)

So yes, using our gifts to touch the world is vital. But we also need to use them within the church.

Remember what Jesus told his disciples:

Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34-35)

Notice that the way that people will know we are Christ’s disciples is by the way we treat each other.

And if we are loving and serving one another, people will see a difference in the followers of Christ, and that’s what will attract them to Him.

But if we are fighting amongst ourselves, living selfishly, and with an attitude of pride, they’ll rightfully ask, “So what’s the difference? Christians are just like us.”

How about you? Are you loving God’s people? Or are you avoiding them? Are you serving God’s people?

Or are you withholding the gifts God has given you from them?

Categories
Acts

Together and in one accord

Acts

As I wrap up this section, the words that strike me are in verses 44 and 46: They were “together” and in “one accord” (KJV).

It comes back to what was said in verse 42, really.

They devoted themselves to the…fellowship. (Acts 2:42)

They considered time with each other to be important, and so they made it a point to be together with each other.

This does not just mean once a week at the temple. They were meeting daily, not only at the temple, but at each other’s homes.

More, they truly cared for each other. If they saw other brothers and sisters in need, they were quick to help them.

And they were in one accord. I really like that translation in the King James. It gives the idea that the Christians lived in harmony with one another. Or as the NASB puts it, they were of “one mind.”

Does this mean they always agreed? No. Does this mean they never fought or argued? No.

But in the end, they were able to look past their differences and see each other as brothers and sisters. They were able to see that they actually needed each other. And they devoted themselves to each other.

So often Christians say that married couples need to be committed to each other even during the hard times. Even through their disagreements. Even through the hurts they sometimes cause each other. And this is true.

But how often do these same Christians walk away from relationships from each other, and it never crosses their minds that God calls us to be committed to each other too.

We are to be committed to each other even during the hard times. Even through our disagreements. And even through the hurts we sometimes cause each other.

Like a marriage, this requires commitment. It requires hard work. But like a marriage, if we are committed to each other and put in the hard work, the rewards are vast.

Ultimately, we will be blessed by staying committed to each other. But even more than that, the world will see the love we have for each other and be attracted to Christ because of it.

That’s what happened in the early church. Because of the love and unity among God’s people, and all that God was doing among them,

The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:47)

The church has many problems; that is true. As long as the church has people in it, there will always be problems.

Why?

Because Jesus didn’t come for perfect people. He came for the sick. He came for the broken.

Pastors and leaders will make mistakes. People in the church will hurt each other.

But will you commit yourself to them anyway? Will you lay aside your pride, and put in the hard work needed to work through the problems you have with others in the church? If not for your sake, for Jesus’ sake?

Let us always remember the words of our Lord.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35)

Categories
Psalms

The joy of being with God’s people

Psalms

As the pilgrims came upon the gates of Jerusalem, they probably started singing this song.  And it shows their joy in coming to the house of God.

I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” (Psalm 122:1)

I remember a time when I didn’t rejoice about going to the house of the Lord.

I became a Christian when I was 7 or 8, but by the time I hit junior high school, I really didn’t want to go to church.  Not that my church was bad or anything.  I just had other things I wanted to do.

But when I became a high school student, I experienced the presence of God in my life for the very first time.

For the first time, when I was singing worship songs, I realized “God is really here.  We’re not just singing karaoke.  We’re singing prayers to God.”

It totally transformed my view of worship and of church.

Sometimes Christians think they can live without church.  That they’re fine just worshiping God by themselves.

Certainly, there is a personal aspect to worship that is essential in the Christian life.  But there is something wrong with the Christian who doesn’t rejoice at the idea of worshiping with other Christians.

Often times, there are problems of pride.  “I know the Bible well enough.  I don’t need the pastor’s sermon.”

Other times there are problems of unforgiveness.  “Every time I attend a church, something happens where somebody hurts me.  I don’t want to go through that again.”

In other cases, there are problems with judgmentalism.  “All of the people I see there are hypocrites.  I don’t want to associate with them.”

And for others, it’s a problem of selfishness.  “I just don’t get anything out of church.”

But they forget the fact that the purpose of going to church is not simply about getting something out of it.  It’s giving.  It’s giving praise to God.  It’s serving others.  And it’s working with others in the church to serve the community you’re in.

The psalmist talks in this psalm of praying for the peace of Jerusalem.  For seeking the prosperity of Jerusalem.

We need to be doing the same for the cities we’re living in.  But there’s a limit to what we can do by ourselves.  We can do so much more if the body of Christ is working together for the good of the communities we live in.

The truth is, if all you’re doing at church is sitting in your chair for the entire service and then going home, you’re missing a large part of what God wants for you.

Get involved.  Start doing the part God has assigned you as a part of his body.

And as the writer of Hebrews put it,

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  (10:24-25)