Devoted To Fellowship: How Devotion To Fellowship Leads To Dynamic Fellowshipping

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2:42 (NIV)

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Acts 2:42 (ESV)

• Fellowship, Noun or Verb? BOTH!

The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship

Healthcare Christian Fellowship International

International Fellowship of Reconciliation

• Koinonia: fellowship, partnership, contribution, participation.

All the believers were together. They shared everything they had.

Acts 2:44 (NIRV)

NOTE: Sharing IN COMMON is difficult for one to whom sharing IS UNCOMMON.

WHAT FORMED “THE FELLOWSHIP” AND THE DISCIPLES DEVOTION TO IT?

1. The Fellowship Springs from Devotion to a SHARED MASTER.

• The fellowship was initiated by its MASTER not by its MEMBERS.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4:10:11 (NIV)

God has made Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord & Messiah.

Acts 2:36b (NIV)

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were

added…

Acts 2:41a (NIV)

• Dynamic FELLOWSHIPPING results from SURRENDERING to King Jesus.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.

Mark 12:30-31 (NIV)

• The Church is God’s SURRENDERED and SAVED fellowship.

MINIMAL Surrender = Minimal Dynamic Fellowship

MAXIMUM Surrender = Maximum Dynamic Fellowship

Apparent FELLOWSHIP issues are often actually SURRENDER issues.

2. The Fellowship Springs from Devotion to a SHARED MEASURE.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…

Acts 2:42a (NIV)

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched… We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:1a, 3 (NIV)

• Christ’s teachings determine what I BELIEVE and how I BEHAVE.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

1 John 3:16-18 (NIV)

3. The Fellowship Springs from Devotion to a SHARED MISSION.

Peter said much more to warn them. He urged, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted what Peter said were baptized. That day about 3,000 people were added to the group.

Acts 2:40, 41 (GW)

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

…As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.

John 20:21 (NIV)

…GO and make disciples…

Matthew 28:19 (NIV)

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

John 13:34–35 (NIV)

NOTE: When a church LOSES its mission, it LEAVES “the fellowship”

The Crossings will have dynamic fellowship to the degree that I devote myself. Rate yourself… (1 - Needs Improvement | 5 - Devoted)

1. To a Shared Master (the Lord Jesus) 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5

2. To a Shared Mission (loving others toward Jesus) 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5

3. To a Shared Measure (Jesus and His apostles teaching) 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5