I. CALL TO FELLOWSHIP, 1Cor 1:9
According to First Corinthians 1:9 all believers are called to fellowship. What are you and I doing with this call to fellowship?
You know, we can ignore God’s calls, just like we may ignore the cook’s call to the dinner table.
II. COMMUNION OF FELLOWSHIP
The theme of the Book of Philippians is joy in serving Christ. When we are in fellowship with God and our fellow believers
there is joy in the heart. From the Book of Philippians we discover three arenas of spiritual fellowship.
A. Fellowship in the Gospel, Phil 1:5
The first arena of fellowship from the Book of Philippians is the fellowship of the Gospel. Actually we have no spiritual
fellowship outside of the Gospel. Paul is giving thanks to God for the fellowship that he has with the Philippian believers
in the Gospel.
In the Book of Ephesians Paul seems to refer to the fellowship of the gospel as the fellowship of the mystery (Eph 3:9).
In his context he is talking about the fellowship that is realized between Jew and Gentile because the two have become one
in Christ. This is a mystery that was hidden in the OT, but is now revealed in the NT. Israel in the OT remained distinct
from the Gentile nations. Now in Christ there is no spiritual distinction between a Jew and a non-Jew. All are one in Christ.
There is fellowship in the Gospel.
B. Fellowship of the Spirit, Phil 2:1
A second arena of fellowship discovered in the Book of Philippians is the fellowship of the Spirit. This is a deeper level
of fellowship that we can have with God and with fellow believers. In the verse Paul speaks of consolation (hope), comfort,
bowels and mercies. All of these words express something of the feelings that we have one for another.
In one of his other books, the Apostle Paul speaks of the fellowship of the ministering to the saints, (2Cor 8:4). Here
Paul is speaking about the testimony of the churches of Macedonia had when they helped to provide
C. Fellowship of His Sufferings, Phil 3:10
A third arena of fellowship presented in the Book of Philippians is the fellowship of His sufferings. Once again, I believe
we take a step into deeper fellowship with Christ when we fellowship with his sufferings. Most of us do not know much, if
anything about suffering. We think that we are persecuted when someone steps on our toes, or when our feelings are hurt, or
things just simply did not go our way. This is not suffering for Christ.
III. CIRCLE OF FELLOWSHIP
Circles are where we circulate. Each of us has different circles of friends, and family, and fellowship. Some of those
circles are tight, close circles of fellowship. Others are not so close in fellowship. The more things that we have
in common the closer our fellowship will be. This is especially true regarding things that we feel are important to us.
A. With the Father & Son, 1 John 1:3 (1Cor 1:9)
Spiritually speaking our fellowship should be tight with God. The circle of fellowship should be close. However, there
are always those who linger on the fringes of fellowship. These "almost outsiders" have less in common with the One at the
center of the circle than the ones who snuggle close to center. Would to God that all of us were truly insiders!
B. With Fellow Believers, 2 Cor 6:14 (1John 1:7)
Using a series of concentric circles we can understand that believers who are closer to the center of the circle of fellowship
have closer fellowship one with another. Those on the outside fringes have less fellowship with fellow believers. Holding
grudges, harboring bitterness and venting hatred will not serve to preserve or maintain the circle of fellowship.
IV. CONTROL OF FELLOWSHIP
Since the circle of fellowship is so important in preserving proper unity, we must learn to employ several controls
in the establishment of fellowship.
A. Unequal Yoke, 2 Cor 6:14
The first control of fellowship is the yoke factor. We must understand that fellowship implies are working relationship.
In a real sense believers are yoked together with one another for service to the Lord. The Apostle Paul uses this example
in directing us not to be yoked together with unbelievers. There is no spiritual fellowship with unbelievers. We cannot force
it upon them or make it happen. And yet so many believers try to slip into the yoke with an unbeliever to serve (whom?) their
communities, employers, friends, and family. We must be careful about linking unequal yokes.
This principle could extend beyond the believer/unbeliever inequality. There are a lot of ways that inequality is manifested.
There can be an unequal yoke between marriage partners even though both are believers. An unequal yoke can be manifested in
the home, the work place or the ministry. We need to examine our working relationships with fellow believers before we get
involved in an "unequal" yoke.
B. Unfruitful Works, Eph 5:11
Another control of fellowship is the works or fruits factor. We are clearly instructed to "have no fellowship with the
unfruitful works of darkness" (Eph 5:11). The works of darkness are listed in verses 3-5. Believers are children of the light
and not children of the darkness. The opposite of the works of darkness is the fruit of the Spirit (v. 9; cf. Gal 5:22-23).
C. Unforgetful Communication, Heb 13:16
A third control of fellowship is communication. It is nigh unto impossible to have fellowship without communication. Hebrews
13:16 tells us to do good and don’t forget to communicate. We all know how important it is for us to get a letter from
home. Don’t forget your loved ones when they are away at school, the military or other duties. I find that in church
work the members want to know what is happening to the finances and the business of the church. Part of my job is to communicate
the business of the church to the congregation. Personally I believe that the biggest problem that we have in our marriages
is not finances, incompatibility, in-laws, or even our differences, but rather our lack of adequate communication. One of
the ways to control our fellowship is to learn to communicate.
V. CLEANSING OF FELLOWSHIP
What do we do when we get into some bad company? What do we do when our fellowship with God is broken through sin? How
do we break an unequal yoke, or drop fellowship with family and friends who do not wish to serve Christ? These are hard questions.
There are three principles that can be utilized to cleanse oneself from improper fellowship.
A. Holiness
The first principle for cleansing is to maintain (or restore) holiness. God himself is a holy (separate) God. Our goal
is to be like him. We must be holy. We must be separated from sin. We must separate ourselves from the sin of the sinner.
Yes, we all have skeletons in the closet, but it is time to open the closet door and do a thorough house cleaning. There is
no excuse for sin in the life of a believer!
B. Forgiveness, 1 John 1:7
The second principle for cleansing is forgiveness. We must exercise this toward ourselves and toward others. When we properly
confess (and forsake) our sin, we are forgiven by God. If God accepts us, then we must learn to accept ourselves. If God forgives
those who sin against us, we must learn to forgive them as well. Is this not the teaching given in the Lord’s prayer
(Mat 6:12)?
C. Restoration, Lev 6:2
The third principle for cleansing is restoration. This step is not always possible. When we confess our own sin we are
restored to fellowship with God. But sometimes another sinner will not confess his sin. There can be no restoration to fellowship
when we fail to confess our sin. The principles of restoration are given in Galatians 6. The spiritual leaders of the church
are to restore a failing brother in the spirit of meekness.
SERMON PREACHING SCHEDULE
Date Place
12/22/93 Maryland Baptist Bible College, Chapel
12/28/93 WOEL Torchbearer Broadcast
09/14/97am Dividing Creek Baptist Church, NJ
