All InSample

The word “fellowship” in the 21st century seems to have a new meaning in comparison to its first century meaning. As we shared back in Day 9, the word ‘koinonia’ was about participation, partnership, and sharing. The first occurrence of the word fellowship in the New Testament is in Acts 2:42 as Luke describes the birth and life of the early Church. 

It makes sense that the early church devoted itself to the apostles’ teaching and to prayer. But to fellowship? I love Jerry Bridges’ insightful take on fellowship in his book, True Community. 

“It would seem strange to include fellowship with teaching and prayer if fellowship meant no more than Christian social activity. In both Acts 2:42 and 1 John 1:3, the New English Bible translates koinonia as sharing a common life. This is the most basic meaning of fellowship. It is sharing a common life with other believers – a life that as, John says, we share with God the Father and God the Son. It is a relationship, not an activity.” 

First century believers devoted themselves to a relationship, not social activities. They did not join a church. They were the Church because they were in relationship with God through Jesus Christ, as a result of their faith. 

Through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, they shared life with God and with each other. Their fellowship with each other was not based on stage of life, childcare, day of the week, topic of study or food options. It was based on their common fellowship with God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. They were a community whose lives had been radically changed by Jesus. As a result, they shared their everyday lives with each other because of their common life in Jesus. 

You might be thinking, ‘That is just not possible today, except maybe with just my own family.’ And I hear what you are saying. In fact, I have thought and said the same things. But what if the issue is not the craziness and demands of real life but the reality that we have lost the wonder of the common life we share together in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit? 

What if, because of the loss of that wonder, it is no longer logical to us that we would share a common life with each other? Today, I repent before God for taking steps away from the wonder of my shared life with Him. I am returning to the joy of my salvation. And as a result, I want to live an all in fellowship with the believers in my life.