We recently completed a church camping trip, which means several of us lived in a community of fellowship for about four days. When it was time to eat, we all shared what we had. When it rained, those with the largest campers opened them up for the rest of us. A large canopy was set up at the end of our row for eating under, and the campfire ring was set up at the other end, where we gathered each night to sit around the fire.
The fellowship was excellent and it caused me to reflect on whether this could happen on a larger scale and why it doesn't.
In Acts 2:42-47, we see a picture of the early church. Everything was new and exciting because of the resurrection of Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Many were visiting Jerusalem from far away so they didn't have their own homes to go to or even their own food. But all the believers came together in one heart and one mind, sharing what they had so that no one had a need. They focused on the teaching of the apostles, on fellowship, on prayer and on eating together. Fellowship was vibrant among this early.
Contributing factors to this fellowship were their proximity to each other and the common bond they shared in Christ as members of his body. If they didn't have such a bond, they may not have seen the needs that were present as clearly as they did. If they weren't close to one another, they would not have known who needed what.
We replicated this, in part, on our camping trip because of our proximity to each other and because of the common bond we all shared in Christ. But how could we continue this on a regular, daily basis?
What if we gave serious thought to where we lived? What if we lived close(r) to other Christians, with the intention to build stronger bonds of fellowship?
What if we let the priorities of the Bible, learned through teaching, shape the way we view and treat others? How would our views of fellowship change if we took seriously Jesus' parable about the "good Samaritan"?
What if we focused on the common bond we have each other in Christ? What if you took time every week to invite others to a meal in your home? What if you gathered with others at a park regularly for a barbeque and social time?
How might your fellowship with others grow by thinking through these three things? What can you do this week to increase your fellowship with others?
The fellowship was excellent and it caused me to reflect on whether this could happen on a larger scale and why it doesn't.
In Acts 2:42-47, we see a picture of the early church. Everything was new and exciting because of the resurrection of Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Many were visiting Jerusalem from far away so they didn't have their own homes to go to or even their own food. But all the believers came together in one heart and one mind, sharing what they had so that no one had a need. They focused on the teaching of the apostles, on fellowship, on prayer and on eating together. Fellowship was vibrant among this early.
Contributing factors to this fellowship were their proximity to each other and the common bond they shared in Christ as members of his body. If they didn't have such a bond, they may not have seen the needs that were present as clearly as they did. If they weren't close to one another, they would not have known who needed what.
We replicated this, in part, on our camping trip because of our proximity to each other and because of the common bond we all shared in Christ. But how could we continue this on a regular, daily basis?
What if we gave serious thought to where we lived? What if we lived close(r) to other Christians, with the intention to build stronger bonds of fellowship?
What if we let the priorities of the Bible, learned through teaching, shape the way we view and treat others? How would our views of fellowship change if we took seriously Jesus' parable about the "good Samaritan"?
What if we focused on the common bond we have each other in Christ? What if you took time every week to invite others to a meal in your home? What if you gathered with others at a park regularly for a barbeque and social time?
How might your fellowship with others grow by thinking through these three things? What can you do this week to increase your fellowship with others?
