Fellowship

Speaker: Jay Newland

Fellowship

Teamwork!

Speaker: Toby Soecthing

Scripture: John 17:13-23

INTRODUCTION:

1. “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,” (Philippians 1:27, NKJV) 
2. “Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9, NKJV)
3. Christian living is very much a personal matter, but let us never lose sight that Christianity is very much a TEAM “sport”.

DISCUSSION:

I. THE NEW TESTAMENT EMPHASIZES TEAMWORK!

1. Jesus created a “team” of apostles (cf. Mt. 10:1-4).
2. The apostles displayed the practice in their efforts.
3. The word they appears 394 times in 272 verses in the book of Acts.
4. A congregation is a team!

II. NOTICE BUT A PORTION OF THE “ONE ANOTHER” PASSAGES.

1. love (Jn. 13) e. greet (Rom. 16:16)
2. prefer (Rom. 12:10) f. serve (Gal 5:13)
3. receive (Rom. 14:7) g. bear with (Eph. 4:2)
4. admonish (Rom. 14:14) h. forgiving (Col. 3:13

III. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER.

1. How is your family doing with its teamwork?
2. How is our spiritual family doing with its teamwork?

Conclusion:

  T ogether

  E veryone

  A chieves

  M ore

Teamwork!

Fellowship: Seeking to be Hospitable

Speaker: Toby Soechting

Scripture: Romans 12:9-13

INTRODUCTION:

1. … I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the house of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Tim. 3:14) 
2. Yes, the church is a family, a place for love and relationships, but her doctrine and practice of it is no less important.

DISCUSSION:  WE LOOK TO THE EARLY CHURCH FOR TRUTH REGARDING OUR FELLOWSHIP --

I. THE EARLY CHURCH PRACTICED WHAT IT PREACHED.

1. They often times met in their homes.
2. In the New Testament, they are often pictured sitting down to eat together.
3. When it comes to fellowship and hospitality towards others (especially the body of Christ), are we really much different from the world?
4. First century Christians practiced discipline in the family of God as well.

II. WHAT MIGHT HINDER OUR HOSPITALITY?

1. Our culture places a premium on individualism.
2. 21st century Americans tend to be more task oriented than relationship oriented.
3. We live amidst a manic society.
4. Our society tends toward insulating our lives.

III. AS THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF TRUTH WHAT CAN AND SHOULD WE DO?

1. So many of our members already do so much!
2. The Bible commands us to be hospitable (Rom. 12:9-13;  Heb. 13:1-3; 1 Pet. 4:8-9).
3. There is great power in an open home!

Conclusion: Are you striving to be hospitable?

Fellowship: Seeking To Be Hospitable

Fellowship: What A Joy Divine

Speaker: Toby Soechting

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-4

INTRODUCTION:

1. “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” (Philippians 2:1–2)  
2. “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;” (Ephesians 4:4) 
3. # 704 – Bind Us Together

DISCUSSION:  To Seek God First In Our Fellowship, We Must --

I. FIRST, ENTER IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD  (cf. Psa. 42:1-3).

1. #71 – As The Deer Pants For The Water
2. #381 – Years I Spent In Vanity And Pride
3. #100 – This Is Holy Ground
4. #101 – We Are Standing On Holy Ground

II. BE ENGAGED IN GOD’S WORK (cf. Dan. 12:2-3).

1. #869 – Marching To Zion
2. #639 – Rescue The Perishing
3. #852 – When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder

III. REALIZE AND  ENJOY THE GREATNESS OF OUR BLESSINGS AND PROMISES WITHIN OUR “FELLOWSHIP.”

1. #589 – Leaning On The Everlasting Arms
2. #517 – Heaven Came Down
3. #709 – How Sweet How Heavenly

Conclusion:  Praise God through whom all blessings flow, and what a blessing and opportunity we have for even greater blessings as children in the family of God (#744 – God’s Family).  Are you God’s child?

Fellowship: What A Joy Divine

Our Fellowship

Speaker: Toby Soechting

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13-16

Our Fellowship

Let Us First Ask God

Speaker: Toby Soechting

Scripture: Judges 1:1-8

INTRODUCTION:

1. Before his death, Joshua reminded the people of grave consequences that would follow along the path of disobedience (cf. Josh. 24:20). 
2. Upon the death of Moses, Joshua was named as successor.  At the death of Joshua, no one was named (Josh. 1:1)!

DISCUSSION:  
I. THE BEST STEP TO DETERMINE WHERE AND HOW TO GO IS TO FIRST ASK GOD.

• Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, “Who shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?” (Judges 1:1)

II. COOPERATION WITH OTHERS IS KEY.

• “And the LORD said, “Judah shall go up. Indeed I have delivered the land into his hand.”   3 So Judah said to Simeon his brother, “Come up with me to my allotted territory, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I will likewise go with you to your allotted territory.” And Simeon went with him.”   (Judges 1:2,3)

III. EVERYONE HAS A JOB TO DO.

• “And Judah went with his brother Simeon, and they attacked the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. So the name of the city was called Hormah.” (Judges 1:17)

Conclusion:  Israel sought the counsel of God because she was concerned about losing her inheritance (promised land of Canaan).  Being in possession of better promises ( Heb. 7:22, 8:6, 12:24) let us include God’s counsel as we labor steadfastly for our Lord.

Let Us Ask God First