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Once you are within a fellowship.....

Writer's picture: dean9058dean9058

Two weeks we talked about what the first century church really looked like, and what the essential elements of that church were.  But today, I would like to challenge you to consider what was expected—-and actually demanded—-of those first century disciples of Christ—those in those first churches or fellowships.  There were many home churches in the early church, but they all conformed to the standards the Apostles taught.  And of course, the Apostles were merely repeating what Jesus taught them….and  what, after pray and direction from the Holy Spirit, they set up as standards for church membership. Had the church kept to those standard,  I wonder if the entire world would not be evangelized now.


From what I have studied in the Bible, once you’re within the church,  you’re a party of the “family of God”, and you were expected to act like a part of that family and  do at least three things. Now, before I go into this, let me say that these three things might not be the things you think a pastor should speak about, and I will undoubtedly be stepping on toes today.  But this is straight out of the New Testament and the teachings of Jesus Himself.


But let me also say that as a pastor I have two primary tasks: To “comfort the troubled… and trouble the comfortable.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer).  I hope you appreciate the fact that my call is not to make you feel good, or to be “liked” or to be  “complimented” by you.  Save that for those that chose pastoring as a chosen profession. Those of us “called” to preach have a higher calling.


So here are the three things the Christian should be doing:

1. Members must give.  That is, if we earn any money—-i.e. God blesses us with income of any kind, we’re supposed to open our pocket books and give in proportion to how He has blessed us in the past week.  Do you tithe?  The concept of tithing actually pre-dates Moses and the tencommandments. In Genesis 14, Abraham gave Melchizedek one-tenth of all that he had. This was a faith response that went beyond a law, obligation, or commandment. God expects us to tithe. If you withhold a tithe, you’re stealing from God. Don’t look for His blessing.


Paul reminds people to “give as you’ve purposed in your heart—God loves a cheerful giver.”  Some folks think that this means we don’t have to “tithe”, or give 10% of what we earn towards God’s work —but only to donate if you don’t feel good about it.  But it’s the opposite!  He expects 10% to be the base—-the minimum—but for us to give more as we have determined—-and as He has blessed us!  And He wants us to do it with an open hand and happy heart!  I have never heard of a person that became poor by tithing—never.  But I know quite a few that never can make ends meet that do not tithe.


Tithing brings blessings! Jesus said: "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”


Malachi said, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” (Malachi 3:10)

And if anyone thinks that they can’t afford to give, ask yourself this: Can you afford to live without His blessings?  I can’t!!! Do you contribute to God’s endeavors for the salvation of mankind each week? Is the first 10% of all that you receive His—or do you doubt Him?  Has the enemy whispered to you that God is too busy, to short on cash, to bless you if you are faithful to Him?


The biggest donor I had, from many years ago, was so faithful in tithing to his church and giving to The Vineyard, until tragedy struck. The disaster was that he went from being a millionaire to a “hundred-millionaire”.   Suddenly,  after he become so wildly wealthy, so blessed, he determined that he could no longer afford to give so freely. His gifts were calculated as to how they would bless him, his legacy and his family. The man changed—as did his reputation and his peace of mind.


If you don’t give…. it’s not because you cannot….it’s because you will not.  Money, possessions and your habits will own you—and you will find that you no longer own what you have or earn.


2. Members should attend a place of fellowship faithfully.  We ought to go to a church, then join one, and then take part regularly.  Now, I know that  our heavenly Father makes special provisions for the disciple of Christ that is imprisoned, or marooned on an desert island,  or isolated from other believers for events they cannot controlBut the rest of us…..we have no excuse.  We’d better be in fellowship with other believers at least once a week. Why?  We need each other!  Somethings happen only when God’s people get together and pray.


One the primary reasons for coming together on Sunday, according Hebrews,  is for the purpose of encouraging the other.  The other big reason is accountability.  But the most important reason is because we’re told to do it!   You cannot grow as He intends in isolation or living like an island.  And for those that retort, “Well, I can worship God on the golf course or at football game on Sunday”, I would ask thing: “Do you?” 


We only have about 50 people that come to our little church regularly now,  it’s easy to encourage and share with a congregation up to about 300.  But it’s a challenge for the large church to really provide what the apostles were talking about, in terms of encouraging each other and accountability, when you have thousands upon thousands in one fellowship.


In the USA, the largest of the “mega-churches” is “Life Church in” Oklahoma. 53,000 worship each Sunday.  But the Salvation Ministries Church in Nigeria has a sanctuary that will seat 120,000! That represents every soul living in Stokes and Surry county! It’s great that folks are coming together to worship faithfully!  But I notice that many attend mega churches to “feel good”, and that the messages tend to be of  the “feel good” variety.  If Jesus is being glorified, elevated and preached—-wonderful!  But those that worship should also be there to encourage the member, or visitor,   that needs encouragement that Sunday—-just like several in this room do tonight!


But also, there’s a need for the discipline, sometimes, to tell a brother or sister, “this is wrong!”  In large churches immoral and inappropriate behavior is not so obvious, confessed or confronted.  People often attend large churches so that they can live “under the radar screen”.


We need fellowship—even when we have 101 reasons for not going to church.  But in fellowship, we learn from one another, we share insights and hurts, and we grow in faith. Proverbs reminds us:"As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." (Proverbs 27:17 NKJV)  Through teaching, discipleship, and encouragement, fellowship deepens our understanding of God’s Word.


Fellowship, like we have here,  will protect you from emotional and spiritual isolation. We need to be touched, spoken to, laughed with and have human contact for our own well-being.  Yes, you could also get that kind of interaction at a bar or tavern.  But as Solomon once said, ”Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NKJV)The Christian life is meant to be lived in community, where believers can support and uplift one another.  You will not get that kind of support in a pub or alehouse.  To me, one of  greatest threats of hell is not merely the threat of pain, but the promise that you will be alone—-forever. That’s not the way He wired us—and it is not God’s nature either!  We need each other.

Fellowship is more than just meeting together; it is living in unity as the family of God. It reflects His love, builds His church, and equips believers to stand strong in their faith. As you seek to deepen your relationship with Christ, you make fellowship with other believers a priority in your life.


It was tough for some folks to get here today.  And even when it’s not tough, some people use every excuse to miss worship—even when the roads are not icy!  But the lamest reason people don’t get involved with a church on a regular basis is the fear that this or that place might not be the “right place”—-so they keep on looking and looking—-afraid to make the wrong choice. "The biggest mistake you can make in your life is to be always afraid of making a mistake.Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  Get involved—somewhere…. faithfully, whole-heartedly and completely in a fellowship of believers!


The final point is this:


3. WORK.  If you won’t work, you’re not supposed  come to the church looking for money or a handout!  Paul was clear: “If you won’t work, you won’t eat.”  That sounds unkind, but people were mooching off the generosity of the disciples of Jesus—then, and now also. The apostles were not talking about people who are too old or sick to work, but those who were able bodied but lazy!  Paul points out that if you don’t work you end up being  gossips, busy-bodies, whiners…..and you stir up trouble. “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop”, is not biblical, but it’s could be, because it’s so true!  What is that tempts you to not work? TV, computer, video games, sleep, whatever it is—-get rid of it!!!  Throw it away!


Listen to this: (2 Thess. 3:6-12 ESV)  "Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.   For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you,   nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.   It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.   For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.   For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.   Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.”


Some U.S. government statistics show that as many as 40% of the Americans that could work, do not.  Some have legitimate reasons—-they’re still in school, they are caring for family members, or they are still looking for a job, but the vast majority simply find that they don’t like to work, or that the jobs offered don’t suit their tastes, or, worst of all, they believe that they can live better by simply letting the government send them checks each month!!!!


The first century Christians were greatly strengthened in their faith because of them SAW Jesus—-and even witnessed His ascension into heaven. We can’t  offer anything like that to strengthen our efforts and faith, but I can tell you two things that we, as members of this little fellowship should do as we tithe, meet and work:

1. “We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God.....We must not.....assume that our schedule is our own to manage, but allow it to be arranged by God.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer

My work is constantly being interrupted….”speak Lord Jesus in those interruptions!”

2. Throughout the day, as God interupts your day with snow, cancelled school, health, financial and family challenges, remember that “your life as a Christian should make non believers question their disbelief in God.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer




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