And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts 2:42-47
Fellowship is much different than worship. The worship of God is something we perform as our duty to our creator. Fellowship, however, is not a duty but is strictly for our own benefit and edification. It may not be a duty but it is what gives us strength and encouragement to continue on our Christian journey and therefore, since we are inherently weak, something that is very important to our spiritual wellbeing. It is only through fellowship we have the opportunity and privilege of being fed by others called of the same purpose. In this way we share in each others strengths and weaknesses. I often imagine the people of God to be like that mythical tribe that had arms so long they could not reach their own mouths. In order to eat they were forced to feed each other.
Fellowship can occur in any location, and on any day we desire. Christ fellowshipped with his apostles and disciples in homes, in the mountains, on a boat, in rented halls, behind a donkey, on a hillside, in the desert and many other places. They fellowshipped on varying days of the week, including a deliberate breakage of the Jewish Sabbath.
Fellowship requires only two or more Spirit-filled persons gathered in the name of Christ. It is that simple. The location and surroundings mean absolutely nothing. It can be a patch of dirt or an ornate cathedral. The building is nothing. When we gather in Christ’s name, in a group of at least two, we have fellowship with one another as if Christ was in our midst. Indeed, he is and this is not because Christ is an additional person but, instead, the two or more make up the whole of Christ.
When Christ spoke of fellowship, membership was not a part of the package either. When he gathered men together he merely called to them, “Follow me” and they followed Him. There were no tests, no committees, no boards, and no research into their lives. He didn’t care what they knew, where they had been or what they had done . He simply said, “Follow me”. He did not lead them to a building, have them sign a card, submit a registration, take an oath, or pledge a commitment. He simply wanted them to become a part of his organism; “The Body of Christ”. For more on this subject see “Where is Church?
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Brothers, I couldn’t speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ. I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren’t yet ready. Indeed, not even now are you ready, for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you fleshly? Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed; and each as the Lord gave to him? I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s farming, God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble; each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is. If any man’s work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire. Don’t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He has taken the wise in their craftiness.” And again, “The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless.” Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. All are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
1 Corinthians 3:1-23
