FellowshipFellowship““Weighing Out”Weighing Out”

ScaleScale

The Invisible Church

“The Lord looks at the heart”

The Holy Christian ChurchOnly God can look into a person’s heart to see if there is faith in Christ. All who truly believe are invisible to us.

The Visible Church

Churches (Synods)When we humans see people gather into churches or synods,

we can only examine what “comes out” of the heart (by looking at what they say and what they do).

Test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have

gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)

This testing, like a weighing out on scales, is commanded by God for our good, and the good of others.

How does God want us to test what we humans observe in others?

We humans look at what is confessed (the books) and what is done (the hands).

? ? ? ?

This weighing out process is called “church fellowship.”

How does what a church teaches…

… match with the

Bible?

In the “weighing out” process of Church Fellowship, a ball that represents our faith

sharing actions will role to one side or the other.

Our Faith-Sharing

actions

WorshipCommunion

PrayerOfferings

Our faith sharing actions are to used with some Christians, and not used with other Christians.

+

If a Christian person or group shows that what they believe and how they act matches with

Scripture, the ball roles to the “ + “ side, meaning that we practice fellowship with him / them.

_

If a Christian person or group shows that what they believe and how they act does NOT match

with Scripture, the ball roles to the “ - “ side, meaning that we do NOT practice fellowship

with him / them.

+ _Rom 15:1-5 16:17-18

12:1-2

Church Fellowship is taught throughout Scripture and Scripture gives many examples. The Book of Romans, for example, presents these teachings.

These teachings are summarized in the following frames.

+ _Rom 15:1-5 16:17-18•Bear with weak•Build up faith•By teaching•for faith-unity.

•Watch out!•Divisions?•Contrary?•Keep away!

+ _Rom 15:1-5 16:17-18

Fulcrum: 12:1-2Bear Hug Stand back

God’s mercy moves me!Fellowship is a weighing tool, not rules.

+ _Bear Hug

Stand back

God’s Mercy

Moves us.

If weak & willing to

learn:

If promoting, defending

error:

Fellowship is a weighing tool, not rules.

WorshipCommunionPrayerOfferings

Printable Slide

+ _________

________

God’s _________Moves us.

If w____& willing to l______:

If P________, d________

error:

Fellowship is a w_____ tool, not r____.

W____C________P_____O_______

Print off and fill in the blanks to test yourself.