Levels of Fellowship

1) We must try to honor God’s 1) We must try to honor God’s triangletriangle of of fellowshipfellowship..

Quick Review of Our Quick Review of Our Study So FarStudy So Far

1 John 1:6-71 John 1:6-7

[6] If we say that we have [6] If we say that we have fellowship fellowship with Him with Him and yet walk in the and yet walk in the

darkness, we lie and do not practice darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; [7] but if we walk in the the truth; [7] but if we walk in the

Light as He Himself is in the Light, Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have we have fellowship with one fellowship with one

anotheranother, and the blood of Jesus His , and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. Son cleanses us from all sin.

God

Me My Brother

2) God has set the 2) God has set the fellowship fellowship boundariesboundaries..

Quick Review of Our Quick Review of Our Study So FarStudy So Far

In Christ

In Christ

Breadth of FellowshipBreadth of Fellowship

1) All 1) All typestypes of of peoplepeople

2) Those 2) Those with different with different opinionsopinions

3) Different 3) Different stagesstages of of maturitymaturity

4) Those 4) Those with with doctrinaldoctrinal

misunderstandingsmisunderstandings

In Christ

Limits of FellowshipLimits of Fellowship

1) 1) NonNon--childrenchildren

2) 2) ProdigalProdigal SonsSons

3) Those who practice 3) Those who practice immoralityimmorality

4) 4) FalseFalse TeachersTeachers

5) Those 5) Those who cause who cause

divisionsdivisions..

Some Levels Some Levels of Fellowshipof Fellowship

1) Fellowship with all men.1) Fellowship with all men.

Acts 17:28-29Acts 17:28-29[28] for in Him we live and move and [28] for in Him we live and move and

exist, as even some of your own exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His poets have said, ‘For we also are His

children.’ [29] “Being then the children.’ [29] “Being then the children of God, we ought not children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art an image formed by the art

and thought of man. and thought of man.

2) Fellowship with those 2) Fellowship with those of common origin.of common origin.

Acts 22:1-2Acts 22:1-2

[1] “[1] “BrethrenBrethren and fathers, hear my and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.”defense which I now offer to you.”

[2] And when they heard that he [2] And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew was addressing them in the Hebrew

dialect, they became even more dialect, they became even more quiet; and he said,quiet; and he said,

3) Fellowship with those 3) Fellowship with those in our community.in our community.

2 Corinthians 6:14-152 Corinthians 6:14-15

[14] Do not be bound together with [14] Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership unbelievers; for what partnership

have righteousness and have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has lawlessness, or what fellowship has

light with darkness? [15] Or what light with darkness? [15] Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or harmony has Christ with Belial, or

what has a believer in common with what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? an unbeliever?

4) Fellowship with those 4) Fellowship with those who are spiritual-minded.who are spiritual-minded.

Romans 10:1-2Romans 10:1-2

[1] Brethren, my heart's desire and [1] Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for my prayer to God for them is for

their salvation. [2] For I testify about their salvation. [2] For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, them that they have a zeal for God,

but not in accordance with but not in accordance with knowledge. knowledge.

5) Fellowship with 5) Fellowship with our physical family.our physical family.


[12] But to the rest I say, not the [12] But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife Lord, that if any brother has a wife

who is an unbeliever, and she who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. [13] And a woman not divorce her. [13] And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, who has an unbelieving husband,

and he consents to live with her, she and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. must not send her husband away.

1 Peter 3:1-21 Peter 3:1-2

[1] In the same way, you wives, be [1] In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands submissive to your own husbands

so that even if any of them are so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may disobedient to the word, they may

be won without a word by the be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, [2] as they behavior of their wives, [2] as they

observe your chaste and observe your chaste and respectful behavior. respectful behavior.

6) Fellowship with 6) Fellowship with those who have left their those who have left their

fellowship with God.fellowship with God.

2 Thessalonians 3:14-152 Thessalonians 3:14-15

[14] If anyone does not obey our [14] If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special instruction in this letter, take special

note of that person and do not note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. [15] Yet do not be put to shame. [15] Yet do not

regard him as an enemy, but regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.admonish him as a brother.

7) Fellowship with God, and 7) Fellowship with God, and thereby with His children.thereby with His children.

1 John 1:6-71 John 1:6-7

[6] If we say that we have fellowship [6] If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the with Him and yet walk in the

darkness, we lie and do not practice darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; [7] but if we walk in the the truth; [7] but if we walk in the

Light as He Himself is in the Light, Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one we have fellowship with one

another, and the blood of Jesus His another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. Son cleanses us from all sin.

In Christ

We can We can shareshare many things many things without showing without showing approvalapproval

or “ or “inin--ChristChrist” fellowship!” fellowship!


[9] I wrote you in my letter not to [9] I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; associate with immoral people; [10] I did not at all mean with the [10] I did not at all mean with the

immoral people of this world, immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with the covetous and swindlers,

or with idolaters, for then you would or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. have to go out of the world.


[11] But actually, I wrote to you not [11] But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called to associate with any so-called

brother if he is an immoral person, brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a or covetous, or an idolater, or a

reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindlerreviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a —not even to eat with such a

one. one.

Romans 16:17Romans 16:17

[17] Now I urge you, brethren, keep [17] Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances dissensions and hindrances

contrary to the teaching which you contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. learned, and turn away from them.

2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-152 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15

[6] Now we command you, [6] Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep

away from every brother who away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not leads an unruly life and not

according to the tradition which you according to the tradition which you received from us. received from us.

2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-152 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15

[14] If anyone does not obey our [14] If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special instruction in this letter, take special

note of that person and do not note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. [15] Yet do not be put to shame. [15] Yet do not

regard him as an enemy, but regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.admonish him as a brother.

Matthew 18:15-17Matthew 18:15-17

[15] “If your brother sins, [15] “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in go and show him his fault in

private; if he listens to you, private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. you have won your brother.


[16] “But if he does not listen to you, [16] “But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT

MAY BE CONFIRMED.MAY BE CONFIRMED.


[17] “If he refuses to listen to them, [17] “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile him be to you as a Gentile

and a tax collector.and a tax collector.

This is critical for This is critical for evangelismevangelism and and missionmission!!

Why Reflect So Deeply Why Reflect So Deeply on Fellowship?on Fellowship?

Levels of Fellowship

Spiritual

Transcript of Levels of Fellowship