Fellowship The Purpose-Driven Church. Fellowship?

FellowshipFellowshipThe Purpose-Driven

ChurchThe Purpose-Driven

Church

Fellowship?Fellowship?

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to

the fellowship… All the believers were together and had everything in common.”

(Acts 2:42 & 44)

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to

the fellowship… All the believers were together and had everything in common.”

(Acts 2:42 & 44)

Fellowship?Fellowship?

When you think of the word Fellowship, what comes to mind?

Coffee Hours?


Coffee Hours?


Pie Socials?


Pie Socials?


Potlucks & Picnics?


Potlucks & Picnics?


Handshakes & Hugs?


Handshakes & Hugs?


Happy People in Church?


Happy People in Church?

When you think of the

word Fellowship, what comes

to mind?

When you think of the

word Fellowship, what comes

to mind?

How about…

The Lord of the Rings!?

How about…

The Lord of the Rings!?

Especially…

The Fellowship of the Ring!

Especially…

The Fellowship of the Ring!

The Fellowship of the Ring!?!?The Fellowship of the Ring!?!?

The Lord of the Rings tells the story of a Hobbit named Frodo who is entrusted with a magical ring that must be destroyed at a certain place in order to save the earth from the evil that is ready to overwhelm it.

The Lord of the Rings tells the story of a Hobbit named Frodo who is entrusted with a magical ring that must be destroyed at a certain place in order to save the earth from the evil that is ready to overwhelm it.

To help him along his way, a Fellowship is formed: The Fellowship of the Ring. The Fellowship is a combination of such beings as…


Hobbits!



Elfins (Elves)Elfins (Elves)



Elfins (Elves)Elfins (Elves)



DwarvesDwarves



WizardsWizards



& Humans& Humans

Together they fight off a horde of evil enemies & opponents until final victory is achieved and the world is once again safe for all to live in!

Together they fight off a horde of evil enemies & opponents until final victory is achieved and the world is once again safe for all to live in!

That’s the Fellowship of the Ring

That’s the Fellowship of the Ring

But what does that have to do with us and with Christian

Fellowship?

But what does that have to do with us and with Christian

Fellowship?

Lots!Lots!

Christian Fellowship is a bonding together of differing people from differing backgrounds from differing ethnic, national, racial & language groups. All of us united together into a community for one common reason and for one common purpose!

Christian Fellowship is a bonding together of differing people from differing backgrounds from differing ethnic, national, racial & language groups. All of us united together into a community for one common reason and for one common purpose!

Indeed, the word that we translate ‘fellowship’ in the original language of the New Testament is the word κοινωνια which means “in common” or “things held in common.” We get the words ‘communion’ & ‘community’ from it. So when we are told in Acts that the early Christians devoted themselves to the fellowship…

Indeed, the word that we translate ‘fellowship’ in the original language of the New Testament is the word κοινωνια which means “in common” or “things held in common.” We get the words ‘communion’ & ‘community’ from it. So when we are told in Acts that the early Christians devoted themselves to the fellowship…

Their community that enjoyed a common faith in

Jesus&

Their community that had been given a common

mission to do Jesus’ will

Their community that enjoyed a common faith in

Jesus&

Their community that had been given a common

mission to do Jesus’ will

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us…

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us…

The Apostle John put it this way:The Apostle John put it this way:

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.1 John 1:1-31 John 1:1-3

Fellowship begins with the Father who sent His Son, Jesus, to enter our existence, breathe our air, live our lives and rescue us from the plague of sin, Satan & death.

Fellowship begins with the Father who sent His Son, Jesus, to enter our existence, breathe our air, live our lives and rescue us from the plague of sin, Satan & death.

What draws us together into community in the first place is that we share a common faith in the Son of God, in the salvation He brings and in the Life He gives.

What draws us together into community in the first place is that we share a common faith in the Son of God, in the salvation He brings and in the Life He gives.

First and foremost, we are a community because of Jesus. He is the One we have in common.Nothing else and no one else!

First and foremost, we are a community because of Jesus. He is the One we have in common.Nothing else and no one else!

Just as with our friends in the Fellowship of the Ring, so the Fellowship of Believers is made up of people who really don’t have anything else in common other than Jesus!

Just as with our friends in the Fellowship of the Ring, so the Fellowship of Believers is made up of people who really don’t have anything else in common other than Jesus!

Maybe this video clip will help…Maybe this video clip will help…

Something greater than ourselves

Something greater than ourselves ComfortedComforted

RelationshipsRelationships

Loved… uncondition

ally

Loved… uncondition

allyForgiven & EmbracedForgiven & Embraced Accountabili

tyAccountabili

ty

Community

Community

Family of ChristFamily

of Christ

SupportedSupported

Also like our friends in the Fellowship of the Ring, the Fellowship of Believers has common work to do, common goals to achieve and common undertakings to accomplish.

Also like our friends in the Fellowship of the Ring, the Fellowship of Believers has common work to do, common goals to achieve and common undertakings to accomplish.

We are called upon to serve our Lord Jesus

Christ, TOGETHER!

And what does that serving together look like?

And what does that serving together look like?Well…

probably we won’t have to deal with someone like Gollum or an evil orc!

Well… probably we won’t have to deal with someone like Gollum or an evil orc!

Maybe this video clip will help…Maybe this video clip will help…

A hand reaching

out

A hand reaching

out

The embrace of a friend

The embrace of a friend

An act of kindnessAn act of kindness

Home to a deeper calling

Home to a deeper calling

A sanctuar

y to empower to share

A sanctuar

y to empower to share

Opportunity to work together & touch a world in need

Opportunity to work together & touch a world in need

More than a Buildi

ng

More than a Buildi

ng

For St. Paul Lutheran Church & School to be a Purpose-Driven church it is the utmost necessity that we insist on seeing ourselves as being a Fellowship of Believers. And we insist on fleshing out what that means.

For St. Paul Lutheran Church & School to be a Purpose-Driven church it is the utmost necessity that we insist on seeing ourselves as being a Fellowship of Believers. And we insist on fleshing out what that means.

Our society is more and more isolated. People all around us crave

for community… for a sense of belonging. They need more than what the world has to offer. They

don’t need another bowling league, music festival, social club or

anything of the sort!

They need Community!

They need Fellowship!

Our society is more and more isolated. People all around us crave

for community… for a sense of belonging. They need more than what the world has to offer. They

don’t need another bowling league, music festival, social club or

anything of the sort!

They need Community!

They need Fellowship!

Just like we do! Just like we do!

As a Purpose-Driven congregation, we seek to grow in the embracing fellowship we have with each other as brothers & sisters in Christ. We do that in formal ways and (more importantly) informal ways. We look for opportunities to truly be together in significant, sharing groupings - where relationships are built, faith-growth is encouraged and where Christ is honored.

As a Purpose-Driven congregation, we seek to grow in the embracing fellowship we have with each other as brothers & sisters in Christ. We do that in formal ways and (more importantly) informal ways. We look for opportunities to truly be together in significant, sharing groupings - where relationships are built, faith-growth is encouraged and where Christ is honored.

And also, as a Purpose-Driven congregation, we seek to work together as a community of believers who, sharing our common assets reach out to a world in need, model Christian Love & Fellowship and invite those who are on the outside to come in…

Come in to the Fellowship of Believers

And also, as a Purpose-Driven congregation, we seek to work together as a community of believers who, sharing our common assets reach out to a world in need, model Christian Love & Fellowship and invite those who are on the outside to come in…

Come in to the Fellowship of Believers

No matter who they are - even if they’re a Hobbit - they have a place in our Fellowship through faith in Jesus Christ!

No matter who they are - even if they’re a Hobbit - they have a place in our Fellowship through faith in Jesus Christ!

As people who have a common Savior and as people who have common Savior-given goals, let us LIVE as the Fellowship that we ARE!

As people who have a common Savior and as people who have common Savior-given goals, let us LIVE as the Fellowship that we ARE!

Hold me, JesusHold me, Jesus

Well, sometimes my life

Just don't make sense at all

When the mountains look so big

And my faith just seems so small

Well, sometimes my life

Just don't make sense at all

When the mountains look so big

And my faith just seems so small

So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf

You have been King of my glory

Won't You be my Prince of Peace




And I wake up in the night and feel the dark

It's so hot inside my soul

I swear there must be blisters on my heart

And I wake up in the night and feel the dark

It's so hot inside my soul

I swear there must be blisters on my heart







Surrender don't come natural to me

I'd rather fight You for something I don't really want

Than to take what You give that I need

Surrender don't come natural to me

I'd rather fight You for something I don't really want

Than to take what You give that I need

And I've beat my head against so many walls

Now I'm falling down, I'm falling on my knees

And I've beat my head against so many walls

Now I'm falling down, I'm falling on my knees

And this Salvation Army band

Is playing this hymn

And Your grace rings out so deep

It makes my resistance seem so thin

And this Salvation Army band

Is playing this hymn

And Your grace rings out so deep

It makes my resistance seem so thin







xx

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