The Purpose Driven Life, Chapter Eighteen
Experiencing Life Together
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Real fellowship includes unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacrificial giving, sympathetic comforting, and all the other "one another" commands in the New Testament.
Every Christian needs to be involved in a small group within their church, whether it is a home fellowship group, a Sunday school class or a Bible study.
IN REAL FELLOWSHIP, PEOPLE EXPERIENCE AUTHENTICITY
It is genuine, heart to heart, sometimes gut level, sharing. It happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives.
IN REAL FELLOWSHIP PEOPLE EXPERIENCE MUTUALITY
Mutuality is the art of giving and receiving, of depending on each other. You are not responsible FOR everyone in the Body of Christ, but you are responsible TO them.
IN REAL FELLOWSHIP PEOPLE EXPERIENCE SYMPATHY
Sympathy is entering in and sharing the pain of others. It meets two fundamental human needs: the need to be understood and the need to have your feelings validated.
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF FELLOWSHIP
Fellowship of sharing
Fellowship of studying God's Word
Fellowship of serving
Fellowship of suffering
In times of deep crisis, grief and doubt, we need each other most. When circumstances crush us to the point that our faith falters, that's when we need believing friends the most.
IN REAL FELLOWSHIP PEOPLE EXPERIENCE MERCY
Fellowship is a place of grace, where mistakes aren't rubbed in but rubbed out, where mercy wins over justice.
Many people are reluctant to show mercy because they don't understand the difference between trust and forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past. Trust has to do with future behavior. Forgiveness must be immediate, whether or not a person asks for it. Trust must be rebuilt over time.
Every Christian needs to be involved in a small group within their church, whether it is a home fellowship group, a Sunday school class or a Bible study.
IN REAL FELLOWSHIP, PEOPLE EXPERIENCE AUTHENTICITY
It is genuine, heart to heart, sometimes gut level, sharing. It happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives.
IN REAL FELLOWSHIP PEOPLE EXPERIENCE MUTUALITY
Mutuality is the art of giving and receiving, of depending on each other. You are not responsible FOR everyone in the Body of Christ, but you are responsible TO them.
IN REAL FELLOWSHIP PEOPLE EXPERIENCE SYMPATHY
Sympathy is entering in and sharing the pain of others. It meets two fundamental human needs: the need to be understood and the need to have your feelings validated.
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF FELLOWSHIP
Fellowship of sharing
Fellowship of studying God's Word
Fellowship of serving
Fellowship of suffering
In times of deep crisis, grief and doubt, we need each other most. When circumstances crush us to the point that our faith falters, that's when we need believing friends the most.
IN REAL FELLOWSHIP PEOPLE EXPERIENCE MERCY
Fellowship is a place of grace, where mistakes aren't rubbed in but rubbed out, where mercy wins over justice.
Many people are reluctant to show mercy because they don't understand the difference between trust and forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past. Trust has to do with future behavior. Forgiveness must be immediate, whether or not a person asks for it. Trust must be rebuilt over time.