Recently, a group of guys from this area headed south to Texas to go hunting. They piled in to vehicles jammed full of their stuff and started driving – for about 24 hours. When they came back they said they had an awesome time. This included the many hours jammed in to the vehicles to get there and back.
I didn’t have the opportunity to go on that trip, but a few years ago I joined in a similar trip as we drove to Mississippi to help with hurricane relief. This trip was also about 24 hours straight in the vehicle, making occasional pit stops.
One of the we comments expressed about that trip was how great it was because we got to spend time together, visiting, laughing, learning about each other. The "closeness in the vehicle" brought about another kind of closeness. Each member of the trip was a Christian who was going to minister to people in need. We experienced the blessings and benefits of Christian fellowship.
In Acts chapter two, Peter preached a powerful sermon and 3,000 people responded by making a decision to become a follower of Jesus. Peter told the people to repent, to turn around and change their minds by accepting the forgiveness God was offering. This brought them to a total transformation from the inside out.
Romans 12:2 NKJV says:
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
What happened to these people who made that decision on that day in Jerusalem? They joined together in communion based on their relationship with Jesus.
Acts 2:46-47 NKJV
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Wow!!! What a start the church had – an explosive beginning. 3,000 people!!! Amazing. God never saves people so they can wander off by themselves. The three thousand new believers did not scatter, but remained together and devoted themselves continuously to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship.
The early church experienced fellowship through teaching and through the focus of spending time together. It was more than getting together. It was a partnership in the purposes of the Church and a sharing in its message and work.
People enjoy fellowship, enjoy spending time together, based on what they have in common. Among Christians there are many different interests. But, the common connection of Jesus and the Christian life is the strongest connection and brings believers together.
One of the benefits of involvement in a local church is the people one gets to know and appreciate. The common bond of Jesus can take even strangers and quickly bring them together. I have experienced that in travels. I even experienced that traveling over seas and meeting Christians. Even with a language barrier I felt a kinship and fellowship with them.
It usually takes a common interest or experience to bring people together. The common experience brings followers of Jesus together.
I didn’t have the opportunity to go on that trip, but a few years ago I joined in a similar trip as we drove to Mississippi to help with hurricane relief. This trip was also about 24 hours straight in the vehicle, making occasional pit stops.
One of the we comments expressed about that trip was how great it was because we got to spend time together, visiting, laughing, learning about each other. The "closeness in the vehicle" brought about another kind of closeness. Each member of the trip was a Christian who was going to minister to people in need. We experienced the blessings and benefits of Christian fellowship.
In Acts chapter two, Peter preached a powerful sermon and 3,000 people responded by making a decision to become a follower of Jesus. Peter told the people to repent, to turn around and change their minds by accepting the forgiveness God was offering. This brought them to a total transformation from the inside out.
Romans 12:2 NKJV says:
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
What happened to these people who made that decision on that day in Jerusalem? They joined together in communion based on their relationship with Jesus.
Acts 2:46-47 NKJV
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Wow!!! What a start the church had – an explosive beginning. 3,000 people!!! Amazing. God never saves people so they can wander off by themselves. The three thousand new believers did not scatter, but remained together and devoted themselves continuously to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship.
The early church experienced fellowship through teaching and through the focus of spending time together. It was more than getting together. It was a partnership in the purposes of the Church and a sharing in its message and work.
People enjoy fellowship, enjoy spending time together, based on what they have in common. Among Christians there are many different interests. But, the common connection of Jesus and the Christian life is the strongest connection and brings believers together.
One of the benefits of involvement in a local church is the people one gets to know and appreciate. The common bond of Jesus can take even strangers and quickly bring them together. I have experienced that in travels. I even experienced that traveling over seas and meeting Christians. Even with a language barrier I felt a kinship and fellowship with them.
It usually takes a common interest or experience to bring people together. The common experience brings followers of Jesus together.
