Meaningful Togetherness

Hello Summit Faith Family,

The 2014 holiday season is now history. For many, the holidays included additional family time. Naturally, one expects we would all look forward to have an opportunity to spend more time with the family. However, that is not always the case. Unfortunately for some, their level of stress and tension builds in direct proportion to the time they spend with the family.

The term fellowship is frequently used to describe times when families gathers together. It is difficult to have fellowship without getting together with other people. Yet we are reminded that gathering together for fellowship is not always a pleasant experience.

In our Connections Class, we have been studying the church as described in Acts chapter two.  And they were continually devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to fellowship, and to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart. Our goal has been to evaluate the kind of fellowship (togetherness) they enjoyed as we attempt to find meaningful fellowship (togetherness) in our world today.

We have discovered that meaningful fellowship begins with intimate fellowship with God through Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I exhort you, brethren by name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:9-10)  And Paul presents that same message to the church in Philippi – If you have found any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort, from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. (Philippians 2:1)

When we have meaningful fellowship with God through Jesus Christ, the foundation is set for us to have meaningful fellowship with each other, fellowship that results in unity, joy, encouragement, spiritual strength and eventually, other believers. I would image the average Christian has a deep desire to have experience unity, joy, encouragement, and spiritual strength when they come together with other Christians. But the starting point is meaningful fellowship with God. So how are we doing with that?

Have a great week.

Jimmy Slick