I. INT.
A. THERE IS MUCH MISUNDERSTANDING AND CONFUSION AS TO THE MEANING & USUAGE OF THE WORD “FELLOWSHIP”
1. 1st, the term is used to include and describe activity that is no part of the service of the Lord, the work of the church or citizenship in the kingdom of God
a. It is commonly used, even among Christians, to include such things as entertainment, recreation, camping, and nearly everything else under heaven
b. Brethren talk about “fellowship halls,” “youth fellowship,” and or having fellowship all the time meaning social or recreation
c. The word is never used that way in scripture
1) God’s fellowship hall is in the assembly of His people to worship Him
d. I am not opposed to social activities, recreation or eating meals together as long as they are wholesome, but they have their place.
B. LET’S LOOK AT THE TERM “FELLOWSHIP” AS IT IS FOUND IN THE BIBLE
II. THE WORD “FELLOWSHIP” AS FOUND IN SCRIPTURE
A. THAYER, IN HIS LEXICON DEFINES “FELLOWSHIP” WITH A THREEFOLD MEANING
1. 1ST, “The share which one has in anything, participation" - Under this definition Thayer lists the following
a. “fellowship of the Spirit”-2 Cor. 13:13-14
b. “fellowship in the Faith”-Phil. 6
c. “fellowship of the suffering”-Ph. 3:10
d. “fellowship with the blood”-I Cor. 10:16
e. “fellowship of the body”-I Cor. 10:16
f. “fellowship in ministering to the saints”-2 Cor. 8:4
g. “fellowship of the mystery”-Eph. 3:9
h. “fellowship of J.C.”-I Cor. 1:9
i. THIS USE OF THE TERM “FELLOWSHIP” SURELY WILL NOT ALLOW CHURCH SPONSORED RECREATION
2. 2ND, “Intercourse, fellowship, intimacy”-Under this definition Thayer lists
a. The right hand as a sign- pledge of fellowship-Gal. 2:9
b. The lack of fellowship between light and darkness- 2 Cor. 6:14
c. Used of the intimate bond of fellowship which unites Christians-Acts 2:42
d. Fellowship in the Gospel-Ph. 1:5
e. He cites I Jn. 1:3, 6 “of the fellowship of Christians with God and Christ
f. THUS THIS DEFINITION OF “FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIANS CANNOT INCLUDE RECREATION AND ENTERTAINMENT
3. 3rd, “benefaction, jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment and proof of fellowship-Thayer cites 2 Cor. 8: 4; 2 Cor. 9:13; Rm. 15:26- These passages have to do with contribution for poor saints
a. THIS IS HIS THIRD AND LAST DEFINITION OF THE WORD “FELLOWSHIP” AND IT CANNOT BE APPLIED TO RECREATION
III. WITH WHOM ARE WE TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP? WE CAN AND SHOULD HAVE FELLOWSHIP
A. CHART
B. THERE IS TO BE NO FELLOWSHIP-2 COR. 6:16; EPH. 5:11; 2 JN. 9-
1. When it comes to error which transgresses the doctrine of Christ and the one who teaches that error, John tells us that we should “NOT RECEIVE” the teaching or the teacher
IV. WHAT IS GOD’S FELLOWSHIP HALL?-IT IS IN THE ASSEMBLY OF GOD’S PEOPLE AS THEY WORSHIP HIM
V. THERE IS ONLY TWO KINDS OF EATING THAT CAN BE CALLED “FELLOWSHIP”
A. THE LORD’S SUPPER-I COR. 10:16
B. EATING GOD’S WORD-JN. 6:53-58
VI. CONCLUSION:
A. MAY GOD HELP US ALL TO RESPECT THE BIBLE ON THIS SUBJECT AS WELL AS ALL OTHERS
B. LET US REMEMBER, I COR. 4:6 “WE ARE NOT TO GO BEYOND THOSE THINGS THAT ARE WRITTEN”