Fellowship with One Another
"One Another" Study, Lesson 3
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The “one another” commands we’ll look at this week as well as the next two weeks are focused on how we interact with other believers, especially those we are close to, such as those in our local church. As a body of believers, how are we to interact with one another?
This week, we’ll look at what fellowship with other believers looks like. When an outsider looks into our churches, what should they see? Let’s find out.
Fellowship with One Another
Part of being in the family of God is that we have connections to other believers to support us in our faith and spiritual growth.
1 John 1:7: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
As we continue to walk in faith, we should find other like-minded believers to walk with us in our faith.
Greet One Another
One part of having fellowship with each other or meeting together is greeting each other. The apostles often encouraged believers to greet each other with a holy kiss.
Romans 16:16: Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.
1 Corinthians 16:20: All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
2 Corinthians 13:12-13: 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All God’s people here send their greetings.
1 Peter 5:14: Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
Although we may not use a kiss to greet each other as often now, at least in the U.S., making those connections with fellow believers to provide a sense of welcoming and acceptance and belonging is essential to the cohesion of the group. This is one of the reasons why at our church we have greeters at the front door, a welcome table for visitors, and a greeting time during the worship service. Greeting each other and making people feel welcome is essential for connecting with other believers.
Instruct One Another
When we come together as believers, we should want to help each other grow in our faith and in wisdom through teaching each other.
Colossians 3:16: Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Romans 15:14: I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another.
Churches should strive to raise up people who are competent to teach and instruct each other so that the body of believers can grow together in faith.
Worship with One Another
Part of the time together as believers should be spent not only in instruction but also in worship.
Colossians 3:16: Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Ephesians 5:18-20: 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Music is a way that we can worship God through gratitude and thanksgiving.
Belong to Each Other
As a body of believers, we should remember that we belong to each other.
Romans 12:4-5: 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
The importance of being part of a church is that we all have different gifts and talents, and without everyone contributing, something is missing. We all have a role to play in the growth of the church, the spreading of the gospel, and the maturation of our faith. Maybe you help in the nursery or with children or youth programs. Maybe you lead singing or prayer times. Maybe you teach Sunday school. Maybe you clean the church or take care of the church grounds. Maybe you help in the tech booth or the office. Every person has a part to play to make the church a strong unit.
Have Unity of Mind with Each Other
As we meet together for fellowship, instruction, and worship, we need to be united together with one purpose.
Romans 15:5-6: 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:10: I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
We should come together in unity with each other so that we can glorify God. God isn’t glorified if everyone is doing their own thing and trying to push their own agenda. But if we are unified together as believers in a world that is ready to be divided by the smallest differences, then we can be a true witness for Christ.
Conclusion
God has brought us together with other believers to grow together in our faith. He gave us the ability to instruct each other and worship together with unity of heart. He brought us together for fellowship and belonging. This is the core of what it means to be together with a body of other believers.