Fellowship is a Verb!

Acts 2:42

⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

The first century church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. As we continue with this passage a second day – we will look at the fellowship aspect of it.  Yesterday, you might remember, we dealt with devoting ourselves to the Apostles’ teaching and urge our readers to be regular in their Bible reading.

What do you think of when you hear the word fellowship?  According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, fellowship can be a noun or a verb.  As a noun, it might mean companionship or company.  It might mean a community of interest, activity, feeling or experience, a company of equals or friends.  As a verb, it seems to be exclusively used by churches as in; to join in fellowship especially with a church member.

I like looking at fellowship as a verb.  It is active!  It is doing something – being together – enjoying each other’s company.  We come together on Sunday mornings to praise and worship God together.  In doing do – we are fellowshipping together.  We are being involved with one another’s lives.

As I write this, I am watching families unload their cars and head into our family mealtime.  We call that a fellowship meal because we don’t just come to eat – but rather we come together to fellowship – to get to know one another.  For this reason I would encourage people to not sit at the same table each week – but to fellowship with different people – often.  Use this time of fellowship to learn about other members of the church – of the fellowship.

Fellowship is vital in a relational church like Mt. Oak.  We desire to be involved with one another and not simply be faces that pass in the hall on Sunday mornings.  We are urged to devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship together!

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

Tomorrow we will continue with this passage as we look at communion and prayer!