A DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR “THE TEN TIMELESS VALUES FOR DISCIPLESHIP”

 Value 7- Week 3                                            Fellowship


Word:             “for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.  As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ.  There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”

                                                                                                                                                Galatians 3:26-28

 Reflection:  A Close Association of Equals

     One of the definitions of “fellowship” is “a close association of equals”.  One of the most amazing things about the early church was the way discipleship broke down social and cultural walls that divided people.  For the first time Jews and Gentiles, males and females, slaves and free, were accepted in the same group.  In Christ all were of equal worth and had equal access.  That is what happens in fellowship, but not in socialization.  One of the reasons most of our churches are so homogenous is that we substituted socialization for fellowship and in general you socialize with people most like you.  One of the criticisms of the church growth movement was that growth was based on reaching people most like you (i.e. in your “social” circles).  It was an effective strategy if your main goal is to make church members.  However if your goal is to make disciples of all nations it becomes problematic. 
     If fellowship is sharing a common journey and a common goal then where I am going is more important than whom I am with.  I am willing to be with, help, and be helped by anyone who shares that goal.  In J.R. Tolkien’s series, “The Lord of the Rings” one of the volumes is entitled the “Fellowship of the Ring”.  In the story the common goal and journey is shared by people who never would have “socialized” together; elves, hobbits, and humans, because their common goal was more important than their differences.  Some of the most effective life changing ministries in our culture are “Twelve Step Groups”.  In those groups, the goal is sobriety or freedom and it doesn’t matter if you are “ditch digger” or a “doctor”, all are equal in our brokenness and our desire to be healed and free.  What is often discovered in fellowship is what we share in our common humanity is far greater than the cultural differences that have been imposed upon us in the world.
     One the key virtues of discipleship is humility and true Biblical fellowship is a vehicle through which it can be learned.  In Fellowship, as we share a common journey and goal we learn to see all people as equals, sinners in need of grace, people created in the image of God who are trying to grow into Christ likeness.  In fellowship, pride is broken, judgmentalness and prejudice overcome, all of which are critical to growing in our ability to love like Jesus loves and hence be a disciple.


Practice:  Examine my “fellowship” groups to see if there is any diversity and if not, ask why not?  Have a conversation in your existing group about whether your group is more fellowship or socialization.

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