Tag Archives: fellowship

TFRStaff 7:15 am on 2018-02-05
Tags: , fellowship   

Bringing Christians together

Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. (1 John 2:10 NIV)

Кто любит брата своего, тот пребывает во свете, и нет в нем соблазна. (1-e Иоанна 2:10 Russian)

O LORD God, my holy, righteous and gracious Father in heaven ~ hear the prayers of your children who depend upon your mercy for our very lives. Thank you for bringing Christians together in local congregations where everyone desires to exalt and obey Christ as Lord. Help me Lord to love and respect all my brothers and sisters in Christ who also look for a much brighter tomorrow when you are finished with us here on earth. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

David Binkley, Sr. Gospel Minister

Cedar Key Church of Christ

#david-binkley #fellowship

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John T. Polk II 11:57 am on 2017-10-20
Tags: fellowship, sexually immoral   

10-17-2017 Sexual Immorality

“I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people” (1 Corinthians 5:9 NKJV). The expression, “sexually immoral,” refers to any sexual deviation from God’s plan for us to grow up as sexual virgins until heterosexual marriage, then lifetime faithfulness to that commitment. To be “sexually immoral” includes practices such as, rape, incest, adultery, homosexuality, sodomy, pornography, and such like. When “sexually immoral” people are in charge of a business or industry, such as a magazine or entertainment or religion, those who know of it should “not keep company” with him or her! All who have no good morals will accept, endorse, and hide the “sexually immoral,” but good moral people will keep away from them. “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray” (Proverbs 12:26 NKJV).
This is Johnny Polk, with “Words of Wisdom” brought to you by the Oneida church of Christ.

#fellowship, #sexually-immoral

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John T. Polk II 11:54 am on 2017-10-20
Tags: fellowship, keep company,   

10-20-2017 Live In Not Of The World

Paul wrote to Corinthian Christians: “I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world” (1 Corinthians 5:9-10 NKJV). To “keep company” is participating with, or sharing in, “sexual immorality.” A Christian must stay spiritually safe, but at the same time continue living among worldly people. Jesus prayed about His disciples, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15 NKJV). On earth, Jesus showed how we must “walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time” (Colossians 4:5 NKJV).
This is Johnny Polk, with “Words of Wisdom” brought to you by the Oneida church of Christ.

#fellowship, #keep-company, #world

TFRStaff 4:47 pm on 2017-10-09
Tags: , fellowship,   

God draws the line

“… ‘You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us’” Ezra 4:3.

In this era of inclusion and bending of the rules to accommodate everyone, the drawing of a line of fellowship by the returning exiles sounds really harsh to us. But, it is God who draws it.

It was precisely because His people had erased His line and drawn it where they pleased that they had ceased to be His people and had compromised with the beliefs and practices of every nation around them.

As Ezra had to tell those of the surrounding peoples who opposed them, “You have no part with us,” Nehemiah needed to a few years later when he sought to rebuild the walls.

But why not extend fellowship? Doesn’t God love all people? Yes, but with God a person is either in or out. It’s tempting to want to call seemingly good and loving folks who are doing great deeds “Christians,” but God draws the line still by whether they are in or out of Christ.

It is up to us to have the courage to hold the line and build the wall in the face of opposition or give in to the pressure to re-draw God’s line.

Are you courageous to stand for God?

Doug Kashorek

douglaskashorek.com

#devotional #fellowship #love

TFRStaff 6:16 pm on 2017-06-30
Tags: , , , fellowship, , , ,   

June 2017 Issue of Christian Worker (Philippians Chapter 1)

Here’s a link to the latest PDF issue of the Christian Worker.

Here are the topics you will find:

  • A Harmonious Congregation (Kevin W. Rhodes)
  • I Thank My God Upon Every Remembrance… (Cody Westbrook)
  • Let Love Abound (Mike Vestal)
  • Christ Is Preached, So I Rejoice! (Stephen Wiggins)
  • To Live is Christ and to Die is Gain (Randy Robinson)
  • Paul’s Plea (Dave Rogers)

Christian Worker is an edification effort of the Southwest church of Christ in Austin, Texas.

You can subscribe to the email version of the Christian Worker paper by clicking on the publications link on their website and then following the given instructions.

Copyright © 2017 Southwest church of Christ, All rights reserved.

#apostle-paul, #christian-living, #christian-worker, #fellowship, #love, #philippians, #preaching-christ, #spiritual-examples

J. Randal Matheny 5:09 am on 2017-05-04
Tags: , , fellowship,   

Share this with your friends

The Fellowship Room is a website for Christians. It receives several posts a day from a wide variety of people. Here are a few of the contributions made to the site:

Other Fellows, such as John Henson and Richard Mansel, post as they are able.

One of the best features of The Fellowship Room is the comments and questions from readers. They appear in real time, making it also a social-media site to rival the best commercial offerings on the web. (Except it doesn’t track your movements or restrict what you see, like those big guys do.)

Make TFR one of your regular sites to visit and interact with.

You’ll be edified and strengthened spiritually, and you’ll have opportunity to encourage other readers and commenters.

Also, please pass this suggestion on to faithful saints whom you think might also be interested in The Fellowship Room.

 

#christian-sites, #edification, #fellowship, #motivation

J. Randal Matheny 7:23 am on 2017-04-23
Tags: , , fellowship   

Sincere and earnest love in God’s family

I’m not a fan of Rick Warren, but this quote that appeared today in my Hubzilla feed is quite good and represents fairly well the type of relationship that the Lord provides us in the church of God.

If you are a member of a small group or class, I urge you to make a group covenant that includes the nine characteristics of biblical fellowship: We will share our true feelings (authenticity), forgive each other (mercy), speak the truth in love (honesty), admit our weaknesses (humility), respect our differences (courtesy), not gossip (confidentiality), and make group a priority (frequency).

The “group covenant” he speaks of might better be described as every saint’s commitment to obey the Lord and to love sincerely and intensely one’s family in Christ, 1 Pet 1.22-23:

You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart. You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.

Other terms and phrases could also stand a tweak, but the above quote captures much of the interaction necessary to be a true people of God. Of course, Warren misses most of the biblical pattern for the nature of the church and the way of salvation, truths about which we must be receptive and honest before we can truly love the Lord and his people.

#church #brotherly-love #fellowship

J. Randal Matheny 10:10 am on 2016-06-14
Tags: fellowship, ,   

What does ‘fellowship’ mean?

By Nelson Smith, commenting on Phil 2.1-2

What do we know of the “communion of the Holy Spirit?” Or the “fellowship of the Spirit?” What meaning does it have for us?

I preached for a church where they had a “fellowship committee.” Its primary work was to organize “fellowships” where the main topic (and activity) was food. Sometimes a little more than that but that does seem to be a common “vice” (?) of many whose taste-buds are out of control.

What does fellowship mean? Continue reading →

#fellowship, #holy-spirit, #philippians

J. Randal Matheny 6:15 am on 2016-04-19
Tags: , fellowship,   

The life we share in the body of Christ

The apostle Paul practiced what he urged the Roman saints to do in Rom 12.15, to “rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep:”

Christians are joined in the body of Christ. What happens to one affects the other. “Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with indignation?” 2 Cor 11.29. —QBT

In English we use the figure of speech about being joined at the hip. (Is that phrase still politically correct?) It means that people are very closely connected. Continue reading →

#body-of-christ, #fellowship, #unity

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John T. Polk II 8:58 pm on 2015-06-28
Tags: , blood of Jesus Christ, , fellowship,   

6-24-2015 Let’s Come Together

When tragedy strikes, whether natural (such as tornado, hurricane, earthquake, or volcano), man-made (such as automobile wrecks, construction failures, or industrial disasters), or evil-doings (such as mass murders, beheadings, rapes, abuse or neglect of children, or abortions), people call for everyone to “come together” and share in the grief and concern. Isn’t that what the church of Christ is all about? Those who obey the Gospel of Christ are added to His church for worship of God and fellowship with one another. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13 NKJV). “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7 NKJV). It’s as close as your Bible!

This is Johnny Polk, with “Words of Wisdom” brought to you by the Oneida church of Christ.

#baptized, #blood-of-jesus-christ, #church-of-christ, #fellowship, #tragedy

Ed Boggess 8:28 am on 2015-04-01
Tags: birds of a feather, , fellowship,   

I try not to judge but when I…

I try not to judge but when I see a bird that looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, has webbed feet like a duck and hangs around in the company of ducks; it is difficult to dispute the conclusion that it must be a duck. Someone has said, “Bird of a feather flock together.” People tend to gravitate to where they feel most comfortable. When the apostle Peter was released from prison, he didn’t go to the local tavern or a nightclub, he headed to a prayer-meeting. He knew where he belonged. On the other hand, when I see church folk who are more comfortable mixing it up with the world than with their brethren, I wonder about the genuineness of their profession. The apostle John says, “We know that we have passed from life to death, because we love the brethren.” If we don’t love the brethren, maybe it is because we belong to the other crowd. This is Just-A-Minute

#birds-of-a-feather, #brethren, #fellowship, #just-a-minute

Eugene Adkins 7:00 am on 2014-09-24
Tags: , fellowship,   

Blest be the tie that blinds?

We sing “blest be the tie that binds” but to enjoy it we must be aware of the ties that blind.

  • Jesus warned about the consequences of loving our closest kin more than him (Matthew 10:34-37).
  • Paul warned about being “unequally yoked” with unbelievers who prevent us from doing God’s will (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
  • John warned about supporting false teachers who cloud the clarity of sound doctrine (2 John 1:8-11).
  • Peter warned about the dangers of peer-pressure as we seek to live a godly life (1 Peter 4:1-5).
  • James warned about the results of being a friend to the world’s way of doing things (James 4:4).
  • Jude warned about those who would seek fellowship while wreaking havoc of the very grace that brings it together (Jude 1:3-5).

God’s word is plain enough – there is a tie a binds us to him, but to enjoy it we must untie and avoid the binds that will blind us to the fellowship of the heavenly sorts.

So which song are we going to sing?

#bare-bones-outline, #fellowship, #stumbling-block

J. Randal Matheny 2:17 pm on 2014-04-24
Tags: , fellowship, make every effort,   

So how are you different by being like everyone else?

different-sameTwitter is rolling out its new profile formats, which resemble Facebook, which in turn changed to look more like Google+. It must presage the Great Convergence. Run!

Google, I believe I wrote earlier, is working off an ancient functional idea for its format: the 3×5 card. Simplicity rules. Except in the Lord’s church, where not a few want to complicate by innovation.

¶ Speaking of which, last night in our home reading group, we read all of 1 Corinthians 4, in which Paul apparently makes yet another application of that well known rule among Christians: “Don’t go beyond what is written” v. 6. Continue reading →

#corollaries, #fellowship, #make-every-effort, #progressives

Eugene Adkins 6:27 pm on 2014-04-10
Tags: , , fellowship, ,   

“Beardless Robertson brother” compares “Duck Dynasty” to Salvation Army and Vice-Versa

“One of the great things about the Salvation Army and the Robertson family is we’re both trying to help people. Our family has been about reaching out and telling people about the good news about Jesus. And in essence, that’s exactly what the Army does,” said Robertson.”

The above is a quote from Alan Robertson, according to an article by Kyle Rothenberg published on April 09, 2014 on Fox News’ website, as he spoke to Fox News concerning his speaking engagement at a fund-raising event in Mississippi for the Salvation Army organization.

What caught my attention in the quote was the word “essence”. It’s interesting how the word “essence” can be used by some to completely slide (if not right out jump) over key doctrinal gaps, assuming that the doctrinal gaps exist between the guest speaker and the leadership of the hosting group. But I guess it would be “wrong” to tell someone you’re trying to raise money for that they’re wrong when it comes to the good news of Jesus and how to receive the benefits thereof.

Now don’t get me wrong in what I am saying; this is not a “bash the Salvation Army” post. I believe the “Salvation Army” does a lot of good. And I also believe that they are doctrinally sound in many areas of their teaching and understanding of the Bible. But, as far as this post is concerned, one area that I do not agree with them on is how a person must respond to the good news of Jesus in order to be saved. Sure, they believe that one is saved by grace through faith – but according to my understanding they do so to the extent that their version of salvation “by grace through faith” excludes the necessity of baptism when it comes to its role in the regeneration of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5, Acts 2:38). If I’m wrong concerning the Salvation Army’s stance, feel free to correct me. But if I’m correct in my understanding then it is the Salvation Army who stands in need of correction.

Furthermore, this is not a “bash the Robertson’s” post. I praise the Robertson’s clear and resilient stance against the homosexual agenda and their movement of intolerance, and for their stance on other moral issues and the importance of family in spite of their popularity. They have been given a national platform that few are willing to stand on when it comes to politically incorrect topics. But, as far as this post is concerned, going beyond the forces that seek their caving in to “political correctness”, my concern is that their popularity in the spiritual world will only lead to more and more caving in to a version of “spiritual correctness” that winks at what should not be ignored. Namely, what Jesus himself said when it comes to enjoying the benefits of his good news (Mark 16:15-16).

The spirit of unity and the unity of the Spirit should not be confused with one another. They are two different things (Ephesians 4:3-6), and they should be recognized as such.

Now, I believe building bridges is one thing, but helping to support bridges that blatantly teach false doctrines concerning the gospel of Christ and one’s salvation is a road that I wish the Robertson’s, at least to which family members it may apply, would not travel down, for good deeds do not necessarily lead to good results (Matthew 7:21-23), nor does the endorsement of another’s “essence” that resides in error (Romans 16:17). And this is something that I hope they would recognize when a comparison is made.

#doctrine, #duck-dynasty, #fellowship, #plan-of-salvation, #salvation-army

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John T. Polk II 2:00 am on 2014-03-12
Tags: appetite, , fellowship, , , miser, ,   

(#162) The Proverbs of Solomon 23:6-8-Bar-B-Que Bait

Since God Created humans, only God can provide specific understanding of human behavior. God gave Solomon Divine Wisdom (1 Kings Chapters 3 and 10) to explain what and why behavior is as it is, and Proverbs 10:1-24:34 are randomly written, as if they were Solomon’s judgments about individual cases brought to him, or simply God-given explanations about life. New Testament passages may help see the continuation of Wisdom offered through Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 23:6-8: “Do not eat the bread of a miser, Nor desire his delicacies; For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. ‘Eat and drink!’ he says to you, But his heart is not with you.  The morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up, And waste your pleasant words.”

Excesses are dangerous at the dinner table (Proverbs 23:19-21). In Proverbs 23:1-3, we are warned to not let appetite overrule our good judgment, or in other words, don’t let a politician buy our vote with bar-b-que! Then, in Proverbs 23:4-5, we are warned not to irresponsibly chase after “riches” as our only goal in life, for there is much more to a good life than that! Now, in Proverbs 23:6-8, we are again warned not to listen to a “miser” encourage us to “eat and drink” his food, because he begrudges every bit of what we would enjoy. His heart is not as open as his invitation! The guest’s “pleasant words” (table talk) will be wasted because the “miser” is resenting the guest’s enjoyment.

Contrast this hypocritical feast with the genuineness that Jesus teaches Christians to have: “Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:12-14). Jesus taught that there should be no underlying political motive for giving an invitation for a meal! “Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely” (Luke 14:1). When it says “they watched Him closely” it describes their sidelong, judgmental observations just looking for a reason to condemn Him.

The honesty of a Christian invitation is seen that when a fellow-Christian is in wilful, deliberate sin, for which he/she refuses to repent, faithful Christians would refuse to extend social opportunity around the dinner table (1 Corinthians 5:9-13).

As Proverbs points out, good judgment should always take precedence over appetite and social fellowship!

All Scriptures and comments are based upon the New King James Version, unless otherwise noted.

#appetite, #bible-study, #fellowship, #invitations, #meals, #miser, #practical-lessons, #proverbs