Local Church Fellowship

Acts 2:42 says, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers”.

One of the great privileges of being a member of a local church is that we can have fellowship with likeminded brothers and sisters in Christ.  Tonight, we want to discuss this matter of local church fellowship.  It starts with:

Fellowship with Jesus.  When God first saved you, he called you “unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord”, 1 Cor 1:9.  In a nutshell, this entails no longer walking in the darkness of our sin in this world but walking with Jesus in his light.

1 Jn 1:6-7 says, “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”.

So, our fellowship starts first of all with Jesus Christ.  We must break off fellowship with the people and things that kept us from Jesus and start walking with him, instead.  2 Cor 6:14 “what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness”?  Eph 5:11 “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness”.

Fellowship with Believers in a Local Church.  As you start walking with the Lord in fellowship, he will direct you to a local church where you can begin to fellowship with other likeminded Christians.

Phil 2:1-2 says, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind”.

You need to be in a local church with likeminded Christians, “having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind”.  This is why we must trust the Lord to lead us to the church he wants us to join.  He knows where those of the same love, of one accord, and of one mind are.

The most common times to enjoy their fellowship are on the days they assemble together for doctrine and prayer, Acts 2:42.  And then on other days when they may meet, as in Acts 2:46.

This is what the new believers in Acts 2 were doing and enjoying.  “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers”.  Since they had been “added unto them”, Acts 2:41, they started spending more time with the church and less time with the people they knew before they were saved.

Fellowship like this should draw you closer to the Lord and strengthen the relationship you have with him and with the people with whom the Lord has placed you in your local church.

Fellowship in the Ministry of the Local Church.  As your fellowship with others in the church grows, you become more actively involved with them in the ministry of the church.  Acts 2:47, “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved”.  The Lord was bringing more souls to the church who were hearing the gospel and getting saved.  You should be involved in testifying to others the truth of the gospel.

Fellowship in Missions.  Furthermore, they had fellowship with Paul in the gospel, Phil 1:5, like we have with our missionaries who are sent to preach the gospel in other countries where God sends them.  They were giving to help him preach the gospel and they were praying, Phil 4:15.

Fellowship in Ministering to the Saints.  Also they gave to help with “the fellowship of the ministering to the saints” 2 Cor 8:4.  The members of the church gave beyond their power to help the poor saints in Jerusalem who were suffering.  In Jerusalem, the church began by helping with the needs of the local assembly, Acts 2:44-45.

Conclusion: Local Church fellowship is vital to the spiritual health of the congregation and to the individual members who make up the congregation.  Thank God for our local church.