THE FELLOWSHIP OF BELIEVERS
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47 ESV
(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
What are the leading reasons that divide us from one another?
Arguments, Assumptions, Comparison, Consumerism, Deception, Entitlement, Flesh, Ignorance, Indifference, Nonessentials, Miscommunication, Misunderstandings, Opinions, Perceptions, Politics, Pride, Selfishness, Stress, Unforgiveness, Worldliness
(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV
11 “And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.” John 17:11 ESV
(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
Fellowship is the work of Jesus,
in a divided imperfect people,
to be united by a perfect God.
42 And they devoted themselves to… the fellowship… Acts 2:42 ESV
DEVOTED
to stay by fellowship
to persist at fellowship
to remain with fellowship
to be loyal to fellowship
to occupy oneself diligently with fellowship
to pay persistent attention to fellowship
to hold fast to fellowship
to be continually in fellowship
(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
1. THE fellowship (All believers in Jesus, from all time, united in God)
9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9 ESV
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14 ESV
3 That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3 ESV
6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 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 cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:6-7 ESV
(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
2. A fellowship (A local expression of the Body of Jesus)
The whole church. Acts 5:11
The church in Jerusalem. Acts 8:1
The church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria. Acts 9:31
Lystra…Iconium…Antioch…elders…in every church. Acts 14:21,23
Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Acts 15:41
Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church. Acts 18:22
Ephesus and called the elders of the church. Acts 20:17
The church of God. Acts 20:28
(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)
3. OUR fellowship (Big Valley Grace Community Church)
We are launching our Ceres Campus as a Church Plant.
We are praying about a two-year financial commitment to BTL 2.0.
We are focusing on reaching our local mission field for Jesus Christ.
9 And when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Galatians 2:9 ESV
(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)