Fellowship

More than friendship — a Spirit-created communion in Christ.

First Mention in Scripture

Original Word: κοινωνία (koinonia)

Reference: Acts 2:42

Meaning: Fellowship, sharing, participation, partnership.

The early Church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer — marking out the core of Christian community.

Christian fellowship is not just social connection — it is spiritual union. The word *koinonia* means sharing, partnership, and communion in Christ.

Fellowship is born at the cross. It’s the Spirit who unites believers to Christ and to one another, forming a family that bears one another’s burdens, prays together, and shares in mission.

True fellowship is costly. It involves vulnerability, sacrifice, and love — because it reflects the fellowship of God Himself: Father, Son, and Spirit in eternal communion.

Fellowship with God

At its heart, fellowship is first vertical — with God. “Our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

Only those reconciled to God can have true fellowship with one another. Communion flows from union with Christ.

Fellowship with One Another

The Church is a fellowship of grace. “They devoted themselves… to fellowship” (Acts 2:42). Believers shared possessions, meals, prayers, and hearts.

This fellowship is not optional. It is the very shape of the Christian life: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

Fellowship in Suffering and Mission

Paul speaks of “sharing in Christ’s sufferings” (Philippians 3:10) — fellowship includes suffering for His sake, as well as sharing in His mission.

Believers are partners in the gospel (Philippians 1:5), bound together not by preference but by purpose.

Scripture References

Fellowship is life shared in Christ — with God and with His people. It is not mere togetherness, but gospel partnership, rooted in the Spirit, expressed in love, and carried forward in mission.

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