It is VITAL to ADMIT that we NEED ONE ANOTHER! Most often translated. The (New Testament) Greek word KOINONIA means joint participation ;;

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1 1st Thessalonians 2: But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. 18 For we wanted to comee to you co you ce certainly ta y I,, Paul, au, did, d d, aga again and a d again but Satan stopped us. 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy. 1st Thessalonians 3: But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. 7 Therefore, Therefore brothers brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. 11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. 1

2 It is VITAL to ADMIT that we NEED ONE ANOTHER! The (New Testament) Greek word KOINONIA means joint participation ;; participation a sense of community ; a state of having all things in common. Most often translated FELLOWSHIP! 1.) The NEED for fellowship 2

3 1 Thessalonians 2:17 2:17 18, But, brothers, when we were TORN AWAY FROM YOU for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our INTENSE LONGING we made EVERY EFFORT to see you! For we WANTED TO COME TO YOU certainly I, Paul, did, again and again but SATAN STOPPED US! Romans 8:35, NOTHING can SEPARATE you, from f THE LOVE OF GOD, GOD which in IN CHRIST JESUS! take a GLOWING COAL from a fire take a LEAFY BRANCH from a tree take a FISH out of the water 3

4 1.) The NEED for fellowship 2.) The DESIRE for fellowship Psalm 68:6, GOD PUTS THE LONELY INTO FAMILIES! Ecclesiastes 4:9 10, TWO are BETTER than ONE because they have a GOOD RETURN for their work. If one FALLS DOWN, his friend can HELP HIM UP. But, PITY the man who FALLS DOWN and has NO ONE to HELP HIM UP. Ecclesiastes 4:12, Though ONE may be OVERPOWERED, TWO can DEFEND THEMSELVES! But, a CORD of THREE STRANDS is NOT QUICKLY BROKEN! 4

5 BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS, OUR HEARTS IN CHRISTIAN LOVE THE FELLOWSHIP OF LOVE, KINDRED MINDS, IS LIKE TO THAT ABOVE! BENEFITS OF FELLOWSHIP 1.) PLEASANT MEMORIES 1 Thessalonians 3:6, But, Timothy has just now COME TO US, from you, and has BROUGHT GOOD NEWS about your FAITH and LOVE, LOVE and he has TOLD US that you always have PLEASANT MEMORIES of us, and that you LONG to SEE us, just as we, also, LONG to SEE you! 5

6 Philippians 1:3, I thank my God upon every REMEMBRANCE of you! Romans 1:8, First, I thank my God, through Jesus Christ, for all of you, because your FAITH is being REPORTED all over the world! 1 Thessalonians 1:3, I always appreciate your WORK, produced by faith, your LABOR prompted by love, and your ENDURANCE inspired by hope! BENEFITS OF FELLOWSHIP 1.) PLEASANT MEMORIES 2.) ENCOURAGEMENT 1 Thessalonians 2:7, Therefore, brothers, in all our DISTRESS and PERSECUTION, we were ENCOURAGED about you, because of your FAITH! ENCOURAGEMENT is the OXYGEN of the soul, and DISCOURAGEMENT is the ASTHMA of the soul! 6

7 Romans 1:11 12, 12, I long to see you, so that I may IMPART TO YOU some SPIRITUAL GIFT to make you STRONG; that is, that you and I may be MUTUALLY ENCOURAGED by each other s FAITH. IF YOU THINK THAT PRAISE IS DUE HIM, NOW S THE TIME TO SLIP IT TO HIM, FOR HE CANNOT READ HIS TOMBSTONE WHEN HE S DEAD. Burton Bradley, Poet Is there SOMEONE you KNOW, you re LOVING them so, TAKING them all FOR GRANTED? You may LOSE THEM some day; someone TAKES THEM AWAY, and they DON T HEAR the WORDS, you LONGED to SAY. Musical Group Bread 1970 s BENEFITS OF FELLOWSHIP 1.) PLEASANT MEMORIES 2.) ENCOURAGEMENT 3.) CONFIDENCE 1 Thessalonians 2:8, For NOW, we REALLY LIVE, since you are STANDING FIRM in The Lord! 7

8 YOU are my JOY!! YOU YOU are my CROWN!! CROWN!! BENEFITS OF FELLOWSHIP 1.) PLEASANT MEMORIES 2.) ENCOURAGEMENT 3.)) CONFIDENCE 4.) JOY 1 Thessalonians 2:9, How can we thank God ENOUGH for you, in RETURN for all the JOY we HAVE, in the PRESENCE of our GOD, because of YOU?! THE GOALS OF FELLOWSHIP: (What s the purpose of fellowship?) 1.) That their FAITH would be MATURE. 8

9 THE GOALS OF FELLOWSHIP: (What s the purpose of fellowship?) 1.) That their FAITH would be MATURE. 2.) That their LOVE would ABOUND. That s the HALLMARK HALLMARK CHARACTERISTIC of THE CHARACTERISTIC CHRISTIAN ; that people can TELL TELL you are a BELIEVER, because of your LOVE LOVE,, one for another; that UNCONDITIONAL UNCONDITIONAL LOVE that puts other people FIRST! LONELINESS and the FEELING of being UNCARED FOR, and U,a are e the t e UNWANTED, GREATEST POVERTY POVERTY!! Mother Teresa THE GOALS OF FELLOWSHIP: (What s the purpose of fellowship?) 1.) That their FAITH would be MATURE. 2.) That their LOVE would ABOUND. 3.) That their LIVES would be HOLY. 9

10 THREE STAGES IN OUR LIFE : DEPENDANCE INDEPENDENCE INTER DEPENDANCE WHEN I LOOK AT ME, I DON T KNOW HOW I CAN BE SAVED, BUT WHEN I LOOK AT JESUS, I DON T KNOW HOW I COULD BE LOST! Martin Luther, Biblical Theologian 10