Fellowship – kŏinōnia – Close mutual relationships and involvement; partnership, participation; sharing in activities or privileges of an intimate association
We are to “continue steadfastly” in Fellowship – both horizontally – with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and vertically with the Father and Jesus. And this is that “your joy may be full.”
Vertical Fellowship – We are not called merely into a relationship ABOUT JESUS; we’re called into a kŏinōnia WITH JESUS. We are called to partner with, participate with, involved with Jesus in an intimate relationship. You cannot have faith outside of the revelation that Jesus living in you is greater than he who is in the world, and then you can release faith through Jesus living in you.
Horizontal Fellowship – Who you fellowship with MATTERS! We have been called to horizontal kŏinōnia that goes out into the world that is so connected to Jesus that He in us will draw people to Him. When we partner with people who are connected to Jesus who prays for us, who encourages us, and when we get out of kŏinōnia with Jesus and the Bible, they call us to the truth. And when we partner with others in ministry – fruit abounds to your account in heaven.
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” 1 John 1:1-4
Philemon 1:4-6, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, 1 John 1:5-7, Acts 2:40-47, 1 John 1:1-4
All of our theology & doctrine will be based on scripture.
We will continue steadfastly in all three biblical teachings of the Apostle’s Doctrine:
1) The doctrine of Baptism of Holy Spirit & Fire (Acts 1:4) – Believers need power.
2) The doctrine of Signs & Wonders (Acts 2:43) – They were done through the apostles. God wants to work signs and wonders through YOU, through the power of the Spirit of God to flow through.
3) The doctrine of Authority of the Believer (Mark 1:21-28) – Jesus has given us the authority over ALL the power of the enemy.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16
Acts 2:43, Mark 1:21-28, 2 Timothy 3:16, Luke 10:19, Acts 1:4-5
Church growth is about each of us growing in our relationship with Jesus, with the joints of the body in place both collectively and in our lives individually. And then as followers of Jesus, we must be willing to testify about our relationship with Jesus and what He is doing in our life. Our testimony should exhort/urge other people to take action and do something with it.
TESTIFY & EXHORT! Let me tell you about Jesus!
“A person with an argument is not match for a person with an experience.”
And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Acts 2:40
Ephesians 4:11-16, Acts 2:36-47, Revelation 19:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12, John 4:29-30
All five gifts found in Ephesians 4 – apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher – were given to the church for equipping the body for the work of ministry. We are not equipped for ourselves. We are equipped to minister for the benefit of others, for the building up and fitting of the body of Christ.
You can be attached to a body, and not be attached to a head. It’s called a CORPSE. Sometimes people are attached to a body, attending a church, but if we’re not attached to the head, we will not be fully alive and functioning. We are all part of the body, with different assignments. We all need one another. We will not be equipped or fit, without all the gifts of the body of Christ operating.
Jeremiah 33:3, Acts 2:40-47, John 17:17, Ephesians 4:11-16, Colossians 2:6-8
In order to move out of religion into revelation, we must “Think Kingdom!”
from performance to presence.
from entertainment to encounter.
from attendance to activation.
from consumerism to co-laboring.
from production to reproduction.
from playing to praying.
from America to Antioch.
Jesus did not die for us to attend a church and make it a compartment of our life.
Church and religion will program you. WE HAVE TO DETOX! We have got to become like the church in Antioch. We need a Kingdom paradigm. We’ve got to delete what we know and what we’ve seen and witnessed, and say, “Lord we need a Bible revival.” We need to practice scripture and not just quote it.
Acts 4:29-31, 1 Corinthians 14:20, 1 Corinthians 13:11, Ephesians 4:14