Fellowship is more than just showing up to church or youth group. The Greek word for fellowship infers participation, sharing, and intimacy. It means sharing deeply with each other - both the wins and the challenges.
Romans 12:15 says, Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep. Galatians 6:2 says, Carry each other’s burdens. Part of real fellowship is to help those who are struggling. It's the heart of God to help the weak. Jesus spent his ministry on earth helping those who were struggling. How can you do the same? The modern church tends to ignore the discipline of fasting, possibly because it causes us the most discomfort. Fasting in the Bible spoke referred to giving up food in particular and was often accompanied by prayer. I think the principle of fasting can be applied to many different things such as social media, your phone, sugar, chocolate, television, etc. You usually give something up so that you can focus on prayer.
What can you give up for a period of time to focus on prayer and worshipping God? Confession breaks the power of secret sin. If you talk to someone about it, you are less likely to continue doing it. You don't have to confess to a priest, but it is recommended that you find a trustworthy, mature Christian. If you have sinned against someone, you should also confess to them and ask for their forgiveness.
Sometimes Church seems irrelevant or boring but the Apostle Paul encouraged Christians not to give up meeting together. Why is it important? If we spend all our time in the world, we absorb the values and attitudes of the world. We need to spend time with other Christians so that we absorb the values and attitudes of Jesus. We meet together to:
Hear teaching about God's Word Praise together Pray together Build relationships with other people who love Jesus Encourage each other. Going to church on Sunday isn't the only way to enjoy fellowship. You could join a Youth Group or Bible Study group. There might be a group of Christians that meets at your high school or university. You might be part of a small accountability group with some other Christians or meet with a Christian mentor. These are all ways you can experience fellowship. |
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