“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42, ESV).
We are called to live life together as Christ-followers, devoting ourselves to the Scriptures and fellowship through authentic, biblical community. The apostles applied Christ’s mandate in the Great Commission to make disciples through evangelism (baptizing new believers and incorporating them into the church) and by teaching others to obey all that Christ taught. We have these teachings in written form in the Bible. Paul also employed this method of discipleship by entrusting the revealed truth of God’s Word to faithful people who would teach others. The biblical mandate is to make disciples who make disciples.
Fellowship is an essential part of living as a disciple who makes disciples. One of my doctoral supervisors, Chuck Lawless, recently wrote that local churches have failed to practice fellowship in the same way that the early church did. Biblical fellowship involves living life together, not in superficial relationships, but in authenticity and includes life-on-life personal accountability.[1] Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote Life Together stressing similar ideas. It was his desire to shape and dwell in an authentic community of faith.
How Do You Build and Share in Life Together as Believers?
- Seek and actively participate in a local church that teaches and applies God’s Word. Local church membership matters. You will never find a “perfect” church. If you do, please do not join it; you would only mess it up. We are all flawed creatures marked by the Fall (Genesis 3). A church that teaches the Bible must be a community of faith where people can be real with each other, hurting when others hurt, and rejoicing when others rejoice. Biblical churches share in a God-inspired intimacy with other believers, loving each other, holding each other accountable, and living life together.
- Build intentional relationships with others, encouraging their involvement in the church. It is easy for believers to live in a Christian “bubble” where we have few opportunities to build relationships with unbelievers. If we are going to faithfully share the gospel with those who are far from God, we have to intentionally find ways to intersect their lives.
- Intentionally open up to others. The Johari Window illustrates the need to grow in openness through our relationships.[2] As we reveal more of ourselves to others and they share themselves with us, we grow in the relationship. If we keep our relationships closed and superficial, we cannot experience biblical fellowship.
- Be vulnerable. This vulnerability works hand-in-hand with openness. While we expose ourselves to grow in intimacy, we also open ourselves to being hurt, misunderstood, and even betrayed. Yet, this is the example that the Lord set for us. The rewards of vulnerability are great; however, the wounds can be deep. Still, it is worth the risk.
- Biblical fellowship is Christ-centered. Even the best of our human relationships include some aspects of self-centeredness. One of the results of the fall is shattered relationships, with God, each other, and even ourselves. Biblical community is based on restored relationships centered in our Creator. With God at the center of our relationships, he helps us place the needs of others above our own needs.
What has biblical community meant to your life? What are some ways that you and/or your church are growing in authentic, Christ-centered relationships? What would you add? I’d love to hear from you.
[1]Chuck Lawless, “Five Groups that Seem to Have Better ‘Fellowship’ Than Many Churches,” http://chucklawless.com/2020/03/6-groups-that-seem-to-have-better-fellowship-than-many-churches/, accessed on March 4, 2020.
[2]Https://www.google.com/search?q=Johari+Window&source=lmns&hl=en&ved=2ahUKEwi2gsP6wILoAhVK3VMKHf_tAqcQ_AUoAHoECAEQAA, accessed on March 4, 2020.
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