"Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23
The New Testament word for "fellowship" is "koinonia". It appears 20 times in the New Testament. The first appearance is in Acts 2:42 - "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship (koinonia), to the breaking of bread and to prayer. "
"koinonia" is defined as spiritual oneness, like-mindedness, unity based in common devotion to God. Because of the central focus on God, the result is a commitment to love and serve other believers.
Recently I preached about worship - that it is seeking God and surrendering to God and speaking for God. What could be better than that?
How about seeking God together with other passionate, like-minded believers? Or, how about sharing life with others who are surrendered to God? One worshipper is good. But gather a number of worshippers who come seeking God and you have a powerful experience! Worshippers who come together to worship multiply the power of praise! God shows up when people come together seeking Him!
And, what could be more effective than a surrendered believer whole-heartedly following Christ? A church filled with surrendered believers whole-heartedly following Him! It doesn't take a lot of people like that to become a powerful force. God empowers a body that is sold-out and surrendered to serving Jesus.
The third aspect of worship that Jesus shared with His disciples is speaking out or standing up for Him. One person taking a stand for God can change a culture or shape history. Does the name Martin Luther mean anything to you? He stood against the corruption of the institutional Church when it was at its most powerful and declared, "The just shall live by faith!"
Jesus changed the history of the world with just twelve guys - and only eleven of them were sold out.
When a church seeks God together, and surrenders to the will of God, and stands boldly for Him there isn't much that can prevail against it!
I dream of building a church like that! Will you help?
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