Topical Sermons

1.  Subject of fellowship is important - 1 Jno. 1:7, 3-4.

2.  It is a subject we can and must understand and apply - 1 Cor. 1:9; Acts 2:42; Eph. 5:11; 2 Jno. 9-11.

3.  Unity is the oneness exhibited in fellowship - Eph. 4:3-6.

I.  DEFINING FELLOWSHIP.      (Chart #1)

  A.  Fellowship Is Spiritual Participation Or Association - 1 Jno. 1:1-7; Acts 2:42; Phil. 1:5; 4:15; Gal. 2:9-10; 2 Cor. 6:14-18.

    -Never applied to social events (meals, halls, etc.) in NT.....Misapplication of truth. (1 Pet. 4:11)

II.  FELLOWSHIP INVOLVES UNITY (ONENESS).      (Chart # 2)

  A.  Unity Is The Oneness Which Results In/From Fellowship - Amos 3:1-3; 1 Cor. 1:9-10; Eph. 4:1-3.

  B.  Fellowship With Other Christians Results From Being In Fellowship With God - 1 Jno. 1: 1-3; Jno. 17:20-21; Acts 9:26-28; 2 Jno. 9-11.

III.  THE STANDARD OF FELLOWSHIP & UNITY AMONG CHRISTIANS.

-(Without a common standard to appeal to, practical fellowship & unity becomes arbitrary, subjective, fluid).   (Chart # 3)

  A.  Does Doctrine Affect Fellowship Among Us, Or Should There Be Continued, Ongoing Acceptance Of Brethren Even When Some Doctrinal Error Is Being Practiced? (1 Tim. 6:3; 2 Tim. 1: 13) 2 Jno. 9-11 (Rev. 2:21-23)

    1.  Plan of salvation?

    2.  Musical instruments in worship?

    3.  Lord's Supper once a month?

    4.  Church support human organizations?

    5.  Church-sponsored & supported recreation/social events?

    6.  Aliens not amenable to doctrine of Christ....MDR?

    7.  Guilty party can remarry?

  B.  Our Fellowship & Unity Is Not Based Upon:

    1.  Good intentions - Prv. 16:25; Matt. 7:21-23.

    2.  Personal relationships - Eph. 5:7-11.

    3.  Unity in diversity - Gal. 2:1-5, 11-14; Jno. 17:20-21; 1 Cor. 1:10, 13.

    4.  Clarity of subject - 2 Pet. 3:15-16 (Jno. 8:31-32).

  C.  Our Fellowship & Unity Is Based Upon The Doctrine Of Christ - 2 Jno. 9-11; Jno. 14:23; 1 Jno. 2:3-6; 4:1-3, 6.

  D.  We May Scripturally Extend Fellowship When It Does Not Cause Us To Share In:

        (Chart # 4)

    1.  Teaching error - Rom. 16:17.

    2.  Practicing error - Eph. 5:11.

    3.  Endorsing error - 2 Jno. 9-11.

Conclusion

1.  We must first & always be in fellowship w/ God (1 Jno. 1:7; 2 Jno. 9).

2.  Then, we will want to be in fellowship w/ all like-minded brethren. And, we will not want to give aid, comfort or assistance to those who go beyond the doctrine of Christ (& are not in fellowship w/ God)! - 2 Jno. 10-11