Fellowship 31 October 2009

Fellowship The basis of fellowship In the next few slides we’ll just observe the presence of a few key ideas in some of the koinonia verses: baptism, the gospel, teaching, way of life.

Fellowship Acts 2 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Fellowship Gal 2 When they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel for the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter making him an apostle to the circumcised also worked through me in sending me to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and John, who were acknowledged pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

Fellowship Phlp 1 I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel.

Fellowship 1 John 1 We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life: this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us: we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Fellowship 1 John 4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.

Fellowship 2 John For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist… Whoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, has not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you, not bringing this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed. These verses in John’s letters are the only NT passages giving us a doctrinal test in both positive and negative terms – they really are the touchstone

Fellowship Teaching (doctrine) Practice Baptism The gospel Jesus Christ What are the bases of fellowship? Actually these are all the same basis

belief, repentance, baptism Fellowship Jesus Christ The gospel Teaching Practice Baptism Things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ Acts 2:37-38 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.

Fellowship How much detail do we need?

Fellowship 1 John 4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. That’s not much detail!

Fellowship John’s litmus test Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) Jesus is the Son of God Jesus came in the flesh the nature of man the source of sin..kingdom, priesthood..not God Himself..not a pre-existent spirit..no immortal soul..from the flesh, not a devil Is that enough detail? some of the implications..

Fellowship The extent of fellowship How far?How much? Fellowship = Sharing What do we share? Who do we share it with? How widely do we share it?

Fellowship The extent of fellowship Financial support2 Cor 9:13 CompanionshipHeb 10:33 Partnership in a projectGal 2:9 Teaching, preaching, hearing, learning Gal 6:6 Faith Phm 6 Baptism into ChristActs 2:42 PrayerActs 2:42 Breaking bread1 Cor 10:16 What do we share?

Fellowship () The ___ Bible School is organised and conducted on the basis of the BASF. Fellowship at the memorial service is extended to all who fellowship consistently on that basis. The ___ Bible School does not recognise the ___ Unity Agreement or the ___ Unity Agreement. Members of other fellowships and members of ecclesias that have signed these unity agreements are welcome to attend but not to partake of the memorial emblems. Separate memorials will probably be available in the kitchen and car-park.

Fellowship The highest form of fellowship Marriage? The church? Praise? Worship? Sharing the emblems? Having one mind? Eating together? The Mormon/Masonic handshake? (as seen from various Christian perspectives) This is a view held by all the churches in the Campbellite tradition, which includes all the “Churches of Christ” as well as Christadelphians

Fellowship The next slides show some of the fellowship issues that have bothered Campbellite congregations as they attempt to get this “highest form of fellowship” right “We have so often taken something that was intended to promote the unity of the body (1 Cor 10:17) and used it as the basis for dividing it.”

Fellowship Only (fermented) wine may be used Only grape juice may be used The bread must be handed out as one loaf, not broken into pieces The bread must be broken into two before being given to the servers Only one cup must be used The cup must have handles Women may act as servers Women must not act as servers

Fellowship The memorial must be held after sunset The memorial must be held in an upstairs room A supplementary memorial may be held A supplementary memorial must not be held The memorials may be carried to other rooms The memorials must not leave the room The sermon must precede the memorials The sermon must follow the memorials The congregation must get up, leave the room, and return before concluding the service

Fellowship Who do we share it with? The extent of fellowship

Fellowship Who do we share it with? The extent of fellowship

Fellowship

Jesus is Lord! B.A.S.F. plus 4 clauses on divorce evolution/holy spirit dtbr strict dress-code daisy-chain fellowship etc., etc. One end is very relaxed…... the other is very stringent

Fellowship too little too much B.A.S.F. plus 4 clauses on divorce evolution/holy spirit dtbr strict dress-code daisy-chain fellowship etc., etc. Jesus is Lord!

Fellowship Church of God (Atlanta Conference) Devil Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith Immortal Emergence Unamended Christadelphians Clause 24 (Resurrectional responsibility) Central Christadelphians Reunions Old Paths Christadelphians Military/Constabulary Clean Flesh Berean Christadelphians Divorce/Remarriage Dawn Christadelphians

Fellowship Church of God (Atlanta Conference) Devil Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith Immortal Emergence Unamended Christadelphians Clause 24 (Resurrectional responsibility) Central Christadelphians Reunions/Remarriage Lightstand Christadelphians Military/Constabulary Clean Flesh Berean Christadelphians Divorce/Remarriage Dawn Christadelphians

Clause 24 (Resurrectional responsibility) Fellowship Church of God (Atlanta Conference) Devil Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith Immortal Emergence Unamended Christadelphians Central Christadelphians Military/Constabulary Clean Flesh Berean Christadelphians Divorce/Remarriage Dawn Christadelphians

Fellowship Church of God (Atlanta Conference) Devil Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith Immortal Emergence Unamended Christadelphians Clause 24 (Resurrectional responsibility) Central Christadelphians Military/Constabulary Clean Flesh Berean Christadelphians Divorce/Remarriage Dawn Christadelphians Reunions/Remarriage Companion Christadelphians /

Fellowship We consider you to be our brethren in Christ. You accept every one of our fundamental beliefs, and we would like to share fellowship and break bread with you. We do not consider the ______ question to be a first principle, although most of us agree with your opinion on it. Look at how much we have in common! Surely the One Body is more important than this minor matter of opinion. Please?

Fellowship We consider you to be brethren in Christ, but unfortunately you do not enforce the acceptance of _____, which is one of our fundamental beliefs. We could accept you personally, but we can’t be sure of the beliefs of all you associate with, or the beliefs of those who associate with others who associate with you. Our statement of faith maintains our stand on the Truth; if we were to relax our vigilance on this then before long we would fellowship Trinitarians. So, reluctantly, we are not prepared to break bread with you. Sorry!

Fellowship Church of God (Atlanta Conference) Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith Unamended Central Bereans Dawn Companion

Fellowship Church of God (Atlanta Conference) Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith Unamended Bereans Dawn Companion Central Fellowship (breaking of bread)

Fellowship Church of God (Atlanta Conference) Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith Unamended Central Bereans Dawn Companion Fellowship (baptism)

Fellowship Church of God (Atlanta Conference) Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith Unamended Central Bereans Dawn Companion Fellowship (baptism)

Fellowship Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith Unamended Central Bereans Dawn Companion Fellowship (baptism) Church of God (Atlanta Conference)

Fellowship Why should fellowship (bread) ≠ fellowship (baptism)? (Ecumenism) “All welcome”

Why should fellowship (bread) ≠ fellowship (baptism)? (Bloc-fellowship) “Which fellowship did you say you belong to?”

Fellowship Surely fellowship (bread) = fellowship (baptism)?

Fellowship YES! fellowship (bread) = fellowship (baptism) 1 Cor 12:13 1 Cor 10:17 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

Fellowship Exercise Note: the underlying assumption here is that everyone is operating intelligently and in good faith. Nobody is trying to cheat or put one over on us.

Offer them the emblems, they might get angry otherwise Make sure they don’t receive the emblems, they might pollute our table Explain to them beforehand that we believe the emblems are for men and women who have been baptised holding a certain set of beliefs Fellowship A stranger turns up at the breaking of bread. What do we do?

They’re right: let’s share the emblems They’re wrong: Make sure they don’t have an opportunity to receive the emblems, they will pollute our table They might be right: Offer them the emblems, and leave it to their conscience whether or not they partake Fellowship OK, we’ve explained, they still think they’re eligible to break bread. Now what?

Offer them the emblems, and leave it to their conscience whether or not they partake Wait for them to indicate to the servers - somehow - that they wish to share the emblems, and if they do, permit them Make sure they don’t have an opportunity to receive the emblems, they might pollute our table Fellowship But they arrived after the meeting started and we don’t know anything about them. Now what?

To prevent the visitor getting angry To prevent the visitor eating/drinking condemnation ( krima ) To teach the visitor that they need baptism To protect the Lord’s table from pollution To protect us from eating/drinking condemnation Fellowship What is the most important consideration here?

Fellowship Thanks for sharing the morning with us