A Fresh Look at Fellowship Philippians 2:25-30

25.But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus—my brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need— 26.since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick. 27.Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died. However, God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have one grief on top of another.

28.For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice when you see him again and I may be less anxious. 29.Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with all joy and hold men like him in honor, 30.because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me. Holman Christian Standard Bible

 Accountability oHelping us keep our own commitments to God oAtmosphere: oAtmosphere: Trust and shared purpose  Community oMakes us feel like part of a big family, belonging oAtmosphere: oAtmosphere: Informal and caring  Electricity oMakes us feel the contagious excitement of being part of something significant & bigger than ourselves oAtmosphere: oAtmosphere: Dynamic and inspiring 3-Dimensional Fellowship Fellowship Meets Three Needs

 Electricity oWorship Services or more so, Billy Graham  Community oLarge Sunday School class or Department oEverybody knows your name and miss you if you are absent oThey operate like a small country church oThis results in additions  Accountability oDiscipleship Groups oHaving trained disciple makers results in multiplication oSometimes our problem is that “we have been to church together, but we haven’t been to war together” – Bill Hull “Epaphroditus—my brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier” Philippians 2:25

The Multitudes & Jesus Example of the Electricity Factor Luke 4:14Luke 4:14, HCSB “Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread throughout the entire vicinity.” Luke 4:32Luke 4:32, HCSB “They were astonished at His teaching because His message had authority.” Luke 4:36,Luke 4:36, HCSB “They were all struck with amazement and kept saying to one another, ‘What is this message? For He commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out!’” Luke 5:1Luke 5:1, NKJV “So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God…” The Spirit, The Supernatural, The SpeakingThe Spirit, The Supernatural, The Speaking

The Disciples in the Upper Room Example of the Community Factor Acts 1: Acts 1:13-15 (HCSB) “When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: [The eleven remaining Apostles] …were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers. During these days Peter stood up among the brothers—the number of people who were together was about 120…” Men and women, All one big family Churches come in increments of 60 +/- “The average church member knows 67 people in the congregation, whether the church has 200 or 2,000 attending.” – Rick Warren

“The church must always be growing larger and smaller at the same time.”“The church must always be growing larger and smaller at the same time.” – Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Church “The name we have chosen for such a group is mini-congregation. From day one, we promised our congregation that regardless of the size of the total church, they would always be members of a smaller church… regardless of church size a member will always be part of a group that knows his name and misses him if he is not present.”“The name we have chosen for such a group is mini-congregation. From day one, we promised our congregation that regardless of the size of the total church, they would always be members of a smaller church… regardless of church size a member will always be part of a group that knows his name and misses him if he is not present.” – Bill Hull, The Disciple Making Pastor

The Apostles Appointed by Jesus Example of the Accountability Group Mark 3:13-15Mark 3:13-15, NIV “Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” Those He wanted Appointed That they might be with Him That He might send them out

“One Another” Commands Creating an Environment for Spiritual Growth  Galatians 6:2  Galatians 6:2 “Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”  Ephesians 5:19 “  Ephesians 5:19 “Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs”  Ephesians 5:21  Ephesians 5:21 “Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.”  1 st Thessalonians 5:11  1 st Thessalonians 5:11 “…encourage one another and build each other up…”

 Heb 10:24-25  Heb 10:24-25 “And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other…”  James 5:16  James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.”  1 st John 3:11  1 st John 3:11 “For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: we should love one another”

Paul’s Instruction to Timothy Example of an Accountability Group  2 nd Timothy 2:2  2 nd Timothy 2:2, HCSB “And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” FAT  Look for FAT people F, A TF aithful, A vailable, & T eachable

Qualities of Good Accountability Groups  Clear Purpose  Acceptance oRomans 15:7, NIV “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you…”  Confidentiality  Permission