1. Fellowship The Purpose-Driven Church

2. Fellowship?

3. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship… All the believers were together and had everything in common.” (Acts 2:42 & 44)

4. Fellowship?

5. When you think of the word Fellowship, what comes to mind? Coffee Hours? When you think of the word Fellowship, what comes to mind? Coffee Hours?

6. When you think of the word Fellowship, what comes to mind? Pie Socials? When you think of the word Fellowship, what comes to mind? Pie Socials?

7. When you think of the word Fellowship, what comes to mind? Potlucks & Picnics? When you think of the word Fellowship, what comes to mind? Potlucks & Picnics?

8. When you think of the word Fellowship, what comes to mind? Handshakes & Hugs? When you think of the word Fellowship, what comes to mind? Handshakes & Hugs?

9. When you think of the word Fellowship, what comes to mind? Happy People in Church? When you think of the word Fellowship, what comes to mind? Happy People in Church?

10. When you think of the word Fellowship, what comes to mind?

11. How about… The Lord of the Rings!? How about… The Lord of the Rings!?

12. Especially… The Fellowship of the Ring! Especially… The Fellowship of the Ring!

13. The Fellowship of the Ring!?!?

14. The Lord of the Rings tells the story of a Hobbit named Frodo who is entrusted with a magical ring that must be destroyed at a certain place in order to save the earth from the evil that is ready to overwhelm it.

15. To help him along his way, a Fellowship is formed: The Fellowship of the Ring. The Fellowship is a combination of such beings as… Hobbits!

16. To help him along his way, a Fellowship is formed: The Fellowship of the Ring. The Fellowship is a combination of such beings as… Elfins (Elves)

17. To help him along his way, a Fellowship is formed: The Fellowship of the Ring. The Fellowship is a combination of such beings as… Elfins (Elves)

18. To help him along his way, a Fellowship is formed: The Fellowship of the Ring. The Fellowship is a combination of such beings as… Dwarves

19. To help him along his way, a Fellowship is formed: The Fellowship of the Ring. The Fellowship is a combination of such beings as… Wizards

20. To help him along his way, a Fellowship is formed: The Fellowship of the Ring. The Fellowship is a combination of such beings as… & Humans

21. Together they fight off a horde of evil enemies & opponents until final victory is achieved and the world is once again safe for all to live in!

22. That’s the Fellowship of the Ring

23. But what does that have to do with us and with Christian Fellowship?

24. Lots!

25. Christian Fellowship is a bonding together of differing people from differing backgrounds from differing ethnic, national, racial & language groups. All of us united together into a community for one common reason and for one common purpose!

26. Indeed, the word that we translate ‘fellowship’ in the original language of the New Testament is the word κοινωνια which means “in common” or “things held in common.” We get the words ‘communion’ & ‘community’ from it. So when we are told in Acts that the early Christians devoted themselves to the fellowship…

27. Their community that enjoyed a common faith in Jesus & Their community that had been given a common mission to do Jesus’ will Their community that enjoyed a common faith in Jesus & Their community that had been given a common mission to do Jesus’ will

28. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us… The Apostle John put it this way:

29. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:1-3

30. Fellowship begins with the Father who sent His Son, Jesus, to enter our existence, breathe our air, live our lives and rescue us from the plague of sin, Satan & death.

31. What draws us together into community in the first place is that we share a common faith in the Son of God, in the salvation He brings and in the Life He gives.

32. First and foremost, we are a community because of Jesus. He is the One we have in common. Nothing else and no one else! First and foremost, we are a community because of Jesus. He is the One we have in common. Nothing else and no one else!

33. Just as with our friends in the Fellowship of the Ring, so the Fellowship of Believers is made up of people who really don’t have anything else in common other than Jesus!

34. Maybe this video clip will help… Something greater than ourselves Comforted Relationships Loved… unconditionally Forgiven & Embraced Accountability Community Family of Christ Supported

35. Also like our friends in the Fellowship of the Ring, the Fellowship of Believers has common work to do, common goals to achieve and common undertakings to accomplish. We are called upon to serve our Lord Jesus Christ, TOGETHER!

36. And what does that serving together look like? Well… probably we won’t have to deal with someone like Gollum or an evil orc!

37. Maybe this video clip will help… A hand reaching out The embrace of a friend An act of kindness Home to a deeper calling A sanctuary to empower to share Opportunity to work together & touch a world in need More than a Building

38. For St. Paul Lutheran Church & School to be a Purpose-Driven church it is the utmost necessity that we insist on seeing ourselves as being a Fellowship of Believers. And we insist on fleshing out what that means.

39. Our society is more and more isolated. People all around us crave for community… for a sense of belonging. They need more than what the world has to offer. They don’t need another bowling league, music festival, social club or anything of the sort! They need Community! They need Fellowship! Our society is more and more isolated. People all around us crave for community… for a sense of belonging. They need more than what the world has to offer. They don’t need another bowling league, music festival, social club or anything of the sort! They need Community! They need Fellowship!

40. Just like we do!

41. As a Purpose-Driven congregation, we seek to grow in the embracing fellowship we have with each other as brothers & sisters in Christ. We do that in formal ways and (more importantly) informal ways. We look for opportunities to truly be together in significant, sharing groupings - where relationships are built, faith-growth is encouraged and where Christ is honored.

42. And also, as a Purpose-Driven congregation, we seek to work together as a community of believers who, sharing our common assets reach out to a world in need, model Christian Love & Fellowship and invite those who are on the outside to come in… Come in to the Fellowship of Believers And also, as a Purpose-Driven congregation, we seek to work together as a community of believers who, sharing our common assets reach out to a world in need, model Christian Love & Fellowship and invite those who are on the outside to come in… Come in to the Fellowship of Believers

43. No matter who they are - even if they’re a Hobbit - they have a place in our Fellowship through faith in Jesus Christ!

44. As people who have a common Savior and as people who have common Savior-given goals, let us LIVE as the Fellowship that we ARE!

45. Hold me, Jesus Well, sometimes my life Just don't make sense at all When the mountains look so big And my faith just seems so small Well, sometimes my life Just don't make sense at all When the mountains look so big And my faith just seems so small

46. So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf You have been King of my glory Won't You be my Prince of Peace So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf You have been King of my glory Won't You be my Prince of Peace

47. And I wake up in the night and feel the dark It's so hot inside my soul I swear there must be blisters on my heart And I wake up in the night and feel the dark It's so hot inside my soul I swear there must be blisters on my heart

48. So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf You have been King of my glory Won't You be my Prince of Peace So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf You have been King of my glory Won't You be my Prince of Peace

49. Surrender don't come natural to me I'd rather fight You for something I don't really want Than to take what You give that I need Surrender don't come natural to me I'd rather fight You for something I don't really want Than to take what You give that I need

50. And I've beat my head against so many walls Now I'm falling down, I'm falling on my knees And I've beat my head against so many walls Now I'm falling down, I'm falling on my knees

51. And this Salvation Army band Is playing this hymn And Your grace rings out so deep It makes my resistance seem so thin And this Salvation Army band Is playing this hymn And Your grace rings out so deep It makes my resistance seem so thin

52. So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf You have been King of my glory Won't You be my Prince of Peace So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf You have been King of my glory Won't You be my Prince of Peace xx

53. Fellowship The Purpose-Driven Church