I. “Understanding the Healthy Fellowship God Desires?”

A. The Contrast between “a bag of marbles” and “a bag of grapes.”

1. The world either doesn’t know, doesn’t understand, or doesn’t see the need for fellowship.
a. Record number of single adults in America - “A nation of strangers,” Vance Packard.
b. Gallop, “40% of Americans admit to frequent feelings of intense loneliness.
c. Years ago people said, “Christ-ianity – ‘Yes,’ Church-ianity – ‘No!’”
d. Dec. 23, 1999, USA Today headline, “In Search of Faith: For many, self-defined spirituality is replacing a church-based faith.” – The article went on to say, “For many people, God has been detached from ‘religion.’ Where once a community of believers shared a common vocabulary, many feel now feel free to define God by their own lights. America has become largely a nation partaking of the feasts of faith – its challenge, inspiration, and comfort – ala carte. Denominational lines are blurring and church-free ‘spirituality’ is on the rise.”

2. Yet for people to say, “I don’t need the church” is to completely miss the point of the church!
a. God designed His church as a place for the saved – (cf. Acts 2:41, 47; I Cor. 12:13).
b. In fact, God condemns the “Jesus – Yes; Church – No” philosophy – (I Cor. 12:21), “And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ or again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need….’”
c. There may be scars, pimples, sores and boo-boos in the body of Christ – but we can’t survive apart
d. Indeed, we can neither obey nor receive the blessings of numerous commands God gives:
1) List “one another” passages.

3. ILLUST.: “A Bag of Marbles” versus “A Bag of Grapes.”
a. Most people when you put them together are like a bag of marbles. – They rub up against each other, scratch each other and make a little noise – but don’t really affect each other much.
b. God has called for His church to come together – and to blend our lives with each other – that we might produce something that is sweet in His – and the world’s sight.
c. (Jn. 13:35), “By this will all men know that you are My disciples – because of your love for….”

B. Fellowship: Obstacles are Not Barriers.

1. Things which are “obstacles to Fellowship” are only so if we allow them to become one!
a. Diversity:
1) Simon the Zealot vs. Matthew the tax-collector; Peter (impetuous) – Thomas (saturnine); all of them vs. each other – (Lk. 9:45-47), “An argument arose as to which of them was greatest and Jesus took a young child…” – Taking the focus off themselves & onto Jesus & work…!!!
2) Jews vs. Gentiles: (Books of Romans, Galatians, Ephesians) – but what they had in common was greater than anything that separated them – (Eph. 4:4-6), “There is 1 body & 1 Spirit….”

b. The belief that we are alone:
1) Example from Elijah’s life – he felt alone (I Kgs. 19:9-18) – God gave him a new focus and a renewed sense that he wasn’t alone (“…7,000 in Israel…”) – he was able to finish his work!
2) (Eccl. 4:9-12), “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor….”

C. Fellowship: The Marks of Genuine Fellowship

1. Acts 2:36-47 (things they held in common: conviction over sin – way of salvation – Spirit of God – devotion to …teaching/fellowship/communion/prayer – time together – meals – joy – awe – etc.).
2. I John 1:3-10 (other things they had in common: fellowship with apostolic teaching – joy …!).
3. Everything we have in common with God – we will have in common with each other: love for the lost vs. love for ourselves – time spent with God & His people vs. time spent with ourselves – serving the needs of others vs. serving our own needs … etc.!

D. Circles of Fellowship…

1. There are different levels of intimacy within our relationship with God – Example of Jesus…

2. There are different levels of fellowship outside of our relationship with God.