somalife:

Sometimes we have people come and hang out with us and our missional community, and they really like things for a while. They enjoy having meals with us, talking about faith, praying together, and so on. Then we start talking about really digging in— rooting out our idols, taking up our cross daily, reaching out and discipling people— and things change. It goes something like this: “Well, I really like you guys, but I don’t know about all this other stuff. I mean, I really just want to be fed, you know? I think I’ll go find a bible study.”

Enter Charles Spurgeon: “I would sooner bring one sinner to Christ than unpack all the mysteries of the Word. Salvation is the thing we are to live for.”

The way of the cross is hard, but it’s worth it. Jesus didn’t come to start a Bible study, he came to save the world from sin, death, and Satan. And we are his disciples.

The truth is, we simply won’t grow if we’re not faithful to God’s mission. We can do 100 hours of bible study huddling and it not do a thing for our souls. But if we read the word and respond by obeying the Spirit’s voice to go and make disciples of all nations, we will certainly grow in ways we can’t even begin to imagine, because we will learn to find our life in Christ as we lose it in service to others.

This is the sixth in a seven part series on the Navigators’ Wheel.

A Look At The Horizontal Component

You should remind yourself and your disciple that the vertical spokes focus on one’s personal relationship with the Lord;  however, God is concerned with how we live that out.  So share with him or her that the two horizontal spokes focus on our relationship with others – both Christian and non-Christian.

The Fellowship Spoke

As followers of Christ, we are all part of the family of God (see Ephesians 1:22), no one stands higher nor lower than others.  Someone has put it this way, “the ground is level at the foot of the cross.”  All Christians have the wonderful privilege of being intimate members of God’s family.  In fact, no family ever thrives that doesn’t have authentic friendships at their core.

God has instructed Christians to fellowship with other Christians.  In other words, we are to pursue relationships within the church.    We are to learn from others, spend time together ,and encourage one another.  Today, we often substitute the word “community” in lieu of the word “fellowship.”  They are synonymous terms.  Both express the idea of a place where we belong, grow and serve within the family of God – often in the context of our local church.

There is a certain chemistry that takes place as Christians get together to build each other up. This cannot be accomplished if we operate independently and are isolated from other Christians.  Take time to read and discuss the following verses together:

-        “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. ” (Hebrews 10:24–25, ESV)

-        “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” ” (Matthew 18:20, ESV)

by John Marquette

Community Pastor::Fellowship Bible Church Of Northwest Arkansas

email him at jomarquette@fellowshipnwa.org