Experiencing Life Together ~ Part 2

Each one of you is 

part of the body of 

Christ, and you 

were chosen to live 

together in peace.

       Colossians 3:15

Yesterday we talked about what real fellowship was, and how it helps our lives. Fellowship takes place in a small group situations such as a Sunday school class a Bible study or a home fellowship group; where as, worship takes place in a large gathering, such as a church. In a real fellowship, we experience authenticity. It is a place where we can share our true feelings, hurts, failures and doubts.

In real fellowship we experience mutuality. Mutuality is the art of giving and receiving. The Bible says, "The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part" (1 Corinthians 12:25). Mutuality is what we build relationships on, meaning we share responsibilities and help each other. Paul said in Romans, "I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you" (Romans 1:12).

When we share mutuality, our faith in God grows. Sharing mutuality includes mutual accountability, mutual encouragement, mutual serving, and mutual honoring (Romans 12:10). The Bible tells us to make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification (Romans 14:19). We are responsible to everyone in the Body of Christ. God expects us to do whatever we can to help them.

In a real fellowship, we experience sympathy. Sympathy is not trying to solve another's problem; it is sharing the pain of others. Sympathy says, "I understand what you're going through." Today we might call this "empathy", but the biblical word for this is "sympathy". The Bible says, "As holy people… be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient" (Colossians 3:12). 

When we sympathize with others, we help them meet two human needs: the need to have their feelings understood; and the need to have their feelings validated. Every time we sympathize with another, we build fellowship. What prevents fellowship is when we are so caught up in our own hurts, that we cannot feel for others.

Due to technical difficulties, this lesson was cut short. We will continue tomorrow. God bless you.