"Love, Lent and Fellowship!"
We have had a great start to the new year here at Edgemont. We began the month with the dedication service of Caleb Young; followed by the baptisms of Taylor Hyder, Zachary Garlick and Claude Garlick; and then we had Vickie Boles transfer her membership. Vickie has requested to renew her baptism, which will take place on Sunday, February the 3rd. Fred Saunders will also be renewing his baptism on this Sunday, as well.
The month of February turns out to be quite a significant month this year. First, we will begin the Lenten season on February the 6th with Ash Wednesday. Secondly, the celebration of Valentine’s Day is on February the 14th.
Many people can’t even think of the month of February without associating it with things like: hearts, cupids, candy, flowers and, of course, love. Mostly this is due to the retail world that has no trouble reminding us that February marks Valentine’s Day, another opportunity to make a buck or two off of us consumers. But as I think about the gift of love I realize that it is not something that can be purchased at Walmart or any other store, for that matter.
Someone has said; "Life is meant to be shared. God intends for us to experience life together." The Bible calls this "fellowship." One of the most popular Greek words is the word for "fellowship" - koinonia. But, koinonia is more than just fellowship, it suggests a "partnership" or, better yet, "social intercourse." The Greek word for "relationship" is koinonos, suggesting a companionship in which we become partakers and givers.
Rick Warren has done a great job on expanding on what koinonia is, especially when it comes to the fellowship we enjoy within our church family. In fact, he has written in his book The Purpose Drive Life, these words; "Real fellowship is so much more than just showing up at services. It is ‘experiencing life together.’ It includes unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacrificial giving, sympathetic comforting, and all the other ‘one another’ commands found in the New Testament." What is the remedy for real "fellowship" and "companionship?" Rick Warren continues by giving us a few suggestions.
First of all, "In real fellowship people experience authenticity. Authentic fellowship and companionship is not superficial, surface-level chit-chat. It is genuine, heart-to-heart sharing. It happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives. They share their hurts, reveal their feelings, confess their failures, disclose their doubts, admit their fears, acknowledge their weaknesses and ask for help and prayer." Does such an authentic fellowship exist in our church family, in your own family, and in your circle of friends?
Secondly, "In real fellowship people experience mutuality." We could very easily call this koinonos. It is the art of giving and receiving. It’s depending on each other. The Bible says, ‘The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: each part dependent on every other part’ (Romans 1:12 NCV). Mutuality is the heart of fellowship..." it involves "helping each other." This is the kind of fellowship Jesus focused on in his teachings, a fellowship that is self-less, giving and concerned about others. Even Paul encouraged the churches of his day through his epistles to "edify," "encourage" and "uplift one another." Imagine if such a fellowship existed in our church family and in all of the relationships that we have and share with one another.
Thirdly, "In real fellowship people experience sympathy. Sympathy is not giving advice or offering quick, cosmetic help; sympathy is entering in and sharing the pain of others. Sympathy says, ‘I understand what you’re going through [and I am here for you].’"
And finally, "In real fellowship people experience mercy." Fellowship is a place of grace, where mistakes aren’t rubbed in, but rubbed out. Fellowship happens when mercy wins over justice. We all need mercy, because we all stumble, and fall and require help getting back on track. We need to offer mercy to each other and be willing to receive it from each other.
It hardly seems possible that just a few weeks ago we celebrated Christmas and now, with the dawning of February we usher in another significant and meaningful season in the life of the church - the season of Lent. With Advent we were invited to journey to Bethlehem to welcome the birth of Christ. With Lent we are invited to follow the Christ to the cross. And with Lent we are invited to focus on another relationship—the relationship with our selves and with God. We are encouraged to see who we are and whose we are.
May koinonia and koinonos exist among us here at Edgemont. Let’s grow closer together, stronger in our fellowship, and deeper in our faith and commitment to Christ and to one another. And may Valentine’s Day and the season of Lent be opportunities for us to do just that.
The month of February turns out to be quite a significant month this year. First, we will begin the Lenten season on February the 6th with Ash Wednesday. Secondly, the celebration of Valentine’s Day is on February the 14th.
Many people can’t even think of the month of February without associating it with things like: hearts, cupids, candy, flowers and, of course, love. Mostly this is due to the retail world that has no trouble reminding us that February marks Valentine’s Day, another opportunity to make a buck or two off of us consumers. But as I think about the gift of love I realize that it is not something that can be purchased at Walmart or any other store, for that matter.
Someone has said; "Life is meant to be shared. God intends for us to experience life together." The Bible calls this "fellowship." One of the most popular Greek words is the word for "fellowship" - koinonia. But, koinonia is more than just fellowship, it suggests a "partnership" or, better yet, "social intercourse." The Greek word for "relationship" is koinonos, suggesting a companionship in which we become partakers and givers.
Rick Warren has done a great job on expanding on what koinonia is, especially when it comes to the fellowship we enjoy within our church family. In fact, he has written in his book The Purpose Drive Life, these words; "Real fellowship is so much more than just showing up at services. It is ‘experiencing life together.’ It includes unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacrificial giving, sympathetic comforting, and all the other ‘one another’ commands found in the New Testament." What is the remedy for real "fellowship" and "companionship?" Rick Warren continues by giving us a few suggestions.
First of all, "In real fellowship people experience authenticity. Authentic fellowship and companionship is not superficial, surface-level chit-chat. It is genuine, heart-to-heart sharing. It happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives. They share their hurts, reveal their feelings, confess their failures, disclose their doubts, admit their fears, acknowledge their weaknesses and ask for help and prayer." Does such an authentic fellowship exist in our church family, in your own family, and in your circle of friends?
Secondly, "In real fellowship people experience mutuality." We could very easily call this koinonos. It is the art of giving and receiving. It’s depending on each other. The Bible says, ‘The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: each part dependent on every other part’ (Romans 1:12 NCV). Mutuality is the heart of fellowship..." it involves "helping each other." This is the kind of fellowship Jesus focused on in his teachings, a fellowship that is self-less, giving and concerned about others. Even Paul encouraged the churches of his day through his epistles to "edify," "encourage" and "uplift one another." Imagine if such a fellowship existed in our church family and in all of the relationships that we have and share with one another.
Thirdly, "In real fellowship people experience sympathy. Sympathy is not giving advice or offering quick, cosmetic help; sympathy is entering in and sharing the pain of others. Sympathy says, ‘I understand what you’re going through [and I am here for you].’"
And finally, "In real fellowship people experience mercy." Fellowship is a place of grace, where mistakes aren’t rubbed in, but rubbed out. Fellowship happens when mercy wins over justice. We all need mercy, because we all stumble, and fall and require help getting back on track. We need to offer mercy to each other and be willing to receive it from each other.
It hardly seems possible that just a few weeks ago we celebrated Christmas and now, with the dawning of February we usher in another significant and meaningful season in the life of the church - the season of Lent. With Advent we were invited to journey to Bethlehem to welcome the birth of Christ. With Lent we are invited to follow the Christ to the cross. And with Lent we are invited to focus on another relationship—the relationship with our selves and with God. We are encouraged to see who we are and whose we are.
May koinonia and koinonos exist among us here at Edgemont. Let’s grow closer together, stronger in our fellowship, and deeper in our faith and commitment to Christ and to one another. And may Valentine’s Day and the season of Lent be opportunities for us to do just that.
posted by Pastor Christopher @ 11:39 PM
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