THE FELLOWSHIP OF GOD'S PEOPLE Amos 3:3 I. Introduction. A. Definition of fellowship. 1. "Community of interest, activity, feeling, etc." (Or, share one has in something.) 2. Living the life of a Christian is sharing. 3. Fellowship can be right or wrong. B. The implications of Amos 3:3. II. Body. A. The fellowship of the New Testament. 1. What(and who) can be fellowshipped? a. The Son: I Cor. 1:9. b. The apostles: Acts 2:42. c. The brethren: Galatians 2:9. d. Sufferings: Philippians 3:10. c. With the needy: II Corinthians 8:4. d. In preaching the gospel: Philippians 1:3,5. 2. There are forbidden items to fellowship. a. An unrighteous brother: I Corinthians 5:11. (1 One who has been disciplined. (2 Forbidden to eat a meal with him(shows approval). (3 What about one working with another? (4 What about a family member? (a There are obligations(as husband, wife) that are not cancelled because of disciplinary action. (b Family obligations/relationships not cancelled by disciplinary action. (c Nevertheless, not to so act as to approve the individual. (d However, there are not many times when this would occur(do not stretch the passage to please self or others). b. Iniquity: II Corinthians 6:14. c. Works of darkness: Ephesians 5:11. d. Demons: I Corinthians 10:20. B. The fellowship of God's people. 1. Why would a Christian need this? a. To bring harmony and purpose. b. Uniformity of our will with God's will. c. To prepare for contact with ungodly. 2. Note the advantage of this fellowship: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. (Too many do not esteem as they should.) 3. This fellowship may take place in many different ways. 4. Is one always to share(fellowship) in every item, in every circumstance--every Christian? a. Discuss a matter of opinion. b. Discuss a matter of faith. 5. That fellowship may be broken. a. By one entering into sin. (1 Note: Matthew 18:15-17. (2 To Corinth: I Corinthians 5:13. b. Can one personally withdraw from others? c. When one ceases to walk in the light: I John 1:7. C. Other considerations in fellowship: 1. One may be in fellowship with God and not with some brethren. 2. One may be in fellowship with brethren and not with God. 3. Some will tolerate(fellowship) the most ungodly person--but refuse to fellowship those who would disagree with them-- even on trivial matters or items of judgment. 4. Can one church withdraw fellowship from another one? D. Fellowship should be regulated by the word of God, not by: 1. Friendship. 2. Kinship. 3. Hardship. 4. Position/prominence. III. Body. A. Fellowship is the bond that strengthens the Christian and the local church. B. God's standard for proper fellowship: I Thessalonians 5:15.-jy