The Christian life isn’t meant to be lived alone but rather in fellowship with one another. The corporate, common sharing of life in Christ (koinonia), therefore needs to be a priority for His Church.
6 Biblical Reasons Fellowship Should be a Priority
God’s Word provides a number of reasons we should view fellowship with one another as important.
- God created people for human community. (Gen. 2:18)
- We find a corporate aspect of God’s people both in both Old Testament life and in the New Testament Church. (Gen. 12:2; Eph. 2:19-22)
- The Early Church devoted themselves to fellowship. (Acts 2:42)
- Jesus prayed for our oneness to be patterned after the fellowship enjoyed in the Trinity. (John 17:20-23)
- We’re commanded not to forsake relationship with one another which requires spending time with one another. (Heb. 10:25)
- Eternity with the Lord has a corporate dimension as well. (Rev. 21:2-22:5; Heb. 11:10, 13-14; 1 Thess. 4:16-18; Phil. 3:20)
If we can’t fellowship with one another, perhaps we need to ask if we’re in fellowship with God.
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. (1 Jn. 4:20-21)
The Church Purpose Manual includes what you read in this post along with more about this priority as well as other ways we can live out our purpose to love God and people.
More: Resources on Fellowship