Local churches are authorized to provide for worship and edification (continued)

Can’t the church practice FELLOWSHIP? (continued)

• Yes, a church should practice fellowship.
• But what does “fellowship” mean?
• Sharing in something (determined by the context)
  • (share, contribute, participate)
    • Philippians 4:15
    • Luke 5:10
    • I Corinthians 10:16
    • I Timothy 5:22
    • I John 1:7
  • The word fellowship is never used in the Bible in reference to a church meal.
    • Acts 2:42 - “Breaking bread” here likely means the Lord’s Supper.
  • Benchley has a fellowship hall - we’re in it studying the Bible right now!

A church should also practice EFIFICATION

• (build up, strengthen spiritually)
  • Acts 20:32
  • I Corinthians 14:26, 16, 40
  • Ephesians 4:11-12 - They were using the word of God to build up the body of Christ.
    • Pastors: Titus 1:9
    • II Timothy 2:2
    • Romans 10:17
• Think of it this way: if churches are not limited to the source of edification in the Bible—God’s word and worship—then where would the limit be (carnivals, concerts, sports, etc.)?
• Remember that there’s a difference between an individual and a church (Matthew 18:15-17; I Timothy 5:16).
  • Matthew 9:10; Acts 16:34
  • Acts 2:46
• What about the “love feasts” (Jude 1:12)?
  • II Peter 2:13; Jude 1:12
  • The Greek word behind “love feasts” is just agape.
• “What is Fellowship?” by David Smitherman