Foster Biblical Fellowship in Your Church

Written by Russell Cook

Many churches today seem to have it all together when it comes to fellowship. But is biblical fellowship a genuinely common thing in most churches? Probably not.

You as a deacon can help foster biblical fellowship in your church. But before enhancing or restoring fellowship in your congregation, you must understand it.

The primary term used in the New Testament for fellowship is "koinonia." The word carries the idea of commonality, community, mutuality or things held in common. Scripture makes it clear that fostering fellowship was one of the reasons for the deacons' service in the early church. For instance, the qualifications delineated for the deacon in 1 Timothy 3:8-13 imply that his service will enhance fellowship. So what can a deacon do to foster fellowship in the church where he serves?

To foster fellowship in the church, the deacon must examine his own salvation.

Genuine fellowship with man can never happen until a person is in fellowship with God. John the apostle wrote, "what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3)"

 Unfortunately, there are instances in some churches where fellowship is weak or nonexistent because of lost persons trying to serve in church offices that are reserved for the saved. It is important that a man "examine himself to see if he is in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5)."

This may seem to be a rather elementary step for a deacon to take, but it never hurts for any Christian to examine himself in this way. A man should never serve as a deacon apart from God's saving grace. If fellowship in the church is fostered, it will be by men who are genuinely born again from above and have security in their salvation.

Fellowship is also fostered in the church when the deacon expels his sin.

There are some often-observed sins in the lives of church leaders that must be confessed and expelled if fellowship is to be experienced.

• Pride: Pride is an attitude of a man's heart that says, "I know who I am, what I want and what to do. I don't need anybody to suggest any need for change in my life."

  Pride quickly moves a deacon from service to the church to exercising authority over the church. Perpetual pride will break down genuine fellowship, but humility will rebuild it.

• Unforgiveness: Where unforgiveness exists in the hearts of pastors and deacons, fellowship will be lost in the congregation. Every positive, Spirit-directed move the church makes can be quenched by unforgiveness. To a church in need of renewed fellowship, Paul wrote, "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32)."

• Impurity: As with every Christian, impure actions in the life of a deacon always come as a result of impure thoughts. Jesus rebuked the impure Pharisees when He said, "For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart (Matthew 12:34)."

  How a person thinks has everything to do with how he acts. If a deacon speaks or acts in an impure manner, we assume that his thinking is impure. Fellowship with God is immediately broken when impure thoughts are tolerated, and fellowship with other Christians is hindered when impure attitudes or actions are expressed. Unholy or impure lives will always create a gulf between people and greatly hinder the fellowship of the church.

If fellowship is fostered in the church, it will come when the deacon exercises his service.

The fundamental role of the deacon in the church is to serve the congregation. One area where deacons can uniquely serve is to the poor. Scripture affirms that deacons should faithfully serve the benevolent needs of the poor (see Acts 6:1-2). The deacon must assume his biblical role of mercy giver if the fellowship of the church is to be strengthened.

Some deacons are now including the benevolent needs of the church and community as a significant part of their ministry. One example of this is receiving a benevolence offering. From this "benevolence fund," prescriptions may be purchased; utilities may be paid; and transportation, clothing and other necessities may be distributed to the needy. This ministry of mercy demonstrates to the community at large that genuine fellowship is love in action.

The deacon will also encourage fellowship through his service to the pastor. Unfortunately, in too many churches, "the poor" and "the pastor" are one and the same. It often falls to others to be sure the pastor and ministerial staff are adequately cared for when the deacon is in a unique position to render this service.

Scriptures outline precise things deacons and others can do to honor the pastor. These are things that are always intended to enhance the fellowship of the church. They are drawn specifically from Hebrews 13:7,17:

• The church should remember the pastor (v. 7a).
• The church should imitate the pastor (v. 7b).
• The church should follow the pastor (v. 17a).
• The church should support the pastor (v.17b).

As you observe those things, the Lord will bless the church; the fellowship will be strengthened; and the lost will be exposed to the gospel.

Fostering fellowship in the church is a responsibility that falls specifically on the shoulders of church leaders. Pastors, deacons and their wives can revive their church's fellowship. May it truly be said of your church that "they have great fellowship."

Russell Cook is director of missions for Pottawatomie-Lincoln Baptist Association, Shawnee, Okla. He also is a certified deacon trainer for LifeWay Christian Resources.

This article is taken from The Deacon, Spring 2001.

 

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