The Power of Fellowship

I came across a story recently which I found to be not only encouraging it its outcome, but also thought provoking as it relates our church’s current practice of fellowship between believers.

One man who was ousted from his profession for an indiscretion took work as a hod carrier simply to put bread on the table. He was suddenly plunged into a drastically different world; instead of going to an office each day, he was hauling loads of concrete block up to the fifth level of a construction site. Gone was the piped-in music in the corridors; now he had to endure blaring transistors. Any girl who walked by was subject to rude remarks and whistles. Profanity shot through the air, especially from the foreman, whose primary tactics were whining and intimidation; "For---sake, you---, can't you do anything right? I never worked with such a bunch of --- in all my life..."

Near the end of the third week, the new employee felt he could take no more. "I'll work till break time this morning," he told himself, "and then that's it. I'm going home." He'd already been the butt of more than one joke when his lack of experience caused him to do something foolish. The stories were retold constantly thereafter. "I just can't handle any more of this." A while later, he decided to finish out the morning and then leave at lunchtime.

Shortly before noon, the foreman came around with paychecks. As he handed the man his envelope, he made his first civil comment to him in three weeks. "Hey, there's a woman working in the front office who knows you. Says she takes care of your kids sometimes." "Who?" He named the woman, who sometimes helped in the nursery of the church where the man and his family worshiped. The foreman then went on with his rounds. When the hod carrier opened his envelope, he found, along with his check, a handwritten note from the payroll clerk: "When one part of the body of Christ suffers, we all suffer with it. Just wanted you to know that I'm praying for you these days." He stared at the note, astonished at God's timing. He hadn't even known the woman worked for this company. Here at his lowest hour, she had given him the courage to go on, to push another wheelbarrow of mortar up that ramp.

This story powerfully illustrates the impact that one can positively have upon another through words and acts of encouragement. Every one of us has difficulties which we are facing on a constant basis, often times beyond the knowledge of the people around us. A touch upon the shoulder, a hand-written note, or a remembrance in prayer by another can positively alter one’s life to a greater degree than we might realize. Yet, in order for this to occur, a relationship must be fostered whereby needs become known. Even within the Body of Christ, many will struggle needlessly in silence through a lack of vulnerability that only comes when we fellowship.

The writer of Hebrews addressed this matter when he wrote “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

These verses contain three actions to which God is commanding and inviting His Church to enjoy:

1. “Consider how to stir up one another”

When you consider your activity at church each week, do you ask, “What did I get from being at church today?” or do you ask, “How was God able to use me to serve another?” We should be thinking of ways in which we can connect and love on others so that they might be encouraged in Christ.

2. “meet together”

In a culture in which our work and recreation span every day of the week, is it a priority to set aside a time in which we will fellowship with other believers in worship and service? While some may bemoan regular church attendance as legalistic, the New Testament heralds it as spiritually necessary.

3. “encourage one another”

None of us can make it on our own. We need the consolation and admonition that can only come from a community of believers that knows the real us.

To foster this kind of fellowship to which the Bible directs us, it is my prayer that you will be involved in Sunday School, Sunday Night Home Groups, and/or another Bible study group. Our Sunday Night Home Groups study will work in conjunction with my new sermon series, “Questions That Matter.” We will study the Scriptures for insight regarding some of the most perplexing questions of our culture and discover God’s perspective on matters that many debate. These are opportunities to encourage! These are opportunities to press on!

Jason