Church Fellowship
a Bible study course for adults
By Professor John F. Brug
PowerPoint: Angi Kinsley, Pastor Mark A. Cordes
New Life Evangelical Lutheran Church
Shoreview, Minnesota
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Introduction to the Course

Author: Professor John Brug
 Wisconsin
Lutheran Seminary:
Doctrine, Old Testament
 People’s Bible, commentaries,
adult Bible Classes
2
Introduction to the Course

Goals:
 Briefly
review the doctrine of
the C/church – necessary
background
 Define terms for discussion
 Motivate by God’s Word
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Opening Prayer
Lord, thank you! By giving us faith in Jesus
as our Savior you made us members of
your family, the holy Christian Church.
Keep us and all your family united with you
and each other. Preserve us in saving faith
in your Son and keep us faithful to all the
teachings you revealed in your Holy Word.
Motivate us to “make every effort to guard
the unity of the Spirit through the bond of
peace” (Ephesians 4:3). Amen.
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Topics of Discussion
Introduction to Church
Fellowship
Scriptural Principles:
1. Working Together for the
Truth
2. Romans 16:1-19
1.
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Topics of Discussion
Scriptural Principles:
4. The Unit Concept
5. Preserving and
Extending Fellowship
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Topics of Discussion
Practice of Fellowship:
6. Guidelines and Basic
Applications.
7. Situations Dealing with
Our Own Services
8. Working with Others
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Topics of Discussion
History of Fellowship:
 Early Church; WELS &
LCMS Relations
 WELS & CLC Relations;
the CELC
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Introduction

What is the most
important doctrine
of the Bible? Why?
1
Corinthians 2:2
Romans 3:28
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Introduction


The most important
doctrine of the Bible is the
doctrine of justification by
grace alone through faith
alone.
Without this teaching no
one can be saved.
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Introduction

What is another very
important teaching of
Scripture?
2 Timothy 3:16f
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Introduction

The doctrine of the
inspiration and inerrancy of
Scripture is also very
important because it is
necessary for preserving
the other doctrines,
including justification.
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Introduction

Some people outside the
Wisconsin Synod consider
the teaching of fellowship to
be a “WELS trademark.”
 Have you ever
experienced this
perception?
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Introduction

Why do you think people
think this about the WELS?
1. The doctrine of Church
Fellowship is a very
important part of our
historical development.
2. Very few other churches
teach this Scriptural
doctrine today.
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Why is teaching church
fellowship so important?





It is a scriptural doctrine.
Necessary to preserve other
teachings (golden necklace)
Important doctrine in shaping WELS.
Under heavy attack today.
Causes strong emotions – members
and prospects, family and friends.
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What is the invisible
“Church”?


Define the term “Church.”
How does one become a
member of the “Church”?
1 Peter 2:9
Galatians 3:26
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The “Church” is…
…everyone
who believes in
Jesus Christ as his/her
Savior from sin.
One becomes a member of
invisible “Church” only
through faith in Christ,
created by the gospel.
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The invisible “Church”

Why do we say there is
only one “Church”?
Acts 4:12
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The invisible “Church”

There is only one “Church”
because there is only one
way to heaven:
Through faith in Jesus as
our Savior from sin.
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The invisible “Church”

No matter what age, sex,
wealth, nationality; whether
Lutheran, Baptist, Catholic,
etc. – all who believe in
Jesus as their Savior are
members of God’s
“Church.”
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The invisible “Church”

Why do we call this one
“Church” the invisible
“Church”?
2 Timothy 2:19
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The invisible “Church”



You have to have faith to be
in this “Church.”
Only God can see faith in
the heart.
Only God can say for sure
who is a member of the
invisible “Church.”
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The invisible “Church”

How can we recognize the
presence of this one
“Church”?

Isaiah 55:10f
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The invisible “Church”

“Marks of the Church” show
the “Church” is present:
The Gospel preached.
Sacraments administered
according to Christ’s
command.
= “Means of Grace.”
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What is the visible “church”?

Revelation 1:10f
A visible church is…
 a group of Christians
 gathered to share the Means of Grace
 doing work God assigned to the church.
 a local congregation, larger group of
congregations, i.e. synod.
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What is the visible “church”?

Make a list of reasons to join
a church.

Colossians 3:16
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Reasons to join a church:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Share the Means of Grace.
Receive and give Christian
admonition.
Worship with other Christians.
Enjoy Christian fellowship.
Join in mission work.
Train pastors and teachers.
Support Christian schools.
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Real Life Definition:
“Church Fellowship”
General Fellowship is…
friendly relationships
between people
people working together
toward common goals
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Narrowing the Definition to
“Christian Fellowship”

What fellowship do we
enjoy as members of
the invisible
“Church”?
 1 John 1:3
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Narrowing the Definition to
“Christian Fellowship”

Through faith in Jesus
every Christian is in
spiritual fellowship with…
1. the triune God and …
2. with every other believer
in Jesus Christ.
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Limiting the Definition to
“Church Fellowship”


In an ideal world every
Christian could express
fellowship with every
Christian.
But in a sinful world…
 Many visible churches
teach contrary to God’s
Word, the Bible.
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Limiting the Definition to
“Church Fellowship”
 In this series of Bible
studies we want to confine
our discussion not to
“fellowship” in general, nor
even to “Christian
fellowship,” but specifically
to “Church Fellowship.”
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Real Life Definition:
“Church Fellowship” is…


Our “common-union”
with all Christians
confessing all teachings
of Scripture.
Expressing this
fellowship through joint
activities.
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Real Life Definition:
“Church Fellowship” is…


…every activity in which
members of visible
churches join together…
…as an expression of
their unity of faith and
doctrine.
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What This Means
We want to explore…
with whom we may practice
church fellowship
how much agreement is
necessary for church
fellowship
what constitutes an
expression of shared faith
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Summary


Through faith in Jesus
Christ people become
members of the one holy
Christian Church.
In this invisible Church they
enjoy fellowship with God
and with every other true
believer.
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Summary
Christians join together
visibly with other Christians
in church activities
 to
spread God’s Word
and…
 to build faith.
“Church Fellowship” –
member activities of visible
churches joined to express
unity of faith, doctrine.
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Next Steps - Assignment



Read 1, 2, 3 John, noting how many
times “love” and “truth” are used.
Decide how these words are related.
Read Revelation 2, 3. Jot down
Jesus’ concerns that truth in
doctrine and life prevails in these
churches.
Read Church Fellowship, pp. 23-31.
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Closing Prayer
Dear Lord, in the weeks
ahead as we study what
your Word says about
church fellowship, create in
us a better understanding
of this teaching and a
willingness to practice it
more faithfully in our lives.
Amen.
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