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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Preserving and Extending
Fellowship
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Goals
1.
2.
To discuss things we are doing to
preserve and extend Christian
fellowship.
To consider ways we as individuals and
congregation can improve in this
important aspect of Christian living.
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Opening Prayer
We thank you, dear Holy Spirit, for the
unity you have given us in our
congregation and synod. Teach us to love
and cherish this priceless fellowship. Help
us examine our lives as individuals and as
a congregation so that we become more
zealous and enthusiastic in preserving and
extending this fellowship. Amen.
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Introduction
One of the
great joys of
being a
Christian…
• Psalm 133
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Christian unity is like…
– Oil on Aaron’s head (perfume or lotion)
– Dew (prized in Israel, months without rain)
• Symbolize joy of brothers, sisters living
together in faithful unity of the Spirit.
• Enjoying fellowship with like-minded
Christians.
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Responsibility for every
Christian?
Ephesians 4:3
• Every Christian has the responsibility
to work in order to…
–preserve this fellowship
–extend this fellowship
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Ways of preserving and extending
fellowship
What are some ways we can show love
for the members of our congregation?
 Read: John 13:35; 1 Peter 1:22
 loving one another
 showing concern in times of trouble
 visiting the sick
 comforting the grieving
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Ways of preserving and extending
fellowship


What are some ways
our congregation
members are good at
showing their love?
What are some areas
in which we could do
better?
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Helping with physical needs…
Galatians 6:10
As a congregation?
 Food pantry
 Door offerings
 Thrift store
How can our
congregation do
better?



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Helping with physical needs…
Galatians 6:10
As a synod?
 WELS Committee on Relief
 Central Africa Medical Mission
 Agencies: LIMA, WLCFS
How can we do better as a synod?



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Ways of preserving and extending
fellowship
Ephesians 4:11-16
How do we build up the church’s
defense against error?
 Personal Bible study
 Attendance at Bible classes and Sunday
School, VBS


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What are some ways we could do
this better?

Pray and work to increase attendance at
Bible classes and Sunday School, VBS
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We must build up defenses
against…



New Age Movement
Weakness in principles and practice of
key doctrines
 Fellowship
 God’s roles for men and women
Worldliness infiltrating Church militant
 materialism
 sexual immorality
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How do we show respect and support
for faithful called workers?
1 Thessalonians 5:11-13
 1 Timothy 5:17

lay ministry involvement
 secretarial help
 compensation (salary, honoraria, fees)
 respect for office
 speaking well of workers to others

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Respect and Support for Faithful
Called Workers

What are some areas in which we can
improve in this regard?
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How do we work to extend our
fellowship as a congregation?
VBS
 Sunday School
 Evangelism

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How do we work to extend our
fellowship as a synod?
Home Missions
 World Missions
 Commission on
Inter-Church
Relations

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Preserve church fellowship by
practicing church discipline


Huge topic
Like removing a sliver


Can prevent an infection, loss of limb
Dealing with public sin heals and
helps preserve our precious church
fellowship.
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Practicing Church Discipline
As individuals and as a congregation
 Matthew 18:15-17
 Steps to win back brother(s) for Christ:
1. In private – Why is this so important?
2. With witnesses – friends, pastor
3. Involving entire church
 Council, Voters
 Synod: circuit, district, synod appeal
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Preserving and Extending
Fellowship
What is the last act of love available
to us to help an unrepentant
member of our fellowship?
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Preserve church fellowship by
practicing church discipline


Jude 18-23
What is the difference between a weak
brother and a persistent errorist?
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Weak Brother vs. Persistent Errorist
Persistent Errorist
 Ignores instruction
 Promotes false
views and teachings
Weak Brother
 Erroneous views on
some doctrines, but…
 Willing to be corrected
by Scripture.
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How can we determine in which
category a person belongs?


While studying disputed issues in
Scripture, weak brothers will not make
propaganda for their view.
Persistent errorists hold on to their
views in spite of admonition and try to
win other people to their views.
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How do we deal with people in
each category?


Weak brothers: We want to preserve
fellowship by patiently instructing them.
Persistent errorists: Fellowship around
the truth must be preserved by excluding
them from the congregation.
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Excommunication versus
Termination of Fellowship
In Christian love we excommunicate…
 Persist in a sin knowing God’s Word
condemns it
 Doctrinal error destroys saving faith
 Hold to a position knowing it is contrary
to Scripture
 Excluded themselves from salvation.
 We warn of damnation without repentance.
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Excommunication versus
Termination of Fellowship

Termination of fellowship done in love …
 Hold to false doctrine convinced their position
agrees with Scripture
 May be ignorance, weakness that does not
destroy saving faith
 May not have excluded themselves from
salvation, but…
 Error prevents our fellowship with them.
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Excommunication versus
Termination of Fellowship
Use only Termination of fellowship …
 With church bodies and congregations,
because we…
 Cannot deal with every individual to
determine if support for church’s error
 consciously and maliciously
 ignorance or weakness
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Dealing the Excommunicated
or Fellowship-Terminated
2 Thessalonians 3:6,13-15
• No religious fellowship.
• Family, social ties –
careful not to undermine
church’s action.
• Continue to evangelize
with law and gospel.
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Summary
Fellowship
in unity of
faith is a
wonderful
blessing
of God’s
church.
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Summary
Church fellowship is extended and
maintained when Christians …
 Grow in faith.
 Show love for each other.
 Honor those who preach and teach.
 Give help to the needy.
 Practice church discipline.
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Closing Prayer
We thank you, Lord, for the fellowship and
unity that we enjoy in our church. Thanks
for showing us many ways we can work to
together to preserve and extend this
fellowship. Now through the power of your
Holy Spirit, fill us with energy and
enthusiasm so that we work hard to preserve
and extend our fellowship of faith. Amen.
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During the week
1.
2.
3.
Read Church Fellowship, pages 105-115.
Thank God for the fellowship you enjoy with
the members of your congregation and others
who share the same confession.
Pray for ways you can help to preserve that
fellowship and to extend it.
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