The Fellowship of The Faith - Back to Acts
This sermon by Pastor Gene stresses the importance of active and genuine fellowship within the church. Referencing Hebrews 10:23-25 and the early church in Acts 2:42, he emphasizes the biblical need for fellowship through acts of love, prayer, and shared meals. He then cautions against isolation, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, by noting the human need for connection and the benefits of meaningful relationships. Pastor Gene compares positive and negative behaviors within the church to characters from the children's book series "Mr. Men and Little Miss". Fellowship reflects God's love and allows people to experience His abundance by encouraging the congregation to actively participate and contribute to the community.
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Sermon Transcript
Reader's Version
The Fellowship of The FaithSermon By Gene SimcoReader’s Version
I heard a story about a man who had been attending the same church for years. He loved telling everyone how much he cared about community service and, of course, fellowship. Every Sunday, he would shake hands, smile, and remind people, "The church isn't just a building; it's about the people."
One week, a hurricane rolled through the city where the church was located. After the storm passed, the pastor announced a community cleanup event as a way for the church to serve together. He encouraged the congregation, saying, "Let's show that the church is more than just the building by serving as one body."
This man, who had been attending church for years, agreed enthusiastically. He insisted that everyone should help, passing a clipboard around and declaring, "The church has to be the hands and feet of Jesus."
Finally, the day of the cleanup arrived—but the man didn’t show up. Instead, he spent the day binge-watching his favorite TV series. When someone asked him on Sunday why he wasn’t at the event, he smiled and said, "Oh, I was there with you... in spirit."
We find ourselves continuing to ask ourselves the question, Christianity—are we doing it wrong? In the last chapter, we looked at Acts 4, so let’s take a brief look at that again. We examined what the early church did, focusing on four key practices: the Word, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. We’ve already covered the Word, so now let’s turn our attention to the fellowship aspect.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Here we see the importance of fellowship in the body of Christ, the Ecclesia. The command is clear: Let us motivate one another to acts of love and good works, and we are urged not to neglect meeting together. This reinforces the essential nature of fellowship as part of living out our faith.
Now, let’s return to the text and continue from where we left off.
Acts 2:42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship [κοινωνίᾳ], and to sharing in meals [breaking bread], and to prayer.
That word fellowship—in Greek, κοινωνία “koinonia”—carries the idea of having things in common. This concept appears frequently in the Bible. The notion of sharing things in common is seen in passages like Philippians, where believers are urged to be of one mind and one purpose. The Greek term koinonia reflects this unity, and in English, it’s translated as fellowship in this context.
Now, when many of us hear the word fellowship, we might think of The Lord of the Rings—and I once joked about not calling myself an elder because it would make me feel like Gandalf. It’s a somewhat antiquated term, and you don’t often hear it in everyday conversations. But the definition remains clear: it’s simply a friendly association, especially among people who share common interests.
We are meant to have fellowship with one another.
Unfortunately, the modern church has largely lost touch with this. I’ve had people tell me that they attend church through streaming only, or that they belong to a church far away but remain very isolated. They do streaming church, which I explain is only half church. You might be able to read the Word or pray alone, but you can’t have fellowship alone.
This brings me to a question I’m often asked about our church, C3 Church: Why don’t we do streaming? The reason is simple. We never did streaming in the past. We recorded our messages and made them available online, but we didn’t livestream because, even before we moved into this building or adopted the identity of an Acts-based church, we knew that fellowship and meeting together are essential parts of being the church.
When you’re streaming, you’re only experiencing half of what the church is meant to be.
Then, COVID came along. Some people felt they needed to stay home due to health concerns, while others believed we should continue meeting in person. We did our best to accommodate all of our brothers and sisters during that time. But once things settled and we were able to gather again, we kept streaming as an option. That’s when I noticed something troubling: many people began isolating themselves, and it became an unhealthy pattern. While streaming may have served a temporary purpose, it wasn’t meant to be a permanent solution.
By continuing to stream, we realized we were enabling isolation rather than fostering real fellowship. To correct this, I made the decision to stop the streaming. If you want to be part of the church, you need to be present, meeting together as the body of Christ. Even when we post our messages online, we make it clear: this is not church. It can be a helpful substitute for a time, but true church is about gathering together as the body.
Streaming church, in light of Acts 4 and the definition of Ecclesia, is an oxymoron.
When we talk about neglecting connections, it’s important to remember that human beings are social creatures. We thrive on relationships and connections. Yet in today’s fast-paced, digital world, it's easy to retreat into isolation. Research in psychology consistently shows that social connections are a key component of happiness and well-being. People with strong relationships—whether with family, friends, or others—are generally happier, healthier, and even live longer. But it’s not just the quantity of relationships that matters; the quality is crucial as well. We need to nurture deep, meaningful relationships, including those within the church. It all comes back to having things in common.
Unfortunately, we live in a society that encourages isolation – this makes me think of Proverbs 18.
Proverbs 18:1 Unfriendly people care only about themselves [seek a boundary/separate themselves]; they lash out at common sense.
Proverbs 18:1 reveals that when we separate ourselves, we succumb to a lack of lack of common sense and unfriendliness due to a lack of practiced social skills.
Unfortunately, we live in a culture that encourages unfriendliness & separation and it’s seeped into the church.
On that note, let me share something that happened at our church a couple of Sundays ago. I recently spoke about deacons, and you might recall that in the last chapter, I mentioned that the role of a deacon is to serve. In the early church, deacons were tasked with helping leaders by serving food, as we see in Acts 6. This allowed the leaders to focus more on the Word and prayer. The modern issue, however, is that many deacons forget this calling. Instead of making the pastor's life easier, they often make themselves known, seeking recognition.
For example, after writing that last chapter, I received a little "sermon fuel" from God. While I was away from the church, a deacon visited, and he left us a review that I think speaks to the topic of fellowship.
Now, you should know that we have cameras all throughout the church, except in the bathrooms. We even have one above my office for accountability. This is how I found out what really happened that day.
The review started like this: “I attended your church today as a first-time visitor. I travel for a living, so I’m not looking for a church home—just somewhere to visit.” Off to a good start, right? He then shared a bit about himself: “I’ve been in church since I was an infant. I’m 57 and have been a member at a couple of churches. I was ordained as a deacon and served as chairman of the Personnel Committee at a medium to large church.”
Already, I could see where this was heading. He then boasted about his experience: “I’ve visited many churches of varying sizes and served as the sound technician for a church with a 48-piece orchestra.” So, you see the picture here—a well-traveled, experienced “deacon.” And it’s important to note that this was not a 49 piece orchestra … because that would just be way too much.
Then he started critiquing the service. “I came in about ten minutes before the service started and sat on the second row, dead center, in a bright blue shirt. I should have stuck out like a sore thumb, but no one spoke to me.”
Now, remember those cameras? I checked them. He actually arrived just a couple of minutes before the service, when everyone was busy getting seated. As for the greeting, Doug said hello to him—but I guess that didn’t count since Lonnie – who usually greets people was in the bathroom at the time!
He continued: “The music was good, and the gentleman who gave his testimony did well. But no one greeted me.”
Interestingly, in the testimonies, several people shared how friendly our church is, which might have made him feel overlooked. But perhaps it’s because he didn’t stay for the lunch we encouraged him to attend, where he could have met more people.
His review concluded with this: “I didn’t feel welcome at all. I’m not complaining, but I wouldn’t want a non-Christian searching for Jesus to have this experience and never come back.”
Now, let’s pause for a moment. This is where the real issue becomes clear. He seems to expect a perfectly tailored church experience, forgetting that fellowship is a two-way street. It’s not just about being served—it’s about serving others.
Perhaps, as a deacon, he could have introduced himself to someone. Instead, he expected to be greeted, served, and catered to, without considering that fellowship isn’t just about checking off a box. It’s about genuine connection and contribution.
This highlights the danger of consumer Christianity. When we approach church with the mindset of “What can I get?” instead of “How can I serve?” we end up missing the heart of fellowship. And this, my friends, is why true fellowship is so essential. Without it, we risk becoming half-Christians with no social or communication skills—and a whole lot of unrealistic expectations.
Now, let’s look at some basic fellowship principles—practical ways to “play nice” with other people and build real connections.
As basic as it might seem, I’ve found over the years—especially when I was new to Christianity—that many believers genuinely don’t know how to fellowship. Christians often come from a wide range of backgrounds and opinions. For instance, some hold tightly to the principle from 1 Corinthians 15:33, "Bad company corrupts good morals." They take this to mean they should bubble themselves off from the rest of the world, but in doing so, they often become socially inept.
I’ve observed that it can be difficult for them to find things to talk about, and they may lack certain social skills or mannerisms. In some cases, Christians form tight-knit groups, rarely interacting with people outside of their circles, and as a result, they develop what I like to call Christianese—a language, set of behaviors, and even dress codes that are understood within the group but foreign to others.
Because of this, some Christians struggle with common social cues or basic interactions, making it hard to connect with people outside the church. These social limitations can prevent meaningful fellowship, even within their own communities.
Let’s go back to when I was a kid—kindergarten, the basics of making friends and fellowshipping. When I was young, we had these Little Miss or Mr. books, like Little Miss Bossy, written by Roger Hargreaves. They were meant to teach kids how not to be weird—kind of a children's version of How to Win Friends and Influence People.
Let’s start with Miss Bossy. Little Miss Bossy is the first book in this series by Roger Hargreaves. She is, essentially, very bossy. She’s given a pair of boots that have a mind of their own but refuse to listen to her because she is too bossy. There are people like this in the church, creating unhealthy dynamics within the body of Christ. The body has many parts, and each part has its responsibilities.
Miss Bossy will step into leadership roles without being asked. Staying in your own lane is crucial. Think of a sports team. If the first baseman tries to be the third baseman, it creates disunity within the team. If everyone is chasing after the ball in a football game instead of playing defense, it disrupts the entire team dynamic.
You can also consider a military example. In the military, there are squads with specific roles. The navigator needs to do his job, and the pilot needs to do his job. Each member of the team, whether a sniper or a rifleman, has a distinct function. Paul uses this analogy, illustrating that each body part takes on a life of its own, desiring to be one of the other parts. However, this creates disunity and dysfunction.
The Bible instructs us in Ephesians 2:21 to “submit to one another in the fear of Christ.” We are called to recognize our roles and submit to those who may hold a perceived higher role than we do, working humbly for Jesus.
One key takeaway is to focus on your assigned roles, especially if you have not been asked to take on more. There is a saying: “There is your business and none of your business.” A helpful tip before offering anyone advice is to ask yourself one question: Did anyone ask you a question?
Some people think they know everything, which brings us to two different characters: Mr. Clever and Mr. Brainy. Mr. Brainy always has something smart to say, and his intelligence often gets him into tricky situations. I sympathize with these individuals because it must be challenging to be the smartest person in the room all the time. Imagine carrying all that knowledge and feeling compelled to share it with others.
Unfortunately, there are many arrogant people today, especially among Christians. You can speak to numerous believers who can't even name all the books in the Bible but are certain they know everything about it. This situation is exacerbated by the prevalence of internet "experts." In the realm of Christianity, there are those who claim to know everything about the Bible but cannot even name its books. Now, with the internet, everyone is an expert simply because they read something online, often misinformation. This has become a significant issue, and unfortunately, it has seeped into the church.
The Bible warns us in 1 Corinthians 8:2: "Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much, but the person who loves God is one whom God recognizes." God will recognize you; you don't need to make yourself known, especially with your so-called knowledge.
The interesting context of 1 Corinthians is that the church is experiencing division over speakers and secondary doctrines. They believe they are wise about these issues, but Paul contrasts this worldly wisdom with true wisdom, calling the former foolishness right from the outset. This division over secondary doctrine is something we will explore further later.
This brings me to Miss Chatterbox and Mr. Noisy—similar characters who feel the need to be heard. Perhaps they are the very individuals we just discussed. Their behavior can harm the body of Christ. Have you ever been in conversations where you can’t get a word in edgewise? This narcissism makes others feel unimportant.
You may have encountered people who continuously finish your sentences, which is presumptuous and arrogant. This behavior diminishes the value of the other person in the conversation. You might have heard the phrase, “You have two ears and one mouth for a reason.” Listening is a vital part of learning. Ironically, those who dominate conversations often dislike listening, perhaps because they believe they have nothing left to learn.
James 3:1 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. 3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
Proverbs 17:27 A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. 28 Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
Another similar topic involves Mr. Noisy and his gossip, along with Little Miss Busybody. We encounter people like this in the church today, and their behavior can harm the body of Christ. Proverbs 16:28 states, “A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.” This highlights the disunity that can arise within the body. The Proverbs address this issue extensively, underscoring the importance of unity.
Remember Paul's reasons for writing to the Ephesians, Romans, and Corinthians—unity is essential.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. 12 Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.
1 Peter 4:14 If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15 if you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs.
Galatians 6:4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct.
The Bible teaches us to mind our own business and pay attention to our own work. We should hold up a mirror and examine ourselves, as instructed in 2 Corinthians 13. This self-examination leads us to the topic of judgment.
James 4: 11 Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. 12 God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?
We have previously examined Matthew 7, where people often say, "Don't judge," and then stop reading at that point. While this is true in many contexts, if we continue reading, we find that there are indeed times when we must judge. We are instructed to judge a tree by its fruit.
In a church context, leaders are called to judge. As Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 5, we should not judge those outside the church, but we are to judge those within it. When we read the full context of God's Word, we see that it is the leaders who bear the responsibility for this judgment. However, when it comes to our fellow believers, we must remember what Jesus said about the log in our own eye. Before we judge someone for the speck in their eye—meaning that small fault they may have—we should first examine the giant log in our own eye that may be obstructing our view.
If you believe you possess a pearl of wisdom, remember Jesus' admonition against casting it before swine, which means we should keep certain insights to ourselves.
Despite this, some people still think they are perfect.
Mr. Perfect is another character in the Mr. Men series, and in a critical context, it becomes evident that perfect people aren't truly perfect. Often, they are merely pretending to be perfect, driven by deep insecurity. These individuals frequently overcompensate for their flaws by judging others, which ultimately harms the body of Christ and the church culture.
This behavior mirrors that of Miss Bossy, who strives to be the smartest person in the room or brags about having the best gifts in the church. However, Paul teaches us about these gifts by comparing them to a body, noting that some of the weaker parts are actually the most vital. He warns us in Romans 12:3, “Because of the grace God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”
We also encounter Miss Show Off, who is rightly known as Miss Selfish. There are individuals in the church who showcase their gifts excessively, violating Jesus’ teachings on humility. In Matthew 6, Jesus cautions against making a show of our good deeds—whether giving to the poor, praying, or fasting. He instructs us to do these things in secret, away from the public eye. Yet, some choose to display their gifts publicly, disregarding the call for order in worship. As stated in 1 Corinthians 14, we are reminded to conduct ourselves in an orderly manner. If there is no interpreter for speaking in tongues, it is best not to do it at all.
Philippians 2:1-5 emphasizes this principle: “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together [κοινωνίᾳ] in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”
Here, we again see the Biblical importance of fellowship – and the underlying Greek word is κοινωνία “koinonia” as previously discussed.
The Bible clearly commands us not to be selfish or seek to impress others. This brings the characters of Miss Bossy and Miss Show Off together, illustrating that we should not build ourselves up at the expense of others. Those who are mature in Christ understand that the only approval they should seek is God’s. As Paul warns in Galatians, seeking the approval of men is misguided; it is a form of overcompensation that often leaves others feeling inadequate.
We must be careful not to make others feel inferior in our fellowship, which leads us to the issue of lying. As we saw in Revelation, lying is not a casual sin; those who live a lie will not be found in the new heavens and the new earth. This includes misrepresenting ourselves to others, as the Scripture warns that those living a lie will not inherit the kingdom.
This brings us to Mr. Fib, a character that represents the tendency to misrepresent ourselves, especially in a community like Naples, where status is often prioritized. This behavior is prevalent both inside and outside the church, as individuals misrepresent their lives by lying about their wealth or success, trying to keep up with the Joneses. Ironically, this encourages coveting rather than loving our neighbors.
Furthermore, this desire for attention can lead some to fake spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues or prophecy. When a culture prioritizes these gifts as markers of spiritual maturity, it creates an environment ripe for deception and dishonesty. In many churches, people may hide their problems or lie about their struggles, believing they must maintain a façade of perfection. This culture often stems from a misunderstanding of what it means to fear the Lord. The Bible does not repeatedly say, "Do not fear," but it does instruct us on the proper things to fear, like the Lord Himself. It’s better to be honest about our fears than to pretend they don't exist.
Colossians 3:8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.
Embracing honesty fosters genuine relationships and helps us grow into our new nature, reflecting Christ.
However, failing to do so can breed jealousy, which we see represented in Little Miss Jealous. This jealousy often stems from coveting what others have, leading to further division. The fruit of the Spirit stands in stark contrast to the sin of the flesh described in Galatians 5:19-21
Galatians 5:19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
This is a stern warning, emphasizing that jealousy is not a benign emotion; it can lead to destructive behaviors. Speaking of anger and hostility, we must also address Mr. Brawler, who embodies the quarrels and fights that arise over possessions or doctrinal disagreements within the church. James 4:1-3 reminds us, “What’s causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?” When we desire what others have and scheme to get it, we create conflict and strife.
These disputes often stem from jealousy and a desire for pleasure, as we discussed a couple of weeks ago regarding denominational divisions. It’s crucial to remember the call for unity in 1 Corinthians 1:10: “I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind and one purpose.”
This theme of unity echoes throughout Scripture, including in Romans 14 and Colossians 2. We are called to be unified as the body of Christ, free from cliques, divisions, and factions. This unity transcends all barriers, including race and socioeconomic status, as Galatians 3:28 declares, “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” James 2 also emphasizes the need for impartiality among believers.
Now we turn to Mr. Grumpy. This character exemplifies negativity, which can deeply affect both the culture of the church and the body of Christ. While it’s important to be honest about our struggles, we must avoid wallowing in negativity. Mr. Grumpy's constant complaining stands in stark contrast to the joy that should characterize our lives as believers. How can we remain grumpy when we reflect on what Jesus has done for us by granting us eternal life?
In light of our salvation, we are called to embrace joy. As 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 reminds us, "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." This attitude of gratitude is essential in fostering a positive atmosphere in our fellowship.
Next, we encounter Mr. Stubborn, whose counterpart is Little Miss Stubborn. This character is often associated with holding grudges and an unwillingness to forgive. Stubbornness, much like anger, breeds division and prevents reconciliation within the church.
We see this illustrated in the story of Saul, the first king of Israel. The prophet Samuel anointed Saul as king reluctantly, knowing that Saul would ultimately disobey God. In 1 Samuel 15:23, we read, "Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. Because you have rejected the command of the Lord, He has rejected you as king." This strong admonition highlights the severity of stubbornness—it's equated with idolatry, indicating that refusing to change our negative traits is akin to worshiping other gods.
Stubbornness can manifest as an unwillingness to forgive, sometimes even for offenses that were never committed against us. This attitude can lead to significant spiritual harm. As we reflect on the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6, we are reminded that our forgiveness is contingent upon our willingness to forgive others: "If you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." This qualifier is crucial, yet often overlooked.
We are called to forgive as Jesus forgave us. Colossians 3:12-13 instructs us: "Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others."
In this passage, we see the essence of kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, emphasizing the need to make allowances for one another’s faults.
As we recognize our tendency to fall into one of these negative character traits from time to time, it's essential to remind ourselves that we need to escape these roles and focus on personal growth. Each of us is responsible for our actions and attitudes within the church community.
However, there is one character we absolutely cannot afford to have in our midst: Mr. Tickle. While he may bring laughter, his antics can lead us into serious legal trouble!
Ultimately, the character that embodies all these negative traits is Mr. Deacon. This is the worst character of all, representing everything we should strive to avoid. Mr. Deacon epitomizes self-righteousness, pride, and an unwillingness to serve with humility. He is the individual who causes division, undermines fellowship, and fosters an atmosphere of negativity.
In all seriousness, let’s strive to be aware of these traits within ourselves and commit to cultivating an attitude of love, forgiveness, and unity. In doing so, we not only honor our relationship with Christ but also nurture the health and strength of our church community.
Many Christians have inadvertently created prisons for themselves, some of which are structural, while others are deeply personal. These prisons often manifest as fears or insecurities that we carry with us, transforming into portable prisons that hinder our growth.
We might find ourselves becoming a Mr. or Mrs. Mask, hiding our true selves behind façades that isolate us rather than connecting us. Yet, Christ calls us into freedom—a freedom that flourishes through genuine fellowship. In this fellowship, we are invited to share our experiences and burdens, which reflects the spirit of generosity the Holy Spirit instills in us.
As Galatians 6:2 reminds us, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way, obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You’re not that important.” This verse calls us to be real with one another and reminds us that no one is above serving others.
We should never grow weary of doing good. As Galatians 6:9 states, “Let’s not get tired of doing what is good, for at the right time, we will reap a great harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to those in the family of faith.”
This is our opportunity to engage actively in our community. Here at C3 Church, we focus not only on the Word of God but also on fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. God has given us His very best and invites us to participate in community and fellowship.
So, what are you called to share? Perhaps your time, your experiences, or even a meal. Regardless of your background or circumstances, you are a valuable member of the Body of Christ. You bring unique gifts to this family, and your contributions are important to our fellowship.
As we conclude, let’s commit to nurturing our relationships within the church. Seek opportunities to connect with others, share your faith, and support one another. Let’s strive to build a community that is welcoming and inclusive, filled with the love of Christ.
©️ Copyright 2024 Gene Simco
Most Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scriptures in brackets reflect the original Biblical languages.
I heard a story about a man who had been attending the same church for years. He loved telling everyone how much he cared about community service and, of course, fellowship. Every Sunday, he would shake hands, smile, and remind people, "The church isn't just a building; it's about the people."
One week, a hurricane rolled through the city where the church was located. After the storm passed, the pastor announced a community cleanup event as a way for the church to serve together. He encouraged the congregation, saying, "Let's show that the church is more than just the building by serving as one body."
This man, who had been attending church for years, agreed enthusiastically. He insisted that everyone should help, passing a clipboard around and declaring, "The church has to be the hands and feet of Jesus."
Finally, the day of the cleanup arrived—but the man didn’t show up. Instead, he spent the day binge-watching his favorite TV series. When someone asked him on Sunday why he wasn’t at the event, he smiled and said, "Oh, I was there with you... in spirit."
We find ourselves continuing to ask ourselves the question, Christianity—are we doing it wrong? In the last chapter, we looked at Acts 4, so let’s take a brief look at that again. We examined what the early church did, focusing on four key practices: the Word, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. We’ve already covered the Word, so now let’s turn our attention to the fellowship aspect.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Here we see the importance of fellowship in the body of Christ, the Ecclesia. The command is clear: Let us motivate one another to acts of love and good works, and we are urged not to neglect meeting together. This reinforces the essential nature of fellowship as part of living out our faith.
Now, let’s return to the text and continue from where we left off.
Acts 2:42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship [κοινωνίᾳ], and to sharing in meals [breaking bread], and to prayer.
That word fellowship—in Greek, κοινωνία “koinonia”—carries the idea of having things in common. This concept appears frequently in the Bible. The notion of sharing things in common is seen in passages like Philippians, where believers are urged to be of one mind and one purpose. The Greek term koinonia reflects this unity, and in English, it’s translated as fellowship in this context.
Now, when many of us hear the word fellowship, we might think of The Lord of the Rings—and I once joked about not calling myself an elder because it would make me feel like Gandalf. It’s a somewhat antiquated term, and you don’t often hear it in everyday conversations. But the definition remains clear: it’s simply a friendly association, especially among people who share common interests.
We are meant to have fellowship with one another.
Unfortunately, the modern church has largely lost touch with this. I’ve had people tell me that they attend church through streaming only, or that they belong to a church far away but remain very isolated. They do streaming church, which I explain is only half church. You might be able to read the Word or pray alone, but you can’t have fellowship alone.
This brings me to a question I’m often asked about our church, C3 Church: Why don’t we do streaming? The reason is simple. We never did streaming in the past. We recorded our messages and made them available online, but we didn’t livestream because, even before we moved into this building or adopted the identity of an Acts-based church, we knew that fellowship and meeting together are essential parts of being the church.
When you’re streaming, you’re only experiencing half of what the church is meant to be.
Then, COVID came along. Some people felt they needed to stay home due to health concerns, while others believed we should continue meeting in person. We did our best to accommodate all of our brothers and sisters during that time. But once things settled and we were able to gather again, we kept streaming as an option. That’s when I noticed something troubling: many people began isolating themselves, and it became an unhealthy pattern. While streaming may have served a temporary purpose, it wasn’t meant to be a permanent solution.
By continuing to stream, we realized we were enabling isolation rather than fostering real fellowship. To correct this, I made the decision to stop the streaming. If you want to be part of the church, you need to be present, meeting together as the body of Christ. Even when we post our messages online, we make it clear: this is not church. It can be a helpful substitute for a time, but true church is about gathering together as the body.
Streaming church, in light of Acts 4 and the definition of Ecclesia, is an oxymoron.
When we talk about neglecting connections, it’s important to remember that human beings are social creatures. We thrive on relationships and connections. Yet in today’s fast-paced, digital world, it's easy to retreat into isolation. Research in psychology consistently shows that social connections are a key component of happiness and well-being. People with strong relationships—whether with family, friends, or others—are generally happier, healthier, and even live longer. But it’s not just the quantity of relationships that matters; the quality is crucial as well. We need to nurture deep, meaningful relationships, including those within the church. It all comes back to having things in common.
Unfortunately, we live in a society that encourages isolation – this makes me think of Proverbs 18.
Proverbs 18:1 Unfriendly people care only about themselves [seek a boundary/separate themselves]; they lash out at common sense.
Proverbs 18:1 reveals that when we separate ourselves, we succumb to a lack of lack of common sense and unfriendliness due to a lack of practiced social skills.
Unfortunately, we live in a culture that encourages unfriendliness & separation and it’s seeped into the church.
On that note, let me share something that happened at our church a couple of Sundays ago. I recently spoke about deacons, and you might recall that in the last chapter, I mentioned that the role of a deacon is to serve. In the early church, deacons were tasked with helping leaders by serving food, as we see in Acts 6. This allowed the leaders to focus more on the Word and prayer. The modern issue, however, is that many deacons forget this calling. Instead of making the pastor's life easier, they often make themselves known, seeking recognition.
For example, after writing that last chapter, I received a little "sermon fuel" from God. While I was away from the church, a deacon visited, and he left us a review that I think speaks to the topic of fellowship.
Now, you should know that we have cameras all throughout the church, except in the bathrooms. We even have one above my office for accountability. This is how I found out what really happened that day.
The review started like this: “I attended your church today as a first-time visitor. I travel for a living, so I’m not looking for a church home—just somewhere to visit.” Off to a good start, right? He then shared a bit about himself: “I’ve been in church since I was an infant. I’m 57 and have been a member at a couple of churches. I was ordained as a deacon and served as chairman of the Personnel Committee at a medium to large church.”
Already, I could see where this was heading. He then boasted about his experience: “I’ve visited many churches of varying sizes and served as the sound technician for a church with a 48-piece orchestra.” So, you see the picture here—a well-traveled, experienced “deacon.” And it’s important to note that this was not a 49 piece orchestra … because that would just be way too much.
Then he started critiquing the service. “I came in about ten minutes before the service started and sat on the second row, dead center, in a bright blue shirt. I should have stuck out like a sore thumb, but no one spoke to me.”
Now, remember those cameras? I checked them. He actually arrived just a couple of minutes before the service, when everyone was busy getting seated. As for the greeting, Doug said hello to him—but I guess that didn’t count since Lonnie – who usually greets people was in the bathroom at the time!
He continued: “The music was good, and the gentleman who gave his testimony did well. But no one greeted me.”
Interestingly, in the testimonies, several people shared how friendly our church is, which might have made him feel overlooked. But perhaps it’s because he didn’t stay for the lunch we encouraged him to attend, where he could have met more people.
His review concluded with this: “I didn’t feel welcome at all. I’m not complaining, but I wouldn’t want a non-Christian searching for Jesus to have this experience and never come back.”
Now, let’s pause for a moment. This is where the real issue becomes clear. He seems to expect a perfectly tailored church experience, forgetting that fellowship is a two-way street. It’s not just about being served—it’s about serving others.
Perhaps, as a deacon, he could have introduced himself to someone. Instead, he expected to be greeted, served, and catered to, without considering that fellowship isn’t just about checking off a box. It’s about genuine connection and contribution.
This highlights the danger of consumer Christianity. When we approach church with the mindset of “What can I get?” instead of “How can I serve?” we end up missing the heart of fellowship. And this, my friends, is why true fellowship is so essential. Without it, we risk becoming half-Christians with no social or communication skills—and a whole lot of unrealistic expectations.
Now, let’s look at some basic fellowship principles—practical ways to “play nice” with other people and build real connections.
As basic as it might seem, I’ve found over the years—especially when I was new to Christianity—that many believers genuinely don’t know how to fellowship. Christians often come from a wide range of backgrounds and opinions. For instance, some hold tightly to the principle from 1 Corinthians 15:33, "Bad company corrupts good morals." They take this to mean they should bubble themselves off from the rest of the world, but in doing so, they often become socially inept.
I’ve observed that it can be difficult for them to find things to talk about, and they may lack certain social skills or mannerisms. In some cases, Christians form tight-knit groups, rarely interacting with people outside of their circles, and as a result, they develop what I like to call Christianese—a language, set of behaviors, and even dress codes that are understood within the group but foreign to others.
Because of this, some Christians struggle with common social cues or basic interactions, making it hard to connect with people outside the church. These social limitations can prevent meaningful fellowship, even within their own communities.
Let’s go back to when I was a kid—kindergarten, the basics of making friends and fellowshipping. When I was young, we had these Little Miss or Mr. books, like Little Miss Bossy, written by Roger Hargreaves. They were meant to teach kids how not to be weird—kind of a children's version of How to Win Friends and Influence People.
Let’s start with Miss Bossy. Little Miss Bossy is the first book in this series by Roger Hargreaves. She is, essentially, very bossy. She’s given a pair of boots that have a mind of their own but refuse to listen to her because she is too bossy. There are people like this in the church, creating unhealthy dynamics within the body of Christ. The body has many parts, and each part has its responsibilities.
Miss Bossy will step into leadership roles without being asked. Staying in your own lane is crucial. Think of a sports team. If the first baseman tries to be the third baseman, it creates disunity within the team. If everyone is chasing after the ball in a football game instead of playing defense, it disrupts the entire team dynamic.
You can also consider a military example. In the military, there are squads with specific roles. The navigator needs to do his job, and the pilot needs to do his job. Each member of the team, whether a sniper or a rifleman, has a distinct function. Paul uses this analogy, illustrating that each body part takes on a life of its own, desiring to be one of the other parts. However, this creates disunity and dysfunction.
The Bible instructs us in Ephesians 2:21 to “submit to one another in the fear of Christ.” We are called to recognize our roles and submit to those who may hold a perceived higher role than we do, working humbly for Jesus.
One key takeaway is to focus on your assigned roles, especially if you have not been asked to take on more. There is a saying: “There is your business and none of your business.” A helpful tip before offering anyone advice is to ask yourself one question: Did anyone ask you a question?
Some people think they know everything, which brings us to two different characters: Mr. Clever and Mr. Brainy. Mr. Brainy always has something smart to say, and his intelligence often gets him into tricky situations. I sympathize with these individuals because it must be challenging to be the smartest person in the room all the time. Imagine carrying all that knowledge and feeling compelled to share it with others.
Unfortunately, there are many arrogant people today, especially among Christians. You can speak to numerous believers who can't even name all the books in the Bible but are certain they know everything about it. This situation is exacerbated by the prevalence of internet "experts." In the realm of Christianity, there are those who claim to know everything about the Bible but cannot even name its books. Now, with the internet, everyone is an expert simply because they read something online, often misinformation. This has become a significant issue, and unfortunately, it has seeped into the church.
The Bible warns us in 1 Corinthians 8:2: "Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much, but the person who loves God is one whom God recognizes." God will recognize you; you don't need to make yourself known, especially with your so-called knowledge.
The interesting context of 1 Corinthians is that the church is experiencing division over speakers and secondary doctrines. They believe they are wise about these issues, but Paul contrasts this worldly wisdom with true wisdom, calling the former foolishness right from the outset. This division over secondary doctrine is something we will explore further later.
This brings me to Miss Chatterbox and Mr. Noisy—similar characters who feel the need to be heard. Perhaps they are the very individuals we just discussed. Their behavior can harm the body of Christ. Have you ever been in conversations where you can’t get a word in edgewise? This narcissism makes others feel unimportant.
You may have encountered people who continuously finish your sentences, which is presumptuous and arrogant. This behavior diminishes the value of the other person in the conversation. You might have heard the phrase, “You have two ears and one mouth for a reason.” Listening is a vital part of learning. Ironically, those who dominate conversations often dislike listening, perhaps because they believe they have nothing left to learn.
James 3:1 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. 3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
Proverbs 17:27 A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. 28 Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
Another similar topic involves Mr. Noisy and his gossip, along with Little Miss Busybody. We encounter people like this in the church today, and their behavior can harm the body of Christ. Proverbs 16:28 states, “A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.” This highlights the disunity that can arise within the body. The Proverbs address this issue extensively, underscoring the importance of unity.
Remember Paul's reasons for writing to the Ephesians, Romans, and Corinthians—unity is essential.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. 12 Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.
1 Peter 4:14 If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15 if you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs.
Galatians 6:4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct.
The Bible teaches us to mind our own business and pay attention to our own work. We should hold up a mirror and examine ourselves, as instructed in 2 Corinthians 13. This self-examination leads us to the topic of judgment.
James 4: 11 Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. 12 God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?
We have previously examined Matthew 7, where people often say, "Don't judge," and then stop reading at that point. While this is true in many contexts, if we continue reading, we find that there are indeed times when we must judge. We are instructed to judge a tree by its fruit.
In a church context, leaders are called to judge. As Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 5, we should not judge those outside the church, but we are to judge those within it. When we read the full context of God's Word, we see that it is the leaders who bear the responsibility for this judgment. However, when it comes to our fellow believers, we must remember what Jesus said about the log in our own eye. Before we judge someone for the speck in their eye—meaning that small fault they may have—we should first examine the giant log in our own eye that may be obstructing our view.
If you believe you possess a pearl of wisdom, remember Jesus' admonition against casting it before swine, which means we should keep certain insights to ourselves.
Despite this, some people still think they are perfect.
Mr. Perfect is another character in the Mr. Men series, and in a critical context, it becomes evident that perfect people aren't truly perfect. Often, they are merely pretending to be perfect, driven by deep insecurity. These individuals frequently overcompensate for their flaws by judging others, which ultimately harms the body of Christ and the church culture.
This behavior mirrors that of Miss Bossy, who strives to be the smartest person in the room or brags about having the best gifts in the church. However, Paul teaches us about these gifts by comparing them to a body, noting that some of the weaker parts are actually the most vital. He warns us in Romans 12:3, “Because of the grace God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”
We also encounter Miss Show Off, who is rightly known as Miss Selfish. There are individuals in the church who showcase their gifts excessively, violating Jesus’ teachings on humility. In Matthew 6, Jesus cautions against making a show of our good deeds—whether giving to the poor, praying, or fasting. He instructs us to do these things in secret, away from the public eye. Yet, some choose to display their gifts publicly, disregarding the call for order in worship. As stated in 1 Corinthians 14, we are reminded to conduct ourselves in an orderly manner. If there is no interpreter for speaking in tongues, it is best not to do it at all.
Philippians 2:1-5 emphasizes this principle: “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together [κοινωνίᾳ] in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”
Here, we again see the Biblical importance of fellowship – and the underlying Greek word is κοινωνία “koinonia” as previously discussed.
The Bible clearly commands us not to be selfish or seek to impress others. This brings the characters of Miss Bossy and Miss Show Off together, illustrating that we should not build ourselves up at the expense of others. Those who are mature in Christ understand that the only approval they should seek is God’s. As Paul warns in Galatians, seeking the approval of men is misguided; it is a form of overcompensation that often leaves others feeling inadequate.
We must be careful not to make others feel inferior in our fellowship, which leads us to the issue of lying. As we saw in Revelation, lying is not a casual sin; those who live a lie will not be found in the new heavens and the new earth. This includes misrepresenting ourselves to others, as the Scripture warns that those living a lie will not inherit the kingdom.
This brings us to Mr. Fib, a character that represents the tendency to misrepresent ourselves, especially in a community like Naples, where status is often prioritized. This behavior is prevalent both inside and outside the church, as individuals misrepresent their lives by lying about their wealth or success, trying to keep up with the Joneses. Ironically, this encourages coveting rather than loving our neighbors.
Furthermore, this desire for attention can lead some to fake spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues or prophecy. When a culture prioritizes these gifts as markers of spiritual maturity, it creates an environment ripe for deception and dishonesty. In many churches, people may hide their problems or lie about their struggles, believing they must maintain a façade of perfection. This culture often stems from a misunderstanding of what it means to fear the Lord. The Bible does not repeatedly say, "Do not fear," but it does instruct us on the proper things to fear, like the Lord Himself. It’s better to be honest about our fears than to pretend they don't exist.
Colossians 3:8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.
Embracing honesty fosters genuine relationships and helps us grow into our new nature, reflecting Christ.
However, failing to do so can breed jealousy, which we see represented in Little Miss Jealous. This jealousy often stems from coveting what others have, leading to further division. The fruit of the Spirit stands in stark contrast to the sin of the flesh described in Galatians 5:19-21
Galatians 5:19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
This is a stern warning, emphasizing that jealousy is not a benign emotion; it can lead to destructive behaviors. Speaking of anger and hostility, we must also address Mr. Brawler, who embodies the quarrels and fights that arise over possessions or doctrinal disagreements within the church. James 4:1-3 reminds us, “What’s causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?” When we desire what others have and scheme to get it, we create conflict and strife.
These disputes often stem from jealousy and a desire for pleasure, as we discussed a couple of weeks ago regarding denominational divisions. It’s crucial to remember the call for unity in 1 Corinthians 1:10: “I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind and one purpose.”
This theme of unity echoes throughout Scripture, including in Romans 14 and Colossians 2. We are called to be unified as the body of Christ, free from cliques, divisions, and factions. This unity transcends all barriers, including race and socioeconomic status, as Galatians 3:28 declares, “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” James 2 also emphasizes the need for impartiality among believers.
Now we turn to Mr. Grumpy. This character exemplifies negativity, which can deeply affect both the culture of the church and the body of Christ. While it’s important to be honest about our struggles, we must avoid wallowing in negativity. Mr. Grumpy's constant complaining stands in stark contrast to the joy that should characterize our lives as believers. How can we remain grumpy when we reflect on what Jesus has done for us by granting us eternal life?
In light of our salvation, we are called to embrace joy. As 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 reminds us, "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." This attitude of gratitude is essential in fostering a positive atmosphere in our fellowship.
Next, we encounter Mr. Stubborn, whose counterpart is Little Miss Stubborn. This character is often associated with holding grudges and an unwillingness to forgive. Stubbornness, much like anger, breeds division and prevents reconciliation within the church.
We see this illustrated in the story of Saul, the first king of Israel. The prophet Samuel anointed Saul as king reluctantly, knowing that Saul would ultimately disobey God. In 1 Samuel 15:23, we read, "Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. Because you have rejected the command of the Lord, He has rejected you as king." This strong admonition highlights the severity of stubbornness—it's equated with idolatry, indicating that refusing to change our negative traits is akin to worshiping other gods.
Stubbornness can manifest as an unwillingness to forgive, sometimes even for offenses that were never committed against us. This attitude can lead to significant spiritual harm. As we reflect on the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6, we are reminded that our forgiveness is contingent upon our willingness to forgive others: "If you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." This qualifier is crucial, yet often overlooked.
We are called to forgive as Jesus forgave us. Colossians 3:12-13 instructs us: "Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others."
In this passage, we see the essence of kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, emphasizing the need to make allowances for one another’s faults.
As we recognize our tendency to fall into one of these negative character traits from time to time, it's essential to remind ourselves that we need to escape these roles and focus on personal growth. Each of us is responsible for our actions and attitudes within the church community.
However, there is one character we absolutely cannot afford to have in our midst: Mr. Tickle. While he may bring laughter, his antics can lead us into serious legal trouble!
Ultimately, the character that embodies all these negative traits is Mr. Deacon. This is the worst character of all, representing everything we should strive to avoid. Mr. Deacon epitomizes self-righteousness, pride, and an unwillingness to serve with humility. He is the individual who causes division, undermines fellowship, and fosters an atmosphere of negativity.
In all seriousness, let’s strive to be aware of these traits within ourselves and commit to cultivating an attitude of love, forgiveness, and unity. In doing so, we not only honor our relationship with Christ but also nurture the health and strength of our church community.
Many Christians have inadvertently created prisons for themselves, some of which are structural, while others are deeply personal. These prisons often manifest as fears or insecurities that we carry with us, transforming into portable prisons that hinder our growth.
We might find ourselves becoming a Mr. or Mrs. Mask, hiding our true selves behind façades that isolate us rather than connecting us. Yet, Christ calls us into freedom—a freedom that flourishes through genuine fellowship. In this fellowship, we are invited to share our experiences and burdens, which reflects the spirit of generosity the Holy Spirit instills in us.
As Galatians 6:2 reminds us, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way, obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You’re not that important.” This verse calls us to be real with one another and reminds us that no one is above serving others.
We should never grow weary of doing good. As Galatians 6:9 states, “Let’s not get tired of doing what is good, for at the right time, we will reap a great harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to those in the family of faith.”
This is our opportunity to engage actively in our community. Here at C3 Church, we focus not only on the Word of God but also on fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. God has given us His very best and invites us to participate in community and fellowship.
So, what are you called to share? Perhaps your time, your experiences, or even a meal. Regardless of your background or circumstances, you are a valuable member of the Body of Christ. You bring unique gifts to this family, and your contributions are important to our fellowship.
As we conclude, let’s commit to nurturing our relationships within the church. Seek opportunities to connect with others, share your faith, and support one another. Let’s strive to build a community that is welcoming and inclusive, filled with the love of Christ.
©️ Copyright 2024 Gene Simco
Most Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scriptures in brackets reflect the original Biblical languages.