1. LOVING FELLOWSHIP IS ESSENTIAL TO DISCIPLESHIP.
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples."
John 13:34, 35 (NLT)
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship…
Acts 2:42a (NIV)
All the believers continued together in close fellowship and shared their belongings with one another. They would sell their property and possessions, and distribute the money among all, according to what each one needed. Day after day they met as a group in the Temple, and they had their meals together in their homes, eating with glad and humble hearts. Praising God…
Acts 2:44-47a (GNB)
…imagine this scene: As Paul finishes speaking, he kneels down; and we all join him, kneeling. He prays, and we all join him, praying. There’s the sound of weeping, and then more weeping, and then more still. One by one, we embrace Paul and kiss him, our sadness multiplied because of his words about this being our last good-bye. We walk with him to the ship, and he sets sail.
Acts 20:36-38 (VOICE)
2. LOVING FELLOWSHIP CAN IMPEDE MY DISCIPLESHIP.
By causing me to place my emotions over my mission.
After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:1-4 (NIV)
Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’” When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:8 -12 (NIV)
By causing me to misapply the Holy Spirit’s message.
And now, in obedience to the Holy Spirit I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit has warned me that prison and troubles wait for me.
Acts 20:22-23 (GNT)
NOTE: There is a time for me to go, and a there is a time for
me to stay. At all times I have a mission.
When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.
Acts 21:5-6 (NIV)
3. LOVING FELLOWSHIP CAN INSPIRE MY DISCIPLESHIP.
…when we arrived in Macedonia we had a wretched time with trouble all round us—wrangling outside, anxiety within. … God, who cheers the depressed, gave us the comfort of the arrival of Titus. And it wasn’t merely his coming that cheered us, but the comfort you had given him, for he could tell us of your eagerness to help, your deep sympathy and keen interest on my behalf. All that made me doubly glad…
2 Corinthians 7:5-7 (Phillips)
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…
Hebrews 10:24, 25 (NIV)
4. LOVING FELLOWSHIP STARTS WITH MY LOVE FOR CHRIST.
Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Acts 21:13 (NIV)
You see, the controlling force in our lives is the love of the Anointed One…
2 Corinthians 5:14a (VOICE)