What is Biblical Fellowship?

What is Biblical fellowship? A reflection on koinonia, community, encouragement, and what it means to gather with a neighbor in Christ in everyday life — even when we disagree.

NOTESSIMPLE CHURCH

Trace Pirtle

2 min read

What is Biblical Fellowship in Everyday Life?

I walked down my Texas Hill Country lane to my neighbor's house for "Biblical fellowship." Ken was already outside tossing aside the soggy, sun-bleached, rain-soaked cushions that covered his metal patio chairs.

Ken is a brother in Christ. He's been a member of the Church of Christ his entire life. We don't attend "church" together.

We don't agree on all points of Scripture either, but we do agree on the fundamentals of the faith.

We agree that where we disagree on theology, we may both be wrong because the scriptures are always right. That's enough common ground to gather on.

The Holy Spirit as the Unseen Member

We agree with Jesus when He said, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20, NKJV). The Holy Spirit is always welcomed and present as an unseen member of the fellowship.

Our purpose for this, and all gatherings, is edification and, of course, helping God solve the world's problems. We've been reminded that God doesn't need our help, but we persist nonetheless. We don't want Him to consider us slothful.

We Don't Call It Koinonia, But That's What It Is

In our Biblical fellowship/gatherings, we may not always refer to it as "koinonia," but the gatherings are always encouraging and designed to strengthen one another in the faith. The takeaway is typically, "So what? How can we use this to help others and to share God's Word?"

Fellowship in a Culture That's Forgotten Extended Family

We also realize that we are living in a culture vastly different from that of the first-century church. Our culture isn't formed around extended families.

We aren't always involved in every aspect of one another's lives; however, we are there as God calls us to be there. Does this mean we are not practicing Biblical fellowship?

Milk, Solid Food, and the Test of the Heart

Here's my answer: our Biblical fellowship in everyday life focuses on reaffirming our faith and being reminded of the "milk and the solid food," as the Apostle Paul would say (see Hebrews 5:11-14).

And whether all of our meetings "qualify" as Biblical fellowship or not is debatable. If the primary purpose is to talk about politics, or if it degenerates to that level, I don't believe it qualifies any longer. Many of my Christian brothers and sisters will disagree with me on this point.

However, I believe it comes down to the intention of the heart. If the intention is to listen to God's voice through His Word, use this to encourage one another to do the work consistent with our faith, then it becomes Biblical fellowship in everyday life.

So there you have it…If someone asked me, "What is Biblical fellowship?" I would try to answer it from the practical standpoint of "in everyday life" rather than from a scholarly perspective.

Fellowship Is Wherever He Shows Up

While this may sound critical, I've been to many traditional churches where fellowship was absent, whether measured by Hebrews 10:24-25 standards or everyday life standards.

Any day of the week or time of day that I show up for fellowship in Jesus' name, He seems to be present. Whether the Biblical fellowship is at a neighbor's patio, a park bench along the river, or a coffee shop, God is with us in fellowship.

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"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."

- Matthew 18:20