Are We Fellowshipping Outside Of The Church Doors?

Fellowshipping with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ is something we cannot take for granted. It is something we should not only be comfortable doing in church or at church events. It is something we must develop outside of the church doors as well.

For those who have been around my blog for a while, you are familiar that I sometimes write posts on church. There are A LOT more than two (see explanation for full list), but here are some.

Can I Not Go To Church Without Upsetting God – Latest post

Why I Have Some Posts Warning Against Church– Explanation

Many times when people misunderstand my posts I am quoted this scripture.

(NIV) Hebrews 10:25, “Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

So today, I want to take this scripture further and outside the doors of church.

I want to make it clear, I believe this scripture absolutely refers to gathering in a church building, but it certainly SHOULD NEVER BE THE ONLY TIME WE GATHER TOGETHER!

It is hard to communicate with every single individual and have a thriving friendship with every individual in a church setting.

Which leads me to ask…

Are we forsaking meeting together?

In order to understand this question I have to know, what does it really mean to “meet together”?

Meet – to come into proximity of someone within chance or arrangement.

Since we are talking about the body of Christ, His Church, this is far beyond being in a physical location, I think we can agree on that. Hebrews 10:24 says this before it says we are to gather together.

(NIV) Hebrews 10:24, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

It is so easy for us to be physically together, packed in like sardines, but not spiritually united and available to each other. We sometimes leave that part only to the pastor.  

The Church Body God Gave Me

I get criticized and have assumptions made about me for not having a church body regarding a physical church I attend. With how easy these posts get misunderstood, I want to share this.

While I currently do not have a physical church building I attend, I do now have a group of young women, my peers, who I seek and talk to on a daily basis. Yes, we are scattered across the world. Yes, for those who have pointed out, you are absolutely correct, there are things they cannot do for me if I needed physical help (like moving). Aside from that, I am blessed in every other way possible as if they were local.

I Skype weekly with one of my fellow sisters. Bible Study is Wednesday, covering Matthew and Galations, soon introducing Daniel. We are going through reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. This next Bible Study we will begin to read Humility by Andrew Murray. The three of us we all read books together. Currently, the group is studying A.W. Tozer’s Pursuit of God discussing a chapter throughout the week, occasionally we all Skype as a group.

We all pray for each other. We keep each other accountable, even when it hurts. We repent of sins and confess them to each other as scripture encourages.

(NIV) James 5:16, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

We praise the Lord Jesus and share what He is at work doing.

Desire More

I’m sharing this because I want to urge you with godly jealousy to draw closer to your Church body. To desire deepness. To desire accountability. To desire praying with two or more.

We need to be surrounded by peers who worship our King. If possible, it is important to try to find elders for those who are young, as we are encouraged in scripture to do. (Titus 2:01-07)

This is beyond being in service for a sermon. Our pastors cannot provide everything for us. That’s not their job for us to grow in Christ with others. For us to have deep connections with others, we must be willing to open up our mouths, get to know people, and shine the light of Christ.

God had me reach out to a fellow blogger, not the whole community, one person. He put on my heart I needed to pray for peers last year, sisters in Christ. I had to be willing to be rejected. Not all friendships work with every person. This is true, even of the blogging world. However, this sister in Christ and I connected on a deep level, and God blossomed that through Bible Study and another fellow sister in Christ as well.

There is a woman who is around my mom’s age at our home church, and in the past few years I’ve been reaching out to her and talking to her. God provided that opportunity for our friendship. God provided opportunities for the three of us, her, me, and my mom to get together when I’m visiting home. Prayer. Fellowship. Yes, sometimes in church too.

When He GIVES YOU AN OPPORTUNITY to gather with others on deep levels do not forsake it. God will show you where He wants you to go. But we must be willing!

Take nothing for granted! Especially if you have a church you go to! Develop sisterhoods or brotherhoods in Christ Jesus. Gather together, break bread, pray out loud for each other.

Here is what gathering together means, (NIV) Acts 2:42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Again, this definitely happens in a church. But make sure it happens outside of it too. 

If you were like me and didn’t have these kinds of relationships, do not lose heart! It took about two years for me to find this kind of church body after I left Little Rock. But remember to keep praying and seeking the Lord on this. If people misunderstand your situation, like mine, pray that it does NOT make you bitter. Pray for understanding for those who misunderstand! It is not easy, but Christ didn’t say it would be.

His timing is always right, and one day you will look back and see why ❤

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Comment Below:

What is fellowship to you?

Monthly Scripture – (NLT) 1 Timothy 1:19, “Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their conscience and as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.” 

*** Community Prayers | January ’19 –Join Me In Praying For Each Other And If You Have A Request To Add Let Me Know.

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