Attitude

Food for thought:
A pastor once rebuked a Christian lady who had an unforgiving spirit toward someone who had offended her.  After a moment's thought she replied, "Well, I guess I'll pardon her as you suggest, but I don't want anything more to do with her!"  "Is that how you want God to treat you?" said Mr. Hamilton.  "Do you wish His forgiveness and then have Him withdraw His love and fellowship?  Remember, when Christ put away your sins, He cast them into the sea of everlasting forgetfulness!"  Recognizing her wrong attitude, she repented and forgave the woman.  Forbearance like this goes beyond our weak human powers.  It requires God's grace and the softening influence of the Holy Spirit within our hearts.

Self evaluation - How do you feel about being involved in a fellowship group to strengthen one another?

1.     I love being together with my church family. It is an opportunity for others to encourage and challenge and motivate me.  It is an opportunity for me to do the same for my closest friends – my church family.

2.     I want to be a help to others in their growth as a Christian too.

3.     I want to grow as a Christian and feel that being in a fellowship group is helpful for that.

4.     I wish that I was already a part of one, but it seems hard to get my lifestyle adjusted to it.

5.     I don’t feel like getting to know new people.

6.     I don’t want to do it, I’m too shy.

Read the following verses and consider what mindset about fellowship you would like to develop as a disciple of Christ.

1 Peter 3:8  All of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds.

Romans 12:10-13 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor…

What is your goal concerning the mindset you have towards participating in church fellowship? 

On what truth(s) do you need to focus?

How will you keep track of how you are doing? 

What obstacles will you need to overcome and how will you face them?

Motivation

Food for thought:
    A family had gone to the movies, and on the way in the young man of the family stopped by the refreshment stand to pick up some popcorn. By the time he got into the theater the lights were already dim. He scanned the theater and evidently couldn't find his family. The lady who tells the story says she watched him pace up and down the aisles searching the crowd in the near-darkness. As the lights began to go down even further he stopped and asked out loud, "Does anyone recognize me?"
   I used the story to suggest that as visitors come into our church they are looking for family and companionship. And often, as they stand neglected in our church narthex, or on the front lawn after service--in the deepest recesses of their hearts they are crying out, "Does anyone recognize me?"
   --James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 94.

Self evaluation - Why do I participate in church fellowship?

1.     I love to be with my church family. It brings joy to be involved in others lives and to allow others to be a part of mine.

2.     I desire for others to be encouraged so their lives can be stronger and so they can have additional and better opportunities to know Christ.

3.     I would like the church to grow and become stronger.

4.     I want to please God.

5.     I feel obligated as a Christian to be involved in fellowship.

6.     Someone else comes to me and starts talking first.

Read the following verses and consider what motivations for fellowship you would like to form as a disciple of Christ.

Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Philippians 2:2 Agree wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.

What is your goal concerning the motives you have for participating in a fellowship group? 

On what truth(s) do you need to focus?

How will you keep track of how you are doing? 

What obstacles will you need to overcome and how will you face them?

Practice

Food for thought:
    John Fawcett was preparing to move.  At age 32, he was leaving the small Baptist church in Wainsgate, England, for the prestigious Carter's Lane church in London.
   Fawcett had worked hard.  Orphaned at 12, he was forced to work fourteen hours a day in a sweat shop.  He taught himself to read by candlelight and studied continuously.  When he was ordained at age 25, he moved to Wainsgate.  For seven years he served the tiny church of 100 members before receiving the invitation in  London.
    However, Fawcett never moved to London.  He couldn't break "the tie that binds."  The last possessions were loaded on the moving cart as Fawcett began his good-byes.  Tearfully he bade farewell to those he had loved for the past seven years.  They returned his tears... and his love.  It was too much for the young preacher.  London would have to wait.  Unloading the cart, he decided to stay in Wainsgate a little longer.  Fawcett never moved to London; he never even left Wainsgate. He died there 54 years later.
   Fawcett was destined to become one of England's greatest preachers. He wrote hymns, published books and opened a training school for young ministers.  His "Essay on Anger" so impressed King George III that he offered Fawcett "any benefit a king could confer." His love for the people and their love for him not only kept him in Wainsgate, but also prompted this hymn sung even today:
   Blest be the tie that binds
   Our hearts in Christian love;
   The fellowship of kindred minds
   Is like to that above.
       -- Norm Petersen

Self evaluation - How do I participate in fellowship?

1.     My life is an open book to others that I allow to see every aspect of my life.  I seek their feedback in my Christian walk and ministry.  I am committed to praying with and for my fellowship group and we are mutually accountable to one another for our faithfulness and growth.

2.     I am open to others encouragement and challenging me to grow as a Christian. I have gained the trust of others so that my encouragement to them is welcomed and appreciated.

3.     I have opened my life up to other Christians so they know who I am. I have taken the effort to get to know others in the group.

4.     I participate in fellowship and have gotten to know a few people somewhat.

5.     I go sometimes but I keep myself closed off for the most part.

6.     I don’t participate.

Read the following verses and consider what goals you would like to establish regarding your participation in fellowship.

Acts 2:42 They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord's Supper and in prayer.

Romans 12:10-13 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

What is your goal concerning your participating in a fellowship group? 

On which specific “one another’s” of scripture do you need to focus?

How will you keep track of how you are doing? 

What obstacles will you need to overcome and how will you face them?

Consistency

Food for thought:
    A church newsletter mentioned a man who visited eighteen different churches on successive Sundays. He was trying to find out what the churches were really like. He said, "I sat near the front. After the service, I walked slowly to the rear, then returned to the front and went back to the foyer using another aisle. I smiled and was neatly dressed. I asked one person to direct me to a specific place: a fellowship hall, pastor's study, etc. I remained for coffee if served. I used a scale to rate the reception I received. I awarded points on the following basis:
 10 for a smile from a worshiper
 10 for a greeting from someone sitting nearby
 100 for an exchange of names
 200 for an invitation to have coffee
 200 for an invitation to return
 1000 for an introduction to another worshiper
 2000 for an invitation to meet the pastor
   On this scale, eleven of the eighteen churches earned fewer than 100 points. Five actually received less than 20. The conclusion: The doctrine may be biblical, the singing inspirational, the sermon uplifting, but when a visitor finds nobody who cares whether he's here, he is not likely to come back."
   --James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) pp. 94-95.

Self evaluation - How often do you gather with a fellowship group to carry out the “one another’s” of scripture?

1.     I attend church almost every single Sunday (missing only a few Sundays per year) and also participate in Thursday Night Fellowship including the ongoing accountability of this discipleship model.

2.     I rarely miss church and I have a few close Christian friends who help hold me accountable.

3.     I attend church more than I miss and sometimes participate in a Christian group outside of the church.

4.     I frequently go to church and sometimes get together with other believers during the week, but not in any structured way.

5.     I attend church on Sunday mornings a lot and even stay for fellowship afterwards sometimes.

6.     I don’t participate in a fellowship or accountability group.

Read the following verses and consider how frequently you should be involved in the strengthening of one another in a fellowship group.

Hebrews 10:24-25 Think of ways to encourage one another to acts of love and good deeds.  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.

What is your goal concerning how consistently you participate in a ministry? 

When and where and will you do this?

How will you keep track of how you are doing? 

What obstacles will you need to overcome and how will you face them?