BIBLICAL PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH: FELLOWSHIP 1
One of the Biblical Purposes of the Church: Fellowship
Natalie Radcliffe
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
One of the Biblical Purposes of the Church: Fellowship
Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to discuss how fellowship within the local church must be
understood by pastoral counselors to aid counselees in their spiritual journey and their path
from brokenness to restoration. Biblical and Christian fellowship encompasses believers
entering a fellowship with Jesus Christ and each other through salvation. They adopt Christ-like
attributes of sharing and service to and with one another. True fellowship creates and promotes
a community upheld by accountability, love, encouragement, and comfort. Pastoral counselors
BIBLICAL PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH: FELLOWSHIP 2
can use the nature and responsibilities of those in fellowship with one another to aid
counselees in finding long-term success and support in the local church.
Biblical/Exegetical Studies Supporting One of the Biblical Purposes of the Church:
Fellowship
Too often, churches revolve fellowship around food, discussion, and socialization. This is
all surface-level interaction without a biblically based purpose and vision. The term ‘fellowship’
itself is a word whose origin and meaning have been critically watered down within the church
(Madon, 2020). The following section will explore both the basis and nature of Christian
fellowship, as understood in God’s Word. Furthermore, the responsibilities of Christian
fellowship along with the dangers of losing it.
The Basis of Christian Fellowship
The large picture of the term ‘fellowship’ is first examined as our fellowship and unity
with Jesus Christ. According to the Doctrine of Jesus Christ, He came to earth to live a sinless
life, suffer a violent death on the cross for the sins of man, and rise from the grave three days
later showcasing His victory over death and sin (Lambert, 2016). When people ask forgiveness
of their sins and pray to receive the gift of salvation, according to Romans chapter ten verse
nine, one is saved and welcomed into God’s eternal family. The basis of Christian fellowship is
rooted in salvation itself. The first epistle of John discusses the biblical view of Christ as it relates
to fellowship and salvation stating, “that we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so
that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed, our fellowship is with the Father and with
His Son Jesus Christ” (ESV, 2019, 1 John 1:3). The fellowship described here is of the biblical
sense in relation to Jesus Christ; a partnership to partake in eternal life (Erickson, 2015). John
affirms both the physical reality of Jesus in verse one and two, as well as produce salvation in
the readers of the text. This verse equates fellowship with salvation and implies that a true
Christian is never “out of fellowship”.
BIBLICAL PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH: FELLOWSHIP 3
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians further explains the unity of the church as it relates
to fellowship with Jesus. “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His
Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (ESV, 2019, 1 Corinthians 1:9). Fellowship, translated from the Greek
word koinonia and explored in the mentioned scriptures, explains the basis as sharing the
Christian life, rooted in God the Father and God the Son, with other followers through the
power of the Holy Spirit. Such fellowship is the expression of a love and humility first offered to
mankind through God’s divine plan (Madon, 2020). This creates not just a want, but spiritual
need, to fellowship with one another to know God better.
The Nature of Christian Fellowship
When Peter spoke to the crowd after the day of Pentecost, about three thousand people
came to Christ, thus marking the beginnings of the early church and the nature of Christian
fellowship, as understood biblically. The early church understood they belonged to God and had
fellowship with Him and that became an extension of themselves with others. They listened to
and believed the teaching of the disciples, they shared common property and food, landowners
would sell their land and share in the proceeds of the sales, and resources would be distributed
to one another as needed (ESV, 2019, Acts 4:32-35). The early church in the book of Acts saw
this sharing of property, worship, money, and food not as a mere opportunity, but as an
obligation and responsibility as a Christian in fellowship with the Lord.
Christians in an eternal fellowship with Jesus are called to follow His example, as
demonstrated by the early church. At the Last Supper, as recounted in the book of John, Jesus
sits at the feet of the disciples to wash their feet, an act normally set aside for servants. In doing
so, scripture tells us Jesus gave them and us an example to follow saying, “If I then, your Lord
and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash another’s feet” (ESV, 2019, John
13:14). Along with sharing, servanthood is the nature of Christian fellowship. Jesus set forth the
example of seeing what was needed by others, leaving a position of entitlement to serve, and
engaging in the tasks needed to serve humbly (Ferguson, 2020). Christian fellowship urges
BIBLICAL PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH: FELLOWSHIP 4
followers to serve in the same manner by recognizing the needs of others and carrying them
out.
The Responsibilities of Christian Fellowship
Expanding upon the nature of Christian fellowship, there are specific responsibilities
Christians are called to carry out as acts of fellowship. The first of which being accountability
partners for those they are in fellowship with. The Doctrine of Sin states that every element of
human nature has been corrupted by sin (Lambert, 2016). A responsibility of Christians in
Biblical fellowship with one another is to create a space for the airing and confessing of one’s
sins. “Therefore, confess your sins to one another…” (ESV, 2019, James 5:16). Following the
example of Christ, members are called to adopt a posture of love without judgment (Madon,
2020). Seeing fellow Christians as already forgiven and accepted by God creates an atmosphere
of a Christ-like attitude.
Once confessed, the responsibility of one another is to admonish the sin earnestly. Paul’s
letter to the Ephesians makes it clear by stating, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of
darkness, but instead expose them” (ESV, 2019, Ephesians 5:11). Biblical fellowship calls
Christians to live their lives with Christ as an example. While Christ led with love, He also
rebuked the sins of His people. Christians in fellowship with one another are called to do the
same. This challenges Christians to be accountable for their sin and, in turn, spiritually grow. It is
a myth that spiritual growth is a personal or private matter. Christian fellowship encourages
personal spiritual growth through the avenues of one’s relationships (Warren, 2014).
Loving, encouraging, and comforting one another is a core responsibility of Christian
fellowship. Jesus says in the book of John, “a new commandment I give to you, that you love
one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (ESV, 2019, John 13:34).
Biblical fellowship with one another is rooted in love, just as Christ’s fellowship with mankind is.
Turning love into an action bears the fruit of grace and encouragement toward each other.
Constant encouragement not only protects one another from sin’s deceitfulness but also builds
BIBLICAL PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH: FELLOWSHIP 5
up the faith of those encouraged (Madon, 2020). Through loss and grief, members of the church
can comfort as well. Paul writes in the book of Thessalonians, “Therefore, comfort one another
with these words” (ESV, 2019, 1 Thessalonians 4:18). This specific verse is meant to comfort
Christians based on the divine plan of God that Christians will be reunited with lost loved ones
when Jesus returns. Loving, encouraging, and comforting is a marker of hope for Christians in
fellowship to give one another.
The Dangers of Losing Christian Fellowship
In accepting the gift of salvation and being adopted into God’s kingdom, there comes a
fellowship with Christ and with other believers. Christianity cannot commune with Christ and
the devil at the same time. Paul writes to the Corinthians, “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord
and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons”
(ESV, 2019, 1 Corinthians 10:21). Ignoring the Biblical basis of fellowship opens the door of
being consumed in one’s sin. Being consumed with one’s sin is at the root of losing Christian
fellowship with each other. Christian fellowship is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, both individually
and collectively (Erickson, 2015). The Spirit, by its very nature, is meant to encourage and
empower the Christian life, including fellowship (Lambert, 2016). Dining with and inviting sin
into one’s life ignores the very nature of the Spirit. One cannot serve both heaven and hell.
Theological Implications of One of the Biblical Purposes of the Church: Fellowship for
Pastoral Counseling
Christian fellowship must be understood and seen as invaluable to a pastoral counselor to
provide Biblical counseling for those seeking freedom from the bondage of sin and its effects.
One goal of counseling is to successfully detach from the sole need of a counselor and instead
find Biblical fellowship, and all the responsibilities entailed, within the local church. Oftentimes,
the secular world of mental health conflicts with a Christian culture, therefore Christian
fellowship promotes long-term success with a counselee (Kollar, 2011).
BIBLICAL PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH: FELLOWSHIP 6
Providing a Community of Worship
In consolidating and encouraging change in the context of pastoral counseling, it is
important for counselees to be encouraged to experience Christian fellowship in order to
worship and praise God as one. Hebrews states how to stir up love and good works stating, “not
neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the
more as you see the day drawing near” (ESV, 2019, Hebrews 10:25). Collective and corporate
worship is a vital part of the spiritual life. As a counselee detaches from counseling, maintaining
the positive change and freedoms gained is crucial (Kollar, 2011). Being able to experience the
glory, holiness, and sovereignty of God through worship allows oneself to stay close to the
Father and the Spirit and abstain better from sin.
Providing a Community of Support
As a pastoral counselor highlights, supports, and consolidates positive changes with the
counselee, detachment from counseling becomes a natural next step (Kollar, 2011). The
Christian community is an essential partner and resource to a pastoral counselor. The
comprehensive care and community provided by Christian fellowship is not something that can
be found in a secular context outside of the local church (Lambert, 2016). Paul writes in
Colossians about the importance for Christians to lead each other with compassion, kindness,
patience, and “bearing with one another…” (ESV, 2019, Colossians 3:12-13). These scriptures
apply to Christian fellowship relationships formed within the church. This is a tangible way to
experience fellowship with Christ and each other by embracing one another in its entirety
(Madon, 2020). As a counselee finds fellowship separate from the counselor, they find the
freedom to not walk with Christ alone, but with those, He has placed in their path.
Providing a Community of Accountability
As a pastoral counselor guides their counselee towards Christian fellowship to further
support their change and progress, it is done under the guiding assumption of God’s role in the
counselee’s life. By this point in counseling, the counselee has faith that God is active in the lives
BIBLICAL PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH: FELLOWSHIP 7
and seeks to find the clues for such divine activity (Kollar, 2011). Surrounding themselves with a
community of Christian fellowship allows God’s active role to reveal such peace and blessings in
one’s life. As previously discussed, Biblical fellowship admonishes the sins of one another using
love and grace. This promotes a sense of accountability with one another, as well as safety and
unity. Paul writes in First Corinthians, “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member
is honored, all rejoice together” (ESV, 2019, 1 Corinthians 12:26). Just as pastoral counselors rely
on supportive compliments in recognizing positive changes within the counselee, the
community one finds outside of counseling can do the same (Kollar, 2011). A burden or
heartache of one member of the community is felt by all. Likewise, Christian fellowship is
strengthened by the joy that is shared in each other’s successes (Erickson, 2015). This very
concept is similar to a counselor’s position of looking for exceptions to a counselee’s problem in
order to focus on the solution. The community a counselee surrounds themselves with offers
the same accountability. The outward display of God’s grace from each other awakens the
desire to be drawn further to Christ (Ferguson, 2020).
Conclusion
Christian fellowship must be a part of the local church. It is a Biblical practice needed to
live a healthy spiritual life. Pastoral counselors must understand the very essence and nature of
such fellowship to inform themselves and counselees on the path to long-term success and
overall spiritual health. Counselees need the fellowship to grow closer to Christ, using the
people God has placed in their lives. Counselors need to be able to get counselees plugged into
solid, faith-based relationships for support and accountability. Biblical fellowship moves beyond
one’s relationship with God and extends to others. Such fellowship is meant to use the body of
Christ to glorify God and advance His kingdom. It is believers holding each other accountable,
offering support, and encouraging one another as together they move towards a more Christ-
like life.
BIBLICAL PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH: FELLOWSHIP 8
References
ESV. (2019). Esv new Christian's Bible: English standard version containing the old and new
testaments, personal reference bible.
Erickson, M. J., & Hustad, L. A. (2015). Introducing Christian Doctrine. Baker Academic.
Ferguson, Sinclair B. (2020). Devoted to God’s church: Core values for Christian fellowship.
Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth.
Kollar, C. A. (2011). Solution-focused pastoral counseling: An effective short-term approach for
getting people back on track. Zondervan.
Lambert, H., (2016). A theology of biblical counseling: The doctrinal foundations of counseling
ministry. Grand Rapids, Michigan, Zondervan.
Madon, Tom. (2020). Rediscovering New Testament fellowship: Experience the church by
embracing the one another’s. Independently published.
Warren, R. (2014). The purpose-driven church: Every church is big in God's eyes. Zondervan.
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
