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Church Fellowship Church Fellowship

a Bible study course for adultsa Bible study course for adults

By Professor John F. BrugBy Professor John F. BrugPowerPoint: Angi Kinsley, Pastor Mark A. CordesPowerPoint: Angi Kinsley, Pastor Mark A. Cordes

New Life Evangelical Lutheran ChurchNew Life Evangelical Lutheran Church

Shoreview, MinnesotaShoreview, Minnesota

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Preserving and Extending Preserving and Extending

FellowshipFellowship

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GoalsGoals

1.1. To discuss things we are doing to To discuss things we are doing to preserve and extend Christian preserve and extend Christian fellowship.fellowship.

2.2. To consider ways we as individuals and To consider ways we as individuals and congregation can improve in this congregation can improve in this important aspect of Christian living.important aspect of Christian living.

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Opening PrayerOpening Prayer

We thank you, dear Holy Spirit, for the We thank you, dear Holy Spirit, for the unity you have given us in our unity you have given us in our congregation and synod. Teach us to love congregation and synod. Teach us to love and cherish this priceless fellowship. Help and cherish this priceless fellowship. Help us examine our lives as individuals and as a us examine our lives as individuals and as a congregation so that we become more congregation so that we become more zealous and enthusiastic in preserving and zealous and enthusiastic in preserving and extending this fellowship. Amen.extending this fellowship. Amen.

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Introduction

One of the great joys of being a Christian…

• Psalm 133

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Christian unity is like…

– Oil on Aaron’s head (perfume or lotion)

– Dew (prized in Israel, months without rain)

• Symbolize joy of brothers, sisters living together in faithful unity of the Spirit.

• Enjoying fellowship with like-minded Christians.

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Responsibility for every Christian?

Ephesians 4:3• Every Christian has the responsibility

to work in order to…

–preserve this fellowship

–extend this fellowship

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Ways of preserving and extending Ways of preserving and extending fellowshipfellowship

What are some ways we can show love What are some ways we can show love for the members of our congregation?for the members of our congregation? Read: John 13:35; 1 Peter 1:22Read: John 13:35; 1 Peter 1:22

loving one anotherloving one anothershowing concern in times of troubleshowing concern in times of troublevisiting the sickvisiting the sickcomforting the grievingcomforting the grieving

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Ways of preserving and extending Ways of preserving and extending fellowshipfellowship

What are some ways What are some ways our congregation our congregation members are good at members are good at showing their love? showing their love?

What are some areas What are some areas in which we could do in which we could do better?better?

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Helping with physical needs…Helping with physical needs… Galatians 6:10Galatians 6:10

As a congregation?As a congregation? Food pantryFood pantry Door offeringsDoor offerings Thrift storeThrift store

How can our How can our congregation do congregation do better?better?

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Helping with physical needs…Helping with physical needs…

Galatians 6:10Galatians 6:10 As a synod? As a synod?

WELS Committee on ReliefWELS Committee on Relief Central Africa Medical MissionCentral Africa Medical Mission Agencies: LIMA, WLCFSAgencies: LIMA, WLCFS

How can we do better as a synod?How can we do better as a synod?

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Ways of preserving and extending Ways of preserving and extending fellowshipfellowship

Ephesians 4:11-16Ephesians 4:11-16 How do we build up the church’s How do we build up the church’s

defense against error? defense against error? Personal Bible studyPersonal Bible study Attendance at Bible classes and Sunday Attendance at Bible classes and Sunday

School, VBSSchool, VBS

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What are some ways we could do What are some ways we could do this better?this better?

Pray and work to increase attendance at Pray and work to increase attendance at Bible classes and Sunday School, VBSBible classes and Sunday School, VBS

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We must build up defenses We must build up defenses against…against…

New Age MovementNew Age Movement Weakness in principles and practice of Weakness in principles and practice of

key doctrineskey doctrines FellowshipFellowship God’s roles for men and womenGod’s roles for men and women

Worldliness infiltrating Church militantWorldliness infiltrating Church militant materialismmaterialism sexual immoralitysexual immorality

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How do we show respect and support How do we show respect and support for faithful called workers?for faithful called workers?

1 Thessalonians 5:11-131 Thessalonians 5:11-13 1 Timothy 5:171 Timothy 5:17

lay ministry involvementlay ministry involvement secretarial helpsecretarial help compensation compensation (salary, honoraria, fees)(salary, honoraria, fees) respect for officerespect for office speaking well of workers to othersspeaking well of workers to others

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Respect and Support for Faithful Respect and Support for Faithful Called WorkersCalled Workers

What are some areas in which we can What are some areas in which we can improve in this regard?improve in this regard?

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How do we work to extend our How do we work to extend our fellowship as a congregation? fellowship as a congregation?

VBSVBS Sunday SchoolSunday School EvangelismEvangelism

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How do we work to extend our How do we work to extend our fellowship as a synod?fellowship as a synod?

Home MissionsHome Missions World MissionsWorld Missions Commission on Commission on

Inter-Church Inter-Church RelationsRelations

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Preserve church fellowship by Preserve church fellowship by practicing church disciplinepracticing church discipline

Huge topicHuge topic Like removing a sliver Like removing a sliver

Can prevent an infection, loss of limbCan prevent an infection, loss of limb Dealing with public sin heals and Dealing with public sin heals and

helps preserve our precious church helps preserve our precious church fellowship.fellowship.

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Practicing Church DisciplinePracticing Church Discipline

As individuals and as a congregationAs individuals and as a congregation Matthew 18:15-17Matthew 18:15-17 Steps to win back brother(s) for Christ:Steps to win back brother(s) for Christ:

1.1. In private – Why is this so important?In private – Why is this so important?2.2. With witnesses – friends, pastorWith witnesses – friends, pastor3.3. Involving entire church Involving entire church

Council, VotersCouncil, Voters Synod: circuit, district, synod appealSynod: circuit, district, synod appeal

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Preserving and Extending Preserving and Extending FellowshipFellowship

What is the last act of love available What is the last act of love available to us to help an unrepentant to us to help an unrepentant member of our fellowship?member of our fellowship?

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Preserve church fellowship by Preserve church fellowship by practicing church disciplinepracticing church discipline

Jude 18-23Jude 18-23 What is the difference between a What is the difference between a weak weak

brotherbrother and a and a persistent erroristpersistent errorist??

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WWeak Brothereak Brother vs. vs. Persistent ErroristPersistent Errorist

Weak Brother Weak Brother Erroneous views on Erroneous views on

some doctrines, but… some doctrines, but… Willing to be corrected Willing to be corrected

by Scripture.by Scripture.

Persistent ErroristPersistent Errorist Ignores instructionIgnores instruction Promotes false Promotes false

views and teachingsviews and teachings

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How can we determine in which How can we determine in which category a person belongs? category a person belongs?

While studying disputed issues in While studying disputed issues in Scripture, Scripture, weak brothersweak brothers will not make will not make propaganda for their view. propaganda for their view.

Persistent erroristsPersistent errorists hold on to their hold on to their views in spite of admonition and try to views in spite of admonition and try to win other people to their views.win other people to their views.

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How do we deal with people in How do we deal with people in each category?each category?

Weak brothersWeak brothers: We want to preserve : We want to preserve fellowship by patiently instructing them. fellowship by patiently instructing them.

Persistent erroristsPersistent errorists: Fellowship around : Fellowship around the truth must be preserved by excluding the truth must be preserved by excluding them from the congregation.them from the congregation.

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EExcommunicationxcommunication versus versus TerminationTermination of Fellowshipof Fellowship

In Christian love we In Christian love we excommunicate…excommunicate… Persist in a sin knowing God’s Word Persist in a sin knowing God’s Word

condemns itcondemns it Doctrinal error destroys saving faithDoctrinal error destroys saving faith Hold to a position knowing it is contrary Hold to a position knowing it is contrary

to Scripture to Scripture Excluded themselves from salvation.Excluded themselves from salvation. We warn of damnation without repentance.We warn of damnation without repentance.

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EExcommunicationxcommunication versus versus TerminationTermination of Fellowshipof Fellowship

Termination of fellowshipTermination of fellowship done in love … done in love … Hold to false doctrine convinced their position Hold to false doctrine convinced their position

agrees with Scriptureagrees with Scripture May be ignorance, weakness that does not May be ignorance, weakness that does not

destroy saving faithdestroy saving faith May not have excluded themselves from May not have excluded themselves from

salvation, but…salvation, but… Error prevents our fellowship with them. Error prevents our fellowship with them.

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EExcommunicationxcommunication versus versus TerminationTermination of Fellowshipof Fellowship

Use Use onlyonly Termination of fellowshipTermination of fellowship … … With church bodies and congregations, With church bodies and congregations,

because we…because we… Cannot deal with every individual to Cannot deal with every individual to

determine if support for church’s errordetermine if support for church’s errorconsciously and maliciously consciously and maliciously ignorance or weaknessignorance or weakness

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Dealing the Excommunicated or Fellowship-Terminated

2 Thessalonians 3:6,13-15

• No religious fellowship.

• Family, social ties – careful not to undermine church’s action.

• Continue to evangelize with law and gospel.

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SummarySummary

Fellowship Fellowship in unity of in unity of

faith is a faith is a wonderful wonderful

blessing blessing of God’s of God’s church. church.

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SummarySummary

Church fellowship is extended and Church fellowship is extended and maintained when Christians …maintained when Christians … Grow in faith. Grow in faith. Show love for each other. Show love for each other. Honor those who preach and teach. Honor those who preach and teach. Give help to the needy.Give help to the needy. Practice church discipline.Practice church discipline.

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Closing PrayerClosing Prayer

We thank you, Lord, for the fellowship and We thank you, Lord, for the fellowship and unity that we enjoy in our church. Thanks unity that we enjoy in our church. Thanks for showing us many ways we can work to for showing us many ways we can work to together to preserve and extend this together to preserve and extend this fellowship. Now through the power of your fellowship. Now through the power of your Holy Spirit, fill us with energy and Holy Spirit, fill us with energy and enthusiasm so that we work hard to preserve enthusiasm so that we work hard to preserve and extend our fellowship of faith. Amen.and extend our fellowship of faith. Amen.

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During the week During the week

1.1. Read Read Church FellowshipChurch Fellowship, pages 105-115., pages 105-115.

2.2. Thank God for the fellowship you enjoy with Thank God for the fellowship you enjoy with the members of your congregation and others the members of your congregation and others who share the same confession. who share the same confession.

3.3. Pray for ways you can help to preserve that Pray for ways you can help to preserve that fellowship and to extend it.fellowship and to extend it.