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In faith and community, fellowship plays a key role in nurturing believers and fostering spiritual growth. The essence of fellowship not only grounds individuals in their faith but also equips them to make a significant impact on the world for Christ.
Like a car without gas, the absence of fellowship leaves us stranded and spiritually stagnant. This fundamental need for fellowship was demonstrated in the early Christian church. In Acts 2, 3,000 people were added to the church in one day, showing how quickly faith can spread.
Acts 2:42 outlines the core practices of these early believers:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
Acts 2:42, New International Version
Through mutual encouragement and support, believers can cultivate a contagious faith that resonates with those around them.
The model of fellowship set by Jesus, who intimately walked alongside his disciples, serves as a paradigm for believers today. By fostering close-knit relationships and nurturing spiritual growth within a community, the impact of individual believers can resonate on a much larger scale, echoing the growth of the early church.
The New Testament defines the church as an “assembly” in Greek. That signifies a gathering of people united in purpose, faith, and divine kinship. Christians all over the world comprise the church. They form a global family bonded by a shared faith and a common Father.
While social interactions at events and gatherings provide unity through shared interests, the fellowship among God’s people should embody a deeper connection rooted in faith and spiritual kinship. In a world increasingly reliant on social media, there is irreplaceable value of face-to-face fellowship among Christians.
Embracing fellowship not only aligns with the triune nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit but also underscores its significance in sustaining us amidst a challenging and isolating world. In a culture that prioritizes privacy, the communal aspect of Christianity highlights the importance of bearing one another’s burdens, boosting individual influence, and collectively shining in a dark world.
Dear Father. Thank You for being the perfect model of fellowship. Thank You for loving me before I loved You. Father, I want to have a contagious influence on those around me. I want to walk like the Christians of the first century—with a bold faith and a deep thirst for fellowship. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Now listen to the short version of this Abide meditation, “Contagious Influence,” based on Acts 2:42. Let God speak to your heart about how you can be even more of an influence in the world when you join with other followers of Jesus.
Let Abide be your daily companion as you seek to have a contagious influence on those around you. Our more than 1500 biblical meditations all exist to help you grow closer to God. Download the app and start a premium subscription. This will gain you access to our entire library of content. Use this link for 25% off.
