11

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

22

Scriptural Principles:Scriptural Principles:Romans 16:1-19Romans 16:1-19

Lesson ThreeLesson Three

33

GoalsGoals

1.1. Examine church fellowship as Examine church fellowship as expressed in Romans 16:1-19.expressed in Romans 16:1-19.

2.2. Look closely at the meaning of Look closely at the meaning of Romans 16:17.Romans 16:17.

3.3. Better understand church Better understand church fellowship principles.fellowship principles.

4.4. Grow in desire to practice them.Grow in desire to practice them.

44

Opening PrayerOpening Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for making us members of your body, making us members of your body, the church. Thank you for the church. Thank you for bonding us in fellowship with all bonding us in fellowship with all who share our faith and confess who share our faith and confess your name in truth. Make us like your name in truth. Make us like your Apostle Paul, greeting fellow your Apostle Paul, greeting fellow Christians with joy. Increase our Christians with joy. Increase our desire to protect this blessed desire to protect this blessed fellowship. Amen.fellowship. Amen.

55

ReviewReview

Two pillars of Two pillars of church church fellowship fellowship practice:practice:– TruthTruth – LoveLove..– Love gives Love gives

and guards and guards the truth.the truth.

66

Truth +++ AND +++ LoveTruth +++ AND +++ Love

Apply these two principles :Apply these two principles :– Many false teachers = many Many false teachers = many

challenges challenges – Christians love God’s truth too Christians love God’s truth too

much to compromise it.much to compromise it.– Truth in love exposes error.Truth in love exposes error.– Love gives no confusing signals Love gives no confusing signals

about true / not.about true / not.

77

ReviewReview

working together working together forfor the truth the truth(3 John 8)(3 John 8)

Scriptural church fellowship is Scriptural church fellowship is very positive. very positive.

God joins us in visible fellowship God joins us in visible fellowship to grow in truth and love. to grow in truth and love.

Some see preservation of unity as Some see preservation of unity as negative; salvation at stake.negative; salvation at stake.

88

Church Fellowship in RomeChurch Fellowship in Rome

Read: Read: Romans 16:1-16Romans 16:1-16

Recurring word?Recurring word?““Greet”Greet” – almost every verse. – almost every verse. Spirit throughout congregation.Spirit throughout congregation.““Holy kiss” Holy kiss” (v.16) (v.16) handshake, hughandshake, hugUnity: greetings from all Unity: greetings from all

churches of Christ.churches of Christ.

99

Church Fellowship in RomeChurch Fellowship in Rome

““in Christ” in Christ”

““in the Lord” in the Lord”

How do these emphasize the How do these emphasize the close bond of fellowship Paul close bond of fellowship Paul enjoyed with his readers?enjoyed with his readers?

1010

Church Fellowship in RomeChurch Fellowship in Rome List ways of List ways of working together working together

for the truthfor the truth: : – Phoebe - “great help” Phoebe - “great help” (vv.1f)(vv.1f) – Priscilla and Aquila “risked Priscilla and Aquila “risked

their lives” for the truth, their lives” for the truth, opened their home opened their home (v. 6)(v. 6)

– Other examples: verses 7, 9, Other examples: verses 7, 9, and 12and 12

1111

Church Fellowship in RomeChurch Fellowship in Rome Words of commendation Words of commendation

working together for the truth:working together for the truth:– All Gentile churches grateful All Gentile churches grateful

to ___ and ___ to ___ and ___ (vv. 3f)(vv. 3f) – ““Outstanding” __ , __ Outstanding” __ , __ (v. 7)(v. 7)– Apelles “__ and __ in __” Apelles “__ and __ in __” (v10)(v10)

Commending hard work praises Commending hard work praises God’s grace for fellowship.God’s grace for fellowship.

1212

Church Fellowship in RomeChurch Fellowship in Rome

Special words of Paul’s deep Special words of Paul’s deep affection for fellow believers :affection for fellow believers :

““sister” sister” ““dear friend” dear friend” ““whom I love” whom I love” ““a mother to me, too” a mother to me, too”

Christian joy in fellowship of Christian joy in fellowship of faith is sometimes greater than faith is sometimes greater than with our own family.with our own family.

1313

Protect the FellowshipProtect the Fellowship

Read: Read: Romans 16:17-19Romans 16:17-19

Sharp contrast to “greet” in Sharp contrast to “greet” in previous verses:previous verses:

– ““Watch out for…” Watch out for…”

– ““Keep away from…”Keep away from…”

1414

Protect the FellowshipProtect the Fellowship

““Watch out for…avoid” whom?Watch out for…avoid” whom?

1515

““Watch out for…avoid…”Watch out for…avoid…” Romans Romans

16:1716:17 general general

statement statement applies to all applies to all

false false teachers teachers

persisting in persisting in error despite error despite admonition.admonition.

1616

Protect the FellowshipProtect the Fellowship

Examples in Scripture of people Examples in Scripture of people who were causing divisions:who were causing divisions:– Judaizers in Galatia demanded Judaizers in Galatia demanded

circumcision to be saved. circumcision to be saved. – At Corinth some denied At Corinth some denied

resurrection of the dead. resurrection of the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:12)(1 Corinthians 15:12)

1717

Protect the FellowshipProtect the Fellowship

Examples in Corinth of causing Examples in Corinth of causing people to fall into sin:people to fall into sin:– Dividing congregation into Dividing congregation into

factions factions (1 Corinthians 1:10-12)(1 Corinthians 1:10-12)

– Incest Incest (1 Corinthians 5:1)(1 Corinthians 5:1)

– Lawsuits against fellow Lawsuits against fellow believers believers (1 Corinthians 6:1)(1 Corinthians 6:1)

18

What kind of errorists?

1919

What kind of errorists?What kind of errorists?

dicostasiav…poiountavdicostasiav…poiountav = “causing = “causing divisions” divisions” continuous, habitual continuous, habitual

Not accidentalNot accidentalNot naïve, uninformedNot naïve, uninformedPersistent in spite of warnings Persistent in spite of warnings

Period of warning to bring back Period of warning to bring back Paul patiently instructed.Paul patiently instructed.

2020

Agree / DisagreeAgree / Disagree

We must know exactly what We must know exactly what situation in Rome caused Paul to situation in Rome caused Paul to issue this warning before we can issue this warning before we can apply it to ourselves?apply it to ourselves?

No limit in text to specific false No limit in text to specific false teachers in Rome. teachers in Rome.

General principle – universal General principle – universal application.application.

2121

EvaluateEvaluate

““The teaching you have The teaching you have learned” is only about saving learned” is only about saving faith in Christ. It does not faith in Christ. It does not include such doctrines as include such doctrines as Baptism, Lord’s Supper, Baptism, Lord’s Supper, inspiration of Scripture, etc.inspiration of Scripture, etc.

2222

““Ok, the tire, but not the truck!”Ok, the tire, but not the truck!”

Broad Broad phrase phrase includes all includes all false false teaching or teaching or immorality. immorality.

Comprehensive: everything Comprehensive: everything learned from apostleslearned from apostles

2323

Protect the FellowshipProtect the Fellowship

Whom does the world blame for Whom does the world blame for dividing the church? dividing the church?

Who is the real cause of division Who is the real cause of division in the church?in the church?

2424

Which is true?Which is true?

2525

Which is true?Which is true?1.1. We can identify false prophets by We can identify false prophets by

determining who is serving their determining who is serving their own appetites and using smooth own appetites and using smooth talk and flattery. talk and flattery.

2626

Which is true?Which is true?

2.2. Anyone who departs from the Anyone who departs from the apostle’s teaching is serving his own apostle’s teaching is serving his own appetite and using smooth talk and appetite and using smooth talk and flattery.flattery.

2727

Should Christians judge others?Should Christians judge others?

Explain the principles:Explain the principles: Matthew 7:1-5Matthew 7:1-5 Matthew 7:15f,21-23Matthew 7:15f,21-23 Acts 17:11Acts 17:11

Jesus forbids…. Jesus forbids…. Jesus commands…. Jesus commands…. Bereans teach….Bereans teach….

2828

SummarySummary

Christian Christian Fellowship in Fellowship in a common a common confession of confession of faith is a faith is a great great blessing of blessing of God. God.

2929

SummarySummary

Sharing the Sharing the truth, working truth, working together for it – together for it – congregation at congregation at Rome is a Rome is a wonderful wonderful example of example of close church close church fellowship. fellowship.

3030

SummarySummary

To continue in unity To continue in unity of the truth and of the truth and working together for working together for the truth, Christians the truth, Christians must separate from must separate from all who persist in all who persist in teaching error.teaching error.

3131

Closing PrayerClosing Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for your Word of Thank you, Lord, for your Word of truth which nurtures my faith for truth which nurtures my faith for eternal life. Help me work with my eternal life. Help me work with my fellow believers on behalf of your fellow believers on behalf of your truth. Help us teach it to one truth. Help us teach it to one another and to all who don’t know it. another and to all who don’t know it. May obedience to you always lead May obedience to you always lead me to separate myself from those me to separate myself from those who teach error. Amen.who teach error. Amen.

3232

During the week During the week

1.1. Read Read Church FellowshipChurch Fellowship, pages , pages 33-50.33-50.

2.2. Try to find some passage(s) in Try to find some passage(s) in the Bible that divide(s) church the Bible that divide(s) church fellowship into levels or parts.fellowship into levels or parts.

33

add___Credits• Slides 4, 7, 8, 37 – Logo in round window at New Life Ev. Lutheran Church,

Shoreview, MN (trademarked, use by permission only)• Slide 6 – Worship at New Life Evangelical Lutheran Church, Shoreview, MN

• Slide 11 – Martin Luther statue, source unknown• Slide 14 – picture received by email, source unknown

• Slide 19 – WELS Stewardship 2001 (?)• Slide 22 – picture received by email, source unknown

• Slide 27 – “The Sower” (p. 28, NTNET, used by permission)• Slide 28 – WELS clipart

• Slide 29 – picture received by email, source unknown• Slide 32 – picture received by email, source unknown

• Slide 34 – Martin Luther: Man of God (Schroeder, NPH – out of print)• Slide 35 – Pastor Mark Cordes (9/30/90 – 1st Worship at New Life

Evangelical Lutheran Church, Shoreview, MN)