Christian fellowship is a vital aspect of the Christian life that involves connecting with other believers in a supportive and accountable community. It goes beyond mere social interaction and involves sharing life together in a way that reflects the authenticity, mutuality, sympathy, and mercy found in Christ. To partake in the benefits of Christian fellowship, one can start by actively seeking out and committing to a healthy, Bible-centered church. 


"As members of [a local] church, we receive all the blessings that Christ bestows. In the church, we come under the spiritual care of the church’s leaders. In the church, we join a community of people invested in each other’s welfare—people who share their cups of sugar and listen to one another’s thoughts and feelings, [struggles, doubts, and weaknesses, and find help and prayer]. In the church, we work and worship alongside people who are mutually committed to the One whom our own souls love best. In the church, we fully live out our identity." - Megan Hill


Within such a worship community, we can partake even more specifically, in a small group within a church that promotes real fellowship. This group should provide a supportive context where members can encourage and hold each other accountable. By participating in such a group, individuals can experience the authenticity, mutuality, sympathy, and mercy that come with genuine fellowship. By prioritizing fellowship and investing time in meeting together, even when one doesn't feel like it, we allow more of the blessings of Christ to flow out, one to another.  

Additionally, cultivating real fellowship requires making a commitment to share true feelings, encourage one another, support each other, forgive, speak the truth in love, admit weaknesses, respect differences, avoid gossip, and prioritize the group. These characteristics may require individuals to let go of self-centeredness and embrace interdependence. However, the benefits of sharing life together in fellowship far outweigh the sacrifices made. We were made for community.

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." - Colossians 3:12-17 NLT

Why be part of a church?  The church family helps me... (video minute 24:02 - 31:06)

Biblical Christian Fellowship is made up of...

"As emotionally mature Christian adults, we recognize that loving well is the essence of true spirituality.  This requires that we experience connection with God, with ourselves, and with other people.  God invites us to practice His presence in our daily lives.  At the same time, he invites us 'to practice the presence of people,' within an awareness of his presence, in our daily relationships.

Jesus' profound, contemplative prayer life with his Father resulted in a contemplative presence with people.  Love is 'to reveal the beauty of another person to themselves,' wrote Jean Vanier.  Jesus did that with each person he met.  This ability to really listen and pay attention to people was at the very heart of his mission.  It could not help but move him to compassion.  In the same way, out of our contemplative time with God, we, too, are invited to be prayerfully present to people, revealing their beauty to themselves.

The religious leaders of Jesus' day, the 'church leaders' of that time, never made that connection.  They were diligent, zealous, and absolutely committed to having God as Lord of their lives.  They memorized the entire books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. They prayed five times a day.  They tithed all their income and gave money to the poor.  They evangelized.  But they never delighted in people. They did not link loving God with the need to be diligent, zealous, and absolutely committed to growing in their ability to love people...

Jesus refused to separate the practice of the presence of God from the practice of the presence of people."

- Pete Scazzero, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (book pages, 70-71)

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” - Matthew 22:36-40