The Power of Fellowship
Scripture Reading: Acts 2: 42 (NIV)
"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
Message: Power of the Holy Spirit Series #2 - “Power of Fellowship”
Definition of Fellowship
Definition - “friendly association, especially with people who share one's interests.”
What is our shared interest? I would like to think that is the love for Jesus
Greek word: Koinonia - “The word for "fellowship" is koinonia, which means "to have in common" or "to share." As those who are united with Christ, we are to share the life of Christ with one another in a way that results in individual and corporate spiritual ...”
Our Brains need interaction
What happens in the brain when we connect with others? Neuroscience suggests that we are neurologically wired to connect with others; mirror neurons in our brains are stimulated when we're interacting with other people. Literally, when you are talking to someone, pathways in your brain light up to mirror the emotions and behaviors that this other person is conveying.
Physical contact - Hugging and other forms of nonsexual touching cause your brain to release oxytocin, known as the "bonding hormone." This stimulates the release of other feel-good hormones, such as dopamine and serotonin, while reducing stress hormones, such as cortisol and norepinephrine.
Babies - Touch is essential for human survival; babies who are deprived of touch can fail to thrive, lose weight and even die. Babies and young children who do not get touched also have lower levels of growth hormone, so a lack of touch can actually stunt a child's growth.
Interaction deprivation leads to a lack of empathy
One of the main struggles society has with coming our of the pandemic is a lack of empathy
Isolation is the cause of empathy fading - interaction depravation
In person interaction is crucial in developing our ability to have empathy
Why is empathy important?
You are not able to love your neighbour without empathy
Family is the deepest space of fellowship
Why do you call home home?
Because home is where the heart is?
Because home is where family is - and family is the deepest space of fellowship
That is also why friendships are so important when you are alone - you need fellowship
This is why people can bring themselves into calling friends family
Family of Faith with God our Father
That is why I find it inspirational to talk about a DPC family
We are brothers and sisters in Christ - our common love for Jesus and our faith bring us together
Galatians 3: 26 - 29 “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
I heard the word belong here - if you belong to Christ, you belong to a special family
You get to know this special family through interaction with them - through fellowship
Fellowship as a power of the Spirit
1 John 3: 1 - “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
What we have is a gift!
See the first church - their fellowship - the family they were
That is the power of the Holy Spirit - the power of fellowship
Let us feel the power of the Holy Spirit today as we enjoy this day together!
Through the power of fellowship, know that you belong to a special family, know that you have come home.
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