What is the Message?

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Tyndale’s Dictionary of the Bible states that fellowship is, "Communion with God which results in common participation with other believers in the Spirit of God."

The Apostle John states, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life….We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete." (1 John 1:1-4)

Last year I Becky and went to some friends house for the Super Bowl. We were down at halftime and Becky and I thought about leaving. “Its over there is no way they are coming back.” But, we decided to stay with our friends and watch.

The thrill, the drama and emotional roller coaster that we all experienced together was a bonding experience. If we would have left and just read about it the next day we would have understood the knowledge of the outcome but we would have been unable to share as deeply of the outcome.

As John opens his letter he makes quick reference by setting the table with what he had heard, seen, looked at and touched. John experienced the living resurrected Christ. He so badly wanted others to know this joy that he had to write and what seems to be plead with his readers, “We want you to have the same experience of the certainty of the Resurrection and the Hope of the Ages.” Fellowship is communion with God and an outcome of that relationship is a depth of relationship with others by the Spirit of God. Joy.

Are you satisfied with what you call fellowship? Or is there a depth in relationship that you are missing but you know is there. The Church of Jesus Christ is expected to be vastly different than the world in the arena of relationships. Will you share with others how the Spirit of the resurrected Christ has changed you?

The Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, wants us to have company on this journey as we wait to be reunited with Him. He wants us to be with others who also know they too are strangers, aliens who we need each other. It is through each other that we hear, see, look at and touch Him.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.