Koinonia Fellowship. 3.16.2025 The meeting of Grace Christian Church. We meet in person and stream services every Sunday at 10:30 AM EST in Manalapan, New Jersey.
Introduction This week, God put it on my heart to teach about fellowship. The Greek word for fellowship in the New Testament is Koinonia (koy-hohn-ee-ah), which means fellowship, partnership, communion, or sharing. It appears 20 times in the New Testament, first in Acts 2:42, describing the early Church’s devotion to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer.
The early Christians didn’t just gather to socialize; their fellowship was centered on spiritual growth. Paul later encouraged the Church to ensure their gatherings were for edification (1 Corinthians 14:26).
Are We Devoted to Fellowship for Spiritual Growth? Unlike the early Church, which met daily, today’s churches often have additional fellowship gatherings that don’t include teaching or edification. While these gatherings aren’t wrong, they’re not a substitute for the core fellowship of the Church.
The Loneliness Epidemic Since 2010, loneliness has dramatically increased, especially during COVID-19. It affects mental, emotional, and physical health, leading to depression, anxiety, weakened immunity, and other issues.
At its root, loneliness is both a spiritual and physical problem. Without God’s presence, a person will always feel lonely. Even believers can experience loneliness if they lack fellowship with the Church.
Biblical Truth About Fellowship God designed us for fellowship. In Genesis 2:18, God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” Adam had God’s Spirit, but he still needed human companionship. This applies to all believers today—God created us for fellowship with Him and with other believers.
Satan promotes individualism to weaken the Church. Studies show individualism leads to loneliness and depression.
Have You Experienced True Fellowship? Share a time when you’ve experienced God’s design for fellowship. T
he Three Choices of Fellowship (Koinonia)
1. Fellowship with God
Every believer is permanently indwelt by God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Hebrews 13:5). The devil’s lie is that we can lose our fellowship with God due to sin or failure. But under the New Covenant of grace, fellowship with God is secure by faith in the Gospel. Many churches wrongly teach that sin separates us from God. This Old Covenant mindset leads believers to feel distant from God based on emotions rather than truth. The Bible affirms our permanent fellowship with Him (1 John 1:3, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 2 Corinthians 13:14).
2. Fellowship with the Church
The early Church was devoted to fellowship (Acts 2:42). John explains in 1 John 1:2-3 that true fellowship means being united in Christ. The enemy’s deception is to make believers think they can lose their relationship with God, leading them to withdraw from the Church and stop sharing the Gospel. Satan’s goal is isolation—no fellowship with God, no fellowship with the Church, and no evangelism. The result? Loneliness and spiritual stagnation. How do we overcome this deception? (Discussion question)
3. Fellowship with the World
God calls us to fellowship with Him and His Church while sharing the Gospel with unbelievers. However, believers can make negative fellowship choices by engaging too much with the world.
Paul warns against being unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14). The enemy deceives believers into prioritizing worldly activities over fellowship with God and His people.
Illustration: In the early 2000s, youth sports started being scheduled on Sunday mornings. Many Christian families prioritized sports over church, leading to spiritual disengagement. This choice affected both parents and children. My wife and I chose to keep Sundays for worship, even when it cost our son opportunities in baseball.
Conclusion
Genesis 2:18a – “It is not good for man to be alone.”
Fellowship with God and His Church is essential for our spiritual well-being. Don’t fall for the enemy’s deception of isolation and individualism. Prioritize true koinonia—with God, the Church, and sharing Christ with the world.
To hear more messages on grace and life in Christ, visit njgrace.org.
