Koinonia

by Pastor Bumble | Nov 23, 2021 | Experiencing God | 5 comments

You cannot be in true fellowship with God and out of fellowship with other believers
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Share to the group a statement or scripture that resonates with you from today’s reading and a responding prayer…

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Pastor Bumble

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4 years ago

We do not create κοινωνία. It is an event that God creates, including (a) the individuals called to participate, (b) the actions by which the κοινωνία is expressed, and (c) to the “common thing” [The Gospel] in which all share; all of it is God’s doing
κοινωνία is not abstract. It is a concrete crashing together of people, actions, and a common core. So, several manifestations of κοινωνία are possible: When the church sees to the needs of its members (Acts 2:42-45; Rom 15:26; 2 Cor 8:4; 2 Cor 9:13). When members of the body work together in support of the proclamation of the Gospel (Phil 1:5). Even when members of the body are persecuted (Phil 3:10). The entire letter of 1 Corinthians demonstrates. “Participating together in Jesus Christ” (1:9) sets up the letter’s thematic call unity in 1:10 and describes the various ways that κοινωνία is expressed: •Avoiding factionalism (chaps. 1–4); •Exercising discipline in cases of gross sin (5); •Settling disputes without going to court (6); •Showing love when handling matters of Christian freedom (8–9); •Avoiding participating with those who worship idols (10); •Living as Christ’s eschatological community in the church’s worship, meals, and the Lord’s Supper (11); •Being a body, with Christ as the head (12); •Doing all things for the building up of that body in worship (12–14); and, •Ultimately, living today in the hope of the resurrection on the Last Day (15).
“Church” and κοινωνία must be kept distinct. “Church” is a “thing,” an entity; κοινωνία is an event. The church exists even when it is not gathered together in one place, but the church expresses κοινωνία properly only when God gathers his people together to share in a common thing under one Lord, Jesus Christ
κοινωνία is not fellowship between people; it is fellowship between people through sharing together in the same thing. In sharp contrast to a sociologically derived understanding of “fellowship” in which individuals relate directly to one another, in biblical κοινωνία individuals are connected to one another only through the common thing. Notice that in the diagrams of κοινωνία used earlier the arrows are not directly connecting one κοινωνός to another. Instead, the arrows are connecting each κοινωνός to the common thing and then through that common thing to the others.

Last edited 4 years ago by Pastor Bumble

Team Amber, Kimberly, Jeff, & Jho

4 years ago

“This Godlike love grows from an intimate love relationship with God.” I’m thankful for verses like 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 that speak so clearly. I am able to see the areas that are easy for me to show love in and celebrate that. It also reminds me of the areas that I struggle with. This verse provides good balance for me to both praise God for how He’s helped me to love others as He’s loved me, but also take inventory of why I have a harder time with other aspects of love. As I reflect on why I become easily angered, I’m able to confess how I’ve taken for granted that God is slow to anger with me in his abundant grace. I want to love fully, whether it’s my friends, with whom I find it easy to do, but also those I may not naturally get along with as well. Lord, I’m imperfect and fall short, yet you love me, are gracious to me, and renew me. Help me to love You more that I may love others better

Kevin

4 years ago

Today I am reminded of how we are as followers of Christ are connected together through one common thing, the Gospel. It amazes me how a community can do and achieve great things because of the Gospel. It shows the power of the word of God and how amazing God is. And when I live in a full loving relationship with God, I can also have the same quality with other members in fellowship. Sometimes, I don’t show that kind of love to the people that believe in the same Gospel. Even then I don’t recognize that I am doing that. But God reminds me that I need to be rooted in Christ everyday in a loving relationship with Him.
God, thank you for what you did on the cross for us. Help me to continue fully submit to you so that I can love my brother and sister in Christ the same love that you have for us

Team Timmy

4 years ago

From this passage, I saw how awesome fellowship is. When we are close to the Lord, that’s the glue that brings us all together as believers. That’s what brings us closer to Him and also closer to each other. I’m glad to say that I have experienced Koinonia in this church. I believe that I’ve had deep intimate friendships and relationships with people here and I’ve seen people lay down their lives or even their issues with each other for the unity of the body. That’s something that’s just so awesome to see. Dear God. Thank you for my RP family. Amen.

Team Crystal, Aivy, An, Jennifer, Ruby

4 years ago

Koinonia is the fullest possible partnership and fellowship with God and with others. Achieving koinonia is the most valuable accomplishment as it is an intimate partnership with not only God and His Son, Jesus Christ, but also with our brothers and sisters. It is the most complete expression of a love relationship with God, since it is the sharing of all God is with us and all we are with God. As we live in koinonia with God, we will have the same quality of loving fellowship with other believers.