What is Christian fellowship and why is fellowship so important?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

God calls believers to fellowship. Christian fellowship is essential for spiritual growth, as it involves gathering together to encourage, teach, serve, and share life with one another. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were commanded to gather for worship, such as during annual festivals and every seven years to read the Law (Deuteronomy 16:16; 31:10–13). The New Testament highlights fellowship as central to the early Christian community, where believers met regularly to learn, pray, and serve one another (Acts 2:42–47; Hebrews 10:24–25). Fellowship is where we practice living in Christian community and is also key to practicing ordinances like baptism and communion (Matthew 28:18–20; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17). In today’s world, Christian fellowship remains critical for spiritual development, as it helps believers grow in unity, strengthen their faith, and live out their faith in community.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Chrisitan fellowship is mentioned in the New Testament; however, the Old Testament frequently highlights the importance of gathering among the Israelites, especially for worship, learning, and unity. The Israelites were commanded to gather specifically to celebrate festivals three times a year—Passover, the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Deuteronomy 16:16). These gatherings were times of worship and reminders of God’s provision and deliverance. Coming together as a community helped reinforce their identity as God’s people.
• In Deuteronomy 31:10–13, Moses commanded the people to gather every seven years to publicly read the Law. This gathering, which included men, women, and children, ensured that every generation knew God’s Word and His covenant with them.
• After the Babylonian exile, the Israelites gathered for worship and to hear the Law read aloud by Ezra (Nehemiah 8:1–8). This assembly was a time of repentance, recommitment, and understanding of God's instructions. The communal gathering helped restore Israel's identity and strengthened their covenant relationship with God.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The early Christians clearly emphasized the importance of fellowship. Acts 2:42 notes, "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." In the early church, "day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people" (Acts 2:46–47).
• The New Testament word for "fellowship," koinonia, expresses the idea of being together for mutual benefit. Hebrews 10:24–25 shares this idea, saying, "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Fellowship with other believers is important because it helps express love to one another and it encourages good works.
• Jesus told His disciples, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). The love Christians have for one another, expressed in Christian community, can influence others toward faith in Jesus Christ.
• Fellowship is also important for prayer. Early believers were committed to prayer, both individually and in groups. In James 5:14–16, elders were called together to pray for the sick as well as for those who had sinned. This required being together.
• Christian fellowship is also important for church decision-making. In both Acts 6 and Acts 15, the early church gathered together to make important decisions about the future direction of the church. These required community, prayer, and close discussion.
• Christian fellowship is essential for baptism. A new believer cannot baptize themselves, as baptism is meant to be a public profession of faith. Fellow Christians gather to celebrate the baptism and serve as witnesses to the person's commitment to new life in Jesus Christ, as described in Matthew 28:19: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
• Likewise, Christian fellowship is necessary for communion, or the Lord’s Supper. Communion, as Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 10:16–17, is about coming together to remember Christ's sacrifice: “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.” This ancient practice requires gathering with other believers to share in the remembrance of Christ’s body and blood, a connection not easily replicated in an online setting and not possible alone.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Though many believers today do not recognize the importance of fellowship or local church involvement, Christian fellowship is essential to spiritual growth. Many aspects of our spiritual lives depend on being together with other believers to encourage, teach, serve, and share life together. Hebrews 10:24–25 urges us to meet regularly, spurring one another toward love and good deeds. Fellowship strengthens our faith, allowing us to learn and apply God’s Word alongside others who can share wisdom and inspiration (Proverbs 27:17). By gathering, we serve one another and grow in unity as the body of Christ, bringing Him glory and reflecting His love to others through our shared lives and faith.

UNDERSTAND

• God calls believers not to neglect Christian fellowship.
• Christian fellowship is important because it helps us live out our faith, loving one another, and encouraging good works.
• Christian fellowship is important for prayer, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper.

REFLECT

• How have you experienced the benefits of Christian fellowship in your own life? How has fellowship with other believers strengthened your faith?
• How can you be intentional about participating in Christian fellowship, both for your own growth and so that you can be part of helping others in their spiritual growth?
• How does being part of a Christian community influence your understanding of God's love and purpose for your life?

ENGAGE

• How can we encourage others to prioritize fellowship and communal worship in a world that often values individualism?
• What are some practical ways we can create a stronger sense of fellowship within our church community?
• How does Christian fellowship help us to be more effective witnesses of God’s love to those who do not yet know Him?