September 22, 2024
Nikolas Tsamoutalidis
In the ancient time, there were many kinds of classes and fraternities and sororities and leagues and associations and unions and so on. But there was no fellowship. Before the coming of Jesus Christ, the word “fellowship” was very unfamiliar to people’s ears. Through Jesus’ coming, Christians began to use the word “fellowship.” These days, there are many fellowships. In 1 John chapter 1, the word “fellowship” is repeated four times (3,3,6,7), and it has a special meaning in the Bible. Therefore, when we say “fellowship,” its real meaning cannot be grasped as it was signified. So, instead of using the word “fellowship,” we want to use the word as it is in Greek, “koinonia.” Christian koinonia has such a deep meaning that we cannot explain all its meaning in this limited space. The word “relationship” is the basic thought of koinonia, and koinonia is a broad sense of relationship. Let’s think about Christian koinonia.
In the early days of Christianity, there was a glory and a splendor, a magnificence and a radiance; in other words, through Jesus’ death and resurrection, Christians had the flame of devotion, the thrill of world salvation and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. But after around 80 years, when John wrote 1 John in Ephesus, Christianity had become habitual, traditional and half-hearted. What is more, they became like old wineskins (Lk 5:37). There was a serious problem. There were many false teachers within the church. They were called Gnostics. This simple theory affected the early Christians and made them doubt the grace and truth of Jesus’ incarnation (Jn 1:14). Finally, they began to doubt the love of God. When we do not know the grace and truth of Jesus’ incarnation, we cannot realize the love of God. When we don’t realize the love of God, we don’t realize our parents’ love. When one has no love of God in his heart, he doesn’t know how to love his wife and children. When we do not know the grace and truth of Jesus’ incarnation, we remain as proud and unthankful people. When Christians were deceived by the Gnostics, they lost their first love for Jesus and became cold. When they lost their first love for Jesus, their faith became lukewarm. They had no interest in the work of God. Gradually, they began to love the world.
The Biblical Greek term **κοινωνία (koinōnía)** is rich in meaning and is often translated as “fellowship,” “communion,” “sharing,” or “participation.” It is derived from the Greek word **κοινός (koinós)**, which means “common” or “shared.”
In the context of the New Testament, **koinonia** refers to the deep spiritual connection and participation/partnership/sharing/friendship that believers have with one another, as well as with God based on the GOOD NEWS. It emphasizes a close-knit community where individuals share in each other’s lives, burdens, and joys, united by their common faith in Jesus Christ.
**Koinonia** implies active participation/sharing & contribution to the community, not just in a social sense but also in spiritual and material ways.
For example: In Philippians 2:1-4 – Unity Through Humility
1 Therefore if there is any [a]consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship (KOINONIA) of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
In Paul’s concise phrase (“if any fellowship with the Spirit”) he is reminding the church at Philippi that the reason they are a Christian community is because they share KOINONIA in the Holy Spirit. In other words, the Holy SPirit is the glue that joins them together as the community of faith.
Overall, **koinonia** captures the idea of a shared life in Christ, where believers are bound together in mutual love, support, and commitment to God and each other. Christian koinonia is compared to the vine and branch relationship. When we have a vine and branch relationship, we can have koinonia with Jesus. We can have koinonia with other Christian friends. We participate in anything for the sake of Jesus. Christian koinonia is real participation, whether loss or gain.
Above all, selfishness is connected w/ lovelessness AND Koinonia destroys the selfishness of fallen man.
1 John 1:3-4: 3 what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may have fellowship ( notice the word– “fellowship with us.” one of the key themes of this book) along with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. —Go down to verse 6, “If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sins.
Fellowship is one of the key themes in the New Testament. It means partnership. It means communion or community. We have something in common with God. And we have something in common with other believers. That’s why the family theme is so prominent here. God is our Father. And if he is my father, and he’s your Father, that makes you and I brother and sister. So we should treat each other with that same kind of tenderness and care, “Little children, love one another.” as John wrote in 1 John 3:18. I think one of the weak links in the church is fellowship, true fellowship when it comes to ministering to one another. That’s why we place an importance on Seed Groups, breaking up the large family into small units where there can be sharing, receiving, prayer, taking care of needs, physically, etc.,, accountability, that kind of thing that you can’t just get by being a part of the Sunday gathering, the body of Christ in fellowship one with another. Verse 4: Verse 4, notice, and you’re going to see this throughout the book, he says,
Here’s why I write this book. And there’s five different reasons he writes this book. Here’s one of them. “And these things we write to you–” here it is– “that your joy may be full.” NOTE: Note that some translations use the word “our” instead of “your”, because some old manuscripts switch out those two words. Either word still leads to the same application….joy is the end product of sincere fellowship. Now, John said that, but you know what?
John heard that first from somebody else who said that. He’s just repeating what somebody else said he was in the room when it happened. That was Jesus. At the last supper when he gave that discourse called the upper room discourse, Jesus said these words to them. Now, I’m reading out of John 15 verse 11. John wrote this as well. He was there. He recorded it. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you that my joy might remain in you–” listen– “and that your joy may be full.” The very next chapter, chapter 16 of John verse 23, “In that day you will ask me nothing. Most assuredly I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive that your joy may be full.” So John says, one reason I am writing you this book is I want you to have fullness of joy. The world is searching for joy. What the world is searching for, Jesus promised you have. You can have. The gospel produces joy. If there is no joy in your life, there is a leak in your Christianity. Is there a leak in your Christianity? John had fullness of joy, and he suffered being exiled to Patmos. He suffered the threat of being boiled in oil. And I believe he had fullness of joy. And he writes that we also might have fullness of joy.
The first aspect of fellowship is our communion with God Himself. John makes it clear that our fellowship with one another is inseparable from our fellowship with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. This vertical fellowship is the source of our horizontal fellowship. We are brought into communion with God through the person and work of Jesus Christ. By His death and resurrection, He has reconciled us to God, and by His Spirit, He has made us alive together with Him.
This fellowship with God is entirely a work of grace. It is not something we achieve by our efforts; it is something God grants us through His Son. We were once alienated from God, dead in our trespasses and sins, but God, being rich in mercy, made us alive together with Christ (Ephesians 2:1-5). This is the glorious doctrine of union with Christ—through faith, we are united to Christ, and in Him, we share in all the benefits of salvation: justification, adoption, sanctification, and glorification.
Our fellowship with God is the highest privilege of the Christian life. It is a relationship of love, trust, and obedience. It is a life lived in the presence of God, walking with Him, knowing Him, and enjoying Him forever. This fellowship is nurtured through the means of grace—the Word, community, communion, and prayer. As we engage in these means, the Holy Spirit deepens our communion with God and strengthens our faith.
So as you can see fellowship cannot be reduced to “idle chit chat over steaming coffee before or after a worship service”. It is gathering around what we believe and then living out that belief for the world to see.
We believe the apostles’ teaching about Jesus’ death and resurrection, we come together around one table, breaking one loaf of bread to proclaim Christ’s death as a community, and then we pray for our world, our communities, our church, and one another. It is the common Christian life recognized in belief and practice.
The second aspect of Koinonia is our communion with other believers. The church is not just a collection of individuals who happen to believe the same things; it is the body of Christ, united by the Spirit in a deep and abiding fellowship. This is why the local church is so vital. In our belief in Christ and the scriptures, we emphasize the importance of the visible church as the context in which believers experience this koinonia. The teaching/preaching of the Word, communion, intimacy, and mutual encouragement all occur within the gathered community of believers.
John’s proclamation has a purpose: “so that you also may have fellowship with us.” This fellowship is not merely a social connection; it is a deep, spiritual communion. It is a fellowship rooted in our common relationship with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
Fellowship with God and with one another is central to the Christian life. It is in this fellowship that we find support, encouragement, and mutual growth. We are not called to walk this journey alone. As believers, we are part of a spiritual family, sharing in the joys and challenges of life together.
This Koinonia is not based on human affinity or common interests; it is grounded in our shared union with Christ. We are one body because we are united to one Head, Jesus Christ. This unity is not something we create; it is something we receive by grace. And because it is rooted in Christ, this koinonia transcends all earthly divisions—whether they be cultural, social, or economic. In Christ, we are all one, and this oneness is both a gift and a calling. We are called to live out this unity in love, bearing one another’s burdens, encouraging one another, and spurring one another on toward love and good deeds.
Regarding these first three, you can’t have genuine fellowship, accountability, and encouragement by passively watching a service on your device or screen. God did not design a church gathering to be a place merely TO RECEIVE; instead HE intended it to be a place of engagement, where each person would use his or her personality, gifts, and passions for the glory of God in proximity with others and in meeting w/ the saints to publicly acknowledge Jesus as the Christ. We can use these media services as helpful supplementary growth, but we can never substitute them for gathering with the church as the church on Sundays and during the week. The screen is no substitute for the church. Real people with real issues need your contribution to the body of Christ. We are self-serving when we do not gather with the body of believers and use our own gifting to edify, serve, and present Christ to one another. Koinonia can not be passively experienced like a movie or play (i.e. Hebrews 10:19-25)
John concludes this passage with a remarkable statement: “And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” The goal of John’s writing, and indeed of the entire Christian life, is joy—a joy that is full and complete. But what is this joy, and how do we experience it?
The Source of Joy: True joy, according to Scripture, is found in the presence of God. Psalm 16:11 declares, “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” This joy is not dependent on our circumstances; it is rooted in our relationship with God. It is the joy of knowing that we are loved by God, that our sins are forgiven, that we are adopted into His family, and that we have eternal life in Christ.
We understand joy not as an emotional high but as a deep, abiding sense of contentment and satisfaction in God. This joy comes from knowing God and being known by Him. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit working in our hearts, producing in us a love for God and a delight in His will.
The Completeness of Joy: John speaks of a joy that is “complete.” This completeness points to the fullness of joy that comes from living in fellowship with God and with His people. It is a joy that is experienced in community. Just as our fellowship with God is not meant to be private but shared, so too our joy in God is made complete as we share it with others.
In the context of the church, we experience this complete joy as we worship together, serve together, and grow together in Christ. The joy of one believer enhances the joy of another. When we see God at work in each other’s lives, when we bear each other’s burdens, and when we celebrate God’s grace together, our joy is multiplied.
Furthermore, this joy is not just for this life but for eternity. Our fellowship with God and with one another will continue forever in the new heavens and the new earth. The joy we experience now is a foretaste of the eternal joy that awaits us. It is a joy that will be made perfect when we see Christ face to face and dwell with Him forever.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote that
“in any definition we may give of New Testament joy, is that we do not go to a dictionary; we go to the New Testament instead. This is something quite peculiar which cannot be explained; it is a quality which belongs to the Christian life in its essence, so that in our definition of joy we must be very careful that it conforms to what we see in our Lord. The world has never seen anyone who knew joy as our Lord knew it, and yet He was “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” So our definition of joy must somehow correspond to that… Joy is something very deep and profound, something that affects the whole and entire personality. In other words it comes to this –
There is only one thing that can give true joy
and that is contemplation of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He satisfies my mind; He satisfies my emotions; He satisfies my every desire. He and His great salvation include the whole personality and nothing less, and in Him I am complete. Joy, in other words, is the response and the reaction of the soul to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I love how in his book, “The Weight of Glory”, C.S. Lewis writes, “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal…it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, & exploit.”
All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of the eternal destinations written in scripture. After our sovereign savior King, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.
In his commentary, Leon Morris underlines the idea that the fellowship mentioned in these verses is both vertical and horizontal. He writes, “The Christian life is about fellowship with God, which naturally extends to fellowship with other believers. The joy of this fellowship is a key theme in John’s writings, emphasizing that our relationship with God brings about a shared joy that is to be lived out within the community of faith.”
This commentary underscores that 1 John 1:3-4 presents a profound truth: Christian fellowship is rooted in the historical reality of Jesus Christ and leads to a life of shared joy in communion with God and His people. This fellowship is both the means by which we experience the fullness of God’s joy and the end goal of the Christian life.
Biblical: Acts 2:42-47 (CSB) A Generous and Growing Church 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number[a] those who were being saved.
4 essential elements: Doctrine, Koinonia, Communion, and Intimacy vertically/horizontally through prayer (A model to know and follow God’s design for us today)
Fundamental characteristic – Church gathers regularly, faithfully. Called to spend time together corporate & continual. Gatherings in proximity are essential because through these gatherings the mission of the church is facilitated.
Why do we gather? 1) To make disciples 2) Bring the Lost to the Church 3) Maturing & training Saints in Christ —all seen in Matthew 28:19-20
If we gather just for the sake to gather = unhealthy & soon we won’t be a church at all. And it’s more than being present in attendance together; the early church experienced a meaningful close relationship resembling a family.
Conditioned w/ the phrase “Come w/ expectant hearts” – to come expecting something @ church and seed group vs. contributing to the church gathering. Do we come looking for others to engage us or do we come looking to engage others? Are we gathering or just showing up? A Koinonia mindset = the church becomes more about encouraging others & exalting Christ & so much less about us.
- Temptation is restrained as Koinonia is developed we move away from sin & toward righteousness – we gather w/ a purpose to contribute to the community & not to have a personal experience. And our intentionality in Koinonia not only develops but manitians community & not idly gather. We get to minister to one another in the name of Jesus. Thus, Koinonia is designed by God to restrain sin and build community.
Nationally: It is no secret that the United States of America is in serious trouble you and I are witnessing what we might call the Devolution of a Nation not the evolution of a Nation. Most people today assume that the issues facing our nation are fundamentally political. What America is facing today that may show up
politically is really spiritual decay in the culture. You know that this is happening when evil becomes legalized. When government endorses evil legalizes evil legislatively permits and encourages evil. That means that that government has drifted from God, and the further a government drifts from God it removes itself from Divine cover. In 1 Samuel chapter 8 the breakdown of the family led to an appeal to government. Today many of the problems that government is trying to fix is because family has broken down. You would not nearly have all the issues we face if families were families the way God intended them to be. When government seeks to override God, when it makes decisions against God, when it seeks to thwart the will of God it then becomes a rejection of God, because government was created by God to manage civilization on behalf of God to keep order in society as Romans 13 says. Government is going to tax you at the rate you’re supposed to be giving to GOD remember the tithe is what every Christian should be giving the Lord from the top, that is established all the way away from Genesis that the tithe Belongs to the Lord it does not belong to you. But since government is playing God because it’s rejected GOD they’re going to require of you what I require of you because they’re playing God, so he condemns them he condemns them not because they wanted a king but because they wanted a system of government like all the other nations and that system of government he says will put God out. So the further you exclude God the further you become like 1 Samuel 8. You cannot exclude God and then complain that taxes are going up, you cannot exclude God and complain about the size of government government. It will always expand when God is removed because then government must play God and the tragedy is many of God’s people vote for government to play God because we do not have a Biblical view of government.
And as time unfolds, Koinonia will become more and more of a lifeline and an Outpost of Grace from the Godlessness & Darkness that will continue to cover the earth. And you are equipping your children fully, partially, or not at all depending upon the value you place on the intimate weekly gathering. Your children and children’s children are counting on us.
We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked, and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, isolated, and lonely is the greatest poverty.
+ Mother Teresa +
So as I’ve mentioned frequently today, The Christian life is not just a private affair; it’s a shared experience, sharing life together and this journey is not a solo activity…it is a team effort. It’s like the difference between Boston Marathon (runners by themselves) and the Tour de France (team of bikers trying to get their top racer to the finish line. Nowhere in scripture do we see a Jesus and me lone ranger disciple.
We need to be sensitive and on the lookout for those within the body and those outside of the body that are isolated, lonely, and believe they are unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. This mindset never results in anything good. We are better together w/ Christ at the center of it all.
5 Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come.
He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. 7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:5-8
The Current reality & Call we have in this space that we gather at LHS – a perfect description of the thousands that are lost and the ones planted in the river of life with rivers of living water flowing out of us to bear the fruits of the spirit to a dry and barren land.
Let’s not only be a worship service, but a missional church beacuse that is the only kind of church. Are we running to Darkness here in Liberty H.S. and serving the lost? We have been here now for 1,106 days. What is our fruit?
Healthy things grow and growing things multiply (say it 2x) Are we multiplying out of healthy growth? Because this is how God designed it…Because we are called to pick up our towels. To see a community rooted and growing together in Christ. And one of the ways we grow is in service and being the hands and feet of Christ. We were never called to be the frozen chosen, but to love God, Love others, and to Do Something. Towel and service before a title or recognition. Are we taking the Gospel to Liberty? Bethlehem? To serve the people here in this space AND PUSH BACK THE DARKNESS & serve/minister (teachers/staff/students/families) Blessings follow Obedience. Are we being obedient to our call in impacting this school community or do we simply gather here on Sundays?
IF WE DON’T REACH THE PEOPLE WITH THE COMPASSION AND EMPATHY OF CHRIST I GUARANTEE YOU THAT WE WILL NEVER CONNECT W/THEM AND MAKE THEM FEEL CONNECTED TO OUR KOINONIA AND MAKE THEM FEEL PURPOSE AND MAKE THEM FEEL HOPE IN CHRIST. OUR JOB IS TO SHOW UP FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS AND EMPOWER THEM. MAKE THEM FEEL CARED FOR AD MAKE THEM FEEL CAPABLE ALL FOR HIS KINGDOM.
HERE ARE SOME PRACTICAL WAYS TO IMPLEMENT KOINONIA:
How about signing up for FIND ministry? – John Piccolo and I are meeting with the administration on Tuesday morning at 8:30 a.m. to present this to them and find some lost and hurting souls and Lord willing bring them to Christ and in an eternal inheritance.
How about an outreach sharing the Gospel like a car wash where we give everyone $1 Car Wash w/ a Gospel Pamphlet/handout – which is uncommon and will open the door to a conversation asking us why we are doing this? And to share the Gospel.
Are you sharing your spiritual gifts with this body? And if you are unsure of your gifts have you spoken to any of the elders here? Blessings follow obedience.
Are you hospitable in not only tangible items such as food but are you presenting Christ to others in your countenance, demenaro, words, etc.? Blessings follow obedience.
Are you gathering w/ others beyond Sundays? If not, then you do not truly believe nor follow Acts 2:42 and are stunting your growth and someone else by not sharing Christ in you the Hope of Glory. Blessings follow obedience.
Are we encouraging one another? When was the last time you sent an encouraging text or simply uttered encouraging edifying words to a fellow brother or sister? Blessing follow obedience.
Are we serving one another & sharing (KOINONIA) our abundance? Because most if not all of us are more blessed economically than 90% of the globe right now. When was the last time you served a fellow brother/sister of the faith where you sacrificed your pocket book and time? Would you gather weekly w/ others if you had to contribute? Would you host others at your home if the church did not reimburse you? If the church would stop doing this, what would happen to your gatherings? Cause I know what happened to ours…do you see the value and worth in your fellow Brother like Christ does to extend into your pocketbook and sacrifice your money and funds because Christ loves them and they are worth it. Blessings follow obedience.
How are you living out KOINONIA today? What new practices can you adopt to present Christ to our Vine brothers/sisters and our community?
Remember: Koinonia destroys the selfishness of fallen man.