01/05/2026
Venue : Athens
Date: March 29, Sunday
Time: 3pm
Topic: The Necessity of Christian Fellowship
Base Text: 1 John 1
Original: κοινωνία
Transliteration: koinōnia
Thayer Definition:
• fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, in*******se
• the share which one has in anything, participation
• in*******se, fellowship, intimacy
• the right hand as a sign and pledge of fellowship (in fulfilling the apostolic office)
• a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment and proof of fellowship
Part(s) of speech: Noun Feminine
Strong's Definition: From G2844; partnership, that is, (literally) participation, or (social) in*******se, or (pecuniary) benefaction: - (to) communicate (-ation), communion, (contri-), distribution, fellowship.
How to have fellowship
that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3, ESV)
True fellowship or communion exists when two parties share with the same thing; in this case, Christ. We cannot share Christ if we don't have him. (Invitation to unbelievers).
That brings me to point no. 1 why there is a need for Christian fellowship.
I. Because that's simply natural for all believers (1 John 1:3)
The most fragmented religious group is Christianity.
II. Because that's the High Priestly prayer of Jesus (John 17:11,20-23)
And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. (John 17:11, ESV)
20 "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (John 17:20-23, ESV)
III. Because that's the end goal of equipping (Eph. 4:13)
until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, (Ephesians 4:13, ESV)
IV. To avoid unholy alliances (1 John 1:6-7)
6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:6-7, ESV)
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:14-18, ESV)
There was an Evangelical and Catholic Together document that was forged in 1994 where 40 signatories from the evangelical and catholic camps signed it.
Conclusion
The ground of our Christian fellowship is Christ.
The fulfillment of our unity is Christ's prayer
The end goal of our equipping and growth is Christian unity
Our protection against unholy alliances is Christian communion
