"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."
- Henry V, Shakespeare
Recently through a good conversation with a fellow Christian brother, I was spurred to faith and good works. It wasn't a motivational speech, nor a "Come to Jesus" plea, but just two Christians, who were both struggling with spiritual disciplines, talking about who we wanted to be. We didn't have too inspirational of a discussion, it was just the Spirit using biblical fellowship to encourage us and draw us after himself. We were reminded of our own pride and depravity, in large part thanks to the other pointing it out for us. It was great. I always hope for these conversations but they rarely happen.
How can we make this type of fellowship more often come about? First off, we need to define what we are looking for. What is biblical fellowship? I will draw from Philippians 1:3-11, though other passages, esp. Ephesians 4:29, speak better to the question (can you tell I am having devotions in Philippians?).
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (English Standard Version)
From this passage, we see that believers are partners in the Gospel (v.5), those in whom God is working (v.6), and partakers of grace (v.7). Fellowship is a sharing of these things. It is unique to believers, and it is sharing about the Gospel, grace, and how God is working. It encourages (or builds up) and gives grace to those who hear - Eph. 4:29.
So if that is the goal, giving grace and building up by speaking of God and his grace, how do we practically do this?
Intentionality guided through and enabled by the Spirit.
Intentionality - plan for it, seek it, look for it. Few great things happen without purpose. You need a plan. This doesn't have to be the formality of an accountability group where there might be a set agenda, but can happen in weekly appointments. Taylor Jervis and I met nearly once a week for such discussions of what we were trying to do, struggling with, and how God was at work. It was very grace-giving and encouraging, but we just sat down for lunch (it kind of became expensive, new plan next year). Even in chance or random encounters, seek out worthwhile conversation. Let smalltalk happen, don't be weird, but move toward meaningful discussion. Share your spiritual life with other believers. Here are a few lead-in questions that might be useful:
What are you reading?
(in the bible or otherwise)
How is your small group/Sunday school/accountability group/marriage/etc. going?
How was the sermon Sunday? How are you applying it?
(important here to move to application rather than critique as critiquing might not give grace)
How are you doing in the spiritual discipllines?
Intentional questions like these guide conversations to weightier, but more worthwhile discussion and give grace.
Enabled by the Spirit - all of our Christian lives are lived through and enabled by the Spirit, this area included. We don't want to apply techniques and assume they will work apart from the Spirit's enabling and gifting. Seek to apply these things, but with prayer and dependence.
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