Spiritual Fellowship
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. The foundation for Spiritual Fellowship is from John 13:34
The church is a great place to experience spiritual fellowship. For instance, most churches have opportunities to fellowship with others in a group for Bible studies, coffee between services, and to serve others through missions supported through the Church. Not long ago, October 2011, Gina, my wife and I became members of Dexter United Methodist Church who hosts nearly a thousand members. I remember first going to the Church, sometime in 2010, we would go to the third service and listen in on the sermon of the day, and as soon as the service was over, we were among the first ones out the door.
We were at best, ignorant of what spiritual fellowship is. In time we started to go more regularly, one because we enjoyed the sermons and the worship band, but more, we fervently felt a connection with God, and other members of the Church. We became involved in various Bible studies, fellowship between services, and volunteered our time to many of the missions they support.
Bring your own Monogram Coffee Mug: https://amzn.to/4jzpKiV
Serving others through missions
One of my favorite missions is Habitat for Humanity. We volunteered our time working on homes that Habitat refurbishes for families to move into. One of the qualifications for families is to also work on the home they will be able to purchase for little or no down payment and a reduced interest rate. This was fun to work aside those families and share stories, and have lunch provided by other members of the church would prepare.
This past Winter there was an auction at the Church for Habitat, and we volunteered our painting services for bidding and one of the members of the Church won that bid whom utilized our service. Additionally, we bid on another member of the Church that has a cottage in Canadian Lakes about 2 hours north of the Church. We enjoyed a nice weekend getaway there during Summer. All the while Habitat for Humanity reaps the rewards of the auction. With all the proceeds from the auction going towards providing housing for low-income families.
Coming together in Unity
One of our basic, fundamental needs is to have shelter. Shelter not only provides just that, shelter, it also brings a sense of security and happiness to us and our families. Some people find their niche in the worship band, others who may enjoy helping with fellowship dinners. I have a friend at the Church who owns a Trout Farm, and he gave the Church enough trout to feed over a hundred people one evening for the fellowship dinners, and so many more ways to be of service and experience spiritual fellowship.
The concept of spiritual fellowship is for members of the Church and the community is when we share the same love for Jesus as we celebrate with each other and enjoy the companionship of others even if for a cup of coffee between services, or an in-depth study of the Bible in a small group setting.
Decor for your home: https://amzn.to/42dguew
We have just finished a Bible study on the book of Acts which was a six-week study where we gathered to discuss the beginning of the Church and the Holy spirit. Now we are planning a potluck at one of the members’ homes and will share a meal and possibly discuss other Bible studies, make a few friends, but at the very least we all shared an interest of learning something together. The vast number of friends you encounter is enormous and you are among true friends of God at Church.
Church family
One of my fondest memories is of our commencement of joining the Church when we were introduced as the newest members of Dexter United Methodist Church, and as the Pastor’s called our names they handed us a key to the Church, our Spiritual home where our fears are now overcome through our Faith. I encourage you to, if you don’t belong to a church now is to find one you feel welcomed and share the same values in which the church supports. Keep in mind that, Pastor Matt always welcomed others but also said “if you are looking for the perfect church, keep looking” we are all sinners trying our best to become more Christ like in a fallen world.
Blessings to you and thank you for reading…
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