Divine Fellowship: Embracing the New Covenant Life

In the early 1980s, as we were constructing our first building, the question arose about the true meaning of our church's name, Christian Fellowship Church (CFC). The "F" in CFC stands for fellowship, a concept that transcends mere friendship. While friendship is a human connection, fellowship is divine, a deeper spiritual bond that was not possible in the Old Testament. The New Covenant, established by Jesus, offers us this divine fellowship through the Holy Spirit, enabling us to overcome sin and live a godly life.

The Old Covenant, represented by the law, was about human effort and struggle, which ultimately led to failure. In contrast, the New Covenant is about God working within us, writing His laws on our hearts and minds, and empowering us through the Holy Spirit. This transformation is akin to moving from pushing a car to driving it, where the Holy Spirit provides the power to live victoriously.

A key aspect of this New Covenant life is the exchange of our limited resources for God's infinite riches. Like a beggar woman offered a marriage to a wealthy prince, we are invited to give our all to Jesus in exchange for His abundance. This total surrender is essential for experiencing the fullness of the Spirit and overcoming sin.

True Christian fellowship begins with a vertical relationship with God, which then extends horizontally to others. The cross symbolizes this dual relationship, with the vertical arm representing our fellowship with God and the horizontal arm our fellowship with one another. The strength of our horizontal relationships is directly linked to the depth of our vertical relationship with God.

In the church, we are called to be more than a congregation or a club; we are to be a body, interconnected and functioning under the headship of Christ. This requires honesty, integrity, and a commitment to truth, avoiding hypocrisy and living authentically. As we partake in the breaking of bread, we proclaim our fellowship with Christ and with each other, committing to live in unity and love.

Key Takeaways

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  2. The New Covenant's Power: The New Covenant is about God working within us, transforming our hearts and minds, and empowering us through the Holy Spirit. This divine empowerment is essential for living a victorious Christian life.
  
  3. Total Surrender: Like the beggar woman offered a marriage to a wealthy prince, we are called to give our all to Jesus in exchange for His infinite riches. This total surrender is crucial for experiencing the fullness of the Spirit and overcoming sin.
  
  4. Vertical and Horizontal Relationships: True Christian fellowship begins with a vertical relationship with God, which then extends horizontally to others. The strength of our horizontal relationships is directly linked to the depth of our vertical relationship with God.
  
  5. Authentic Christian Living: In the church, we are called to live authentically, avoiding hypocrisy and committing to truth. Our fellowship with Christ and each other is proclaimed through the breaking of bread, symbolizing our unity and love.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:38] - Building the First Church
• [01:21] - The Meaning of Fellowship
• [02:06] - Friendship vs. Fellowship
• [03:40] - The New Covenant
• [04:59] - Forgiveness vs. Salvation
• [06:52] - Spiritual Enemies
• [08:40] - The Power of the Holy Spirit
• [10:48] - God's Love for Us
• [12:46] - Total Surrender
• [15:11] - The Normal Christian Life
• [18:07] - Overcoming Sin
• [21:12] - Vertical and Horizontal Fellowship
• [31:42] - Authentic Christian Living
• [41:19] - Unity in the Body of Christ

1. Hebrews 8:10-12
2. 1 John 1:1-3
3. Matthew 1:21

1. What is the difference between friendship and fellowship as described in the sermon? How does this distinction relate to the New Covenant? [01:44]
2. According to the sermon, what was the primary limitation of the Old Covenant, and how does the New Covenant address this limitation? [04:39]
3. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of total surrender using the analogy of the beggar woman and the wealthy prince? [12:46]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between our vertical relationship with God and our horizontal relationships with others? [21:12]

1. How does the New Covenant empower believers to overcome sin, and why is this empowerment significant for living a victorious Christian life? [08:40]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that total surrender to Jesus is crucial for experiencing the fullness of the Spirit? How does this relate to the analogy of the beggar woman? [12:46]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in transforming our lives from human effort to divine empowerment? What does this transformation look like in practical terms? [09:29]
4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of authenticity and integrity in Christian fellowship, and how does this relate to the breaking of bread? [31:42]

1. Reflect on your current relationships. Are they more like friendships or fellowships? How can you deepen your spiritual connections with others in your church community? [01:44]
2. Consider the areas in your life where you are still relying on your own efforts rather than the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. What steps can you take to invite the Holy Spirit to work more fully in those areas? [08:40]
3. The sermon uses the analogy of a beggar woman to illustrate total surrender. What are the "two rupees" in your life that you are hesitant to give up to Jesus? How can you take a step towards total surrender this week? [12:46]
4. How can you strengthen your vertical relationship with God to improve your horizontal relationships with others? Identify one specific action you can take this week to deepen your fellowship with God. [21:12]
5. The sermon emphasizes the importance of authenticity in Christian living. Are there areas in your life where you feel you are not living authentically? What changes can you make to align your actions with your beliefs? [31:42]
6. Reflect on the concept of the church as a body, interconnected and functioning under the headship of Christ. How can you contribute to the unity and functioning of your church community? [41:19]
7. The sermon discusses the breaking of bread as a proclamation of fellowship with Christ and each other. How can you prepare your heart and mind to participate in this practice more meaningfully? [31:42]