May 21, 2023 Live Stream | Central Baptist Church

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound significance of heavenly fellowship and its transformative power in our lives. We began with a touching story about Nicole, a young mother who found renewed faith and purpose through the loving support of her church community. This story illustrated how fellowship is more than just socializing; it’s about sharing a common purpose, values, and beliefs that unite us in our love for God and each other.

We delved into the concept of the Trinity's perfect unity as described in John 17:20-23. Jesus' prayer for unity among believers mirrors the unity within the Trinity, emphasizing that our love and unity serve as a powerful witness to the world. The Trinity exemplifies how distinct persons can be united in purpose and mission, a model we should strive to emulate in our relationships.

We also discussed the joy of heavenly fellowship as depicted in Revelation 21:3. Heaven is a place where God dwells among His people, bringing an end to all pain and sorrow. This vision of eternal joy and intimate relationship with God encourages us to seek a taste of that fellowship here on Earth.

Through the story of David, a businessman who found true fulfillment in selfless love, we learned that practicing empathy and compassion can transform our lives and relationships. Similarly, Lena's experience with her Bible study group showed how earthly fellowship can provide a glimpse of the heavenly community we will one day enjoy.

Finally, we examined how fellowship can transform us from earthly strangers to heavenly companions, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 22:30. Our relationships in heaven will be far deeper and more meaningful, focused solely on our relationship with God. We are called to build this kind of community now, through forgiveness, reconciliation, and intentional relationships.

### Key Takeaways

1. **The Power of Fellowship**: Fellowship is more than socializing; it’s about sharing a common purpose, values, and beliefs that unite us in our love for God and each other. This unity provides support, encouragement, and accountability, helping us grow spiritually and mature in our faith. [02:09:15]

2. **Trinity's Perfect Unity**: The unity within the Trinity serves as a model for our relationships. Just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct yet united in purpose, we too can achieve unity by valuing each other's unique contributions and striving for a common mission. [02:13:15]

3. **Joy of Heavenly Fellowship**: Revelation 21:3 paints a picture of heaven as a place of indescribable joy and intimate relationship with God. This vision encourages us to seek a taste of that fellowship here on Earth, experiencing the love and support of a faith community. [02:19:06]

4. **Transformative Power of Selfless Love**: Practicing empathy and compassion, as exemplified by David's story, can transform our lives and relationships. Selfless love draws people to us and allows us to form deeper, more meaningful connections, reflecting the love of Christ. [02:17:10]

5. **From Earthly Strangers to Heavenly Companions**: Jesus teaches that our relationships in heaven will be transformed, focused solely on our relationship with God. By embracing forgiveness and reconciliation now, we can build a community that mirrors the perfect fellowship we will experience in heaven. [02:25:04]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[02:08:39] - Nicole's Story: The Power of Fellowship
[02:10:35] - Understanding True Fellowship
[02:12:30] - Trinity's Triumphant Bond
[02:15:15] - David's Transformation: Selfless Love
[02:19:06] - Joy of Heavenly Fellowship
[02:21:39] - Lena's Story: Finding Community
[02:24:17] - Earthly Strangers to Heavenly Companions
[02:26:58] - Nancy's Act of Reconciliation
[02:30:11] - Building Intentional Relationships
[02:33:02] - Practical Steps for Cultivating Fellowship
[02:36:10] - The Importance of Unity
[02:37:23] - Invitation to Respond
[02:38:34] - Closing Prayer
[02:39:09] - Final Hymn: Footsteps of Jesus

There was a group of women in a small church who decided to plan a surprise celebration for all the young mothers in their congregation. They spent weeks organizing and preparing, ensuring that every detail was perfect. The day finally arrived, and the church was filled with laughter, joy, and love.

One mother, Nicole, was particularly moved by the outpouring of love from her church family. She had been struggling in her faith and feeling isolated, but seeing the smiling faces of her fellow believers made her feel a sense of belonging and acceptance.

After the celebration, Nicole approached the group of women who had organized the event and thanked them for their hard work. As they talked, Nicole shared her own struggles and doubts, and the women listened with open hearts and minds. They offered her words of encouragement, prayed with her, and promised to be there for her whenever she needed.

From that day on, Nicole felt a sense of purpose and passion in her faith. She knew she wasn't alone, that she had a community of believers who would support her through thick and thin. She embraced the power of fellowship, recognizing that it was more than just being with other Christians – it was about sharing a common purpose, values, and beliefs that united them in their love for God and each other.

As Mother's Day came to a close, Nicole felt deep gratitude for her church family. She knew they were not just friends but sisters in Christ, bound together by their faith and commitment to one another. She looked forward to the day when they would all be together again in the presence of God, united in their love for Him and each other.

The title of today's sermon is "United in Glory: Discovering the Power of Heavenly Fellowship." The sermon explores the importance of fellowship in our lives and how it keeps us connected and united as believers. It explains that fellowship goes beyond socializing or hanging out with other Christians – it's about sharing a common purpose, values, and beliefs that unite us.

Fellowship provides support through the ups and downs of life and celebrates each other's successes while bearing each other's burdens. The sermon emphasizes that our eternal destiny is one of fellowship as well. In heaven, we will be in the presence of God and with each other, united in our love for Him and one another.

The sermon encourages the congregation to embrace fellowship in their lives both now and for eternity. It states that fellowship is a vital part of our Christian journey and keeps us connected to God and each other. It urges the congregation to draw strength from one another, learn from one another, and be accountable to one another. Together, they can discover the power of heavenly fellowship and be united in glory.

The sermon provides an outline on the back of the bulletin to help the congregation follow along. It then delves deeper into the concept of fellowship, focusing on the Trinity's triumphant bond. It explains that Jesus pleaded with the Father to unify all believers, just as He and the Father are one. Through this spiritual bond, believers become partakers of the glory of the Trinity and experience eternal life in heaven.

The sermon emphasizes that unity in love for one another serves as a powerful witness to the truth of the gospel. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to testify to this truth and bring others into the fellowship of believers.

The sermon then discusses the joy of fellowship in heaven, describing it as beyond our wildest dreams. It references Revelation 21:3, which speaks of God dwelling among His people and bringing an end to pain, sorrow, and suffering. The sermon highlights the intimate relationship between God and His people in heaven, characterized by love, joy, and celebration. It states that this fellowship in heaven is a deeper understanding of God and each other, free from sin and division.

Moving on, the sermon explores how fellowship transforms our lives on Earth. It speaks of the passage in Matthew 22:30, where Jesus describes the nature of relationships in heaven, saying that people will not marry or be given in marriage but will be like angels. The sermon explains that in the resurrection, relationships will be transformed, taking us from earthly strangers to heavenly companions.

It emphasizes that fellowship in heaven will be focused solely on our relationship with God, and our relationships on Earth should reflect this, with forgiveness, reconciliation, and unity.

To illustrate the power of fellowship, the sermon shares stories of individuals who found transformation and joy through community. It encourages the congregation to cultivate meaningful connections by attending church regularly, joining smaller groups like Sunday school or Bible study, serving together through volunteering, and praying with others.

The sermon concludes by reminding the congregation of the promise of heavenly fellowship and the joy of being united with God and fellow believers. It encourages them to live with anticipation and hope for that day and to strive for unity and love in their earthly relationships.

Fellowship has the power to transform us and bring us closer to God and each other. It is a vital part of our Christian journey and should be embraced and pursued both now and for eternity.