Gospel Basics

As some of us look at going out next Sunday to share the gospel, now is a good time for us all to meditate on just what the gospel is. Rather than post the text on this site, here is a link to an article that I believe does a good job in covering the basics of the gospel message:

http://www.the-highway.com/gospel_Pilgrim.html

What exactly is fellowship....?

I think it's great that we have all been moving forward to establish better relationships within the class. We all seem to understand the importance of fellowship in the body of Christ, but have you ever looked at exactly what fellowship is from a biblical viewpoint? Does Christian fellowship have any parameters, any goals or any uniqueness that separates it from the social interaction that takes place between those outside the Church?

Here are a few points from an article that I thought answered some of the questions:

What fellowship is not. In its neglect, Christians have

redefined fellowship to mean any warm human interchange—

especially when we make connection with someone

and discover that we have common interests, experiences,

or viewpoints.

If I spend time with a brother in Christ playing volleyball,

talking about shared political views, or following the ups

and downs of an NFL franchise, we may have a wonderful

time and deepen a friendship. But in none of those things

will we have had fellowship.

Let me press the point further. Fellowship is not (at

least not necessarily) going to a Bible study with someone,

or sharing doctrinal commitments, or attending a Christian

men’s rally where emotions run deep and passions are high.

Fellowship is not found in a “group therapy” session where

participants reveal their darkest thoughts—even if everyone

in the group is a Christian and brings a Bible. In fact, two

Christians can be married to one another and still not

experience fellowship.

What fellowship is. Fellowship is a uniquely Christian

relational experience. No one but those born of the Spirit

of God can have fellowship—which makes its neglect all the

more tragic.

The word “fellowship,” as it is found in the English

Bible, is a translation of the Greek word koinonia. Saying

the word aloud brings to mind our word “community,”

and so it should, for koinonia is its root. But sadly,

politicians and sociologists have effectively redefined

“community” to mean “special-interest group,” so we

need additional words to get at its meaning. Here the

Revised Standard Version of the Scriptures can help. It

translates koinonia as “fellowship,” but also as “participation,”

and “sharing” (in the following verses, these words

are italicized for emphasis).

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching

and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the

prayers” (Ac 2:42).

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any

incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any

affection and sympathy...”

(Php 2:1).

“...and I pray that the

sharing of your faith

may promote the

knowledge of all the

good that is ours in

Christ” (Phm 1:6).

What is fellowship as

defined in the New

Testament? Just this: participating

together in the life

and truth made possible by

the Holy Spirit through our

union with Christ. Fellowship

is sharing something in

common on the deepest possible

level of human relationship—

our experience of God

himself.

Participating together...

life and truth...sharing in

common...human relationship...experience of God—these

phrases capture the essence of the unique Christian experience

of fellowship.

Fellowship with God is the prerequisite to fellowship

with others. This is the explicit message of John in his

first biblical letter:

“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so

that you also may have fellowship with us. And our

fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus

Christ....If we claim to have fellowship with him yet

walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the

truth. 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, purifies us from all sin”

(1Jn 1:3, 6-7).

What can we do to posture

ourselves to experience fellowship?

The list is long:

• Worship God together.
• Pray for one another
• Utilize our spiritual gifts
• Carry one another’s burdens.
• Share about our spiritual experiences
• Confess our sins to one another
• Correct one another
• Serve one another in practical ways.

Each of us has family responsibilities in the church.

Fellowship encompasses a major responsibility to care for

another’s soul and to get help for our own so that together

we can be all that God intends us to be.

So what about you, are you willing and available to build a fellowship that gets under the surface--a fellowship that sees God honored, prayers answered, brothers and sisters growing, needs met and believers encouraged?

Re-purposing The BLOG

Hello! I would like to make a motion to re-purpose the blog to discussion related content as it relates to One Heart Young Families.

I think that our test of the Blog for coordinating events was a good experiment but failed due to lack of people actually visiting the Blog site and, therefore, not knowing or creating conflicts of information about upcoming events. It seems that email and Sunday mornings have become a more reliable method of communication.

That doesn't mean that the blog isn't worthwhile. It is an excellent way to have further discussions that our 30 minute sunday school class may not have the ability to carry on - or perhaps there are further topics of interest as it relates to young families in the life of OHC...

I think it would also be a great idea to let this blog be readable by the general public (not writable).

So if there are any other OHC bloggers still visiting the site .... is there a second?

Girls Night Out!

This post is for all the young married wives...so if you are the husband reading this, please let your lovely wife know! I thought it would be a good idea if we had a "Girls Night Out" event where we could hang out one evening with each other, doing girl things (go to a Chick flick & dinner, or a craft night, or manicures & pedicures with sweets at my place...). We ask our wonderful husbands to be pink & blue for a night and watch the kids! We love you for it!! So, if this sounds good, lets do it! It will be a great opportunity for us all to get to know each other better. We have a lot in common...let's find out what those commonalities are! Possible dates include: Nov. 7th, 8th, 22nd or we could look into doing it in Dec. if Nov. does not work. Lets have some Godly fun girls!

City of Sugar Hill: Fall Festival

There's a great fall festival this weekend that Robbyns' cousin that will be performing at 2pm on the main stage. We will be there at around 12 to walk around and let Elijah roam free. Its a great time for the family if you arent doing anything. Our cells are 678.414.2933 or 678.414.2778 if you end up coming.

The festival includes a variety of events for kids and adults including Carnival Games, Petting Zoo, Arts and Crafts Vendors as well as live local music. I will be playing at 2 pm on the main stage. So pack up the family and head out to E.E. Robinson Park in the City of Sugar Hill this weekend. For more information and directions to the festival visit:
http://www.cityofsugarhill.com/content/62/119/2438/2638/3830.aspx

Hello from CO

Sydney just wanted to say "Hello!" to everyone from Colorado. It's beautiful out here and as always, and it'll take an act of God to bring us back to the ATL. Sorry we won't be able to make it for the pot luck, but we'll be hoping its a success. Looks like Heidi will be able to make it to the maze if you do that on the 25th. We left our COUPLE/CHAIRS papers at home. Can someone remind me who is COUPLE and who is CHAIRS? We were going to try to get them done and send to Larry for next Sunday. Take care everyone & we'll see you soon!

Hello young families
This is the reminder for the pot luck this Sunday...
We need casseroles, bread, salad and utensils. Email me what you plan to bring for this weekend. My email address is kaycox4@yahoo.com

Please let me know if you are planning to attend so we can plan appropriately. We will need help setting up tables and chairs after church.

More information about following events later.