I. Fellowship is based upon a common:
A. Purpose (e.g., eternal life) (Psalm 133:1-3)
B. Belief (Acts 2:42-47)
C. Conviction (one mind) (1 Peter 3:8)
D. Work (Neh. 4:6, 15)
E. Suffering and persecution (Daniel 3:16-18)
F. Need [2 Cor. 8:1-7 (esp. verse 4)]
G. Faith (Titus 1:4)
II. Who do we have fellowship with?
A. The Father and The Son (1 John 1:3)
B. Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:9)
C. Holy Spirit (Phil. 2:1-2)
D. Apostles doctrine (Acts 2:42)
E. One another (1 John 1:7)
III. Christian Fellowship involves being a close knit family of God (Eph. 2:19, 4:15-16)
A. Jesus gives the example (Matthew 12:46-50)
B. Jesus promises the reward of family (Mark 10:29-31)
C. John calls Christians “children” (2 John 4, 3 John 4)
D. Described as babes that need to grow (John 3:3-5, Hebrews 5:12-14)
E. Paul refers to Christians as “brethren” many times (e.g., Ro. 12:1, 15:30, 16:14-17)
F. Peter refers to “the brotherhood” (1 Peter 2:17)
IV. Things shared in New Testament fellowship
A. Material goods (2 Cor. 8:3-4, Acts 2:44-45, 4:32-37)
B. Meals (Acts 2:46, Acts 6:1-6, Luke 8:1-3)
C. Gospel ministry (Gal. 2:9, Phil. 1:5)
D. Suffering (Phil. 3:10, 2 Cor. 1:5, 4:11-12, 1 Peter 3:13-17, 4:12-16)
E. Death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-5)
F. Doing good (Gal. 6:10)
G. Christian love (John 14:14-15, Romans 12:9-16)
V. We are not to have fellowship with:
A. Unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14)
B. Devils (1 Cor. 10:20)
C. Unfruitful works of darkness (Eph. 5:11)
D. Evil company (1 Cor. 15:33)
VI. We cannot have fellowship with God when:
A. We are friends of the world (James 4:4)
B. We do not put Him first (Matt. 6:24, Rev. 3:15-16)
C. We walk in darkness (1 John 1:5-6)