What is Fellowship? A time come to God's table

Often heard among Christians is the word fellowship, and some wonder what it really means. The dictionary definition says that it is a friendly association especially between people who share the same interests.

Many churches have fellowship halls where many meals and activities take place. But a place really doesn’t tell you what it means to have fellowship with someone.

Over the years, Christians have viewed this fellowship connection in many different ways. One of the most recognized church fellowships occurs during Communion or Eucharist.

It is a time when Christians come to God’s table to recognize that Jesus Christ gave his life for our salvation. We share in the meal of bread and juice, just as the Apostles did.

For Methodists, it is a time when we remember Christ’s sacrifice and continual guidance in our lives. We leave the table feeling spiritually refreshed and able to continue God’s work on earth.

Another view of fellowship is when people sit down at a meal together sharing food and conversation with one other. Churches are good at “doing” food. It can be anything from coffee and cookies to a potluck.

At the Royal City UMC, we are always talking about something over coffee and sweets after church. It is one of my favorite times because I get to know each one of my congregation on a personal level.

It is this personal connection that defines what Christian fellowship really is. It is the constant giving and receiving from one person to another and it is something we don’t create on our own.

It starts with God. We have to connect with God and develop that one-on-one relationship with Him before we can be open and honest with others. Our Lord is the source from which fellowship springs.

Matthew 10:40 says, “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” We are all linked in fellowship back to God from whom we receive grace.

To develop this link, we have to pray. There are many ways to pray. You can recite prewritten prayers that have meaning for you or you can pray psalms.

Make sure that you recite slowly and really think about the words that you are saying. By internalizing the words, you allow God to speak to you through them and to come to know who this Lord truly is to you.

My personal preference of prayer is to just talk to God. I talk to Him like I would talk to you about any topic that is on my mind. I know that I can tell God anything and it will be okay.

That open honest communication is the heart of fellowship. Once you achieve it with God, then you can develop it with other people.

Christian fellowship is not an option in our lives but a necessity. All God’s people need to be living in connection with one another. That is God’s plan for us.

Take the first step and connect with God and you will find that fellowship comes easy after that.