Scripture: Romans 12:1-13 - Living Sacrifices

Three levels of fellowship:

1. Membership: Choosing to belong.
   • v.5 - "so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."
   • You are called to belong, not just believe.
   • Membership involves being a part of a group. (e.g. you can't be a soldier without being a part of an army.)
   • An important part of membership is baptism. It signifies your inclusion in God's family.
2. Friendship: Learning to share.
   • Genesis 2:18 - "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
   • God intends for us to experience life together.
   • Unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacriicial giving, sympathetic comforting, etc.
   • Size matters. Smaller is better. You can worship with a large crowd, but you can't fellowship with one.
   • By inviting people into your homes and sharing your experiences & possessions, people can experience life together.
3. Partnership: Striving to contribute.
   • Being a part of the church does not mean just resting/observing. Church is not a 'spiritual spa'.
   • We are all co-heirs in the family of God.
   • Success comes when everyone contributes and even goes beyond the call of duty.

1 John 4:21 - "And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother."

Related sermon: Formed For God's Family by Dr. Stephen Pattison

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