UPFRONT December 7, 2009 Issue

IN GOOD COMPANY

JENNY NELLES, STAFF EDITOR

Ask ten people to describe what Christian fellowship means to them, and you'll likely get ten different answers.

Just writing out all the ways one can describe fellowship in this welcome could fill up the page: The expression of goodwill toward a visitor in church. Mrs. So-and-so's annual barbecue. The space in church testimony meetings where I can hear the healings of others, and feel their prayers. ... The list goes on.

But fellowship can be a pretty deep spiritual concept, too. This week's Sentinel begins with an examination of its roots in the Bible. Shirley Paulson takes us through fellowship's Christian origins as the disciples committed to supporting each other while spreading the gospel. She starts off by mentioning, "According to the Bible accounts of the early Church, fellowship was as essential to the completeness of church as prayer, proper teaching, and the movement of the Holy Spirit." And how does this translate into action? Well, that all depends. Paulson goes on to say, "Our actions need to be inspired and rooted in 'fellowship with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.' This knowledge naturally draws us into a loving relationship with all those who wish to be close to God" (p. 8).

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