Title: Fellowship with all your heart (koinonia)
Have fellowship with all your heart (koinonia)
Text/ Acts 2:42
1. Introduction
It is said that the church life of the people of the first church in this world was that they first received the Word with all their heart, secondly they had fellowship, and thirdly they prayed with all their heart. Last week, I spoke on the theme of <received the word with all my heart>, and today I am going to meditate on the topic of <dating with all my heart> for the second time.
2. What is Koinonia = Association = Fellowship?
The word “fellowship” in the text is a translation of the original Greek word “koinonia”. In English, it is translated as <Association>, <fellowship>. In the New Testament, the Greek word <koinonia/koinonia> is used in the following sense.
ㅇ The grafted tree branch is supplied with the sap from the original tree root and becomes one with the life force of the original tree (Romans 11:17).
ㅇ We gather together in the temple or at home, break bread, sing spiritual songs together, and have holy fellowship by sharing what we have together as needed (Acts 2:42-47)
ㅇ We participate in the divine nature with the power that comes from faith in Jesus (2 Peter 1:4).
ㅇ We work together in the work of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:13).
ㅇ Through the Lord's Supper, we participate in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:9).
ㅇ Work cooperatively with brothers and sisters of faith in Jesus Christ.
ㅇ By sharing the gospel, God and those who believe can have fellowship with each other (1 John 1:3-6).
o Share the sufferings of our brothers and sisters who have suffered disasters (2 Corinthians 8:14).
ㅇ Those who preach the gospel share spiritual things, and those who receive the gospel share material things with all good things (Galatians 6:6; 1 Corinthians 9:11).
<Jeffrey w Vlamillie, Kittel Single Volume Original Dictionary, Jordan Publishing House, pp. 510-511>
Here, the original Greek text <koinonia> means “to share something”, “to cooperate in common”, “to eat and drink together and make friends”, “to form a community and build a community of true faith”, and “the work of God” You can see that it has the meaning of being invited together to
3. If so, how will we establish fellowship (koinonia)?.
first. You must eat and drink together with all your heart. There is a saying, 家和萬事成. In order for a family to prosper, it must first be at peace and harmony. So is the church. No matter how great people gather, if there is disagreement, that church is a bakery. I mean, it's not the church.
Peace and peace come from sharing food. If you look at the Chinese characters for peace, peace and harmony, it means sharing food (禾: rice) equally (平) and putting it in your mouth (口). We call the person closest to us the <one who eats rice in one pot>. True fellowship (koinonia) arises when we eat and drink together with or without a cup, as it is, as it is, or if it is not, with one more spoon on it. What do we call the person we hate the most? It is called “a man with no taste”. Therefore, it means that the people we eat together are my friends, comrades, and family members.
second. It is to be considerate of your brother with all your heart. True fellowship comes from the heart. If it is 誠於中, it is said to be out of shape. If the heart is sincere and sincere, it means that the sincerity and sincerity are revealed as they are. No right? True fellowship, true koinonia, arises from genuine consideration.
3S/ People in this age who swirl around with the motto of Standardizing, Specializing, and Speeding are lonely due to loneliness in the crowd. Everyone longs for true fellowship. All true friendships in this world bloom from a warm and generous heart that cherishes, waits for, and acknowledges one person.
third. It is about keeping etiquette with all your heart. I feel that Koreans have a very strange misunderstanding in human relationships. It is that the atmosphere of “the less politeness, the closer the relationship” and “if you get close, etiquette is not a problem” is widespread. This kind of thinking is a huge misunderstanding.
Disrespect, which stems from the arrogance of money and power, is difficult to forgive. Disrespect, arising from ignorance and vulgarity, is offensive. Let's be honest. When the other person was rude to me, how often were you offended?. And how many times have you secretly cut off your relationship with the other person because of that injury? What's the boss doing with something like that? In fact, the more people do it, the more hurt they are. No right?
Therefore, according to the old writings,
If the behavior is light and frivolous, it leads to faults and slander (行輕招辜貌輕招辱).
The closer people get, the more polite they should be.
If you give, forget; if you receive, do not forget.
4. Closing story
The koinonia of the church consists in <devoted themselves/with all your heart>, eating and drinking together, being kind to your brothers and sisters, and keeping etiquette. Please remember.
Weekly <Fountain of the Word>