Every summer we pause from our exegetical messages and consider a biblical topic. For our Summer Sermon Series this year, we’ll be looking at some of the “one another” passages in the NT. The title of this series of messages is Building Up One Another.

The NT frequently uses the term “one another” when describing how believers should interact with each other. This sermon series will examine several significant actions Christians are to take toward one another to help build up the local church. When we obey these one another passages, the church itself will become stronger. This series of messages is intended to help members of a local church to recognize their responsibilities to one another and to strengthen the unity and ministry of the church as members follow these principles.

There are many verses in the NT that use this “one another” language, but one of them that summarizes this entire series would be

1Th 5:11  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

I’ll have a whole message on what it means to “edify” one another, so I won’t say much about it right now, other than “edify” means “build up.” These one another statements tell us how to build up one another. God’s intent is that we build up, help, and encourage one another. When we fulfill these one-another ministries, we build up the church.

Message 1: Fellowship, the Basis for One-Another Ministry[1]

One-another church ministry is primarily based on the NT concept of fellowship. The care and concern church members display toward one another is a result of the fellowship those members enjoy. Unfortunately, many believers misunderstand what the Bible means when it speaks of fellowship. Too often when Christians think of fellowship, they think in terms of eating and visiting. Nothing wrong with that, but such a definition falls a bit short of the NT expectation for fellowship. Since fellowship is a very important part of building up one another, this study will begin by considering the concept of fellowship.

Ac 2:42  And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

The biblical word “fellowship” (koinonia) is based on the word “to have in common.” To “have fellowship” with someone means that you share something in common with one another. Fellowship implies communion or communication based on things held in common.

Quote:  The fundamental [meaning of the word] is that of sharing in something with someone.^[2] … Fellowship means companionship or partnership and communion with others on the basis of something held in common.^[3]

Since fellowship is so important and forms an essential foundation for understanding the ministry we are to have with one another, let’s look at the main concepts of NT fellowship.

[1] Some of this material in this chapter is adapted from J. Hampton Keathley, “One-Another Commands from Scripture” at www.bible.org.

^[2] R. P. Martin, “Communion,” in New Bible Dictionary, ed. D. R. W. Wood et al. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 217.

^[3] R. Allan Killen, “Fellowship,” in The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia, ed. Charles F. Pfeiffer, Howard F. Vos, and John Rea (Moody Press, 1975).