Digging Deeper – Fellowship

Fellowship is defined as a friendly association, especially with people who share one’s interests. In other definitions, it is described as an association with those who share one’s activities, feelings, or experiences. The early church gathered in fellowship often, eating together in their homes—one of the most meaningful ways of getting to know someone.

This idea of being together in our homes is very significant. Conversation and friendship outside of quality time together can only maintain a surface level. We can never truly know each other from quick ten-minute conversations once a week. When we get together regularly for longer periods with focused conversation, we get to know each other on a deeper level. We learn how to encourage each other, challenge each other, pray for each other, and hold each other accountable.

Fellowship, in the context of small groups, builds stronger connections with each other as well as deeper connections with God.

In college, I went on a summer-long mission to Miami with other college students from around the Southeast. I did not know anyone there. One of the first things the leaders did was assign us to small groups that would meet weekly to study Scripture, discuss a book we were all reading, and debrief our week. In the beginning, everyone was a little timid about speaking up and truly opening up with each other, but that quickly changed. As we continued to meet as a group, we were able to dig deeply into each other’s lives. We shared very personal stories and experiences, growing together in our understanding of the Gospel. By the end of the trip, while I had made friendships and connections with everyone there, it was my small group of girls with whom I remained in touch. We had formed a deeper connection and bond, creating fellowship with each other through our shared faith in a small group.