What is Christian Fellowship? The word fellowship comes from the Greek word “koinonia” which simply speaks of what is shared in common. This word is used 18 times throughout the New Testament in places such as Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 1:9; Philippians 1:5; and 1 Jn. 1:3 among other places. At its most basic meaning, the truth of Christian fellowship is about the relationship believers share and how they live in light of that relationship.
However, it seems that the fellowship has been redefined from relationship to now being about an activity.
Jerry Bridges notes this issue well:
“In our Christian circles, the word fellowship has come to mean little more than Christian social activity. It may mean the exchange of pleasantries over coffee and cookies at church, or the social functions of a high school or campus ministry groups. This is not the meaning of fellowship in the New Testament.”
Those events can and should promote the experience of Christian fellowship, however, these events are not fellowship in and of themselves. Fellowship is primarily rooted in the relationship believers have because of their common bond with Jesus. Now, when that is understood, all of those other events produce true fellowship.
Christian fellowship is foundationally a relationship and experiential fellowship is produced from that relationship when believers relate to one another based upon the truths of Scripture. We experience fellowship when we serve, love, forgive, forbear, and live in unity with one another.
