I. Introduction
A. Lost Things
1. There are several items lost to history which people have gone to great lengths to find. Among them are:
a. Amelia Earhart’s plane
b. Russian Imperial family Romanov Faberge eggs
c. The Ark of the Covenant
2. People have spent millions of dollars to find these artifacts, yet they remain lost.
3. As we finish our series on worship, there is one element that must not be lost or forgotten: fellowship.
B. Lost Act of Worship
1. In the early church, we find that fellowship was just as important as the other acts of worship.
2. The Greek word behind this idea is koinonia, which actually has many meanings.
3. Translations of Koinonia
a. Fellowship- Acts 2:42
b. Contribution- Romans 15:26
c. Participation- 1 Corinthians 10:16
d. Joining- 2 Corinthians 8:4
e. Partnership- 2 Corinthians 9:13
f. Sharing- Hebrews 13:16
g. All of these English translations have an element of intimacy.
4. In Acts 2:42-47 we find that the early Christians relied on the close connection that came with fellowship both in worship and in life.
5. What can we learn from them that will help us to understand more what God desires in worship and in our connection to His church?
II. The Lost Act of Worship: Fellowship
A.
1. Fellowship calls us into with God through Christ, but also with one another. It calls us to become a .
a. Acts 2:42
b. 1 Corinthians 10:16
c. Fellowship is not an activity; it’s a relationship. –Jerry Bridges
d. Illustration: Have you ever been in another state and seen someone wearing UT gear? You feel a connection with that person because you share a community. When you go to a game with over 100,000 people in attendance, a lot of times you find yourself having conversations because of the community you have in common.
2. As we lift up God, we lift up one . (Hebrews 10:24-25)
3. Our time in worship is designed to foster a community of .
B.
1. Fellowship calls us into partnership with one another. This is the community in .
a. Philippians 1:5
b. 2 Corinthians 9:13
2. Fellowship in the body is designed to help us find our and our in the body of Christ.
a. 1 Corinthians 12:14-20 (Purpose)
b. 1 Corinthians 12:21-26 (Place)
3. In a world that is constantly finding ways to separate us, worship is designed to bring us together and to focus on the One in whom we can find , even though we are diverse.
C.
1. Fellowship calls us to of ourselves to one another.
a. When Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper, it is done so within an act of service and teaching about the nature of the Kingdom.
b. John 13:14-15
2. Worship is designed to redirect our focus away from self to the sacrifice of .
a. 2 Corinthians 8:4 (context of the offering)
b. Hebrews 13:16
3. When worship is only about how I feel or what I experience, it loses its intended .
III. Conclusion
A. Lost & Found
1. In 2025, the San Jose Galleon was found. It was a Spanish ship sunk in 1708 by the British navy. What was so significant about the lost ship was that the Galleon was known to be carrying about $1.1 billion (in today’s values) in gold, silver, and emeralds.
2. As valuable as the treasure that comes with the discovery of this lost shipwreck, it pales in comparison to the treasure that we find in Jesus.
B. Invitation