August 11 Bible Study: Lesson 18 � Experiencing Life Together

Our Bible Study lessons are taken from The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren � a chapter each week until the book has been completed.

Taught by Asst. Pastor Mark Porter

Points to Ponder

I. In real fellowship people experience authenticity.

a. Authenticity happens when people get honest about who they are and what is

happening in their lives

b. In some churches, people wear masks keep their guard up, and act as if

everything is rosy in their lives. These attitudes are the death of real fellowship.

c. Being authentic requires courage and humility.

II. In real fellowship people experience mutuality.

a. Mutuality is the art of giving and receiving.

b. Mutuality is the heart of fellowship: building, giving and receiving relationships,

sharing responsibilities and helping each other.

c. You are not responsible for everyone in the Body of Christ, but you are

responsible to them.

III. In real fellowship, people experience sympathy.

a. Sympathy is not giving advice or offering quick, cosmetic help: sympathy is

entering in and sharing the pain with others.

b. Sympathy meets two fundamental needs: the need to be understood and the

need to have our feelings validated.

c. There are different levels of fellowship which are fellowship of sharing

studying, fellowship or serving and fellowship of suffering.

IV. In real fellowship people experience mercy.

a. Fellowship is a place of grace, where mistakes aren�t rubbed in but rubbed

out.

b. You can�t have fellowship without forgiveness.

c. If someone hurts you repeatedly, you are commanded by God to forgive them

immediately, but you are not expected to trust them immediately.