Are there limits to our fellowship? Should be fellowship everyone? Every group? All denominations?

1. Should we fellowship other groups?
We are accused:
Arrogant
Narrow Minded
Think we are the only ones
Reject unity with others
Refuse to accept

2. Many ways to respond
Just deny – and continue to reject fellowship
Admit that we are self-centered and accept those
in denominations
Try to explain our view on fellowship
I have 4 questions to ask.

3. 1- Shall we abandon logic?
2 contradictory statements cannot both be true.
1,000s of contradictory doctrines
Pick any doctrine you can think of:
All cannot be true
All may be false
All of them cannot be true

4. 1- Shall we abandon logic?
2 contradictory statements cannot both be true.
Acts 2:38 – baptism is for forgiveness of sins
1 Peter 3:21 – baptism saves us
Acts 22:16 – baptism washes away sins
Many disagree with these statements.
Many teach that baptism has nothing to do with
salvation.

5. 2 – Shall we abondon convictions?
Are we arrogant or do we have convictions?
Why do we assume that we are right and
everyone else is wrong?
We can be confident and humble at the same
time
I could be wrong. Listen to what others say.
Weigh it against the teaching of the Bible.

6. 2 – Shall we abondon convictions?
If I am wrong – I will change
Until then I will hold my convictions
Does God want us without any convictions?
Many are now saying there is no absolute truth.
John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free.

7. 2 – Shall we abondon convictions?
God wants us to be anchored in the truth –
Hebrews 6:19
We must be bold and confident –
Hebrews 4:16
We must not be arrogant or haughty –
1 Timothy 6:17

8. 2 – Shall we abondon convictions?
Ephesians 4:14-15 14 that we should no longer
be children, tossed to and fro and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of
men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful
plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may
grow up in all things into Him who is the head--
Christ--

9. 3 – Shall we abondon Scripture?
Many think the Bible is old, out-dated, not relevant
to our life
Many think the Bible is open to many
interpretations – mine is as good as yours
I reject these ideas.

10. 3 – Shall we abondon Scripture?
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this
world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that you may prove what is that good
and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Ephesians 6:6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers,
but as bondservants of Christ, doing
the will of God from the heart,

11. 3 – Shall we abondon Scripture?
Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a
bondservant of Christ, greets you, always
laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you
may stand perfect and complete in all the will of
God.
The Bible can be understood.
Ephesians 5:17 Therefore do not be unwise, but
understand what the will of the Lord is.

12. 4 – Can there ever be unity?
Jesus prayed for it – John 17:20-21
20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for
those who will believe in Me through their word;
21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are
in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in
Us, that the world may believe that You sent
Me.

13. 4 – Can there ever be unity?
Paul pleaded for it – 1 Corinthians 1:10
Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the
same thing, and that there be no divisions
among you, but that you be perfectly joined
together in the same mind and in the same
judgment.

14. 4 – Can there ever be unity?
Paul pleaded for it – Ephesians 4:3-6
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one
Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of
your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is above all,
and through all, and in you all.

15. 4 – Can there ever be unity?
Yes there can be unity of all believers – BUT:
Unity must not abandon logic
Unity must not abandon convictions
Unity must not abandon Scriptures

16. Are you in unity with Christ?
Romans 6:3-4
3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were
baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into
His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him
through baptism into death, that just as Christ
was raised from the dead by the glory of the
Father, even so we also should walk in newness
of life.