This document contains excerpts from the Bible and commentary on cultivating fellowship among believers. It discusses giving thanks for fellow Christians (Philippians 1:3-5), experiencing joy through focusing on others' needs rather than one's own (Philippians 2:4), and the importance of confession, forgiveness, prayer and suffering together as a community united in Christ (James 5:16, Hebrews 10:24-25, 3:12-13). It encourages pursuing fellowship through meeting together, being open about one's life, and interceding for others before God.

1. I Give Thanks To My God
Philippians 1:3-5

2. 3Every time I think of you, I give
thanks to my God. 4Whenever I
pray, I make my requests for all of
you with joy, 5for you have been my
partners in spreading the Good
News about Christ from the time
you first heard it until now. NLT

3. 3Every time I think of you, I give
thanks to my God.

4. Lydia and her household
Demon-possessedslave girl
Philippian Jailer and his
entire household

5. All you need to be is willing
to be used by Him.

6. Acts 16:40 - When Paul and Silas left
the prison, they returned to the
home of Lydia. There they met with
the believers and encouraged them
once more. Then they left town. NLT

7. Talk and you say what you
already know, but listen and you
learn something new.
7700 Illustrations

8. 2 Corinthians 8:1-3 - We want you
to know, brothers, about the grace
of God that has been given among
the churches of Macedonia, 2for in a
severe test of affliction, their
abundance of joy and their extreme
poverty have overflowed in a wealth
of generosity on their part.

9. 3 For they gave according to their
means, as I can testify, and beyond
their means, of their own accord, ESV

10. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - The point is
this: whoever sows sparingly will
also reap sparingly, and whoever
sows bountifully will also reap
bountifully. 7Each one must give as
he has decided in his heart, not
reluctantly or under compulsion, for
God loves a cheerful giver. ESV

11. Are you a
Thankful Person
or a
Critical Person?

12. 4Whenever I pray, I make my
requests for all of you with joy,

13. Biblical joy is experienced when we
focus on the needs and growth of
others and not ourselves.

14. Philippians 2:4 - Don’t look out only
for your own interests, but take an
interest in others, too. NLT

15. 5for you have been my partners
(Koinonia) in spreading the Good
News about Christ from the time
you first heard it until now.

16. Koinonia - fellowship, community,
communion & joint participation.
Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon

17. Koinonia
involves helping other Saints with
the physical needs of food, clothing,
shelter and money.

18. Oneness in Christ
that we are eternal members of
God’s family

19. Get below the surface of life
Take off your mask and allow
people to see who you really are

20. Confessing your sins
to each other
Forgiving others

21. Are you one who lives in light of
your freedom in Christ and
willingly admits your sin?

22. Are you one who thinks being a
Saint means not sinning, no
problems and no issues or at least
you don’t tell others about these
things?

23. Hebrews 10:24-25 - Let us think of
ways to motivate one another to
acts of love and good works. 25And
let us not neglect our meeting
together, as some people do, but
encourage one another, especially
now that the day of his return is
drawing near. NLT

24. We are to Confess our Sins to each
other, Forgive each other and
Pray for each other

25. Hebrews 3:12-13 – Take care,
brothers, lest there be in any of you
an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you
to fall away from the living God. 13But
exhort one another every day, as long
as it is called “today,” that none of you
may be hardened by the deceitfulness
of sin. ESV

26. James 5:16 - Confess your sins to
each other and pray for each other
so that you may be healed. The
earnest prayer of a righteous
person has great power and
produces wonderful results. NLT

27. We are to recognize that we are
members of God’s army and we
have the same enemy--
The Devil and his demons

28. You look beyond income, gender
and race and look to the heart

29. James 2:1-7 - My dear brothers and
sisters, how can you claim to have
faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ
if you favor some people over others?
2For example, suppose someone
comes into your meeting dressed in
fancy clothes and expensive jewelry,
and another comes in who is poor
and dressed in dirty clothes.

30. 3If you give special attention and a
good seat to the rich person, but you
say to the poor one, “You can stand
over there, or else sit on the floor”—
well, 4doesn’t this discrimination
show that your judgments are guided
by evil motives?

31. 5Listen to me, dear brothers and
sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in
this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t
they the ones who will inherit the
Kingdom he promised to those who
love him?

32. 6But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it
the rich who oppress you and drag
you into court? 7Aren’t they the ones
who slander Jesus Christ, whose
noble name you bear? NLT

33. Growth in Humility

34. James 4:13-16 - Look here, you who
say, “Today or tomorrow we are going
to a certain town and will stay there a
year. We will do business there and
make a profit.” 14How do you know
what your life will be like tomorrow?
Your life is like the morning fog—it’s
here a little while, then it’s gone.

35. 15What you ought to say is, “If the
Lord wants us to, we will live and do
this or that.” 16Otherwise you are
boasting about your own plans, and
all such boasting is evil. NLT

36. We suffer together
and for each other.

37. James 5:7-11 - Dear brothers and
sisters, be patient as you wait for the
Lord’s return. Consider the farmers
who patiently wait for the rains in the
fall and in the spring. They eagerly look
for the valuable harvest to ripen. 8You,
too, must be patient. Take courage, for
the coming of the Lord is near.

38. 9Don’t grumble about each other,
brothers and sisters, or you will be
judged. For look—the Judge is standing
at the door! 10For examples of patience
in suffering, dear brothers and sisters,
look at the prophets who spoke in the
name of the Lord.

39. 11We give great honor to those who
endure under suffering. For instance,
you know about Job, a man of great
endurance. You can see how the Lord
was kind to him at the end, for the Lord
is full of tenderness and mercy. NLT

40. Meditation & Application
Philippians 1:3-5 - Every time I think
of you, I give thanks to my God.
4Whenever I pray, I make my
requests for all of you with joy, 5for
you have been my partners (Koinonia)
in spreading the Good News about
Christ from the time you first heard it
until now. NLT

41. Meditation & Application
On your way home today, thank the
Lord for 2 or 3 people, by name,
here at BFC –> Intercede for them
before the Throne of God.

42. Meditation & Application
Reflect on the salvation God has
given every Saint here at BFC and
experience the joy knowing that you
will be with them forever.

43. Meditation & Application
Pursue Koinonia with a few saints
here at BFC. Maybe getting together
in your home every other week to
share and pray for each other. Make
it a point to humble yourself and be
open and honest about your life =
Joy.