κοινωνία

I’ve been a part of the Church my entire life. Throughout the course of my nearly 34 years, I’ve been a member and/or pastor of six different churches; from Greensburg Christian Church to University Christian Church in Manhattan to Barnes Christian Church to Grace Community Church in Overbrook to Fellowship Bible Church in Gardner and now, for the last almost 7 years, Rich Hill Christian Church.

Every church I’ve been part of is different and yet the same. Half of the churches have been very traditional, the other half very contemporary. Half of the churches have been small (ranging anywhere from 30-130), the other half have been large (ranging anywhere from 500-2,000). Half of the churches have been rural, the other half suburban. I could go on and on.

Every church I’ve been part of is different and yet the same. This is true for you, no doubt. If you’ve been part of more than one local church, you’ve experienced the similarities and the differences between them. Every church is radically different, and yet oddly similar.

What makes every church similar? The people.

People—no matter where you are; no matter how big or how small the church—people are people. Granted, there are differences depending upon where you’re located; but its people who make up the Church.

The Church is not a building; the Church is people:

1 Peter 2:9 NIV

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

The Church is people; and people make every church similar.

I’ve heard several pastors, including some of my pastor friends say: “Boy, church would be great if it wasn’t for the people.”

My thought is always: “It isn’t church without people. Without people, it’s just a funny-looking building.”

I know what they’re saying. Honestly, I understand the sentiment. People, no matter the church, are at times difficult; people are always imperfect, sinful, selfish.

I love you all very much, but I can say without hesitation: “Ya’ll ain’t perfect!”

We are, all of us, broken and sinful. And that makes for an interesting dynamic within the church.

Church is messy: if a church is full of people who are neat and clean and tidy, all polished and new, happy all the time, and there’s never any conflict, I’m guessing one of three things has happened:

People are pretending, putting on a front, play-acting, or

It’s ceased being a church and it’s become a country club, or

Jesus has returned, has set all things right, and has made all things new.

The Church, you see, in its truest sense is a gathering of converted scumbags with each scumbag bringing their scummy baggage and scummy preferences and scummy opinions to the table. It’s bound to be messy (if this isn’t already clear to you, it will be at the end of our study in Philemon).

In the book of Philemon, a wealthy Christian has had a slave run away, and is now being encouraged to welcome this runaway slave home, not merely as a slave, but as a brother, as part of the Christian community.

Church is messy.

Not much, if anything, has changed since the inception of the Church. Paul is writing to an individual within a particular church (and to the church there) about a conflict within the church.

There is a situation a’brewin’ within the church, and this is why we have the letter to Philemon. This is written to one person in particular (Philemon) and to the people surrounding him.

In some ways, the church in that day is much, much different than ours; in other ways, it’s very much the same because it’s chalk-full of people—selfish, sinful, broken, miraculously redeemed people.

>The apostle Paul is writing from a prison in Rome (around 60 A.D.; this is one of the so-called “prison epistles”: letters written by Paul from prison—Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon). Paul is writing to a wealthy Christian man named Philemon who lives in Colossae; he’s writing to Philemon concerning Philemon’s runaway slave, Onesimus.

These are the main characters:

Paul, the imprisoned apostle

Philemon, a wealthy Christian

Onesimus, the runaway slave

Paul addresses three others in the opening of this letter, the supporting cast:

Apphia: possibly Philemon’s wife

Archippus: the probable minister of the Colossian church which met in Philemon’s house

The church that meets in Philemon’s house

Throughout most of the letter, Paul is addressing Philemon personally. There’s an issue that concerns Philemon and Onesimus directly; but the church—all those who meet in Philemon’s house to worship Jesus—are privy to this conversation.

Seemingly, this letter was addressed to:

The Colossian Church

120 East Colossae Ave

Colossae, Asia Minor 90210

Attn: Philemon

This situation involves Philemon and Onesimus, certainly. But it involves the whole; it involves the entire church. As my friend, Ty Cross, says, “what affects one of us directly affects all of us indirectly.”

The Biblical authors use various terminology for the Church. They refer to the gathered people of God as “a family”, “an army”, “a body”, “a house”. We’re in this together.

There’s one word that really seems to encompass all of this: κοινωνία

We’re going to be talking about this word--κοινωνία—a lot over the next few weeks.

κοινωνία is one of those words that’s difficult to define or capture the full meaning of. In the ancient world, κοινωνία defined a whole community of people who had something in common.

As Paul uses it, the community is a κοινωνία because it shares a common faith and a missionary practice.

Christians, as a κοινωνία, not only belong to one another but we are actually mutually identified; we are identified as one.

Have you ever run into someone out of town, out of their normal setting, and have a hard time placing them? Or maybe you’ve bumped into someone who is without their spouse and you think: “That sure looks like them, but I’m not sure.” ???

For instance, not long after I moved here, I ran into Alma Talbott at the store, but because Dean wasn’t with her, I couldn’t quite place her. I had never seen Alma without Dean. “That can’t be Alma…Dean’s not with her.”

So it is with the church. We are best known, we are most easily identified with one another.

Christian κοινωνία, Christian fellowship means we belong to one another; we are best known together.

At stake in this situation between Philemon and Onesimus is the κοινωνία: the fellowship of God’s people.

We are called by the Holy Spirit into fellowship with one another.

Now, when we hear the word “fellowship” what word immediately follows?

Every single church I’ve ever been to has had a large room next to the kitchen called the fellowship hall. That is, every church except this one. We call our “fellowship hall” “the annex” instead.

We might think fellowship hall or fellowship dinner, but really, fellowship is much more.

It’s not limited to the second Sunday of the month from 11:45-12:30. It’s not only activities that take place in the room that bears the name fellowship.

Fellowship—true Christian fellowship—is that which the Holy Spirit uses to move us from a mere social club to a spiritual community: one that cares for, prays for, looks after the other as one would their own family.

In fact, fellowship—true Christian fellowship—is thicker than blood. I love my family and friends, but the people on earth I’m most deeply tied to are the people who make up the Church. The same goes for you, Christian.

Once the Lord called us to Himself, at the moment we believed in Christ as our Savior, we became part of this fellowship:

1 Corinthians 1:9 NIV

God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Answer me this: has Christian fellowship—κοινωνία, belonging to a church family, being part of a church body—had an impact on you?

Has it changed you? Has it made you a better person, a better friend, a better neighbor, a better spouse, a better parent?

Authentic Christian κοινωνία, authentic Christian fellowship should have an impact on those involved.

Paul and Philemon and Onesimus and Apphia and Archippus and the church in Colossae are more than just the sum of their parts, more than just a club—they are a fellowship, a church; and that means they relate to one another differently than they would if they weren’t part of a church family.

Onesimus is going to have to go to Philemon and seek reconciliation. Philemon is going to have to receive Onesimus and offer forgiveness.

In their fellowship, we hear overtones of the Gospel: forgiveness, reconciliation, repentance, grace, love.

Philemon illustrates “the transforming power of the gospel to impact human relationships.”

The gospel changes people and changes how they relate to one another. That’s simply what it does.

Instead of holding a grudge against that person, we who belong to Christ are compelled to forgive.

Instead of ignoring that person when we see them, we extend grace and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.

When someone treats us poorly, we don’t treat them poorly (that option is not open to us).

We love and forgive and reconcile and extend grace—because that’s precisely what God has done for us in Jesus Christ.

The gospel has the power to transform and impact human relationships—this is true in all arenas, but certainly true within the church.

Satan will do all he can, in his limited power, to disrupt our fellowship. He will try to pit us against one another; he will attempt to break us apart; he will work his hardest to separate what God has brought together.

No doubt, Satan was at work here in the situation between Philemon and Onesimus; he would have loved for this spat (serious as it was) to sideline and distract the Colossian believers.

Satan is clever, constantly seeking to kill, steal, and destroy. But...

The Gospel is powerful.

The gospel is at work in Philemon’s and Onesimus’ life, and it’s the gospel, not Satan, that has transformed their lives; it’s the gospel that has radically changed the way these holy people of God will relate to one another.

The gospel declares that all are one in Christ Jesus; there is neither Jew or Gentile, slave nor free, nor is there male and female.

The gospel, the Good News that Jesus died for us while we were yet sinners, motivates us to forgive as we’ve been forgiven; to love as Christ loved us.

The gospel affects the way Philemon and Onesimus relate to one another.

By the grace of God and the work of the Holy Spirit, the little letter that Paul wrote to Philemon will be a powerful reminder to us of the importance of κοινωνία; the importance, the power of fellowship; and the transforming power of the gospel.

>This morning, let’s read together an entire book of the Bible (be glad it’s Philemon and not Isaiah).

If you have your Bibles (and I hope you do), please turn with me to the book of Philemon. If you have trouble finding it, just sing the song… (or you can find it on page _________ of the red pew Bible in front of you).

If you’re able and willing, please stand with me for the reading of God’s Holy Word:

Philemon 1–25 NIV

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker—2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. 8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever—16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord. 17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. 22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers. 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

May God add His blessing to the reading of His Holy Word!

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After Paul’s short and customary greeting, Paul turns his full attention to Philemon.

In verses 4-5, Paul thanks God for Philemon’s love for the people and his faith in Jesus.

Paul is making a point, not only to commend Philemon for his love and faith, but also as a gentle reminder that in his dealings with his runaway slave, Onesimus, that love for Onesimus and Philemon’s faith in his Lord should control his actions.

And then, in verse 6, which many consider the heart of the letter, Paul says this:

Philemon 6 NIV

6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.

That word partnership is the word κοινωνία.

Paul is praying that Philemon would that he would practice his faith, that he would share his faith, fellowship his faith.

When we think of sharing one’s faith, we think of verbally proclaiming our faith in Jesus. And that’s not bad.

But what Paul is urging Philemon to do, what Paul is praying for Philemon to do is to actively express his faith; that Philemon would come to a measure of fullness/maturity in Christ, that his faith and understanding would be deepened to the point that how he responded to the situation with Onesimus would reflect Christ.

κοινωνία, fellowship, sharing one’s faith in the nitty-gritty of life is a powerful demonstration of the gospel; it’s an opportunity for the world to watch and see the difference Jesus makes in a person’s life.

Simply put, out of the abundance of good things Philemon has received from Jesus, he’s now meant to display goodness to others.

Philemon 6 NIV

6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.

Fellowship is foundational

I want to show you one of my favorite pictures (slide)

This is a picture of some church members finishing the floors on the new church annex in February 1956: Dixon Palmer, Tom Colwell, Herb McDaniel, Henry Arrasmith, Ed Link, Frances McDaniel, Jewel Link, Angell Lee Palmer, Charlie Rhoades, Arthur Lee Smith

I love this picture, though I only knew two of the dear saints pictured there, I am blessed today by their fellowship. We are blessed.

This—the tedious, back-breaking work of finishing that floor (and everything else that went into that building)—this is an expression of the gospel. This was their way of reflecting what God had done in their lives, how good He’d been to them.

And so they set out to fellowship their faith.

(Slide) Apparently, that same night, they sat around and enjoyed some fellowship over dinner.

(Slide) And this one’s for free—a picture of a young Terry Heuser.

Look at that guy! (Slide)

κοινωνία is about the Church’s corporate life. God calls each believer into a congregation and provides each believer with certain gifts and opportunities to minister to the other believers, so that all may be brought to maturity together in Christ Jesus.

Philemon, among other things, is a call for the Church to be the Church, messy as it is. Philemon is an illustration of the gospel’s power to impact human relationships. Philemon is a summons to κοινωνία, to fellowship.

In Boston, as Meghann and I were speaking with an employee at the car rental location, a man and his family were standing next to us at the other end of the counter.

I overheard the conversation. The employee looked at this family’s rental agreement and said, “Oh, sir. You’re a member of the Emerald Club. You get to bypass the line and pick whatever car you want. You should tell your kids you have superpowers.”

The man walked away, unexcited, un-enthused. The employee turned to his coworker and said, “Dude didn’t know he’s superman. Dude’s got superpowers…didn’t even know.”

That man didn’t understand the benefits of what he had.

I fear many of us don’t understand the great benefit and blessing of κοινωνία/fellowship.

So many people attend a church without ever connecting.

So many people just belong to a local church, and neglect the many benefits of fellowship.

As an expression of your faith in Christ and your love for the people of God, initiate ministry, initiate fellowship.

Write that card. Make that call. Go on that visit. Involve yourself in the service of the church. Forgive your brother or sister. Reconcile. Love one another.

Christians live and act in community. We need each other. What I do or don’t do in the realm of church fellowship affects the whole.

This—κοινωνία/fellowship—is a demonstration of the gospel. It’s an opportunity to share our faith practically.

Church is messy. The Gospel is powerful. Fellowship is foundational. This is the message of Philemon.

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