Kitchen Table Theology
Where Coffee, Conversation, and Theology Meet. During my 40 years in ministry, I’ve developed an increasing burden for what I sense to be an increase in biblical illiteracy, not only among those in our churches, but also in the young men and women entering the ministry. Conversely, I am hopeful, because I also sense a hunger from people to learn and know biblical truth and the things of God has revealed to us in Scripture. Our Kitchen Table Theology team has developed a list of over 150 doctrinal topics which I, along with one of my cohosts, Jen Denton or Tiffany Coker, examine weekly. Our goal is to educate and share biblical truth on the same level as if we were sitting at your kitchen table with a Bible and a pot of southern pecan coffee in front of us. Welcome to the table!
Kitchen Table Theology
062 The Church as a Fellowship
Hello Kitchen Table Theology Family! We’re your hosts, Jen Denton, and Pastor Jeff Cranston. This is our second episode in a new series on the Church. The Doctrine of the Church is also known as the doctrine of Ecclesiology. And over the course of this series, we will delve into seven snapshots of what the New Testament teaches us about the church. The NT says that the Church is a flock, a fellowship, a body, a bride, a family, as God’s House, and a priesthood.
[01:37] Fellowship
- What do college football and fellowship have in common?
- The definition of fellowship; when you get to know other people because you're headed in the same direction
- Unity in the church is not about being similar. We have unity because we are in Christ
[11:36] Disunity in the Church
- When Christians are divided are they tearing down the walls of the church?
- However you organize your church, a good structure should promote unity and harmony and downplayed differences
[16:59] Breaking Down the Meaning of Fellowship
- Fellowship comes from the Greek word Koinonia the root simply meaning common
- While the Greeks placed an emphasis on the individual, they also believed that as an individual you lived by, and for the society
- Fellowship means to share with someone in something
[18:50] So What?
- Is fellowship something that should stay within the four walls of the church?
- The love Christians have for one another can influence others toward faith in Jesus Christ
- Fellowship enables community prayer, congregational worship, church decision making, baptism, and communion
- Christian fellowship is absolutely essential to our spiritual growth, but many believers today wrongly don't recognize the importance of fellowship or local church involvement
- Final words from Jen and Pastor Jeff
Key Quotes:
“Fellowship is not just something the church is, it’s something the church does.” - Pastor Jeff Cranston
“When we talk about unity, we have unity, because we're all saved in the church, by Christ, not because we all look alike, act alike, breathe alike, talk alike, or even dress alike.” - Pastor Jeff Cranston
“The love Christians have for one another can influence others toward faith in Jesus Christ. And that's all part of fellowship.” - Pastor Jeff Cranston
“Many believers today wrongly don't recognize the importance of fellowship or local church involvement. But Christian fellowship is absolutely essential to our spiritual growth.” - Pastor Jeff Cranston
Scripture Mentioned
- Acts 2:42
- Eph 4:3-4
- Jude 1:3
- Titus 1:4
- Hebrews 10: 24-25
Join the Conversation
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Remember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it but applying it. Thanks for listening!