The name of our church is Fellowship Bible Church. I John 1:7 states, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another,…” Fellowship is defined as companionship; society; joint interest; communion.
John Fawcett was preparing to move. At age 32, he was leaving the small Baptist Church in Wainsgate, England, for the prestigious Carter’s Land church in London. Fawcett had worked hard. Orphaned at 12, he was forced to work fourteen hours a day in a sweat shop. He taught himself to read by candlelight and studied continuously. When he was ordained at age 25, he moved to Wainsgate. For seven years he served the tiny church of 100 members before receiving the invitation in London. However, Fawcett never moved to London. He couldn’t break “the tie that binds.” The last possessions were loaded on the moving cart as Fawcett began his good-byes. Tearfully he bade farewell to those he had loved for the past seven years. They returned his tears…and his love. It was too much for the young preacher. London would have to wait. Unloading the cart, he decided to stay in Wainsgate a little longer. He died there 54 years later. Fawcett was destined to become one of England’s greatest preachers. He wrote hymns, pubished books and opened a training school for young ministers. His “Essay on Anger” so impressed King George III that he offered Fawcett “any benefit a king could confer.” His love for the people and their love for him not only kept him in Wainsgate, but it also prompted the writing of a hymn we sing today:
Blest be the tie that binds, Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds, Is like to that above.
There are three important parts to Christian fellowship. 1) Faith. I John 1:3, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” 2) Following. Philippians 2:1-3, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,” “Fulful ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” 3) Forgiveness. I John 1:6, “If we say we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:” 4:20, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”
It is a funny thing, but true, That folks you don’t like, don’t like you;
I don’t know why this should be so, But, just the same, I always know
If I am “sour,” friends are few; If I am friendly, folks are too.
Sometimes I get up in the morn, A-wishin’ I was never born;
I make of cross remarks a few, And then my family wishes, too,
That I had gone some other place, Instead of showing them my face.
But let me change my little tune, And sing and smile, then pretty soon
The folks around me sing and smile; I guess ‘twas catchin’ all the while.
Yes, it’s a funny thing, but true, That folks you like will sure like you.