Monthly Archives: February 2016

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on February 4, 2016
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Koinonia — Fellowship and Communion — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

                                           February 4, 2016

Koinonia is the Greek word that means “fellowship, sharing in common, communion.” The word Koinonia occurs 20 times in the Bible. The first occurrence of Koinonia is Acts 2:42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” It is a primary understanding in the Christian Church that fellowship should be a key aspect of our life together. When we say that we are followers of Jesus, then we must make it a priority to come together in love, faith, and encouragement. That is the essence of Koinonia.

Philippians 2:1-2 declares, “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” If Koinonia is to mean fellowship, and being in agreement with one another, even being united in purpose, then we need to strive to serve others and alongside each other. Our Koinonia with each other is based on our common Koinonia with Jesus Christ.

When I joined a local Lutheran church, my wife and I were placed into a “Koinonia” group. It was a group of couples who were all in a similar place in our lives. And the purpose of the group was to be in fellowship with one another. Whether you have recognized it or not, most likely you already have such a group. And if you don’t then form one. Find some people to form a Koinonia group where you can break bread together, be united in purpose, and strive to serve others.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on February 3, 2016  

Gift of Serving – One of the Marks of the Church — Rev. David J. Schreffler

February 3, 2016

The gift of helps, or the gift of serving is having the desire and ability to help others, and to do whatever it takes to get a task accomplished. Serving can also be referred to as “ministering,” of which the Greek word “diakonia” (from which we get the English “deacon”) means service of any kind or helping those in need. Christian’s like to divide up the “marks” of the church into categories and terms. They are oftentimes broken down like this:

Service — diakonia
Communion, community, fellowship — koinonia
Proclamation — kerygma
Worship – leitourgia

Diakonia in the bible is usually rendered as service or ministering to others. What are the biblical examples of service? 2 Corinthians 9:12-13 states “For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry they will glorify God”. Or, Acts 6:1 says “Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.”

What are your examples of service? Do you see service as holding a door for someone in a wheelchair? Or is service washing your parent’s car, or walking the dog, or shoveling your neighbor’s driveway, or sending money to support a missionary across the globe?

Serving others in the name of Christ can come in so many different forms, and there are so many needs in the church, the community and in the world. Service does not require a lot of money, just the time and the interest in living out the Gospel message to love your neighbor.

Pastor Dave