- uncommon, out of the ordinary, unusual,
- Fellowship a relationship that is mutually beneficial and enjoyable.
Head -urning jaw-dropping never-would-have-imagined association.
Once upon a time there was a version of our faith characterized by uncommon fellowship that changed our world. If we could get this right, we could change the world. Why do we know this? Because it changed the world once 2,000 years ago.
Slaves, masters, women, Jews, gentiles, roman centurions - there could not have been a more diverse group who came together around Jesus.
Betrayed by friends
Condemned by the Temple
Persecuted by the Roman Empire
Spread like an air-borne disease
The only the 12 disciples had in common was Jesus. Jesus modeled it. People who were nothing like Jesus loved hanging around Jesus.
Jesus predicted it.
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”
Matthew 16:13-18 NLT
Jesus did not predict a place. He predicted a movement. Jesus also prayed for us.
“"I do not pray only for them. I pray also for those who will believe in me because of their message. Father, I pray that all of them will be one, just as you are in me and I am in you. I want them also to be in us. Then the world will believe that you have sent me.
John 17:20-21 NIRV
I will be in them, just as you are in me. I want them to be brought together perfectly as one. This will let the world know that you sent me. It will also show the world that you have loved those you gave me, just as you have loved me.”
John 17:23 NIRV
Our unity is mission critical. Unity is mission critical. Disunity disrupts the mission.
“"I give you a new command. Love one another. You must love one another, just as I have loved you.” “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35 NIRV
Unselfish love rules uncommon fellowship. Then Paul took the golden rule and he teased it out in his letters when he said...
Forgive one another
Encourage one another
Restore one another
Care for one another
Submit to one another - mutual submission
Carry one another's burdens
Bear with one another
What if we just did the one another's?
Imagine a world where people were skeptical of what we believe but envious of how well we treat one another.
The early church had to fight for it, because uncommon is uncomfortable.
Uncommon - uncomfortable
“He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.”
Acts 10:28 NIV
If it's not uncomfortable? It's because you have surrounded yourself with people who are just like you, and you are comfortable.
“Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”
Acts 10:34-35 NIV
God does not show favoritism.
“Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.””
Acts 15:5 NIV
Do you know what hung in the balance of this decision? You and I hung in the balance. James and Peter made huge theological and cultural concessions so that Gentiles could come to faith. Why? Because they knew that oneness needed to win the day. They went from the entire old convene at to two things. They knew that when it comes to disrupting unity, immorality disrupts unity. Unity preempt personal preference and satisfaction.
Jesus modeled it, predicted it, prayed for it, and branded it.
The early church fought for it. The question is, "Will we?"
Will we prioritize uncommon fellowship over our particular version of faith? We have to overlook what we don't have in common. It is an invitation to embrace the One thing we have in common.
“You see, at just the right time, when we (that is us. That is what we have in common) were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.”
Romans 5:6 NIV
if your theology separates you from sinners like you, you may have some work to do.
We can't all be right, but Jesus said that we can all be one.
Jesus did not pray for our rightness. He prayed for our oneness.
As is their custom, Catalyst opened up the conference with Andy Stanley, Senior Pastor of North Point Community Church. He is also the author of such noted books as Deep and Wide: Creating Churches Unchurched People Love To Attend and Next Generation Leader: 5 Essentials For Those Who Will Shape The Future. Andy spoke on the value of uncommon fellowship.
Preacher’s kids see church as the church really is.
Once upon a time there was a version of our faith characterized by uncommon fellowship that changed our world.
People who were nothing like Jesus liked Jesus and Jesus liked them.
Jesus did not predict a place. Jesus predicted a people.
Early Christian fellowship included all kinds of diverse people. Unity of believers is a testimony to the world that Jesus is God.
Our ability to love one another will be our megaphone to the world.
Our uncommon fellowship is critical because disunity disrupts the mission.
If there is one thing we’ve got to get right is unity around Jesus, the Son of God, is the Christ.
Unselfish love fuels uncommon fellowship.
Mutual submission is the most powerful relational dynamic in the world.
When you find a group of people mutually submitting to one another it is extraordinarily attractive.
Imagine a world where the people were skeptical of what we believed but were envious of how they treat one another.
Everybody wants to be one-anothered.
Uncommon is uncomfortable.
If we get this right all of us have to do uncomfortable things.
If you are not uncomfortable you have surrounded yourself with people who are just like you.
Oneness has to win the day. Unity around who is Jesus is preeminent. Everything else is details.
Immorality in the church disrupts unity.
Unity preempts personal preference and satisfaction.
Uncommon fellowship requires we look beyond the things we don’t have in common. It is an invitation to embrace the one thing we have in common.
Jesus sacrificed His life so you could experience the most uncommon fellowship of all – fellowship with the Father.
If your theology separates you from sinners like you, you may have some work to do.
We can’t all be right. But we can all be one. Jesus did not pray for our rightness. He prayed for our oneness.