Crossroads

We use the word ‘fellowship’ a lot around here. But have you ever wondered what we mean by pursuing fellowship? What is the goal of fellowship anyway?

Simply put, our goal in pursuing fellowship is to be like Christ:

"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16)

"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…" (Romans 8:29a)

This goal must be clearly defined and remembered every time we gather as believers to pursue fellowship, whether in a caregroup or in an accountability group. Otherwise, it would be very difficult to pursue fellowship. Even if your goal for your accountability group is to pursue Christ-likeness through fellowship, if the other members have goals other than pursuing fellowship, you will find it hard to pursue fellowship with them.

Here are some questions that would help you evaluate your goals for meeting together in a group. I’d encourage you to ask each other these questions next time you get together with your caregroup or accountability group:

• As you come to a caregroup/accountability group meeting, is your primary goal to be more like Jesus as you pursue fellowship in this context? What other goals do you have in gathering with your caregroup/accountability group?
• What are the specific ways you want to become more like Jesus as you pursue fellowship in this group?
• What are some specific things you can do to keep the goal of becoming more like Christ as the main focus of our group?