1689.26.14 The Inter-church fellowship among churches
(1689.26.14) “As each church, and all the members of it, are bound to pray continually for the good and prosperity of all the churches of Christ,27 in all places, and upon all occasions to further every one within the bounds of their places and callings, in the exercise of their gifts and graces, so the churches, when planted by the providence of God, so as they may enjoy opportunity and advantage for it, ought to hold communion among themselves, for their peace, increase of love, and mutual edification.28 27 Eph. 6:18; Ps. 122:6 28 Rom. 16:1,2; 3 John 8-10
1. The Divine Mandate for Inter-Church Fellowship
a. *The duty stated*: “As each church, and all the members of it, are bound to pray continually…”
- “… are bound to pray continually”: required by the will and command of Christ.
- The basis for this duty of each local church is the love and oneness in Christ which He commands of His people. (Jn 13:34-35; 17:11-23; Eph 4:11-16)
b. *The desired goal of the duty*: “…for the good and prosperity of all the churches of Christ …”
- The key requirement for such fellowship is continual prayers for the good and spiritual prosperity each other, Eph 6:18.
- What will contribute/promote to the good and prosperity of a church of Christ?
c. *The scope of the duty*: “… of all the churches of Christ, in all places, and upon all occasions…”
- The phrase “of all the churches of Christ” must not be understood in its absolute sense, but within its providential limitations which follows, i.e. “the churches, when planted by the providence of God…”
- Or like-minded churches that are brought together by the providence of God.
- We can’t possibly pray in any meaningful sense for churches we are not acquainted with or have knowledge of.
- There are abundant scriptural examples of regional fellowships of local churches, e.g. churches of Galatia (Gal 1:2), Judea (Gal 1:22), Macedonia (2Cor 8:1), etc. These are all regional names. A clear example of such regional communion is that of the seven churches of Asia Minor (western Turkey).
- These churches in a region are mentioned together because they are related to each other in some definite ways. There are cooperation and communication among these churches... see 2Cor 8:1,18-19.
d. *The desired mutual spiritual benefit of the duty*
“… to further every one within the bounds of their places and callings, in the exercise of their gifts and graces…”
- “to further every one”: assist to progress or development… edification, building up in the faith. See Eph 4:12ff.
- “Every one” refers to each local church; each local church, for all practicality, is within the bounds of their places and callings, i.e. within a district, a state, or a country.
- When each local church is furthered in the exercise of their gifts and graces towards other local churches, then the cause of Christ is advanced, e.g.
(i) help support gospel workers from other churches (Rm 16:1-3; 3Jn 8-10; 2Jn 5-11);
(ii) combined benevolence for needy saints in other churches (Rm 15:26; 2Cor 8:1-4,16-24, 9:12-15);
(iii) frequent communication with other churches (Col 1:3-7; 2:1; 4:7-12).
2. The Divine Providence for inter-church fellowship
a. A church of Christ is where it is by the providence of God
- “…so the churches, when planted by the providence of God…”
- It is by God’s wise providence that the churches of Jesus Christ were planted in a region… of different make-up, gifts and graces, etc.; it makes sense for them to have fellowship… for mutual edification…
b. The design of God’s providence for the churches in a geographical region
- “…so as they may enjoy opportunity and advantage for it…”
- Churches, even when doctrinally like-minded, do differ widely in various ways; e.g. ministry of the word, numerical size and composition of membership, auxiliary activities, spirituality, etc.
- Whatever, each church can benefit from inter-church fellowship mandated by God; just as “no man is an island”, even so, no church is an island in the context of fellowship.
- Therefore make opportunities for fellowship, and enjoy the advantage of it.
c. The implication of God’s providence for such churches
- “… ought to hold communion among themselves…” i.e. churches ought to hold fellowship among themselves.
d. The mutual benefits of such inter-church fellowship
- “…for their peace, increase of love, and mutual edification.”
- How does inter-church fellowship promote peace, increase of love, and mutual edification?
