38 Bible Verses about Fellowship, In Christian Service

Peter, and John, who were esteemed to be pillars, perceived the favour that was bestowed on me, they admitted me and Barnabas into fellowship, and agreed, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.

"wherefore, 'tis said, a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh."

After this the Lord nominated seventy disciples more, and sent them before by two and two, into all the cities, and towns, where he himself design'd to go. and he said to them, the harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few: intreat therefore the Lord of the harvest to send forth labourers into his harvest.

from the first day to the present time. being persuaded that

from thence they sailed to Antioch, where they had been recommended to the favour of God, for the commission, which they had now discharg'd.

however, you acted generously in assisting me in my necessity: and you yourselves know, O Philippians, that when I first preach'd the gospel, at my departure from Macedonia, I receiv'd no manner of assistance from any other church but yours; for you sent more than once to Thessalonica to supply my occasions.

as they were ministring to the Lord, and fasting, the holy spirit said to them, separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have destin'd them. accordingly, after having fasted and prayed they gave them imposition of hands, and dismiss'd them.

but Paul chose Silas, and having been recommended by the brethren to the favour of God,

when I was present among you, and in want, I was chargeable to no man: for the brethren which came from Macedonia, supplied my necessities: and as I have, so I always shall keep myself from being burdensome to you.

Call to remembrance the former times, in which after ye were illuminated, you were forc'd to struggle with sufferings, some of you being expos'd to publick obloquy and persecution: whilst others had their share of affliction in seeing such treatment. for you were passionately affected for those who were in bonds, and were pleas'd at the seizing of your goods, knowing that you have what is more excellent and lasting.

and the hopes I had of you continue still the same, knowing that as you have had your share of suffering, so you will likewise have of consolation.

only conduct yourselves in a manner becoming the gospel of Christ, that whether I come to see you, or else am absent, I may have this account of you, that you are stedfastly of the same resolution, and unanimously contend for the faith of the gospel, without being under any the least apprehension from your adversaries: this will be to them a sign of their ruin, and to you of salvation, by the divine appointment. for it is a favour bestowed upon you, that you not only believe on Christ, but suffer also for his sake,read more.
being engag'd in the same conflict, in which you saw I was formerly, and hear that I am at present engag'd.

however, you acted generously in assisting me in my necessity:

chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

yea, I intreat thee too, my faithful collegue, to assist them both, for they assisted me in the gospel, as well as Clement, and my other collegues, whose names are in the book of life.

where they resided a whole year with that church, and instructed abundance of disciples, and these disciples were the first that were denominated Christians. About that time some prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch: and one of them named Agabus foretold by the spirit, that there should be a great famine, thro' all the world: which accordingly happen'd in the reign of Claudius Cesar.read more.
then the disciples determin'd to send, each of them answerably to his abilities, some relief to the brethren residing in Judea: which they actually perform'd, and sent it by the hands of Saul and Barnabas to the presbyters at Jerusalem.

When Paul and Barnabas were gone out of the Jewish synagogue, the Gentiles desired them to entertain them on the same subject, the following sabbath. when the assembly was separated, many Jews and religious proselytes followed after, to whom the apostles address'd themselves, and exhorted them to persevere in the divine dispensation. The next sabbath-day almost the whole city assembled to hear the word of God.read more.
when the Jews saw such a crowd, they were fill'd with resentment, and oppos'd what Paul had advanc'd, even to blasphemy. but Paul and Barnabas told them boldly, you indeed were the first, to whom the word of God was to be preach'd: but since you reject it, and judge your own selves unworthy of eternal life, be assur'd, we shall make the same offer to the Gentiles: for thus has the Lord commanded us, "I have appointed you to be a light to the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation to the remotest parts of the earth." when the Gentiles heard this, they received the word with joy, glorifying the Lord: and as many as were dispos'd to eternal life, believed. and the word of the Lord spread through the whole country. but the Jews having animated the women of quality of their religion, and the leading men of the city, raised a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and banish'd them from their territorys.

Being arriv'd at Iconium, they went both together to the Jewish synagogue, where they discours'd in such a manner, that a great number both of Jews and of Greeks believed. but the disbelieving Jews practis'd upon the Gentiles, and inflam'd their minds against the brethren. however the apostles stay'd there a considerable time, being inspir'd with great resolution by the Lord, who gave his attestation to the evangelical doctrine, by the prodigys and miracles, which he did by their hands.read more.
so that the people of the city were divided, some siding with the Jews, and others with the apostles. upon this the Gentiles and the Jews, supported by their magistrates, made an insurrection in order to use violence against them, and even to stone them: of which they were appriz'd, and fled to Lystra and Derbe, citys of Lycaonia, and to the adjacent country, where they preach'd the gospel. Now at Lystra there was a man, who could not stand upon his feet, he was born a cripple, and had never walked about. one day he heard Paul preach, who fixing his eyes upon him, and perceiving that he expected to be cured, he said to him aloud, rise and stand right upon your feet: upon which he leap'd up and walk'd. When the people saw what Paul had done, they cry'd out in the Lycaonian tongue, the Gods have assum'd a human form, and are descended among us. Barnabas, they stiled Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker. even the priest of Jupiter, whose statue was at the city-gates, brought oxen and garlands there, and together with the people, would have offer'd sacrifice to the apostles. but Paul and Barnabas being appriz'd of it, tore their clothes, and throwing themselves among the crowd, cry'd out, "sirs, what are you going to do? we are but men as well as you, and we exhort you to renounce these vanities, and turn to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth and the sea, and all that they contain: who in past ages has let all Nations proceed in their own ways. nevertheless he sufficiently display'd himself by his beneficence to mankind, in giving us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, replenishing our hearts with food and gladness." but whatever they could say, it was with difficulty that they restrain'd the people from sacrificing to them. Now some Jews being arriv'd from Antioch and Iconium, work'd so upon the people, that they stoned Paul, and dragg'd him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. but the disciples being gather'd about him, he rose up and went into the city, from whence he departed the next day with Barnabas to go to Derbe. After they had preach'd the gospel in that city, and made many disciples, they retook the road to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, encouraging the disciples, exhorting them to persevere in the faith, representing that it is thro' much tribulation that we must enter into the kingdom of God. and after they had by prayers and fastings establish'd Pastors for them in every church, they recommended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Then the apostles, the presbyters, and the whole church thought it proper to select some out of their own body to accompany Paul and Barnabas to Antioch: such as Judas surnam'd Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, whom they charg'd with this letter. The apostles, the presbyters, and the brethren, to the Gentile brethren at Antioch, in Syria, and Cilicia, send greeting. Whereas we have been appriz'd, that some who went from us, have embarass'd you with their discourse, and unsettled your minds, maintaining, that you ought to be circumcised, and to observe the law, though we gave them no such injunction: after having been assembled,read more.
we unanimously judg'd it proper to send particular deputies to you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have exposed their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. we therefore send Judas and Silas to inform you in person of this affair. for by the holy spirit it seemed good to us, to lay no greater burthen upon you, than these necessary injunctions; that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the flesh of strangled animals, and from fornication: you will do well to preserve your selves from these practices. farewel.

salute Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow-labourers in the gospel of Christ Jesus:

I value as a good christian. salute Urbane my assistant in the cause of Christ,

Timotheus my collegue, Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.

now as to Titus, he is my collegue, and assists me in your affairs: as to our brethren, they are the deputies of the churches, and the glory of the christian profession.

however I thought it necessary to send you Epaphroditus my brother, my collegue in the ministry, and my fellow-soldier, whom you had sent to supply my wants:

For as the body is one, tho' it has many members, and all the members of that one body, tho' many, are one body: so also is the body of Christ.

Now there are different gifts, but the same spirit. and there are different offices, but the same Lord. and there are different operations, but it is the same God who performs them all in every one.

now to particular men the spirit gives particular gifts, that they may be displayed to greater advantage.

for as there are many members in one and the same body, but all the members have not the same office: so we who are many, make all but one body in Christ, and every member subservient to one another. having then different gifts, according to the respective favour bestowed upon us; if it be prophecy, let him prophesy according to the proportion of his gift.read more.
if it be the ministry, let him attend on that ministry; and he that teacheth, on teaching; he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him be disinterested; he that presideth, let him be diligent; he that sheweth mercy, let him do it with cheerfulness.

the body is not one member, but many. if the foot should say, "because I am not the hand, I am not of the body;" is it therefore not of the body? and if the ear should say, "because I am not the eye, I am not of the body;" is it therefore not of the body?read more.
if the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? if the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? now God disposed every one of the members in the body as he thought fit. but if they were all one member, where would be the body? thus, tho' there are many members, yet there is but one body.

as good economists of the different dispensations of God, communicate to one another the gifts you have receiv'd.

and the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of thee:" nor again, the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." nay, those parts of the body, which seem to be of the least account, are much more necessary. what we think to be less honourable, is loaded with additional ornaments, and the less graceful have adventitious finery,read more.
of which the graceful have no need: but God has contrived the symmetry of the body, by bestowing an additional advantage where it seem'd to want it. that there might be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same mutual concern for one another. so that if one member suffer, they all suffer with it: or if one be honoured, they partake of it.

on the contrary, when they perceived that I had the province of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, as Peter had that of preaching it to the Jews, (for he that had wrought powerfully in Peter with respect to his apostleship among the Jews, had also wrought powerfully in me upon account of the Gentiles:) and when James,

Thus you are the body of Christ, being the particular members of it. which God has placed in the church, first apostles, next prophets, then teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, assistants, governours, interpreters of languages. are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?read more.
have all the gifts of healing? do all speak divers languages? do all interpret? you are contesting about the superiority of your gifts: but I point out to you a more excellent way.

You know brethren, that the family of Stephanas were the first converts of Achaia, and have made it their business to be serviceable to christian converts: to such, I beseech you be subservient, and to every one that helpeth us with his labours. I am glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus are come: for what was wanting on your side, they have supplied.read more.
for they have quieted my mind as well as yours: therefore to such have a regard.

that the patience of our Lord is for your advantage: as our dear brother Paul, according to the information he receiv'd, has writ to you, as it were in all his epistles, where he takes notice of these things: in which there are some passages that are difficult to understand, which the illiterate, and unstable wrest, as they do the rest of the scriptures, to their own ruin.

who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye have received faith according to the divine gifts imparted to each of them? I have planted, Apollos watered: but God gave the increase. so then, neither is he that planted any thing, nor he that watered: it is God only that gives the increase.read more.
he that planteth, and he that watereth, have the same design: and each shall receive his proper reward, in proportion to his own labour.

for to one the spirit gives the knowledge of the prophetical writings; to another the same spirit gives the knowledge of the doctrines of religion; to another faith; to another the gifts of healing; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits; to another diversity of languages; to another the interpretation of languages.read more.
but all are wrought by one and the same spirit, distributing to every one in particular, as he thinks fit.

so they made a signal to their partners in the other ship to come and help them. accordingly they came, and loaded both the boats so with fish that they began to sink. at sight of this, Simon Peter fell on his knees before Jesus, and said, Lord, withdraw from such a sinful man as I: for he, and all the company were frightned at the draught of fish they had taken:read more.
so was James too, and John, the sons of Zebedee, both partners with Simon. but Jesus said to Simon, be not afraid; for the future you shall fish for men.