THE FAMILY

"The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’" (Luke 7:34) 

Read: Luke 7:34 

Luke tells us the first followers of Jesus devoted themselves to fellowship (Acts 2:42). A word we don’t use very often—it means family, partnership, camaraderie and togetherness in a single word. One tangible way their fellowship gathered was to eat meals together. In the first century, eating a meal with someone carried a cultural significance. Showing acceptance or association, Jesus leveraged sharing meals to show how radically different his message was. It meant the people invited to your table were welcomed and a part of your life. The early Christian fellowships were counter-cultural, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds. The developed relationships were so meaningful they played a significant role in the growth of the church. 

Many churches have fellowships —gatherings of people invested in each other’s lives. Some fellowships are small groups, but others are church teams serving in ministries like children, worship, hospitality and outreach. They are groups of people committed to each other and God. They help each other be learners of God and grow to be more like Jesus. They are working to be each other’s family. Like they did in the early church, they are a place of connection, often turning strangers into family. 

ON THE COUCH WITH GOD TODAY 

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