Koinonia fellowship, or lit. partnership with other believers, is essential for our spiritual health and well being as members of the body of Christ. Without such fellowship, we would lack the encouragement, sharpening, and comfort that we truly need, as well as the opportunities to comfort, sharpen, and encourage one another that we are duty bound to do. Having godly fellowship with the Lord and other believers is also a great privilege and blessing as we know it is Spirit wrought. Apart from Christ, apart from God's saving grace, the Apostle Paul teaches us in Ephesians 5:11 that our fellowship was "with the unfruitful works of darkness".

Yet, now as light walkers, as we walk in Christ's truth together we have true fellowship with one another. As we walk in the light, we need to remember that we have a growing experience with sin. Not that we sin all the more, but as the light exposes the darkness, we become more aware of our sin. God shows it to us. Praise the Lord that we have been cleansed and forgiven because of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice for us! We have been washed from our sins by His own blood. We are now united to Christ and have unity with our brothers and sisters together in His family.

How then should believers in the family of God enjoy and pursue fellowship with one another? What do the Scriptures say? Here are 6 ways to consider:
• Assembling with one another (Hebrews 10:25)- Assembling together, particularly on the Lord's Day, should be the highest priority for Christians, and is a way we enjoy fellowship. The importance of such assembly is emphasized in the writer's warning that believers don't forsake it, as some were doing. Consider also David's sadness in Psalm 42:4 when he couldn't go with the multitude to the house of God. He said, "When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast." Is worship and fellowship with God's people on the Lord's Day a priority for you? If so, wonderful. If not, make it so!
• Singing with and to each other (Colossians 3:16)- In Colossians 3, the Apostle Paul exhorts the saints to "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Singing together helps fellowship among believers in corporate and family worship.
• Praying with and for each other (2 Corinthians 1:11)- The Lord blesses and uses our time praying with each other in person during worship, or other occasions, to encourage and uplift one another. Paul taught Corinth in 2 Corinthians 1 that even praying for each other when we're not together is an act of "helping together" in prayer and thanksgiving for others. This brings to mind our weekly prayer focuses as we pray together for specific people and families.
• Celebrating the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)- As we partake of and celebrate the Lord's Supper together, by the work of the Spirit, one of the important things we are doing is that we are testifying and renewing our thankfulness, and engagement to God, and our mutual love and fellowship with each other, as members of the body of Christ. (WLC 168)
• Coming along side and helping one another (1 Corinthians 12:26-17)- The Lord uses times of need as sweet times of fellowship as we encourage and comfort one another in the valleys. We should seek to help one another as we are able and show the love of Christ to them. (1 John 3:17)
• Spending time with and investing in one another (2 Corinthians 9:12-14)- Even when things are going well overall, it's good and needed to have encouraging fellowship, as seen in spending time with each other to sharpen one another, to deepen bonds, and build friendships. Some times this flows easily for folks. Some times we need to be more intentional. We're all busy. Days and week's fly by. Make time for one another. Meals together, coffee, park days with the kids, other outings, studies, hang out time, etc. are good examples of things to do. This is good with our circle of friends. But what other brothers and sisters can you seek to get to know and invest in who you don't know well?