A Disciple, Their Family and Relationships

August 2, 2025

A DISCIPLE IS COMMITTED TO A STRONG FAMILY AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH LOVE, PROTECTIONS, AND BIBLICAL VALUES

Realized Biblical Fellowship

The New Testament Church relies on the Fellowship (Grk. Koinonia) which is one of Discipleships "The Big 4" elements of Prayer, Study, Fellowship and Evangelism. As we approach the return of Jesus Christ, it is imperative that we see the church maintaining these elements or changing how to approach them.

I doubt if we will ever really lose what the church has built with these 4 elements modeled by Jesus, continued with his disciples and still flourishing today. However it is necessary that we are made aware of what the New Testament Church wll only thrive as it continues them relative to the teachings of Jesus. This blog on Fellowship is the third in the series of 4 blogs to discuss the reality of the need for these concepts of discipleship in the church. Next months blog will focus on Evangelism.

Fellowship is essential for the continuation of the church and brings us face-to-face with each other, and in that instance actually helps support the miraculous beliefs, signs and wonders that are a part of the Church are a product never to be neglected.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24–25, ESV)

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in  common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42–47, ESV)

Realized Family Relationships

I have always believed that family relationships should be of the topmost importance in an individual’s life. My family was very close, so I grew up believing that family was more important in so many aspects. As Presbyterian's, Fellowship was more than just at the church for gatherings when we met face-to-face, but in a cultural context were more secular in many context. We had gatherings and get-togethers to celebrate holidays, birthdays, and several church events. In essence, it was so embedded in our culture and it was expected.

In this context of culture, my parents were actively involved in what were called “Social Clubs.” My dad was in a club called the “Top Hatters”, and mom was in the “Lovely Doves.” These clubs would get together for monthly adult events to socialize. In addition to attending church there were parties which included alchohol consumption. The secular and sacred operated and were understood could exist without much criticism from the church. Every summer the clubs did family activities with chartered buses to travel to beaches, the mountains, lakes around the state and regional theme parks. These events solidified the fellowship among the social club gatherers and more importantly solidified their Christian beliefs and family relationships in the church. The sacred and the secular were sometimes interchanged.

This concept may be referred to as “Realized Family Relationships,” which could be describe as relationships originating within the church setting and extending into the surrounding community. These types of relationships also encourage individuals to be involved in what can only be labeled as communal discipleship. In many cases, members of the community were familiar with each other and provided mutual support within these smaller groups. It was not uncommon that my mother would say any member who knew us in the community could offer verbal correction to you. The idea of these family-like relationships connected individuals in religious settings as well in broader community exchanges. These types of fellowship ideals were similar to that in the lives of the disciples of Jesus Christ.

Realized Discipleship

F. F. Bruce, writing about the first disciples, explains that the twelve arrived at their final intimate relationship and fellowship with Jesus by degrees. There were three distinct stages in their development. They began as simple believers and occasional companions at convenient times, particularly during festive seasons. Fellowship followed in interrupted attendance, even to the abandonment of their secular vocations. Finally, they were set apart by their master as definite disciples.^[1]

The followers of Jesus experienced a process that fostered a definite change in their behavior. While Christian discipleship requires obedience, it is not simply a discipline of works. Like the activities that I explained in my family, in his book, Disciple, Leslie Weatherhead remarks that the normal life of the Christian is a life of fellowship. Fellowshipping with other believers is walking in obedience because the normal Christian life cannot be lived alone^.[2] Ray Stedman, in Body Life, also emphasizes this fellowship element as well. He reiterates the point that as an essential part of early Christianity, this fellowship element is still necessary today^.[3] 

Leroy Eims also believes that a growing Christian needs fellowship, which is one of the basic needs of a growing Christian church. Like family, it is not a group of people in one building like marbles in a bag but like lumps of chocolate that have melted together and become part of one another.^[4] This emphasizes both the relationships of believers with one another and the relationship of believers with God. Inwardly, people must be motivated to have fellowship with Jesus Christ, and outwardly, they must become witnesses to Jesus Christ.

In the biblical text, we can see David had served as Israel’s’ king for about seven years. The highlight of his formative years had been his relationship with Jonathan, son of the former king, Saul. David and Jonathan had made a promise to take care of each other’s households should something happen to either of them. Jonathan said to David,

. . . and remember, you must demonstrate the love and kindness of the Lord not only to me during my lifetime, but also to my children after the Lord has destroyed all of your enemies,” (1 Sam. 20:15, LB).

One day, David began wondering if any of Saul’s family was still living, for David wanted to be kind to them, just as he had promised. This is “Realized Fellowship” and it is an example of how some churches are slipping or drifting away from what we call true Fellowship (Grk. Koinonia) The book of Acts chapter 2, as we stated, reiterates, the fact that the church must operate in a context of face-to-face, group interaction, sharing with each other, and doing "The Big 4" of praying to Father God, studying the word, enjoying fellowship with each other, and reaching out to a world in desperate need of Jesus Christ

Having Realized Relationships

How does Pursuing Fellowship Happen?

Spend quality time with the people you care about in your family, friends and your church. If you are not in a church it would be expedient to attend one where there are Fellowship, Home, Cell or Connect groups. In that kind of setting you would get an opportuinity to share and do things that build and encourage yourself and others.

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near. (Heb. 10:25 NLT).

Pursue This Through Love:

• Keep your promises (James 5:12).

• Let people know you are praying for them (Rom. 1:9, 10).

• Give Instruction in a nurturing way (Ephesians 6:4).

• Assure people that you are proud of them.

Pursue This for Preservation:

• Pray a hedge of protection around everyone (Job 3:23; Psalm 34:19).

• Teach people to ask the Lord for protection and wisdom at all times (Proverbs 3:5-8; James 1: 5-8).

Pursue This Through Biblical Values:

• Assist how to respect and honor God in all they do (Prov. 1:7).

• Model and instill Godly standards and discipline. (Heb 12:5-8, 11)

• Teach how to seek the Lord’s will in everything (Psalm 37:5).

• Encourage being dependent upon the Lord for every aspect of life (Psalm 37:23; Prov. 3:5, 6).

• Help individuals find their God-given gifts and then develop them (Rom. 12:3-8)

The Church is not finished until the return of Jesus Christ. The text continues to encourage us to become loyal learning followers of Jesus Christ which can be seen can be seen in so many elements of our Christian walk. The Big 4; Prayer, Word, Fellowship and Evangelism are tools that Christ demonstrated to his disciples. We can definitely put these into action because we are the Church.

If you are married, in a Family or any relationship (Church, Work, School), talk with the people connected to you and let them know how important they are to your life. Encourage them to see God's provision and solution for every concern (Rom. 8:28; Phil. 4:19).

^[1] A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 1971), 11-12.

^[2] Leslie Weatherhead, Discipleship (London: SCM Press, 1958), 63.

^[3] Ray Stedman, Body Life, (Glendale: Regal, 1972), 107.

^[4] Leroy Eims, The Lost Art of Disciple Making. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978), 64.