Our church is called Hammersmith Christian Fellowship, as you know. Let’s break that name down, Hammersmith – where we are located (no surprise there!!), Christian as we profess the Christian faith. Fellowship – what about ‘Fellowship’? what does it mean and why is it there?
Well, fellowship is an important part of the Christian faith and has at least two essential dimensions, firstly fellowship with the Father and fellowship with each other.
In 1 Corinthians 1 v 9 Paul says: “You were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we enter into fellowship with him. 1John 1 v 13 also talks about fellowship with the Father and Son: “That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us [that you may share in what we have seen and heard]; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” Fellowship with the Father, therefore, is an essential part of our Christian faith.
But what about the second type of fellowship? This is fellowship with other believers. I asked our congregation at HCF to tell us what fellowship with other believers means to them. Two people said this:
“I first joined a Christian Fellowship about twenty five years ago in London and felt a sense of being rooted with one another as Christians. Over the years I found believers came together naturally for Fellowship in Christ and accepted into the family of God. I believe Fellowship builds God's Kingdom and we are to love God and love people. Fellowship builds unity and the Church is called to be united with one another”. Sisir Kann
And
“Peter and I have so enjoyed the fellowship at HCF. Christians of different nationalities, different personalities, different walks of life, and ages all with the same heavenly Father. From the beginning (over a year now) we have felt welcomed and accepted at HCF. and it is a blessing to be part of the family of God. We hope soon to become members as we feel we have found a spiritual home among God’s people.” Hester Shotter
Hebrews 3 v 12-14 says " 12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.” So fellowship is God’s gift to us, to encourage one another and to keep us accountable. We praise God for his perfect gift. When we hear the name Hammersmith Christian Fellowship, may we remember these two essential dimensions, fellowship with the Father and fellowship with each other
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