Subscribe to the NetworkFellowship That Rejuvenates
One of the things God longs for is fellowship with His children. Not the “in-passing” kind of fellowship but the “sit-down-and-enjoy-one-another” kind of fellowship. In fellowship, we discover that one of the other ways we get to know Him better is by getting to know other Christ followers better as well. Students are good at this kind of fellowship relationship. They seem naturally to gravitate to their peers who are like-minded.
Have you ever thought about how fellowship is like rain? The right amount of rain brings life and refreshment. Spring is the time the earth longs for rain so that seeds can begin to sprout and grow. In a similar way, Christ followers long for the fellowship with the Father and His children. Fellowship helps believers grow and sprout spiritually.
We all experience times in our spiritual lives when things click along at a good pace; then suddenly we find ourselves in a slump. Maybe the slump is a lack of spiritual vitality. The remedy may include more intentional, consistent time with the Father through prayer and Bible study. It may include more focused prayer and intentionality in reaching those we know who do not know Christ. And it could well include more devoted time and fellowship with other believers.
Like a good rain during a dry spell, fellowship with other believers can rejuvenate and refresh one’s soul. Fellowship with believers can’t replace spending time with God, but it can encourage, inspire, and refresh your soul. Consider the following questions and how you are or are not using fellowship in your ministry:
· What fellowship opportunities do you provide for those with whom you minister?
· What fellowship opportunities do you provide for the students in your group who do not normally place themselves in the midst of a group?
· What fellowship opportunities do you provide that will give the excuse to get involved in others’ lives?
· What fellowship opportunities do you provide for yourself?
The various parts of the body need to be connected to the body. Affording students the opportunity to get together is important. The adults and parents who serve alongside you in ministry need the same opportunities as well. Many times the adults who work with students get little time to spend with other adults. Give them the chance to spend time with other adults without the students around. Let them share with one another what God is doing in, around, and through them. Make sure the adult classes they would be attending continue to minister to them by inviting them to their class events, keeping them on their email lists, and updating them with prayer concerns.
Provide opportunities for parents of students to get together too. Often, parents gather only for training or to confront a problem or challenge that they may be facing. Give parents a chance to gather for the sake of just being together.
If you are the main leader, head honcho, tag-you’re-it person in your student ministry, remember that you also need time of refreshing and fellowship. No one really expects you to be the fountainhead all the time.
Fellowship is a great thing. It is vital for all Christ followers to be involved in the lives of other believers. Without fellowship we dry up, get cranky, see things negatively, and become unpleasant. So provide a fellowship fountain of rain for your students, your ministry partners, the parents of your teenagers, and yourself. Bring on the spiritual rejuvenation that fellowship brings and watch relationships blossom.
