Pastor’s Message - “KOINONIA”

"Koinonia”: A Greek word that occurs 20 times in the Bible. Koinonia’s primary meaning is “fellowship, sharing in common, communion.” The first occurrence of koinonia is Acts 2:42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Christian fellowship is a key aspect of the Christian life. Believers
in Christ are to come together in love, faith, and encouragement. That is the essence of koinonia.

When I attended California Lutheran University (back then a college) I was first introduced to “koinonia” groups. The purpose of these was to create opportunities of fellowship (community) within the college setting. It worked well too. I found the “koinonia” group to be supportive, welcoming, and a great place to go when I was overwhelmed with all the newness of college life and schedule.

By the time you read this 37 people will be up in the Emigrant Wilderness backpacking. The theme for this year is “koinonia”. The wilderness, along with being in a small group we all “family”, will provide the context to experience koinonia. This shared experience of backpacking, coupled with learning how to live together as a community, as a family, will become a time to grow together, to learn both individually and as part of family, and through this experience come to know God’s presence as they develop fellowship (have koinonia) together.

Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians, “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”

Koinonia is being in agreement with one another, being united in purpose, and serving alongside each other. Our koinonia with each other is based on our common koinonia with Jesus Christ.

A powerful example of what koinonia should look like can be found in a study of the phrase “one another” in the Bible. Scripture commands us to be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10), honor one another (Romans 12:10), live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16; 1 Peter 3:8), accept one another (Romans 15:7), serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13), be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32), admonish one another (Colossians 3:16), encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13), spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24), offer hospitality (1 Peter 4:9), and love one another (1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11; 3:23; 4:7; 4:11-12). That is what true biblical koinonia should
look like.

May we here at Community Lutheran Church learn and continue to live in koinonia. Amen.

Pastor Greg