Chapter Two: Fellowship

 

Fellowship means friendly association, especially with people who share one's interests. The New Testament word for "fellowship," koinonia, expresses the idea of being together for mutual benefit. Hebrews 10:24-25 shares this idea, saying, "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." Two reasons fellowship with other believers is important are because it helps express love to one another and it encourages good works.

 

You can’t go at parenting alone, it takes a village. Teachers, Pastors, Coaches, Small Group Leaders...they all have as much potential to impact a child’s character, self-esteem, perspective, or faith as you! Multiple combined influences have greater impact than just two influences. There will be times in your child’s life that they will not want to talk to you as mom, dad or caregiver.  You are too attached to the situation, too emotional, or too involved.  You as caregivers know that your child has adults they can talk to in those situations that would give the same Godly advice as you would.  Your child knows those adults are the ones that they should turn too when they can’t talk to you about certain situations.  

 

Even if your child is not old enough to seek out advice from other adults, you want to know that who you are leaving your children with share the same values as you. It is important to have people surrounding you that will have the same love and respect towards your child that you would.

 

This idea is shown in scripture.  In Deuteronomy 6, Moses stated “Hear O Israel,” he knew that the values he was passing along wouldn’t just last for his time or the generation he was speaking to.  He spoke to the whole community because he knew that it would take multiple influencers to guard their faith.  God did not design life to be lived in isolation, but rather in groups.  This is not only true for our individual lives, but for also in families.  Who can you widen your circle with? Who can you be inviting to come alongside you to support you in raising your children.  These are the people you should have surround you and your family.