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Today, we are commencing a whole new Bible study based on one Greek word - koinonia. I hope that you don't think I am being pretentious because I am using a Greek word. I cannot find a single English word to do justice to the meaning of this really wonderful New Testament truth. Also, I hope that you will continue reading the blogs and not think I am becoming too academic.
If we take the King James Version, the word koinonia can be translated as communication, communion, contribution, distribution and fellowship. At the heart of the word, is the idea of sharing and having something in common. It is about partnership and fellowship.
I first became interested in this concept away back when Janie and I were members of a church in Stevenston known as Townhead Christian Fellowship. We had a week's Bible teaching from Stephen Grant from Bridge of Weir on the subject of Community. A year later, I arranged a series of discussion groups in the church where we revisited some of the studies and asked questions about the impact on our lives individually and collectively. So this series of Day Share blogs is a spin-off from Stephen Grant's inspiration.
Even further back, I remember a conversation with one of the Jones twins who had become Christians when they were pupils at Ardrossan Academy. I cannot remember whether it was Arthur or Trevor but I remember him recounting that at the Youth Fellowship at Saltcoats Baptist Church, he was asked to complete a survey of what was the most important aspect of life at the church. His answer was 'fellowship.' Later on I shared a flat with Arthur who went on to become head teacher at Largs Academy in North Ayrshire. When I heard the mention of 'fellowship,' I was inwardly judgemental, thinking that this was a bit trivial. You see, I seriously underestimated the importance of 'fellowship' or koinonia as it is defined in the New Testament. For me, fellowship meant going out for supper to someone's house or some other display of hospitality. I did not realise that it was a much deeper concept.
Here is a list of future blogs, God Willing which will hopefully give a flavour of the scope of this subject which I look at across both the Old and the New Testament. Just one caveat, this is only my planning list. I may make changes when I come to write the blogs.
Date | Title of Blog |
17/07/2023 | What is koinonia? |
19/07/2023 | Koinonia began in heaven |
21/07/2023 | The devil hates koinonia |
23/07/2023 | What koinonia is not |
25/07/2023 | Our world is crying out for koinonia. |
27/07/2023 | Is koinonia achievable? |
29/07/2023 | Koinonia in the Old Testament |
31/07/2023 | David and koinonia |
02/08/2023 | Jesus and koinonia. |
04/08/2023 | Koinonia in the Acts |
06/08/2023 | Paul and koinonia |
08/08/2023 | John and koinonia. |
10/08/2023 | Peter and koinonia |
12/08/2023 | Koinonia - the big picture |
14/08/2023 | Koinonia in my home |
16/08/2023 | Koinonia in my church |
18/08/2023 | Koinonia - a future prospect. |
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