More Than a Pew--Why Fellowship Fuels Your Faith

Today, many churches try to distinguish themselves by distancing from anything that seems material or social, as if the only spiritual activities are those that happen behind a pulpit or in a pew. While it’s right to be cautious of shallow or entertainment-driven trends that water down the message of Christ, we must not overcorrect by neglecting something God designed from the beginning—real, meaningful fellowship.

What a local congregation emphasizes matters. For decades now, the data has been clear: churches that prioritize expository teaching rooted in the authority of Scripture are the ones that remain spiritually strong and steadily growing. A congregation should never apologize for standing firm on truth:

“The church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”  — 1 Timothy 3:15

The best plan for growth is not a trendy marketing campaign or a church-growth gimmick—it’s the joyful proclamation of God’s Word and the visible testimony of transformed lives.

Whole-Life Christianity
We must not downplay the importance of the shared lives of believers. Scripture paints a far richer picture of Christian life than just what happens during a worship assembly. The early church embodied a whole-life response to Jesus:

“Now all the believers were together and held all things in common.”  — Acts 2:44

They ate together, prayed together, served together. Their lives overlapped—socially, emotionally, spiritually. And it worked. Their fellowship was so vibrant and compelling that people on the outside were drawn in to see what God was doing. That’s part of why the church exploded with growth in the first century.

Why Fellowship Still Matters
Real, personal fellowship is one of the primary ways God matures and protects His people. It’s in our shared lives that we:



Ephesians 1:12 and Galatians 6:10 emphasize that believers are to live out their faith through visible, active goodness. Local churches should be creatively facilitating opportunities to serve—both inside and outside the church. That’s how we let our light shine (Matthew 5:16).



Not weekly. Daily. That can’t happen without relationships. We need each other’s voices, presence, and accountability to stay alert in a world full of spiritual distraction and temptation.



But that kind of comfort doesn’t happen at a distance. It comes from shared meals, hospital visits, late-night conversations, and simply showing up when life gets hard.

A Call to Connection
If your only connection to the church is Sunday morning, it’s very likely that your spiritual life is struggling. Worship is essential. But Christianity is not a once-a-week experience. It’s a full-life surrender that includes your mind, body, emotions—and yes, your social life.

Instead of treating fellowship like an optional add-on, we ought to treasure and promote it. If we’re serious about spiritual growth, we must be serious about spiritual relationships.

Show me a Christian deeply connected with other Christians, and I’ll show you a Christian on the road to maturity.

Those Serving
CALL TO WORSHIP/PRAYER
Andrew Cain
SONG LEADER
Roy Pyle
LEAD LORD'S SUPPER
Tony Bumbalough
 ASSIST LORD’S SUPPER
James Johnson
Billy Robins
Wes Grushon
Luke Powell
SCRIPTURE READING
Rich Walker

PREACHING
Scott Sandusky
CLOSING PRAYER
Benjamin Walker
CLOSING COMMENTS
Boyd Hastings
WELCOME CENTER
Judy Hickey // Emily McDonald
USHERS
Daniel Spargo // Bob Hoopes
COMMUNION PREP
Sadonna Schofield
CLOSING THE BUILDING
Josh Childers