What Biblical Fellowship Looks Like
Let’s be honest for a moment… How many times have we walked away from a coffee date or a church event feeling like we had a “fun” time, but nothing truly deep or lasting happened? Maybe there was some chat about life, maybe even some laughing, but everything stayed pretty firmly in the shallow end of the relationship pool. There’s nothing wrong with friendly conversation and catching up, but biblical fellowship? That’s a whole different kind of connection.
A couple of weeks ago we started a series on the necessity of encouragement through fellowship and we’re going to go further into it by saying: Biblical fellowship isn’t just socializing. It’s not small talk over snacks or even a shared calendar of activities. It’s deeper and intentional. At its very center, biblical fellowship is a Christ-centered connection, one rooted in mutual love, support, edification, and accountability. It's walking through life TOGETHER, with Jesus at the center.
What It Looks Like in Real Life
So what does this look like practically? Let’s break it down with some totally doable actions!
Prayer
There is such a powerful beauty in praying not just with and FOR one another. James 5:16 encourages us to “pray for one another, that you may be healed.” When we lift each other’s burdens to the Lord, we’re not only drawing closer to Him, we’re drawing closer to one another. Whether it’s over text, in a group, or one-on-one, prayer becomes a sacred place where fellowship is born. It’s also a space for accountability. Where we are checking in on each other’s prayer lives with grace and love.
Practical Tidbit:
Send a text to your people and say “Hey! I was just praying for you. Is there anything you need specific prayer for?” And then pray for that. Follow up about that. Be there for them through that.
Be in the Word together
Something amazing happens when we open our Bibles together. Conversations get deeper, questions spark growth, and God’s truth becomes more than just words on a screen/page. There’s several ways to do this. There’s the typical formal Bible study, chatting over coffee about a devotional, or even sending voice notes back and forth about what God’s teaching you. Either way, studying Scripture in community strengthens not only your faith, but your friendships.
Practical Tidbit:
Get together and read together. Even if it’s reading over a chapter together right before you eat, spending the time together reading His Word is a great way to re-center a hang out session.
Hospitality
Acts gives us such a sweet picture of the early church breaking bread together with glad and sincere hearts (Acts 2:46). There’s something special about sharing a meal. It invites conversation, laughter, and a sense of belonging. For this, you don’t need a Pinterest-perfect table to host someone because hospitality isn’t about impressing others; it’s about welcoming them. A simple meal or cozy cup of tea can open the door to deep fellowship.
Practical Tidbit:
Keep extra drinks and snacks on hand. When hospitality becomes something that you’re known for, it’s so nice to have a few things on hand to offer up when people swing by. It also goes a long way in showing people that you want them there.
Serving Together
One of the most bonding experiences in Christian community is serving together. Whether it’s volunteering at church during a service, organizing meals for members, or using your gifts in ministry, serving together aligns your hearts in purpose. And while that purpose is God first and foremost, it’s also a great way to build up biblical fellowship. It’s not just about doing something good, it’s about being something together: the hands and feet of Jesus.
Practical Tidbit:
Don’t pick a place to serve so that you can be with friends. It’s so easy to stay in our comfort zones because we love who we love. But, serving where God calls us is so much more beneficial for the Kingdom, and you’ll be surprised the friendships that come from it!
Where do I start?
Not sure where to begin? You’re not alone. Here are a few simple ways to take that first step:
Invite a friend to coffee and ask how you can pray for her.
Start a mini Bible study—just you and a friend or two.
Offer to host a casual dinner or dessert night.
Say yes to serving somewhere new at church and see who God brings alongside you.
And remember: building true fellowship takes time and intentionality. Be consistent. Be patient. Be open to connecting with women who are different from you. Don’t throw away the desire for growing friendships just because it takes a while. Everyone brings something unique to the table, and every connection has the potential to reflect Christ’s love in a new way.
Here’s the truth that holds it all together, biblical fellowship isn’t about us. It’s about Jesus. Our shared identity in Him is the foundation for everything else. We’re not just building friendships; we’re building kingdom relationships that strengthen our faith, hold us accountable, and help us grow into the women God has called us to be.
I spent so long praying for community. Praying that God would lead me to people who I could grow alongside, and God has given me that tenfold. Not by randomly giving me people (although that has happened), but instead by gifting myself and the other parties with a desire for something deeper.
So, dear Reader, if you’ve ever felt like something was missing in your community, maybe it’s not that you need more people, maybe it’s that you need deeper fellowship. The kind that prays with you, grows with you, serves with you, laughs and cries and walks through the messy and beautiful parts of life with you.
Biblical fellowship is more than just a concept, it’s a gift. And it’s one we were created to give and receive.