RODEO -- Fellowship, Psalm 23, spiritual warfare
SHEEP -- (an indefinite number of sheep enter singly, wander around stage) Baaaah. Baaaah. (when two sheep meet) The Loooord is my Sheeeepard. I shall not be in Waaaaant. (sheep clump into a herd, bleating)
ANNOUNCER -- (enters after all sheep are on stage) Hi, rodeo fans and welcome to the Demon rodeo. This next event is called "cutting the herd".
DEMON -- (enters wearing cowboy clothes, carrying coil of rope with lasso loop on the end)
SHEEP -- (bleat louder, shuffle and tighten their herd away from demon).
ANNOUNCER -- As you can see, the natural reaction of Christian sheep when threatened by demonic behaviour is to seek comfort from other Christians. In this competition, the demon cowboy will attempt to overcome the natural tendency of Christians to seek strength and comfort from fellowship with other Christians in the herd.
DEMON -- (begins flailing rope lasso up and down as he shuffles along the edge of the herd) Yeehah!
SHEEP -- (shuffle and bump each other with more vigour, but keep bleating at low levels so that Announcer's voice can be heard)
ANNOUNCER -- In order to CUT or isolate a single sheep from the herd, the Demon cowboy will try to work the herd into a frenzy in order to get the sheep to forget the strength and comfort of the herd and start thinking about individual survival and other selfish issues.
SHEEP -- (one sheep is isolated from the herd but shuffles frantically to try to rejoin herd)
DEMON -- (inserts self between herd and single sheep)
ANNOUNCER -- Once the demon cowboy sees a weakness in the herd, he immediately exploits the weakness, thus driving the individual Christian further from the herd. The Cowboy knows that the longer he can get a Christian away from the herd, the less likely it will be that he will rejoin the herd.
DEMON -- (drives individual offstage, re-enters, repeatedly singles out and separates sheep, driving them offstage too)
ANNOUNCER -- That's one point for the demon cowboy! And he immediately returns to the herd to single out another sheep. Notice that once the herd is reduced it is weakened as a refuge and encouragement for the remaining sheep. The demon cowboy definitely has the right strategy! Each succeeding attack on the Christian herd of sheep becomes easier and easier because there are fewer and fewer sheep to give comfort. Demon cowboys in the open range know that the strength of Christians is in their herding behaviour. Without the strength and encouragement of the herd, the individual Christian sheep is no match for the outside world. That's one more point for the demon cowboy!
SHEEP -- (separated sheep rejoin herd)
ANNOUNCER -- Well, it looks like the sheep are smarter than the demon cowboy gives them credit for. The separated sheep wised up and came back to the herd! The demon cowboy loses all the points.
DEMON -- (stomps foot, exits)
ANNOUNCER -- Well, it looks like the demon cowboy has conceded victory for now. But take it from me, he'll be back to attack the herd again soon. So, there you have it, rodeo fans, take a lesson from these Christian sheep, "do not give up meeting together". Stay close to your herd. (picks up shepherds crook) Come along children! (exits)
SHEEP -- (bleat and follow Announcer)
-Bob Snook-
1 John 3:16
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Romans 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
Colossians 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ,
Philemon 2:1-2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
John 17:23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
1 John 1:3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 Corinthians. 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 12:12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
Psalms 55:14 We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng.
Luke 24:13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.
Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Hebrews 10:24-25 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 ball the more as you see the Day drawing near.
1 Peter 4:9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Fellowship is often times overlooked in the life of a Christian. If you grew up in the church, you might associate the word “fellowship” as something your church family did by bringing a pot-luck style of lunch for all to share after a special Sunday service. But fellowship is not an event, no, it should be part of our life as a Christ-follower. Maybe the strongest and most pointed passage about fellowship is from Hebrews 10 when the author says that some have stopped meeting and are neglecting fellowship. This is important for all men and women of faith. As you read through these passages, consider your own life and attitudes towards fellowship. Do you desire to be around other Christians?
Fellowship is not just something that we try to fit into our Christian life after we get everything else together. No fellowship is important. Fellowship will challenge us, encourage us, help us stay accountable, and fellowship is showing obedience to God and his word. Don’t neglect this part of the Bible.
-Pastor Daryl-
http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/bible-verses-about-fellowship-21-scripture-quotes/#ixzz2SQ1j5wEF
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