How can we prioritize fellowship as Paul intended in 1 Corinthians 16:7?

Paul’s Heart for Deep Fellowship

“ For I do not want to see you now only in passing; instead, I hope to stay with you for a while, if the Lord permits.” (1 Corinthians 16:7)

Paul longs for more than a quick greeting. He wants unrushed time with the believers, trusting God to open the way. This verse shows:

• A deliberate choice: “I do not want to see you…only in passing.”

• A desire for extended presence: “I hope to stay with you for a while.”

• A submissive attitude: “if the Lord permits.”

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Why Fellowship Matters

• Strengthens faith—Romans 1:11-12: “that we may be mutually encouraged.”

• Reveals Christ’s love—John 13:34-35.

• Fulfills the early-church pattern—Acts 2:42: “They devoted themselves…to fellowship.”

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Practical Steps to Prioritize Fellowship Today

1. Schedule it intentionally

• Set recurring times for meals, study, or service.

• Guard those slots as firmly as work appointments.

2. Choose depth over drive-by interactions

• Aim for conversations that move beyond weather and sports.

• Share testimonies, struggles, and answered prayers.

3. Open your home

• Show hospitality (Romans 12:13).

• Keep it simple: coffee, soup, or a potluck creates space for connection.

4. Serve side by side

• Ministry projects, outreach, and practical help bond hearts (Philippians 1:5).

5. Stay flexible under God’s leading

• Paul added “if the Lord permits.” Remain sensitive to divine redirection.

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Guardrails that Keep Fellowship Intentional

• Limit digital substitutes—texting supplements; it cannot replace presence (2 John 12).

• Pray for discernment in friendships—Proverbs 13:20 urges wise company.

• Maintain biblical focus—keep Scripture central (Colossians 3:16).

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Blessings That Flow From Faithful Fellowship

• Mutual edification—Hebrews 10:24-25 calls believers to stir one another to love and good deeds.

• Shared joy—1 John 1:3-4: “so that our joy may be complete.”

• Unified witness—Philippians 2:1-2 shows unity magnifying the gospel.

By choosing lingering presence, opening our lives, and submitting to God’s timing, we follow Paul’s model and make fellowship a joyful priority rather than a passing event.