SUMMARY: Experiencing Authentic Christian Living

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Book Summary: Experiencing Authentic Christian Living
by Garrett Pendergraft & Jim Dernocoeur



This book is all about Koinonia—developing an intimate fellowship with God and other people. It explains how we can guide our spiritual journey to gain closer intimacy with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. This intimate fellowship ultimately yields a life that is transformed and purpose-driven to do what God wants us to do. It leads to peace of heart and mind so we can someday stand before God’s seat of judgment unafraid, looking forward to our ultimate reward.

The Bible is our instruction manual. It provides “a transcendent vision of the living God.” At its core, Christian spirituality is life in the Spirit. It encourages us to draw close to each other—and reach out to non-believers. We are to love each other because he first loved us. As we are showered with God’s love, we are healed, transformed and empowered to love in ways we could never have loved before.

The Biblical picture of peace yet to come binds all Christians together in a Koinonia of hope and eternal life.

Personal Comment - What I Learned From this Book:
This book teaches us how to go deeper in our relationship with God, after we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. It tells us how to manage our spiritual journey so we can enjoy full fellowship with God and other people. The Christian life is not a matter of perfection; it is a process leading to a deeper understanding of what God wants us to do with our lives. Then acting out our Christian life in the face of today’s meaningless values. By doing so, we can reach the ultimate, eternal Koinonia with God and the saints in heaven.

I found the key word to be “intimate” in our fellowship with God and people. This means more than close to me. It takes on a specialness that only I can have with God. (Each of us can have that relationship.) But, it’s up to me to make it happen. He’s already there, waiting.

What is the Christian life?
Just as newlyweds rarely (if ever) know what they’re getting into, so too spiritual infants often do not have an accurate and complete picture of the Christian life. There are four basic ideas about the Christian life, each of which forms an integral part of a well-rounded concept of our spiritual journey.

1) Christians have assurance of heaven
2) Christians experience joy and peace
3) Christians must believe the right things about God
4) Christians must do what God commands

Each of these ideas is important, but focusing too much on any one of them can lead to an unbalanced faith. Perhaps the best and most concise description of the Christian faith comes from the Greek word Koinonia, and can be loosely translated as “intimate fellowship.” We are to participate in intimate fellowship with both God and His people. To the extent that we take advantage of this fellowship, we will experience the magnified joy that naturally results from a proper focus on all four major areas of the Christian life.

“The Christian life is not a matter of perfection, but process, not performance for God, but relationship with a God who offers forgiveness and cleansing through Christ.” (27)

Intimate Fellowship and the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is indispensable to the Christian life, not some impersonal “force” but rather a member of the Trinity with whom we are to have a personal relationship. The Holy Spirit works in Christians before conversion by facilitating communication of the Good News; making sinners aware of their need for Him; and helping Christians commit their lives to Jesus. The Holy Spirit also works during conversion by reminding us that God holds us firmly in His grasp; by giving us new birth and new life; by joining us with the community of believers; and by coming to dwell in us both individually and corporately. This indwelling establishes us as “the temple of God.”

Since the Holy Spirit is one of the persons of the Trinity, one with whom we can have a relationship much like our relationship with God the Father and Christ the Son. In fact, Koinonia with the Spirit also draws us closer to the community of believers. Thus we have fellowship with the Spirit as well as fellowship with other Christians, as provided by the Spirit. Paul’s writings are replete with dimensions of the Spirit’s indwelling in our lives.

“At its core, Christian spirituality is life in the Spirit. It is intimate fellowship with the Holy Spirit, shared with others to whom we are joined by that same Spirit.” (44)

Intimate Fellowship in the Body of Christ
For many American Christians, a personal faith is a private faith. The average Christian places much less importance in church fellowship than the first Christians did. We often suffer from the same individualism that characterized the church in Corinth and prompted Paul to write 1 Corinthians. Paul used the illustration of the body as a means to explain how the Corinthians (and all Christians) were to function within the local church. We are all different parts of the body of Christ, but whatever our function, the body would suffer (as would we) if were separated from it. In fact, the body of Christ is unique in that the lesser parts are given the greatest honor. As a church body, we depend on each other and are to “care for each other equally” (1 Cor. 12:25). This was modeled in the early churches, which most closely resembled small groups of today. We are also called to share the full human range of emotions together; especially the inevitable suffering that is a part of the Christian life. Another important truth about the church is illustrated by the sacrament of communion. As we remember the death of Christ through the bread and wine, we grow closer to God. But communion is also a corporate act, and as we grow closer with God we also grow closer with God’s people.

Intimate Fellowship and the Bible
The bad news is that life comes with “some assembly required.” The good news is that God has lovingly prepared for us an instruction manual for living the abundant life. This instruction manual, the Bible, is trustworthy and useful for all kinds of purposes. This trustworthiness is based on internal claims, external evidence (such as the sheer number and quality of manuscripts), and simple observation. The Bible is not the only source of truth, but it is the ultimate source of absolute Truth.

The Bible as a whole serves two purposes; it leads us to salvation and prepares us to live well. As we explore these two purposes, Koinonia comes into play. Our fellowship with the Holy Spirit provides us with insight into the meaning of Scripture as we faithfully apply sound study principles. But despite our best efforts, sinful human nature will cause us to misinterpret certain passages. When this happens, we can look to our intimate fellowship with the body of believers (both in our local circles and elsewhere through commentaries and scholarly works).

While the Bible is the master instruction set, it is much more than that; it gives us “a transcendent vision of the living God.” As we balance our private meditation with public study, we continue to grow in our relationship with God.

“When we unite the disciplines of study and meditation, when we allow the Bible to guide both our thinking and our worship, when we read both alone and in community, Scripture leads us into an ever-deepening relationship with the living God.” (74)

Intimate Fellowship and Prayer
Prayer seems to be fashionable in all sorts of different communities today, but the type of prayer that is celebrated isn’t necessarily Biblical. Biblical prayer is simply communication with God, and is summed up nicely in Eph. 6:18. This verse tells us that we are to pray with different kinds of prayer including thanks, praise, confession, and requests. We are also told to pray on every occasion, which suggests that prayer is more than verbal communication with God. We are told to pray with alertness, at whatever time of the day allows us to give our utmost attention and concentration to God. This verse emphasizes the fact that prayer is a struggle that requires perseverance on our part.

Eph. 6:18 further exhorts us to pray “for all of the saints.” While we can’t literally pray for all of God’s children, we are encouraged to pray for those outside of our local community of faith. The Holy Spirit helps us in each of these aspects of prayer, and in fact is an integral part of everyone’s prayer life.

We are told that prayer in Jesus’ name will be answered, which is an inspiring promise; but we need to be aware that God sometimes answers our prayers with “No,” often for reasons we won’t understand until we get to heaven. In fact, even Jesus’ prayer for relief from his cup of suffering was met with a negative from God. Most importantly, it is through prayer that God has chosen us to draw us into deeper Koinonia with Him.

Intimate Fellowship and Spiritual Guidance
Divine guidance through the Holy Spirit is surely one of the most precious aspects of the Christian life, and yet remains one of the most misunderstood. Both testaments of the Bible speak to the Spirit’s role in supernatural guidance, but how does this guidance manifest itself in everyday life?

One of the ways the Holy Spirit guides us is through circumstances. Although sometimes miraculous, more often He works in ordinary ways to bring about the will of God. These circumstances, however, must always be interpreted in light of the truth in the Bible—which is another way the Holy Spirit guides us. The Bible provides general principles (which together comprise God’s moral will) on which to base interpretations of circumstances, and is in fact “the primary source for divine guidance in our life.” Although God’s specific will for our lives is rarely detailed in Scripture, the Holy Spirit guides us in our Bible study by helping us apply general Biblical truths to the specifics of our lives. The more time we spend in the Word, the more in touch we are with God’s moral will.

The Holy Spirit also guides us through community. A body of believers committed to each other’s well-being can save individuals from incorrect discernment based on emotion or lack of knowledge, and provide a crucial perspective for those trying to live in a way that pleases God. Finally, the Holy Spirit guides us through “whispering in our hearts.” While this type of guidance is rare, it has a Biblical basis and can be an effective way for God to communicate. The difficulty arises when we try to quiet our minds in preparation of hearing such a whisper, and in general when we try to discern God’s guidance. As with most aspects of the Christian life, developing an ear for the Holy Spirit requires involvement with a community of believers (although the importance of spiritual disciplines cannot be ignored). In addition, believers need to be willing to step out in faith and risk embarrassment when they suspect the Spirit is leading them in a certain way. Finally, a good litmus test of suspected spiritual guidance could be where the benefit lies; if the result would be the benefit of others, the chances are good that it’s coming from the Holy Spirit.

In this way the guidance of the Spirit increases in the presence of true Koinonia, while at the same time enhancing that intimate form of fellowship. We must submit to the sovereignty of God as we seek the Spirit’s guidance for his glory.

Author’s opportunity to witness while in college through the Spirit’s manipulation of circumstances (pp. 93-94); Ben and Sue, who entrusted the decision of whether or not they could marry to their church community (specifically the elders; pp. 97-98).

Intimate Fellowship and Worship
Many Christians attend the worship service expecting it is for them. It’s not. It is for God and in it we acknowledge his unmatched greatness and inestimable value. It is one of our most intimate forms of communications with God. Like any father, he loves to have us adore him. Worship is a result of being filled with the Spirit. There is a reciprocal relationship between spiritual filling and worship. When the spirit fills us, we can’t help but worship. We must worship with our heart and body. With our fellow worshippers, we “sing to the Lord” and give our thanks to him. True worship permeates our lives every day. Our Koinonia deepens with each other. We must invite “all nations” to worship the King of Kings.

Intimate Fellowship and the World
The Lord has given you a specialness. According to Scripture, you are a saint and have been chosen to do his work in the world. Jesus wants us to be “in the world, but not of the world.” But, many people will see us as oddballs, misfits. We are at odds with the “cultural elite.” Remember, suffering is an essential element of genuine Christian life—God hurts when we hurt and never abandons us! Rom. 8:17 says, “And since we are God’s children, we will have his treasures—for everything God gives to his son, Christ, is ours too. But, if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.” Christians live in genuine hope, holy hope – not the world’s despair – because the Holy Spirit dwells within us.

Intimate Fellowship and Our Mission in the World
Only God can reconcile us to himself and bring reconciliation to a shattered world. Seems like an impossible mission. We are partners in his Mission Impossible team. We must reconcile ourselves to him. To one another and to all creation. Jesus’ mission, as stated in Luke says, “I have come to complete God’s mission of reconciliation and to establish God’s kingdom.” God’s reign over us was shattered by sin, but then the shattering of sin by the death and resurrection of Jesus enables us to be reconciled to God and restores our Koinonia with him. We are sent into the world as Christians to proclaim and demonstrate the Gospel. The Holy Spirit empowers us. To succeed, we must be honest and authentic, not salesmen. Our lives should demonstrate our faith. Pray for those who need God’s help. His spirit heals minds, hearts, emotions, relationships and even societies. Pages 147 – 148 describe the 45-year battle and ultimate success of William Wilberforce of England to stop slavery and emancipate the slaves. We are ambassadors of Christ together—as a community that shines in a darkened world.

Intimate Fellowship and Transformed Living
We are in an on-going battle of the flesh vs. the Spirit. As Christians, we have been transformed, but we are not perfected. Some corruption remains. Temptation still abounds. It’s hard to break old habits. We need to “walk in the Spirit;” have Koinonia with God. When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce “fruit in us” such as: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Out of our transformation, good works will flow. We need to share our sins and troubles in true Koinonia. Others help lead us. Pages 163 – 164 detail the story of a young woman who got pregnant out-of-wedlock and had the baby aborted, then suffered in guilt for years before confessing her sin and being forgiven. The bondage of sin and shame is broken through the power of God as we are transformed inside and out.

Intimate Fellowship and Love
John 14:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.” We are to love God and our neighbor. The story of Christians is a love story. God revealed the true nature of love when he sent his son Jesus to die for us. Love is ultimate self-giving. Jesus said, “Love each other as I have loved you.” We should pursue love as an expression of our spiritual gifts. We must love “out-of-bounds” like Jesus did. Pages 176 – 177 tell how the author’s mother helped a gay man, who ultimately died of AIDS, come to God. As we are showered with God’s love, we are healed, transformed and empowered to love in ways we could never have loved before. Love among Christians is a sign of intimate fellowship and a means by which that fellowship grows deeper and deeper. Because we have His love, we have no fear of standing before God’s throne in the final judgment. No matter what you do, no matter how poorly you return His love, no matter how you may wander away from God, His love will never let you go!

Intimate Fellowship and Peace
Jesus said, “I’m leaving you with a gift—peace of heart and mind. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27) God banished Adam and Eve from the peaceful Garden because they sinned against Him. But, God restored His kingdom and sent His son so we could have peace on earth. Paul says of Christ, “He himself is our peace.” (Eph. 2:14) Page 191 tells of a woman hymn writer who found “perfect peace” in the midst of severe physical pain. Through Jesus, God creates reconciliation among people by destroying the hostility that keeps us from living peacefully together. This truth was sorely tested after 9/11, but God wants us to be peacemakers. To be a peacemaker, you must be humble and gentle, patient with each other, keep the unity of the Spirit and practice forgiveness. Our peacemaking task is all around us, at home, at work, at school and at church. We can extend God’s peace by living as peacemakers, seeking his righteousness and justice. We must pray for our enemies and those who persecute us, no matter how difficult. Every time God’s peace invades our existence, we get a foretaste of the infinitely greater peace that someday will envelop heaven and earth. The Biblical picture of peace yet to come binds us together with other Christians in a Koinonia of hope.