EXTRA Ideas for Adults—Essentials for Christian Living—Fellowship with Believers

Date: July 19, 2026

Session Title: Fellowship with Believers 

The Point: A life in Christ is a life of fellowship with other believers. 

Podcast—Bible Studies for Life: Adults

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Additional Teaching Options

Optional teaching ideas that incorporate current news, cultural trends, and real-world illustrations to help your group engage more deeply and view today’s issues through a clear biblical lens.

Getting Started

Read after discussing Getting Started—Question 1:

On July 2, the United States soccer team beat Bosnia-Herzegovina and will advance to round 16 of the World Cup. The match, which the US team won 2-0, broke a 10-game losing streak against European countries. The players worked well together, blocking the Bosnian team’s advances and allowing them to eventually score and take the lead. Malik Tillman was the one who ended up getting the final goal with one of the biggest free kicks ever made by a US player at the World Cup.

When the team looks back at this match, they will remember Tillman’s record-breaking free kick. This free kick was only made possible by the team working well together. Just like a soccer team, being part of the Christian life means being part of a team of believers. We rely on other believers for prayer, meeting each other’s needs, and living life together so we always have someone in our corner. When we live a life in Christ, we are no longer called to live alone, but to live in fellowship with other believers.

To learn more about this article, search “United States vs Bosnia-Herzegovina match” or “US team advances to round 16 of the World Cup.”

Get Into the Study (Option for Adult Leader Guide)

In advance, play a video clip showing an interesting way to get exercise. Then ask Question 1.

Study the Bible (Option for Adult Leader Guide)

Read after discussing Study the Bible—Question 3:

When believers fellowship together, they benefit from a support network that selflessly meets both physical and prayer needs during hard times. Venezuelans have seen this firsthand after the north-central coast was struck by two powerful earthquakes at the end of June. Relief efforts are underway, but God had put His church into motion long before the quakes hit.

For several years, Send Relief and the IMB had partnered with Venezuelan Baptist churches to build up local communities through meeting physical needs and sharing the gospel. Because of this network, the areas affected by the quakes already had a support team ready to be mobilized. Existing food ministries were immediately able to send food to affected areas so people wouldn’t go hungry. Local churches with medical clinics have been able to care for the sick and injured without waiting to send them to a hospital. Thanks to these two ministries, families aren’t having to choose between food and medical care while also receiving the good news of the gospel.

Without the work of believers coming together, Venezuelan communities would’ve had to wait for relief, which would have increased the death toll and infection rates. But thanks to people living in fellowship and working together as God calls, they were able to quickly provide relief to people in need.

To read more about this article, visit IMB.org and search “Venezuela Update: Before the disaster, God was at work,” or “Earthquakes in Venezuela.

Additional Questions

Optional, thoughtfully crafted questions designed to warm up group conversation and guide engagement throughout each Bible passage—helping your group think critically, connect personally, and process Scripture through a clear biblical lens.

Icebreakers

• When were you a part of a team that worked really well together?
• What sports did you play as a child?
• What’s the most geographically-alone place you’ve ever been? How many miles do you think you were from another human being?

1 Corinthians 1:1-3. Fellowship with other believers comes because of a shared trust and commitment to Jesus Christ.

• What is the difference between your friendships with unbelievers and your friendship with other Christians?
• How is Paul’s understanding of the church different from what we typically think about the church?
• Why might it be significant that Paul used the word “Lord” three times in two verses?

1 Corinthians 1:4-9. Fellowship is strengthened and enriched as we let Christ work through us.

• How can being thankful shape our view of other believers, even in conflict?
• When have you seen God work in your life through other believers?
• How does God’s faithfulness help you when friends disappoint or fail you?

1 Corinthians 1:10-13. Fellowship is lost when we divide over preferences and opinions.

• What kinds of things divide the church today and how can we pursue unity while recognizing differences?
• How can we avoid creating or participating in division in the church?
• What happens to the name and cause of Christ when Christians are divided? When they are united?

The week’s writer for EXTRA is Emily Duncan. Emily is a Southern California native who lives in west Georgia with her husband and daughter. God saved her from Wicca when she was sixteen while at a youth retreat. Emily’s a member of Midway Church in Villa Rica and mentors young women as they transition from high school to college.

[Linked material and sources serve as background illustration only and does not imply endorsement beyond our biblical application.]