Arizona republican., 1917-05-22
CHRIST FELLOWSHIP
 '|S SERMON THEME IF REV. BUCHANAN

: UT n[v. DUUnAIuAIv
 Taking as his text He that is joined unto the Lord in one spirit l Cor. 6:ll then who shall seperate us from the love of God?" He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son hath not life" Rev. W. $. Buchanan of the First Christian church spoke on Fellowship with Christ in Life" yes terday morning.
 It is beautiful thing to have fel- lowship; but it is a more beautiful thing to have fellowship with one wno is able to lift us up, who is able to give us high ideals. who is able to make out of US men and women who dare and do things for humanity.
 There was a time in the history of the church, when the man who could quote the most scripture, who could tell the most about the doctrines of the church, was thought to be the most spiritual member of the church. Then there came that> time in the history of the church then the man or woman who seemed to do the most, who seem- cd to work the hardest, was considered the most spiritual member of the church. l would not stop the person who familiarZeS himself with Gods g word, who studies the teachings of the church and who is anxious to see it go forward, working night and day that 1t might go forward in the name of the Master. I want none of you to lessen your work along that line but l would have you know that the greatest thing in the Christians life is that he might have fellowship with Christ in his life-that we might meet Him face to face, that our lives might become like His: for, after all, friends, it is the life that counts.
 The associates of life are important Had Il not been for the parents of President Wilson and his early associa- uons, he never could be doing the work that he is today. But his parents gave him ideals and character and thus he is able to endure.
 50 when we come to Christ, we want this fellowship with our Savior; we want that which is most important Fellowship of life, of soul, the meet ing or life with life. So joined to- gether in this fellowship Jesus speaks, I am the vine ye are the branches. Here is fellowship with life Jesus says again, T will never leave thee nor forsake thee" If ye will always abide in me, l will never weave you alone in the dark hour"
 Let us stop and think about those words. Christ will never leave us. Have we left Christ? Have we stepped aside from Christ? Have we weakened in our faith? Then We are to blame ! and not Jesus, for it. Because He says, I will never leave thee and l will | never forsake thee Then when you ISaear someone talking about the church, raising their voices against some work CT in the church, then you may under stand that they have not the fellow ship with Jesus that they should have that they have left Christ
 This fellowship is suggested again when Christ speaks of the sheep and the shepherd-of the building and the | living stone-of the body an dits mem bers-the bride and the bridegroom. l Putting these thoughts together. WIG | get this result: That believers are one with Christ. as represented by Him dependent upon Him. living in him | subject to Him, and loving Him witt tenderest affections. But in the figure or the vine there is further suggested the ldea that the believers are sup ported by Christ. The branches ar, sustained by the sap, which the win, supplies; and so we are animated b, the spirit which Christ bestows. | means so much for us to abide witt Christ to have His power and Hi love infused into ours.
 This fellowship with Christ in Tiff will not last unless as a branch w bring forth fruit. Every branch il me that beareth not fruit; He mean the fruit of the spirit, the fruits tha naturally come ffom the spirit o Christ. These branches that bearet not fruit are to be taken away. Why Because they that are bearing frui may beer more, that the vine may no De marred, that we may behold th beauty of the vine when the dea branches are away. These are tn branches that Christ means-the Juda who placed the kiss that stung in heart Of Jesus to his death, Anauia and Sapphira and Simon Magus
 The forces of nature, the energie or God In action are forever workin to the removal of decay of whatever dead, dead branch, a dead arm
 dead plant. The rain and sunshin that make it flourish when alive de stroy 1t when dead. This applies churches and to individuals. God doe not desire to have fruitless churche large and prosperous. He lets thel
 "ither away Churches that keep tt | '-N''i SoS tp N|llI ISl VIII grow the ia S1 est. The Christian that neghcts h
 Cnion with Christ will find that his rt iislous and moral life wither away
 time.
 Every branch that beareth fruit
 This furit is the same kind that Chri.
 bore. We must possess love if N
 would nave beautiful fellowship wit Christ; we must have joy-the ioy tn; Jesus manifested to the world. W
 must have peace. Someone has sai
 the reason the world is in war today
 because the world has been thinkin
 war, has been preparing for war an
 wanted war great leader has sai
 Ihlnk peace. If we want peace ore
 pare for peace, pray for peace. ar
 lve peaceably with all men TIT
 world could be living in peace toda
 Just the same as it is living in tf
 turmoil or war if it had thought peac
 thought always comes before the at
 ton. Long suffering, kindness. goo,
 ness meekness, and seIf-controI a,