Voices only: ‘Sweet Fellowship’

Welcome to Voices only, where we search the internet to bring you great a cappella music.

“Sweet Fellowship” is a classic from the vocal group Acappella, written by Keith Lancaster. It’s the title track from their 1989 album — the first featuring the lineup of George Pendergrass, Gary Moyers, Wayburn Dean and Rodney Britt. To date it’s the best-selling Acappella album.

It’s been covered countless times by countless groups, including the Harmony Quartet. Here they are singing in a video posted by The Acappella Company:

“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, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

As the body and bride of Christ, we are called to be in fellowship with each other, with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. How wonderful it is to get to be with our brothers and sisters in Christ. For me, it is a time of encouragement, of building up each other in Christ and of helping each in this walk with God on earth.

I find that fellowshipping with Christians, the members of the family of God, is so important for spiritual health. It drives us closer to God, which is our ultimate goal. And it not only affects our lives but also the lives of the people around us because, as Christians and disciples of Christ, we are a channel of blessing to our neighbor. The light that we have because of Christ shines and impacts others.

Here’s a unique take on the song performed by a boys’ choir from … somewhere in Europe, perhaps? And it appears that this video aired at Christmas on a TV station somewhere in India or Southeast Asia. (If you recognize the language, let us know.)

The Greek word (koinonia) for fellowship in the Bible means the sharing of what we have in common (koinos). We have Jesus in common. Jesus died for all of us. Once, all of us were condemned by our sin. We all deserved to die. But because of Jesus’ sacrifice on that cross, we all can be saved and forgiven. He brought us together. And now together we can pour out our thankfulness to him as well as celebrate together what he has done in our lives and on the cross.

Finally, here’s a cover of the song in Spanish by Cuarteto Freedom in Honduras;

In fellowship with one another we can contribute materially to meet each other’s needs. We share our testimonies so that the body of Christ, the church, is built up. This love that we have for our brothers and sisters in Christ will be seen by others.

Jesus said “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). When we give our hearts to each other you can feel God’s love inside our hearts. That’s the beauty of fellowship!

We are to love God and love one another!

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).

What a cappella song do you find especially meaningful? Send us a video link and a short description of what the song means to you. We might use your selection in a future Voices Only.

DANIELA NEVES is a student at Oklahoma Christian University in Oklahoma City. She is a student worker for The Christian Chronicle and a translator for Luso-Africa Mission Partners (LAMP) International. She is from Lisbon, Portugal, and grew up in the Igreja de Cristo Lisboa (Lisbon Church of Christ)

Filed under: a cappella a cappella espanol A cappella group a cappella spanish a cappella worship Acappella Keith Lancaster Rodney Britt Spanish hymn Sweet Fellowship Voices Only Voices Only