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Listed below are 15 rules for walking in fellowship with respect to other believers, cited from John Owen's Duties of Christian Fellowship: A Manual for Church Members.

  1. Believers have a duty of affectionate, sincere, genuine love in all things towards one another; a love compared to that of Christ for the church (John 15:12; 13:34-35; Romans 13:8; Ephesians 5:2; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 4:21; Romans 12:10).
  2. Believers must maintain continual prayer for the prospering of the church under God's protection (Psalm 122:6; Philippians 1:4-5; Romans 1:9-10; Acts 12:5; Isaiah 62:6-7; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:12).
  3. Believers must strive and fight with determination, in every legitimate way, by their actions and sufferings, for the purity of the ordinances, for the honour, liberty and privileges of the congregation, and in order to help others in the face of all opponents and adversaries (Jude 3; Hebrews 12:3-4; 1 John 3:16; Galatians 5:1, 13; 1 Corinthians 7:23; 1 Peter 3:15).
  4. Believers must maintain an unremitting care and effort to preserve unity, both in general and in particular (Philippians 2:1-3; Ephesians 4:3-6; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Romans 14:19; 15:5-6; 1 Corinthians 6:5-7; Acts 4:32).
  5. Believers are to separate and keep apart from the world, and from the men of the world in all their ways of false worship, so that we are seen to be a different people (Numbers 23:9; John 15:19; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Ephesians 5:8, 11; 2 Timothy 3:5; Hosea 4:15; Revelation 18:4; Proverbs 14:7).
  6. Believers should engage in frequent spiritual conversation for edification, according to the measure of their gifts (Malachi 3:16; Job 2:11; Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6; Ephesians 5:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13; Jude 20; Hebrews 10:24-25; Acts 18:26; 1 Corinthians 12:7).
  7. Believers must bear with one another's infirmities, weaknesses, sensitivities and failings, in meekness, patience and pity, and providing help and assistance (Ephesians 4:32; Matthew 18:21-22; Mark 11:25-26; Romans 14:13; 15:1-12; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Galatians 6:1; Colossians 3:12-14).
  8. Believers must support one another, tenderly and affectionately, in their various circumstances and conditions—bearing one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2; Hebrews 13:3; 1 Corinthians 12:25-26; 2 Corinthians 11:29; James 1:27; Matthew 25:35-36, 40; 2 Timothy 1:16-17; Acts 20:35).
  9. Believers are voluntarily to contribute and share in temporal things with those who are truly poor, in a way that is suitable to their necessities, wants and afflictions (1 John 3:17-18; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:5-7; Romans 12:13; Galatians 6:10; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; Hebrews 13:16; Leviticus 23:35; Matthew 25:34-36, 40).
  10. Believers ought to note watchfully and avoid carefully all cause and causers of divisions; they are particularly to shun seducers, false teachers and those who spread heresies and errors that are contrary to the word of God (Romans 16:17-18; Matthew 24:4-5, 23-25; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 2:16-17; Titus 3:9-11; 1 John 2:18-19; 4:1; 2 John 10-11; Acts 20:29-31; Revelation 2:14-16).
  11. Believers should cheerfully accept the lot and portion of the whole church, in prosperity and affliction, and not draw back for any reason whatever (Matthew 13:20-21; Hebrews 10:23-25, 32-39; 2 Timothy 4:10, 16).
  12. In church affairs, believers must not discriminate between person but condescend to the weakest brother and perform the least service, for the good of fellow-believers (James 2:1-6; Matthew 20:26-27; Romans 12:16; John 13:12-16).
  13. If any member is in distress, persecution, or affliction, the whole church is to be humbled, and to be earnest in prayer on his behalf (Acts 12:5, 7, 12; Romans 12:15; 1 Corinthians 12:26-27; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2).
  14. Believers must watch one another's behaviour carefully and warn one another to avoid all disorderly conduct. If any offending member will not accept such warning their case must be brought to the church (Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; Hebrews 3:12-13; 10:24-25; 12:13, 15-16; Leviticus 19:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:15; Romans 15:14; James 5:19-20; Proverbs 29:1).
  15. Believers should live and walk in an exemplary way in all holiness and godliness, to the glory of the gospel, the edification of the church, and the conviction of those outside the church (Psalm 24:3-4; Matthew 5:16, 20; 21:19; 2 Timothy 2:19; Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians 4:21-23; 1 Peter 3:1-2; Hebrews 12:14; Ephesians 5:15-16; 2 Samuel 12:14).

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