Welcome to Day 2216 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom What Does God Want? – What Do Disciples Do? – Daily Wisdom Putnam Church Message – 03/19/2023 What Does God Want? - What Do Disciples Do? Over the past eight weeks, our story narrative overview of the Bible has been to answer the question: What does God want? The answer we discovered over the past eight weeks was that God wants you and everyone who will ever live. In other words, God wanted a human family. God wants co-workers to take care of His creation. God wants you to know/ who you are/ and why your life has value to him. /He loves you /and desires that you also love Him. Two weeks ago, we viewed an overall snapshot of the Good News. It is simple and yet very profound. What is the Gospel, the Good News? Last week, we switched from the believing aspect of God’s story to the loyalty aspect as we looked at ‘What is Discipleship?’ and then reviewed the first two of ten attributes that answer the question, “What Does a Disciple Do?” The first two attributes from last week were:
- Disciples Love God, Their Neighbor, and Each Other
- Disciples Take Care of Each Other
3.) Disciples Fellowship “Fellowship” is a New Testament word that describes the activity of the believing community. Caring for each other is part of biblical fellowship, because when believers meet, needs can be discerned and met. That said, we need a short discussion of fellowship to talk about other things disciples do. Many Christians today equate “fellowship” with having fun together. For sure, doing fun things together strengthens relationships. Enjoying the company of people builds bonds. But that isn’t biblical fellowship in the sense of becoming disciples. The primary difference between doing fun things together and biblical fellowship is that fellowship isn’t just about spending time together. It’s much more intentional. The goal of fellowship is ultimately “becoming one mind” around Jesus so that we can “have his mind in us.” In other words, the purpose of fellowship is discipleship. A couple of verses from Philippians capture the idea: Philippians 1:27, Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. (From last week) Philippians 2:1-5 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests,...