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Putnam Church Message – 03/26/2023

Making It All Better – The Story of Lazarus

Over the past nine weeks, our story narrative overview of the Bible has been to answer the question: What does God want? Today, we begin three weeks of Easter-related messages. Today will be “Making It All Better – The Story of Lazarus” from John 11.

As we approach the Easter season, we are reminded of the miraculous events that occurred in the life of Jesus leading up to His crucifixion and resurrection. One of the most remarkable events is the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

The story of Lazarus is found in the Good News, according to the Apostle John, chapter 11, and it is a powerful reminder of the power of Christ over death and the hope we have in Him. It is a story that teaches us about the deep love and compassion that Jesus had for His friends, and the incredible power He had to perform miracles.

Today, as we reflect on the raising of Lazarus, let us be reminded of the hope we have in Christ, and the promise of eternal life that He offers to all who have believing loyalty to Him. I pray this story will inspire us to deepen our faith in Jesus and trust in Him more fully as we journey toward celebrating His resurrection.

Let us now turn to the Word of God and explore this incredible story together

After contemplating the story of Lazarus, let me share another very short story. There once was a little girl who hurt her finger, so she ran to tell her daddy. She showed him her finger, “Daddy, look-it! I got cut!” But he was busy being busy, so he took one quick look at the finger and brushed her away, saying, “It’ll be ok.” But it wasn’t ok. The little girl then ran, crying her eyes out to her mother. “Oh dear,” her mom said, “does it hurt that much?” As mom made it all better with a kiss. The little girl said, “No, mommy, it’s just that daddy didn’t even say, ‘Oh dear.’” She wanted someone to say “Oh dear” to her.

We find Jesus doing this for his dear friends, Mary and Martha. In the face of the death of their brother, Lazarus, Jesus weeps. He says, in effect, “Oh dear,” and then he makes all things better.

We don’t know how it all began, their friendship together - Jesus and Lazarus and Mary and Martha. But we know that Lazarus lived with his sisters in Bethany, a small village outside Jerusalem. We also know that Jesus and the disciples stayed overnight with them whenever they came to Jerusalem. It was their own bed & breakfast location.

That tiny village home became a base of operations for Jesus. At the beginning of the day, Jesus would walk the half-hour route to Jerusalem to teach in the Temple, and then come back to his friends and have a meal at the end of the day.

 

Apparently, this happened repeatedly over the three years of Jesus’ public ministry. Jesus always felt welcome at their home, even as he felt less and less welcome in Jerusalem as his enemies became bolder and tried to kill him.

The Gospel of John mentions five attempts on Jesus’ life:

John 10:31: “Again, they tried to stone him.”

John 10:39: “Again, they tried to seize him.”

After the last attempt on his life, Jesus stayed away from Jerusalem and went to the Jordan River. And that meant that Jesus did not visit Lazarus, Mary, and Martha for a long time.

But then, one day, as he was by the Jordan, Jesus received an urgent message from Mary and Martha. It was, simply, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” Lazarus was close to death. Jesus was being summoned to come at once to heal him.

When Jesus received that message about Lazarus, he realized that his time to die on the Cross had come. Yes, Jesus would go to Lazarus in Bethany, but he also knew his enemies were waiting for him in nearby Jerusalem. So, by choosing to go to Lazarus, Jesus knew he would fall into their hands.

The trip from the Jordan River to Mary and Martha’s home in Bethany is 20 miles, about the same distance from here to Caldwell. As Jesus approached Bethany, he learned that Lazarus had already died four days earlier. Nevertheless, Martha met him on the path. She told Jesus bluntly, “‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’” Her words seem tinged with a suggestion of blame.

But then the conversation took a sudden turn as her faith broke through. Martha said, “‘But I know that even now, God will give you whatever you ask.’” She was asking Jesus to bring Lazarus back to life. This is the Martha who, in another story, was more concerned with cooking supper than listening to Jesus's teaching. But here, we see Martha with a rock-solid faith in Jesus. Jesus said to her, “‘I am the resurrection and the life...Do you believe this?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ she replied, ‘I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.’” Then Jesus calls for Martha’s sister, Mary, who says the exact wistful words to Jesus, “if only...” but before Mary can finish speaking, her tears come on, hot and heavy, and the conversation gives way to pure emotion. Mourners from Jerusalem are there, and they weep too. And so does Jesus. “Jesus wept,” it says simply. Jesus said, “Oh dear,” to Mary and Martha.

Some say that what we see here is the humanity of Jesus, as if to imply that his divinity lacks all feeling and compassion. On the contrary, it is more truthful to say that Jesus is displaying the true heart of God. Since God has shared in our humanity, God shares in our sorrows. God weeps with us. God feels for us in our grief and loss. Jesus wept. His weeping was genuine. Although he is the Resurrection and the Life, he was sorrowful to learn what had happened to his friend, Lazarus. Death is a terrible thing.

The story especially emphasizes the genuineness of Jesus’ sorrow. Back then, families sometimes hired professional mourners to ensure enough loud wailing at a funeral. When the story describes the crowd weeping, it uses the word, kla/io, which has the connotation of wailing. But when the story describes the weeping of Jesus, it switches to the word, dak/ruo, which carries the suggestion of quiet weeping. Jesus wasn’t a performer like the professional mourners. It was his friend lying there. And Jesus just burst into tears over the death of Lazarus.

But something else is happening here that we can’t readily see in our English Bibles. Jesus is also deeply angry. John 11:38 says that Jesus “was deeply moved.” In the NIV, but that translation hardly conveys his genuine emotion. The original is much rawer and has the sense of Jesus being absolutely incensed. The NLT puts it this way.  Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. The word for anger there was sometimes used for horses snorting with rage. Our Lord was upset. He was snorting with rage. What was he so angry about? He was angry at death itself. Death was brought on by Adam and Eve’s choice to eat from the Tree of Good and Evil. The evil ones in the unseen realm propagated it. Death was not the original plan.

Have you ever felt angry at death? At the whole thing. I know I have. Of the death and lifeless body of a loved one or friend. Death and funerals and the crying and the finality of it all.

Today, it would be like Jesus walking into a funeral home amidst the piped-in soothing music, the bouquets of flowers, and a body pre-packaged into a casket, amidst people saying platitudes like, “she was such a nice person.” Jesus would be standing there, angry and utterly furious, saying, “Is this how it all ends? With music, flowers, and a casket and suited men opening doors for you? Is this the end of life?”

That’s not what Jesus is about, the One who said, “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” He is the One who has come to say “Oh, Dear” and make all things better.

And so, with his friend Lazarus dead, and Jesus weeping and angry, our Lord shouts Lazarus alive, saying: LAZARUS! COME OUT!

And the dead man comes out, his hands and feet bound tight with strips of linen, with a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

When Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, most people there believed in what they saw with their own eyes. They knew Lazarus. They saw him die. They had been mourning him for four days, and now they witnessed Jesus bring him back to life. So you can imagine their excitement, and how their report quickly spread: “That’s right! We saw it with our own eyes! Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead! If you doubt my word, talk to Lazarus yourself!” That report must have whipped through the village of Bethany like a windstorm. It then rushed into Jerusalem like a raging tornado.

But when Jesus’ enemies heard about it in Jerusalem, they decided to get rid of Jesus once and for all. The masses were rallying behind this new charismatic leader, this Messiah. It could spark a revolt against the Romans, and what would happen then? Something had to be done fast to save the nation. The decision was made. The die was cast. There was no other choice: Jesus must die.

So, because Christ raised a dead man, he would have to become a dead man. When Jesus raised Lazarus, he set in motion all the events of Jesus’ last week, the week we call Holy Week.

A few days after the raising of Lazarus, Jesus once more went to teach in the Temple in Jerusalem. This time, though, lining the road, were hundreds of people who had heard about Lazarus. It was the day we know as “Palm Sunday.” We will study that day next week. Jesus' ancient path on that first Palm Sunday from Bethany to Jerusalem still exists. For those who have had the privilege to walk on it, I have been told it was like stepping back in time. Some of the homes on the path were old-fashioned Arab homes, much like you might expect Mary and Martha and Lazarus’ home to have resembled.

The Bethany road runs along the top edge of a hill. As you walk on it, off in the distance, looking south, you see a series of other hills, all bare of trees in the semi-arid desert and cascading lower and lower down to the Dead Sea, far in the distance. Then, as the path nears Jerusalem, it begins descending down the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem.

Just a few days after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Jesus went down this road on that first Palm Sunday, with the people lining the sides. They had heard about the raising of Lazarus, the wondrous miracle that Jesus had performed. So they welcomed...

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2218 of our trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I’m thrilled to continue our journey through the book of Proverbs, where we unearth its timeless wisdom. Today, we’re delving into Proverbs 11:16-23 from the New Living Translation. So, fasten your hiking boots as we uncover the blessings of wisdom in these verses.

In Proverbs 11:16-23, we continue our exploration of the characteristics and outcomes of living a life of wisdom. These verses provide valuable insights into the rewards of wisdom and the benefits it brings to our lives.

Verse 16: “A gracious woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.”

This verse highlights the contrast between graciousness and ruthlessness. A gracious woman gains respect, which is a lasting and valuable treasure. In contrast, ruthless men may accumulate wealth, but it often comes at the expense of respect and integrity.

Verse 17: “Your kindness will reward you, but your cruelty will destroy you.”

Here, we see the consequences of kindness and cruelty. Kindness brings its own reward, enriching our lives and the lives of others. Conversely, cruelty ultimately leads to self-destruction. It underscores the enduring value of acts of kindness.

This verse contrasts evil people’s fleeting wealth with the godly’s lasting reward. While evil may lead to temporary riches, the wealth of the godly endures. It emphasizes the importance of seeking godliness and righteousness.

Verse 19: “Godly people find life; evil people find death.”

These verses encapsulate the fundamental difference between godly and evil individuals. The godly find life—abundant and fulfilling—while the evil finds death—spiritual and moral decay. It highlights the profound impact of our choices on our lives.

Verse 20: “The Lord detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity.”

This verse focuses on the condition of the heart. The Lord detests those with crooked hearts, who engage in deceit and dishonesty. In contrast, He delights in those with integrity, emphasizing the importance of honesty and moral uprightness.

Verse 21: “Evil people will surely be punished, but the children of the godly will go free.”

These verses highlight the consequences of evil deeds. Evil people will face punishment, while the children of the godly will be set free from the destructive cycle of sin. It reinforces the principle that righteousness leads to freedom.

Verse 22: “A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.”

This verse uses a vivid analogy to illustrate the value of discretion. A beautiful woman without discretion is like a valuable gold ring placed in a pig’s snout—its beauty is marred, and its worth is lost. It underscores the importance of inner qualities over external appearances.

Verse 23: “The godly can look forward to a reward, while the wicked can expect only judgment.”

This verse reaffirms the contrast between the godly and the wicked. The godly can anticipate a reward—both in this life and the next—while the wicked can only expect judgment. It underscores the enduring value of living a righteous life.

As we reflect on Proverbs 11:16-23, we’re reminded that wisdom isn’t just theoretical knowledge; it’s practical and influences the choices we make in our daily lives.

Take a moment to consider these questions: How can you cultivate kindness and graciousness in your interactions with others? In what ways can you seek integrity and godliness in your life? Remember, wisdom equips us to make choices that lead to a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Let’s summarize the key takeaways from Proverbs 11:16-23:

Graciousness and Respect: Graciousness leads to respect, while ruthlessness often leads to mere wealth.

Kindness and Cruelty: Kindness is its own reward, while cruelty ultimately destroys.

Fleeting vs. Lasting Reward: Evil may bring temporary wealth, but the godly enjoy lasting rewards.

Life vs. Death: The godly find life, while the evil find spiritual and moral death.

Integrity vs. Crookedness: The Lord delights in integrity but detests those with crooked hearts.

Consequences of Evil: Evil leads to punishment, while the children of the godly find freedom.

Inner Qualities vs. External Appearances: Inner qualities like discretion hold greater value than external beauty.

Reward vs. Judgment: The godly can anticipate a reward, while the wicked can only expect judgment.

In closing, remember that wisdom equips us to make choices that lead to a life of fulfillment. As we continue our journey through the vast landscapes of wisdom, may we cultivate kindness, integrity, and godliness in our lives, choosing the path of the righteous.

Thank you for joining me on this leg of our Wisdom-Trek. I hope these verses have inspired you to actively embrace wisdom’s call and make her a daily presence in your journey. As we continue our journey, may we navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and grace.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2217 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I’m excited to continue our journey through the book of Proverbs, where we explore its timeless wisdom. Today, we’re diving into Proverbs 11:9-15, from the New Living Translation. So, get ready to lace up your hiking boots as we uncover the guidance of wisdom in these verses.

In Proverbs 11:9-15, we continue our exploration of the characteristics and outcomes of living a life of wisdom. These verses provide valuable insights into how wisdom influences our interactions and relationships.

Verse 9: “With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous.”

This verse opens with a powerful contrast. The godless use destructive words that harm their friendships, while knowledge, which is often a result of wisdom, rescues the righteous. It underscores the importance of our words and the value of knowledge in building and preserving relationships.

Verse 10: “The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed; they shout for joy when the wicked die.”

Here, we see the impact of righteousness on a community. The success of the godly brings joy to the whole city, whereas the demise of the wicked is a cause for celebration. It highlights the positive influence of living a life of righteousness on our surroundings.

Verse 11: “Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.”

This verse further emphasizes the positive influence of upright citizens in a city. They contribute to its prosperity. In contrast, the wicked’s words and actions have a destructive effect, tearing the city apart. It underscores the importance of our actions in shaping our communities.

Verse 12: “It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet.”

We encounter a familiar theme here—the folly of belittling one’s neighbor. Sensibility involves keeping quiet rather than demeaning others. It reinforces the value of respect and kindness in our interactions with those around us.

Verse 13: “A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.”

This verse addresses the issue of gossip and trustworthiness. Gossips spreads secrets, often causing harm, while trustworthy individuals can be relied upon to keep confidence. It reminds us of the importance of discretion and trust in our relationships.

Verse 14: “Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.”

These verses highlight the significance of leadership and counsel in the context of a nation. Wise leadership is essential for a nation’s stability, while safety is found in seeking advice from many counselors. It underscores the importance of wisdom in governance.

Verse 15: “There’s danger in putting up security for a stranger’s debt; it’s safer not to guarantee another person’s debt.”

This verse provides practical wisdom concerning financial matters. It cautions against putting up security for a stranger’s debt, highlighting the risks involved. It’s a reminder to exercise prudence in financial dealings.

As we reflect on Proverbs 11:9-15, we’re reminded that wisdom isn’t just theoretical knowledge; it’s practical and influences the choices we make in our daily lives.

Take a moment to consider these questions: How can your words be a source of rescue and encouragement to others? In what ways can you contribute to the prosperity and well-being of your community? Remember, wisdom equips us to make choices that lead to a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Let’s summarize the key takeaways from Proverbs 11:9-15:

The Impact of Words: Destructive words harm friendships, while knowledge rescues the righteous.

Righteousness in Community: The success of the godly brings joy to a city, while the wicked’s downfall is celebrated.

Upright Citizens: Upright citizens contribute to a city’s prosperity, while the wicked’s actions tear it apart.

Respect and Kindness: Belittling one’s neighbor is foolish; sensibility involves keeping quiet.

Gossip and Trustworthiness: Gossips spread secrets, while trustworthy individuals keep confidences.

Leadership and Counsel: Wise leadership is vital for a nation’s stability, and safety is found in many advisers.

Financial Prudence: There is danger in guaranteeing another person’s debt, emphasizing the need for prudence in financial matters.

In closing, remember that wisdom equips us to make choices that lead to a life of fulfillment. As we continue our journey through the vast landscapes of wisdom, may we use our words wisely, contribute positively to our communities, seek counsel, and exercise prudence in all areas of life.

Thank you for joining me on this leg of our Wisdom-Trek. I hope these verses have inspired you to actively embrace wisdom’s call and make her a daily presence in your journey. As we continue our journey, may we navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and grace.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!

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

“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:

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.

What does it mean to have the same attitude of Christ and be of one mind as a community of believers? Does it imply everyone believes the same things down to the last detail? No. The Bible speaks of unity, not uniformity. A better way to understand “the same attitude” is that every community member pursues the same goal: to be like Jesus. The goal is harmony, not unanimity, in pursuing Christ-likeness and living in community together as believers.

Early believing communities engaged in several activities to build toward this goal. They prayed, fasted, worshipped, and studied the Scriptures. Since all those activities are things disciples do individually and together, I’ll discuss each separately as we continue.

In simplest terms, prayer is talking to God. But that needs some thought. Doesn’t God already know what we’re thinking? He does. So why pray? Because prayer isn’t for informing God about anything. Prayer is a way to show God (and others) that we depend on God. It is a way to express that we want God to act, that we aren’t relying on ourselves, or that we cannot find a solution ourselves. Prayer fosters our sense of dependence on, and security in, God alone. In that sense, prayer is worship. The same is true for prayer in groups.

In Luke 11:1, the disciples, referring to John the Baptist and his followers, asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Jesus’ response is the now famous “Lord’s Prayer” (Luke 11:2–4; cp. Matt 6:9–15). It is important to note that Jesus didn’t tell the disciples what words to pray in the Lord’s Prayer. Instead, he told them to pray “like this” (Matt 6:9). He gave them a model. We don’t need formulas or particular words to talk to God. Just talk to God. Also, prayer should never be done for a show (Luke 18:9–14).

There’s nothing in the Lord’s Prayer that God isn’t already aware of. Again, prayer isn’t about filling in gaps in God’s knowledge. Instead, the Lord’s Prayer is laced with things like worship and honor of God (“hallowed be your name”), obedience to God’s will (“your will be done”), forgiveness (“forgive us our debts as we forgive others”), and requests to be delivered from temptation and evil (“lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil”). Prayer is designed to align our hearts with God’s lordship and build an attitude of dependence on him.

The Bible is filled with prayers, both individual and group. If you read them, you learn that prayer is also a means by which we can pour out our feelings to God—anger, grief, love, etc. God isn’t learning anything when we do that. We learn to submit to him, believing he is good and knows best, and asking God for help. Jesus said God would answer in the broader context of his wise will. In other words, God’s answers may not always be what we want, but God knows everything else going on in all human experience and behavior, and is working on his more excellent plan. God may also answer unexpectedly.

The prayers of the Bible are also not self-focused. Most of their content is aimed at blessing others or asking God’s mercy upon others. Paul’s letters habitually include prayers for those to whom he’s writing. Prayer is not always, or even primarily, about expressing our own needs and wants.

Jesus prayed frequently. He followed his teaching that prayer should be persistent (Colossians 4:2–6, Luke 18:1–8). Jesus didn’t get every prayer answered—which was acceptable to him, since he was more concerned that God’s will would be done (Matthew 26:36–46). In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus cried out, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” This is an important reminder about prayer. Jesus taught that God would answer when we pray (Luke 11:9–13), but we cannot assume that God would answer the way we want if we disobey him in concert with his own will (James 4:3; 1 John 3:22; 5:14).

Fasting may be unfamiliar to most of us. Generally, to “fast” from something means to abstain from that thing. To “fast” from food means to go without eating. This is the kind of fasting we see most often in the Bible, though not always. Jesus fasted (Matthew 4:2). He presumed the disciples would follow his example and warned them not to be hypocrites when they did so (Matthew 6:16–18). Fasting isn’t about drawing attention to yourself. It’s between you and God.

Fasting isn’t merely about abstaining from food. You can fast from all sorts of things in whatever manner you want. Jesus wasn’t recommending a strategy for losing weight. He had something else in mind when he fasted/ and when talking about fasting. While the Bible contains many instances of fasting, there are no specific rules. Paul noted that married couples might fast from sex (1 Corinthians 7:1–5) to devote special attention to a matter of prayer.

But why fast? Fasting is a spiritual practice designed to help us focus on prayer. How does it do that? Perhaps an example helps. If you decide to fast from food for a day, whenever you’re hungry, you are reminded to pray. Your fasting is a reminder and directs your attention to why you decided to fast.

Another way to think about fasting is to ask what distracts us from prayer or, more generally, our walk with God. The answer might be our phones, television, or some hobby. Then, we can set aside these things for a time (“fast”) to bring our minds back to God and prayer.

Early church communities fasted to collectively focus on prayer (Acts 13:1–3; 14:23). In the Old Testament, community fasting was also a way to show collective sorrow for sin and repentance (Jeremiah 36:6; Joel 2:12).

You might think worship is easy to define or understand. Well, it is, and it isn’t. We too often equate worship with what happens in a church service, mainly the music. That isn’t worship, at least in terms of how the Bible defines it, though music and song were part of Christian gatherings (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). Another propensity in our culture is to think of worship as an inner-directed mystical feeling or experience. That isn’t worship, either. There are several passages we could think about, but let’s look at two:

Jesus told the Samaritan woman in John 4:23, “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.”

 

We already discussed the Rom 12:1-2 last week in our discussion of living a holy life. So, how do you worship God? Live like Jesus. Don’t be conformed to the world—its values and self-gratifying pursuits. That is worship. True worship is thus a matter of the heart and mind.

The second passage is interesting for a specific reason. Jesus told the woman that God is seeking people to worship him. Worship is, therefore, not something that originates with us. We are invited to respond to God’s goodness and love. How and where we do that can vary. We can do this individually, with or without music, within or outside a church service. We can also do that corporately, in fellowship with other believers.

 

When believers meet in fellowship, Hebrews 10:24 tells us to, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” In other words, they encourage each other to spiritual worship—imitating Jesus. They praise God for his goodness, love, and providential presence in their lives (Acts 2:46–47; James 5:13). Praise includes singing songs and making music (Matthew 26:30; Ephesians 5:19; Colossian 3:16), but is unmistakably linked to holy living in Philippians 1:10-11, “For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ[a]—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.”

We cannot lose sight of our “spiritual worship” of God is intrinsically tied to how we live (Romans 12:1–2). It’s not about a thirty-minute experience at home or in a church. It’s about a life oriented by and directed to God.

One thing a new disciple must come to grips with as soon as their journey of following Jesus begins is that they will fail. We are not sinless like Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:21–22; 1 John 3:5), nor can we hope to be. The Bible is clear on this point. The disciples sinned (Mark 14:30, 68, 72). One of them, John, wrote later in life in 1 John 1:7–10:

It’s wonderful to know, though, that our membership in God’s family is not due to our performance. Our good works cannot put God in our debt. He never owes us everlasting life on account of any merit we might think we have. We can never accumulate enough God points to gain membership into His family. Our performance (or lack thereof) did not move God away from us. God loved us “while we were still sinners” (Roman 5:8). Consequently, we must remember that since salvation could never be gained by moral perfection, it cannot be lost by moral imperfection.

In light of our imperfections, the true disciple of Jesus must stay focused on the kindness and love of God. Look again at the passage from John’s letter. It tells us precisely what to do when we fail God, either by doing something that isn’t consistent with imitating Jesus, or leaving something undone that is consistent with being like him, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”

When we sin and fail (and we will), we must acknowledge it. That’s what confession means. We must not hide, excuse, or rationalize our sins. God wants us to admit it. Why? We need to be humbled. We must remember that salvation is about what someone else—Jesus—did for us, not what we earn. Confession acknowledges that we are children of God because of Jesus. We can be sure that our sins will not separate us from God; we will not be kicked out of the family (Romans 8:31–39). God knew before we embraced the gospel that we were flawed. It’s not something that surprises him. It doesn’t change how he feels about us.

An obvious question, then, is why we should care about sinning. The New Testament disciples came across that attitude in people. The apostle Paul brought it up in his letter to the Christians in Rome (Romans 6:1–2, 12–16):

Notice that the Bible doesn’t say, “God forbid, don’t sin, or God won’t love you anymore!” Instead, the concern is you returning to the bondage of self-destruction and destruction of those around you. So, on the one hand, we will sin, but on the other hand, we should avoid sinning. This struggle is something the apostle Paul knew well (Romans 7:7–25), yet he was a remarkable follower of Jesus. The New Testament often alerts us that a war is happening inside us. Our hearts want to follow Jesus, but our unperfected selves want self-gratification and pre-eminence in how we live. We want to rule ourselves instead of letting God work through us. (1 Peter 2:11; James 4:1).

As we seek to follow Jesus, it’s a good idea to, so the saying goes, “keep short accounts with God.” The idea is that when we fail, we should be quick to confess it and thank God for his forgiveness. We should remember what our sins cost Jesus. Then, we should keep following him in loyal love, grateful that he went to the cross “while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8) so we could be his brothers and sisters.

In the early church, believers would listen to the apostles’ teachings and study Scripture. Paul and other missionary-apostles did the same thing when they started churches elsewhere (Acts 2:42; 4:2; 5:42; 17:10–11; 18:11; 20:20). This was the more common method of learning the Bible in the New Testament era because most people did not have their own copy of the Bible. Many believers could also not read. Even though we are part of a literate culture and have access to the Bible, we can benefit from learning in community.

Learning the Word of God is necessary for following Jesus. How else can we learn about sin (behaviors and attitudes to avoid) and Spirit-filled living (how we should behave)? Scripture teaches us in Ephesians 4:22-24 to “throw off your old sinful nature

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2215 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, it’s a pleasure to have you join us on this journey through the book of Proverbs, where we unearth its timeless wisdom. Today, we’re venturing into Proverbs 11:1-8, from the New Living Translation. So, let’s lace up our hiking boots as we explore the path of righteousness in these verses.

In Proverbs 11:1-8, we continue our exploration of the characteristics and outcomes of living a life of wisdom. These verses provide valuable insights into the way of the righteous.

Verse 1: “The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights.”

This verse sets the tone for the entire passage. The Lord detests dishonesty, especially when it comes to financial dealings. He values honesty and accuracy, which are represented by accurate weights. This verse emphasizes the importance of integrity in our dealings with others.

Verse 2: “Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

Pride is a recurring theme in Proverbs, often portrayed as detrimental. It leads to disgrace and poor choices. In contrast, humility is linked to wisdom. This verse reminds us that a humble heart is open to learning and growing in wisdom.

Verse 3: “Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.”

Honesty serves as a guiding principle for good people. It leads them on the path of righteousness and integrity. On the other hand, dishonesty destroys treacherous individuals. This verse underscores the fundamental role of honesty in shaping our character and destiny.

This verse provides a sobering perspective on wealth. It suggests that riches cannot save us on the day of judgment, but right living can. It underscores the eternal value of living a life of righteousness and moral integrity.

Verse 5: “The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.”

Here, we see the contrast between the godly and the wicked. The godly are guided by honesty, which serves as a moral compass. In contrast, the wicked are burdened by the weight of their sins, leading to their downfall. This verse emphasizes the significance of integrity in our journey.

Verse 6: “The godliness of good people rescues them; the ambition of treacherous people traps them.”

Good people, characterized by godliness and righteousness, find rescue in their virtue. However, the ambition of treacherous individuals becomes a snare that entraps them. It highlights the difference between the pursuit of righteousness and self-serving ambitions.

Verse 7: “When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength.”

This verse speaks to the futility of relying solely on one’s own strength and rejecting godly principles. When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, as they depend on their feeble strength rather than seeking divine guidance. It underscores the importance of acknowledging our reliance on God.

Verse 8: “The godly are rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.”

This verse serves as a reassuring conclusion to this passage. The godly find rescue from trouble, as they walk in righteousness and integrity. Conversely, trouble falls upon the wicked. It reaffirms the principle that living a life of righteousness leads to protection and deliverance.

As we reflect on Proverbs 11:1-8, we’re reminded that wisdom is not merely about knowledge; it’s about the choices we make and the impact they have on our lives and the lives of others.

Take a moment to consider these questions: How can you cultivate integrity and humility in your life? In what ways can your choices reflect right living and godly principles? Remember, wisdom equips us to make choices that lead to a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Let’s summarize the key takeaways from Proverbs 11:1-8:

Integrity in Finances: The Lord detests dishonesty, emphasizing the importance of integrity in financial dealings.

Pride and Humility: Pride leads to disgrace, while humility leads to wisdom and growth.

Honesty and Righteousness: Honesty guides good people, while dishonesty destroys the treacherous.

Eternal Value of Right Living: Right living can save us from death, highlighting the lasting impact of righteousness.

Guided by Honesty: The godly are directed by honesty, while the wicked are burdened by sin.

Virtue vs. Ambition: Good people find rescue in their virtue, while treacherous ambitions become traps.

The Futility of Self-Reliance: The wicked’s reliance on feeble strength leads to the death of their hopes.

Protection for the Righteous: The godly are rescued from trouble, while trouble befalls the wicked.

In closing, remember that wisdom equips us to make choices that lead to a life of fulfillment. As we continue our journey through the vast landscapes of wisdom, may we walk with integrity, humility, and a heart for righteousness, choosing the path of the righteous.

Thank you for joining me on this leg of our Wisdom-Trek. I hope these verses have inspired you to actively embrace wisdom’s call and make her a daily presence in your journey. As we continue our journey, may we navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and grace.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!

Putnam Church Message – 03/12/2023

What Does God Want? -  What is Discipleship?

Last week, we moved beyond our story narrative overview of the Bible, answering the question: What does God want? The answer we discovered over the past seven 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. So, we viewed an overall snapshot of the Good News last week. It is simple and yet very profound. What is the Gospel, the Good News? Now that we know what the Good News is, we move from the believing aspect, where we become members of God’s human family, to the loyalty aspect, where we will focus the next two weeks on discipleship. First, we will look at “What Is Discipleship?” and then move on to “What Does a Disciple Do?”

Last week, we learned that nothing we can do permits us to become part of God’s human family except belief by faith in that Good News, which is:

God sent his Son...

Who was born in the line of David...

As the man Jesus Christ...

Who died for our sins...

Who was buried...

Who rose from the dead...

That being acknowledged, believing the Gospel (Good News) is intended to be transformative. As we are told in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

You may recall the answer to this question. Earlier, I said that a disciple was a follower—specifically, a follower of Jesus. I defined “following” as imitating or imaging Jesus. Being “conformed to the image of Jesus” is our ultimate destiny (Rom 8:29; 2 Cor 3:18; Col 3:10).

Our motive for imitating Jesus is not to make God love us, so he’ll let us into His family. God already loved each of us “while we were still sinners” (Rom 5:8) and were God’s “enemies” (Rom 5:10). We get to heaven—we become part of God’s family—when we believe the gospel. Before that, we were lost, in need of a Savior (Luke 19:10), and alienated from God (Eph 4:18). When that was our situation, God loved us. He didn’t wait until we cleaned up our act to love us.

Our motive for imitating Jesus is not to keep God loving us, so we’ll continue to be saved. That which cannot be achieved by performance cannot be lost by performance. Salvation has nothing to do with our worth or merit. It has everything to do with what someone—Jesus—did for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” We can take no credit for salvation. Jesus gets all the credit.

We need to think carefully about how all that applies to discipleship. Because of the performance trap, I talked about last week; we need to grasp that salvation and discipleship are not the same. Unfortunately, many believers unconsciously add their own works or performances to the gospel because of guilt for their sins. The result is spiritual bondage, not the abundant life Jesus wants us to have (John 10:10; 2 Cor 1:5; Eph 3:20).

Salvation is a gift God gives us when we believe the gospel. It is undeserved. Nevertheless, God offers it to us despite our sins and hostility toward him. Discipleship is something we do as a result of believing the gospel, just like Abraham and the covenant of circumcision. We imitate Jesus to show our love for him and God. Jesus was the ultimate imager of God, so we want to live the same way.

There are many reasons to live like Jesus—to live a holy (separated) life. Earning God’s love isn’t one of them. Salvation costs nothing; it’s free for all who believe the gospel. /Discipleship, however, does cost us something. Following Jesus is often not easy. Being a disciple requires making choices—to love and honor God, to treat people for what they are—fellow imagers of God that he loves and wants to bring into his family through the gospel.

Think about Jesus’s own life. It wasn’t easy. As the Bible says in 1 Peter 2:21,  “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.” Jesus lived a life of sacrifice. He put God first, followed by his “neighbor” (everyone else): Mark 12:30-31, “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

Jesus lived this way when He became human, not so God would love or be happy with him. God has the same love for us.

Following Jesus can be challenging. Since no believer is like Jesus when they first believe—and since it’s just hard to live like Jesus consistently—every disciple needs to have a change of heart (what the Bible calls “repentance”) about his behavior. I know I did. There were things I had to stop doing, and things I had to start doing. But none of that was to make God love me. He already loved me.

Jesus did what he did because he loved God. So must we. Jesus lived a certain way to help others believe in him and God’s plan. So must we. Jesus knew why he was on earth—how he would die a horrible death on our behalf. But he also trusted God’s plan and power. He would rise from the dead and be with his Father once more.

We must have the same eternal perspective. This current world isn’t our real home. It’s temporary. Our permanent dwelling is when the earth is remade into the new Glocal Eden. Because of what Jesus did, we will inherit everlasting life in that world, leaving this one behind. Romans 8:21-22 says, “…the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” The goal of our lives should be to show our loyalty and gratitude to the one who saved us, and help others enter God’s family, that is, to become citizens of His kingdom.

You might wonder, what if we fail? What if we sin? I have a news flash…we will do both. God knows that. He knows humans pretty well! He knows who we are. But he already loved us before we had the slightest interest in doing anything to love him back. He loved us when we were his enemies—“while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8). God loved us before we were in his family. Why would he love us less, or stop loving us, now that we’re in his family? When we sin and fail, He forgives us. He wants us to believe in that forgiveness and get back to imitating Jesus.

I said a moment ago that there are many reasons to live like Jesus, but earning God’s love isn’t one of them. What are those reasons?

First, sin is self-destructive and harms us and those around us. In my own extended family, I’ve seen the effects of alcoholism, drug addiction, and infidelity. It’s evident that these things destroy lives both figuratively and literally. It should be equally apparent that the things the world—the unbelieving culture—offers for pleasure and self-gratification are temporary and have no enduring value. The culture tells us to “live life” to gratify our own “happiness” regardless of the misery our decisions create. It offers no eternal perspective. It beckons us to live for today only. To the world, self-gratification is their highest calling. The Bible exposes this mindset for what it is in 1 John 2:15–17, “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.”

Second, and in many respects the opposite of the first, living a godly life blesses others. The truth is that how we live and think either blesses or curses other people. Jesus served people and was a blessing to them. Pursuing a lifestyle driven by self-gratification and self-absorption isn’t fulfilling. Every supermarket tabloid offers examples of that reality. Blessing people not only reflects Jesus, but leads to personal fulfillment. Your life matters when it’s lived in service to others.

Third, a godly life allows us to be a consistent witness for the gospel. If people look at our lives and don’t see any distinction from the unbelieving world, and don’t see a life lived in service of others, they won’t find the gospel believable (or, at best, they’ll be confused). They will see our lives as a contradiction of the message of Jesus. In other words, people will expect us to live as Jesus did, the person we say loves them. That’s not unreasonable. The alternative is hypocrisy, and no one appreciates hypocrisy.

Living a godly life isn’t about earning a place in heaven. It’s not about putting God in our debt, racking up what I jokingly call “God points.” So, passages like these have an altogether different focus:

But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”

he did not think of equality with God

as something to cling to.

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

he took the humble position of a slave

and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form,

he humbled himself in obedience to God

and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

These passages give us some idea of how we should live, but we still haven’t gotten to the specifics of discipleship. How does a disciple live? What does a disciple do? Fortunately, Jesus and his original disciples, the first Christians, made that clear. Jesus never told his followers to do something he didn’t do himself—and showed them how to do it. They, in turn, followed his example and taught others to do the same in the early days of the fledgling church. Now that we have clarified What is Discipleship? (Imaging Jesus.) We begin the next topic, which we will start with the first two this week and finish with eight more in next week’s message.

It might surprise you, but Jesus didn’t command his disciples to do that many things. His vision for loving God and others wasn’t complicated. But the things he did command them to do are profound and life-changing when put into practice. So, we’ll start with the most essential point of being a disciple.

We already know how Jesus summed up a life dedicated to God. The greatest commands were: Mark 12:30-31, “‘And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Jesus did these things. He told his disciples in John14:31, “but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father.” How did Jesus show he loved God, his Father? John 15:9 – “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.” Jesus asked his disciples to do the same, as his comments on the two greatest commandments make clear.

 

Jesus went further by using himself as an example. He told his disciples to love each other as he had loved them. When they did that, they’d be obeying him and pleasing God. So he said to them in John 15:13–17, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.”

Love for God and love for each other are, according to Jesus, the fundamental, indispensable marks of his disciples. Jesus did not see these two commands as in any way contradictory. They were not in tension. On the contrary, they were two sides of the same coin. They were inseparable.

But how do we love people? The highest expression is giving one’s life as was expressed above in John 15:13, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” This is what Jesus did for us Romans 5:7-8, “Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

Short of this ultimate expression, I can’t think of a better description than 1 Corinthians 13:4–7. It pretty much says all that needs to be said. So here are the characteristics of love from that passage: “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

You’ll typically see points in this list on cards on Valentine’s Day or romantic swag. That’s fine—we ought to love our spouse or others we are close with. But 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 isn’t really about romance. This is the way we should treat people in general. Whether they recognize it as love is irrelevant. God will see and know.

One more point before moving on. It’s crucial to realize that basically everything that follows in what discipleship means extends from this first command of Jesus in John 13:34-35, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” Loving each other—loving people—is the central point of orientation for the other things disciples do, which we will cover next week. All these other things are expressions of this fundamental command.

This element of discipleship is an outgrowth of loving one another. Taking care of each other means being in and nurturing community.

As more and more people came to embrace the gospel in the days following Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4), they became part of a growing community that would be called the “church” (in their case, the one at Jerusalem). In the New Testament, this term didn’t refer to a building or an official organization. Instead, the New Testament tells us that the church in Jerusalem was notoriously poor. They didn’t have a building to meet in (and there were thousands of new believers; Acts 2:41, 47; 5:14). They didn’t have any official legal status, so believers were persecuted (Acts 3:11–4:31; 5:17–42).

If “the church” wasn’t about a building or an organization that had legal status, what did

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2213 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I’m delighted to continue our journey through the book of Proverbs, where we mine its timeless wisdom. Today, we’re venturing into Proverbs 10:25-32 from the New Living Translation. So, tighten your hiking boots, and let’s uncover the path of wisdom in these verses.

In Proverbs 10:25-32, we continue our exploration of the characteristics and outcomes of living a life of wisdom. These verses provide valuable insights into the way of the wise.

Verse 25: “When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.”

This verse presents a powerful image of life’s storms. The wicked are depicted as being whirled away, lacking a lasting foundation to withstand the trials of life. In contrast, the godly possess a firm and lasting foundation, which serves as their anchor during life’s storms.

Verse 26: “It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet.”

These verses highlight the importance of our interactions with others. Belittling or demeaning our neighbors is considered foolish, while sensibility involves keeping quiet. This verse underscores the value of respect and kindness in our relationships.

Verse 27: “The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.”

Here, we see the impact of our words. The words of the godly are compared to a life-giving fountain, while the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions. It emphasizes the profound influence our speech can have on those around us.

Verse 28: “The godly look forward to a reward, but the wicked can expect only judgment.”

This verse draws a sharp contrast between the outlook of the godly and the wicked. The godly anticipate a reward, while the wicked can expect only judgment. It underscores the importance of living in alignment with godly principles.

Verse 29: “The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity, but it destroys the wicked.”

These verses highlight the contrasting outcomes for those with integrity and the wicked. The way of the Lord serves as a stronghold to those with integrity, providing protection and security. However, it leads to the destruction of the wicked. This verse emphasizes the importance of living a life marked by integrity and righteousness.

Verse 30-32: “The godly will never be disturbed, but the wicked will be removed from the land. The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off. The godly speak helpful words, but the wicked speak only what is corrupt.”

These verses provide a series of contrasts. The godly are described as never being disturbed, while the wicked face removal from the land. The mouth of the godly offers wise advice, while deceiving tongues will be cut off. The godly speak helpful and beneficial words, in stark contrast to the wicked, who speak only corruption. These verses underscore the impact of our words and actions on our lives and the lives of others.

As we reflect on Proverbs 10:25-32, we are reminded that wisdom is not just theoretical knowledge; it’s practical and influences the choices we make in our daily lives.

Take a moment to consider these questions: How can you cultivate a lasting foundation in your life to withstand the storms that come your way? In what ways can your words and actions be life-giving and beneficial to those around you? Remember, wisdom equips us to make choices that lead to a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Let’s summarize the key takeaways from Proverbs 10:25-32:

Lasting Foundation: The godly possess a lasting foundation to withstand life’s storms, while the wicked are whirled away.

Respectful Interactions: Belittling one’s neighbor is foolish; sensibility involves keeping quiet.

Impact of Words: The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain, while the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.

Outlook: The godly anticipate a reward, while the wicked can expect only judgment.

Integrity and Protection: The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity but destroys the wicked.

Impact of Words and Actions: The godly provide wise advice and speak helpful words, while the wicked speak corruption.

In closing, remember that wisdom equips us to make choices that lead to a life of fulfillment. As we continue our journey through the vast landscapes of wisdom, may we walk with humility, integrity, and a heart for others, choosing the path of the wise.

Thank you for joining me on this leg of our Wisdom-Trek. I hope these verses have inspired you to actively embrace wisdom’s call and make her a daily presence in your journey. As we continue our journey, may we navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and grace.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2212 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I’m thrilled to continue our journey through the book of Proverbs, where we unearth its timeless wisdom. Today, we’re delving into Proverbs 10:17-24 from the New Living Translation. So, let’s lace up our hiking boots as we explore the path of wisdom in these verses.

In Proverbs 10:17-24, we continue our exploration of the characteristics and outcomes of living a life of wisdom. These verses provide us with valuable insights into the way of the wise.

Verse 17: “People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.”

This verse is a powerful reminder of the importance of accepting discipline and correction in our lives. Those who do so are on the pathway to life, while those who ignore such guidance will inevitably go astray. It emphasizes the role of humility and teachability in the pursuit of wisdom.

Verse 18: “Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool.”

This verse highlights the destructive nature of harboring hatred and slandering others. It equates hiding hatred with deceit and slander with foolishness. It’s a stark reminder of the need for love, honesty, and integrity in our interactions with others.

Verse 19: “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.”

These verses caution against excessive talk, which can often lead to sin. It advises sensibility and the wisdom of keeping one’s mouth shut when necessary. It’s a reminder that speaking less and listening more can prevent many conflicts and misunderstandings.

Verse 20: “The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless.”

This verse draws a sharp contrast between the words of the godly, which are likened to sterling silver—precious and valuable—and the heart of a fool, which is described as worthless. It underscores the significance of speaking with wisdom and integrity.

Verse 21: “The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.”

Here, we see the impact of our words. The words of the godly encourage and uplift many, while fools, due to their lack of common sense, often bring destruction upon themselves. It emphasizes the profound influence our speech can have on those around us.

Verse 22: “The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.”

This verse underscores the nature of the blessings that come from the Lord. They make a person rich, not just materially, but also in terms of spiritual and emotional wealth. Importantly, these blessings do not bring sorrow or regret with them.

Verse 23: “Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.”

This verse highlights the contrast between the temporary pleasure of doing wrong, which may be enticing to fools, and the lasting pleasure that comes from living wisely. Sensible living is characterized by fulfillment and joy.

Verse 24: “The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted.”

These verses remind us of the power of fear and hope in shaping our lives. The fears of the wicked often become reality, while the hopes of the godly are granted. It underscores the importance of cultivating positive and faith-filled expectations.

As we reflect on Proverbs 10:17-24, we are reminded that wisdom is not merely about knowledge; it’s about the choices we make and the impact they have on our lives and the lives of others.

Take a moment to consider these questions: How can you cultivate a heart of discipline and accept correction in your life? In what ways can your words be a source of encouragement and blessing to those around you? Remember, wisdom equips us to make choices that lead to a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Let’s summarize the key takeaways from Proverbs 10:17-24:

Accepting Discipline: Those who accept discipline and correction are on the pathway to life, while those who ignore it go astray.

Honesty and Integrity: Hiding hatred and slandering others are equated with lying and foolishness, emphasizing the importance of honesty and integrity.

Sensible Speech: Excessive talk can lead to sin, so being sensible and choosing when to speak is a wise course of action.

Impact of Words: The words of the godly encourage and uplift, while fools often bring destruction upon themselves through their speech.

Blessings from the Lord: The blessings from the Lord make a person rich and do not bring sorrow with them.

Wisdom and Pleasure: Living wisely brings lasting pleasure, in contrast to the temporary fun of doing wrong.

The Power of Expectations: The fears of the wicked often become reality, while the hopes of the godly are granted, underscoring the importance of cultivating positive expectations.

In closing, remember that wisdom equips us to make choices that lead to a life of fulfillment. As we continue our journey through the vast landscapes of wisdom, may we walk with humility, integrity, and sensibility, choosing the path of the wise.

Thank you for joining me on this leg of our Wisdom-Trek. I hope these verses have inspired you to actively embrace wisdom’s call and make her a daily presence in your journey. As we continue our journey, may we navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and grace.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!

Putnam Church Message – 03/05/2023

What Does God Want? -  What is the Gospel?

Last week, we finished our story narrative overview of the Bible, answering the question: What does God want? The answer we discovered over the past six 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. So now we switch our focus on what is required to be part of God’s forever family and how we show this transformation in our lives. The answer to these two questions is through believing loyalty. This week, we will explore the believing aspect; in the next two weeks, we will focus on loyalty. We invested a year in a detailed study of the Good News, according to John, but today, we will view an overall snapshot of the Good News. It is simple and yet very profound. What is the Gospel, the Good News?

It may sound odd to ask that question at this juncture. We’ve just invested six weeks walking through the story of the Bible, the story of how God wants us in his family. We join that family by believing the gospel.

I’ve discovered that many people who attend church don’t fully understand the gospel. Some can’t articulate it. Others who can express it coherently often struggle with truly surrendering to its simplicity. They suffer inside over genuinely believing that the gospel is all that is necessary for everlasting life.

Some of you may wonder what I’m talking about. There is a good chance that as I explain what I mean, you’ll either see yourself or someone you know in what follows.

We’ll start by defining the gospel. Then, I’ll ask some questions along the way that are important to consider for clarity. We also need to talk about what the gospel isn’t. When we get to that part of the conversation, you’ll see what I mean by the struggle I mentioned.

It’s relatively easy to define what the term “gospel” means. The biblical word “gospel” refers to the message of salvation. The English word “gospel” is a translation of a Greek word (the original language of the New Testament) that referred to a reward given to someone who brought good news. Hence, you’ll often hear the term “gospel” equated with “good news”—the good news about the message of salvation.

Let’s think about that. It might feel like we learned something. I suppose we did, but we didn’t understand what we needed to know. It’s nice that we can now define a term. But we haven’t said anything about the content of the message of salvation. We’ve explained what the word “gospel” means, but not what the gospel is.

So, let’s talk about what the gospel means. What is the content of God’s offer of salvation? What are the details of the good news? And why is it good news? The word appears almost 100 times in the New Testament, so we ought to be able to figure this out.

The apostle Paul probably talks about the gospel message more than any other New Testament writer. He uses the word “gospel” for the message he preached about Jesus in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, “Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.”

Paul also defines his message, the Good News, Romans 1:1-5, “This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.”

The content of the gospel—the good news—emerges clearly in these passages. Here are the elements:

God sent his Son...

Who was born in the line of David...

As the man Jesus Christ...

Who died for our sins...

Who was buried...

Who rose from the dead...

Who ascended into heaven and took His place on the right hand of God…

Who sent the Holy Spirit to indwell everyone who believes…

These items are the content of the good news. Let me describe them again here in light of the bigger picture of the story we talked about over the past six weeks:

The Son of God became a man. He suffered and died on the cross so our sins would no longer keep us out of God’s family. He rose from the dead, so we could overcome death and be with His Father, our Father, the only true God, forever.

Let’s probe that a bit. If this is the good news, why is it good? Lots of reasons. It’s good because our salvation doesn’t depend on our performance. You don’t see anything about your amazing track record or having a clean rap sheet in those passages. The gospel’s content is not about what you’ve done,/ might do,/ or need to do./ It’s about what someone else did for you. That’s good news for all of us, because none of us is perfect. None of us pleases God all the time. None of us is fit to live in his family and be called by his name on our own. We have to be made acceptable to God. The content of the gospel tells us how that happens.

Notice that Paul described his ministry of telling people the good news as “bringing about the obedience of faith” so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. He wanted those who heard his message to “hold fast” to what he said. How do you “obey” the gospel? Get baptized? Give money? Behave well? Don’t be a jerk? Help the poor? Those are all worthwhile things, but No. God wants “the obedience of faith.” You obey the gospel by believing it.

Did you also notice that Paul didn’t say “the obedience of comprehension”? We may not completely understand things like God becoming a man in Jesus, or how the resurrection could happen. That’s okay. God doesn’t demand we figure it all out and then get back to him to take a final exam. He wants belief. Understanding why these things are rational /can wait.

The gospel’s content is God’s offer to forgive you and give you a permanent place in his family. His offer shows his love and kindness. The Bible sometimes uses the word “grace” instead of those terms. Since there is no greater power, God wasn’t coerced into the offer. No one is twisting his arm. He offers you salvation because he wants you. All he asks is that you believe. That is the good news of the gospel.

You might think I answered this already. I did, at least in a roundabout way. But in light of my experience in Christian circles, I need to be clear.

Why do we need the gospel? Because without it, we have no hope of everlasting life with God. Zero. We are estranged from God because of sin. Believing the gospel is the only remedy.

 

The Bible describes our predicament in several ways. Jesus said in Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”  It is our nature

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

We were helpless, Romans 5:6 says, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.” We “wandered far from God” (Ephesians 4:18). We were far from God. We were his enemies (Colossians 1:21 & Romans 5:10). You get the picture, but it is not pretty.

The biblical story we walked through the past six weeks explains why we are what we are. We aren’t born into the family of God. We’re outsiders. Yet God wants us in the family. Lacking God’s nature, we abuse our intelligence and freedom to get what we want, often harming others. We live in self-destructive ways. When we don’t image God and break his precepts, we sin when we violate, manipulate, and otherwise abuse others. We are by nature sinners—self-absorbed and rebellious.

Romans 3:23 - For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

It’s easy to read that and be depressed or angry. But the good news of the gospel story is /that God knew all that and loved us anyway. It’s also useful for a reason that may never have occurred to you. It makes the gospel entirely different from any other religion’s teaching about salvation. Every other religion either denies sin is a problem or says the solution is human performance—repeating rituals, saying prayers, observing holy days, or otherwise being good.

To be clear, only the gospel is honest about the human situation and human inability to do anything about it. Other religions, in effect, lie to you—they tell you that you can fix the problem of your distance from God, or that you don’t have a problem. The gospel is the only truth that tells you God had to provide the solution and did. The gospel is transparently honest. It tells you the truth even though it hurts. That shows love. Lying to you isn’t love.

I answered this more or less, but I want to approach the question differently. God offers forgiveness, salvation, and everlasting life with him for free. It’s not something earned or deserved. It cannot be earned or deserved.

Belief, or faith, is required—putting one’s trust in God’s promise and the completeness of what Jesus did. But believing the gospel means not believing other teachings or ideas about salvation. The Bible says that there is no other way of salvation. Think about it. Why would God the Father send his son Jesus to die such a horrible death on the cross if there were any other way for you to enter Heaven? The Son had to become a man, and death had to be overcome. This was the only way, and believing in God’s plan is the only way of salvation. No person besides Jesus can save (Acts 4:12). There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Jesus put it very bluntly in John 14:6: “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’”

There’s no ambiguity there. No one becomes a member of God’s forever family except through what Jesus has done. You don’t add the gospel to other beliefs. It is exclusive. Believing the gospel means turning away from other beliefs. That’s one aspect of what the Bible calls repentance. There are others, but they’re best addressed in the next part of our message.

Our discussion about the gospel’s content makes it clear that the gospel is about what Jesus accomplished on our behalf. Therefore, everlasting life and salvation are gifts to those who believe in what Jesus accomplished on our behalf.

Our culture tries to muddle this clarity. It offers self-improvement or vague “spirituality” as substitutes, or more recently, referring to the “universe.” But the biblical description of the gospel defies such things. The gospel (and salvation) has nothing to do with personal enlightenment or “looking within” on a journey of self-discovery. The gospel is not about exploring ideas from a spiritual smorgasbord. These are intellectual or psychological efforts and activities that are not wrong in and of themselves but aren’t the gospel.

But these sorts of “alternative gospels” are the easy ones to detect and eliminate. Unfortunately, a much more difficult hurdle impedes many people from resting in the simplicity of the salvation God offers.

I suggested earlier that many people struggle with the gospel, even in church. The reason is that they are caught in a performance trap. You or someone you know may be able to define the term gospel, and perhaps even the content of its meaning. But the idea that believing what Jesus did for you is the sum total of what’s necessary for everlasting life just doesn’t seem right. Surely, we have to do something. Otherwise, how could we deserve it? That is the crux of it all.

If you comprehend the Bible’s story and the gospel’s content, you should immediately grasp that we don’t deserve what God offers. And that’s a struggle for many people. We want to feel like we’ve earned the good things we have. We don’t want to be a charity case. It feels wrong to get something good without working for it, at least a little.

 

Guilt distorts thinking in even more subtle ways. It can paralyze our ability to see the gospel as the unconditional gift it is. Guilt drives some people to justify a gift by concluding it’s deserved because of something they did for the gift-giver at some point. And if they can’t convince themselves of that, they are determined to do something after the fact to make themselves feel deserving of the gift.

Guilt blinds us to the love of God shown in the gospel. Ultimately, we must come to grips with how self-centered this thinking is. That may sound harsh, but hear me out. Working hard to make someone else think you have value /requires focusing on yourself. You can’t be focused on someone else when the goal is to make another person think you are worthy of their attention or love. We want to feel good about ourselves (i.e., we legitimately deserve something, so we aren’t taking what doesn’t belong to us). We also want others to feel that way about us (i.e., we want others to give us something because of how we make them feel about us).

The gospel strips this away and casts it aside. It exposes us, demanding naked humility. It insists the focus be entirely on God and Jesus. That’s why it’s a hard pill to swallow for so many. It doesn’t let us take any credit.

What it comes down to is that the gospel cares nothing about what you do, but cares everything about who you already are. You’re human. You are the object of God’s love and plan from the beginning. None of that requires performance. It just is.

Because we’re sinners living in a fallen world, we’re locked into thinking no one would love us if they really knew us completely, inside and out. Consequently, we can’t imagine God loving us since nothing about us escapes his attention. He knows every thought, word, impulse, and deed. The guilt that creates within us, and the normalcy of our conditional relationships, make the unfiltered love of God for us in the gospel hard to accept. From our perspective, it doesn’t make sense.

At this point, I’m not suggesting that people who hear the true gospel and embrace it with all sincerity aren’t saved. On the contrary, I honestly believe they believe and are in the family of God.

I’m describing the soul-crushing internal life many of those believers are still living. Their guilt has transformed the love and grace of the gospel into a performance-centered, merit-based experience. They begin to wonder if God still loves them like he did when they understood and believed the gospel. They consider the sins they commit as believers as reasons for God to be indifferent and uncertain toward them. They are convinced they can’t measure up to God’s expectations and wonder if they “believed enough” or perhaps didn’t really believe when they thought they did.

The sad truth is that many genuine Christians live tormented, defeated lives, not because of the gospel, but because of how their guilt has distorted the clarity of the gospel. When they read Scripture, they see only their sins and failures. Every sermon is an indictment (and shame on preachers who preach with that as their primary intention). The spectacular wonder of the story gets lost and forgotten.

Salvation is not about performance. It never was, never will be, and never can be. We can do nothing to put ourselves at the level of God, to make ourselves fit for his presence. This is because we lack God’s perfect nature. We are like God, created to image him, but by definition, we are less than God, and God knows it. That’s why his solution was Jesus, not you.

 

It’s absurd to think we can bridge that gap or fill that void by doing this or not doing that. God never learns anything new about you when you fail. He’s known you all along and still loved you right where you were and are. Romans...

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2210 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

In today’s Wisdom Nugget, I’m excited to continue our journey through the book of Proverbs, where we explore its timeless wisdom. Today, we’re delving into Proverbs 10:9-16 from the New Living Translation. So, get ready to lace up your hiking boots as we uncover the path of wisdom in these verses.

In Proverbs 10:9-16, we continue our exploration of the characteristics and outcomes of living a life of wisdom. These verses provide valuable insights into the way of the wise.

Verse 9: “People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.”

These verses open with a powerful truth about integrity. People who walk in integrity find safety and security in their path, but those who follow deceitful and crooked paths will eventually be exposed. This verse emphasizes the importance of living a life marked by honesty and authenticity.

Verse 10: “People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace.”

Here, we see the consequences of ignoring wrongdoing. Those who wink at or overlook transgression inadvertently cause trouble, but those who boldly and lovingly correct promote peace. This verse underscores the value of addressing issues with courage and grace.

Verse 11: “The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.”

This verse highlights the power of words. The words of the godly are described as a life-giving fountain, nourishing and refreshing those who hear them. In contrast, the words of the wicked hide violent intentions, emphasizing the importance of our speech in either building up or tearing down.

Verse 12: “Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.”

Hatred and animosity lead to conflicts and quarrels, while love can cover and make up for offenses. This verse reminds us of love’s healing and reconciling power in our relationships.

Verse 13: “Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding, but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod.”

These verses contrast the wisdom of understanding with the consequences of foolishness. Wise words flow from those with understanding, while those lacking sense face discipline, symbolized by being beaten with a rod. It underscores the value of wisdom and discernment in our speech.

Verse 14-16: “Wise people treasure knowledge, but the babbling of a fool invites disaster. The wealth of the rich is their fortress; the poverty of the poor is their destruction. The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin.”

These verses offer a series of contrasts. Wise individuals treasure knowledge and speak carefully, avoiding disaster. The wealth of the rich serves as their fortress, protecting them from many challenges, while the poverty of the poor can lead to destruction. The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, whereas the wicked squander their money on sinful pursuits. These verses remind us of the impact of our choices on our well-being.

As we reflect on Proverbs 10:9-16, we’re reminded that wisdom isn’t just theoretical knowledge; it’s practical and influences the choices we make in our daily lives.

Take a moment to consider these questions: How can you cultivate wisdom in your life to walk with integrity and promote peace? In what ways can your words be a life-giving fountain to those around you? Remember, wisdom equips us to make choices that lead to a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Let’s summarize the key takeaways from Proverbs 10:9-16:

The Value of Integrity: Walking with integrity provides safety, while crooked paths lead to exposure.

Bold Reproof: Boldly addressing wrongdoing promotes peace and prevents trouble.

The Power of Words: Words have the potential to be life-giving or conceal violent intentions.

The Healing Power of Love: Love can cover and make up for offenses, fostering reconciliation.

Wisdom in Speech: Wise words flow from understanding, while foolish babbling invites disaster.

Choices and Consequences: Our choices, in areas such as wealth and earnings, significantly impact our lives and well-being.

In closing, remember that wisdom equips us to make choices that lead to a life of fulfillment. As we continue our journey through the vast landscapes of wisdom, may we walk with discernment and choose the path of the wise.

Thank you for joining me on this leg of our Wisdom-Trek. I hope these verses have inspired you to cultivate wisdom in your life and make choices that lead to a life of purpose and fulfillment. As we continue our journey, may we navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and grace.

Thank you for joining me on this leg of our Wisdom-Trek. I hope these verses have inspired you to actively embrace wisdom’s call and make her a daily presence in your journey. As we continue our journey, may we navigate life’s challenges with wisdom and grace.

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

Live Abundantly (Fully)

Love Unconditionally

Listen Intentionally

Learn Continuously

Lend to others Generously

Lead with Integrity

Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!