Lesson 15: Live in Fellowship (2)
Read Proverbs 1:20-33 - https://www.bible.com/bible/59/pro.1

Jesus left His Church here on earth to accomplish things for Him. What are these tasks He expects us to complete?

First, of course, is the command He left His disciples just before He rose into the clouds: "You will be My witnesses." We are to tell the good news of Jesus Christ, not just to some individuals but to every single person in the entire world. This means we as the church must be or live or visit or in some other way reach out to every country, every city, every village, every home on this entire planet. Of course this is impossible for a single body, one local church, but it is not impossible for a unified body – the Church.

The second thing we as the Church are to do is to make known the "manifold wisdom of God" (Ephesians 3:4-10). The definition of "manifold" is "multiple" or "varied" and means it is something complex. We live in an era where wisdom is a sadly lacking element. Who would ever have thought this ball of dirt on which we live could ever be considered more important than those who live on it? Who would ever have thought our laws would consider animals to be equal under the law with humans? Who would ever have thought the killing of a baby seal would be considered more evil than the killing of a human baby? Who would ever have thought people could actually believe getting something for nothing could be a meaningful way of life? Who would ever have thought people would sell their souls into slavery so cheaply or blindly for nothing more than an empty promise? Oh, the wisdom of God is so very desperately needed in our world!


The third accomplishment for the body of Christ is to be "a pillar and buttress of truth" (1 Timothy 3:14-15). Through the centuries truth has become an ever scarcer commodity. Pilate asked Jesus, "What is truth?" When I was young the cry was "There is no absolute truth." Today, we have come a kind of hideous full circle. What started with Jesus saying, "I am the truth," has become an acknowledgment of "truth" serving only one agenda – greed. What is truth for one man is a lie for another. What is good for one is evil for another. It all depends on how much personal power you can grab or hold. Oh how desperately the Church is needed to be a "pillar and buttress of truth" today.

*Without being judgmental, how does your local church measure up as Christ’s body?
*How can you start, and then encourage others in your church to become more active for Christ?