Skip to content ↓

Day Eighteen – Experiencing Life Together

Articles Collection cover image

I need to belong not only to a church but also to a small group within the church. Life is meant to be shared and it is best shared with a small group of dedicated friends with whom I can experience true fellowship. The ultimate model for a small group is Jesus’ twelve disciples. He realized that a group that is much bigger than that causes people to shut down. Warren gives several pointers as to what is true fellowship:

  • In real fellowship people experience authenticity. Real fellowship is sharing authentic feelings, thoughts and concerns. It is being willing to make oneself vulnerable. True intimacy as Christians can only occur where there is transparency.
  • In real fellowship people experience mutuality. Mututality involves both giving and receiving. In true fellowship I will give of myself and expect to receive from others. This may involve accountability, encouragement, serving and honoring.
  • In real fellowship people experience sympathy. Sympathy is sharing in the pain of others. In true fellowship I will feel the pain of those I fellowship with. In the darkest, worst days of my life I will have the assurance that others will be there for me, to help me and to stand by me.
  • In real fellowship people expect mercy. In true fellowship I need to offer and receive mercy. I need to be willing to be merciful to others, realizing that my faults are as great as theirs’. I will never be asked to forgive someone else more than God has already forgiven me.

The chapter closes with a discussion of the difference between trust and forgiveness. Forgiveness is a must. I am required to forgive those who hurt me and to do so immediately and unconditionally. Trust, on the other hand, needs to be earned. I do not need to trust people as soon as I forgive them.

Bible Passages

Warren quotes the Bible fourteen times using nine translations and paraphrases. On the whole the passages are quoted with reasonable accuracy and used in their proper context. The Message’s version of James 5:16 offers more than the literal translation and the same is true for 1 Corinthians 12:25. He also quotes Colossians 3:13 twice in the same paragraph using different translations which present different meanings.

Point to Ponder

Today’s point to ponder is “I need others in my life.” This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. Prior to coming to my current church I had never experienced a small group. I had heard of Sunday schools and Bible studies, but never the concept of a home church. In our church that involves a group of about six to twelve people meeting once a week to study the Bible and fellowship with eachother. It is where the heart of the church’s ministry really happens. Having experienced true fellowship like that, I cannot imagine going without. My home church is my life blood. It is a time to share what has happened in the past week. It is a time to share trials and hardships as well as praise and thanksgiving. It is a time to have others share in my Christian walk and to share in the walks of others. To me it should be an indispensable part of any church. In many ways I believe attendance at a small group to be equally or even more important than attendance at weekly church services! Rick Warren has had a great influence on the modern church and I believe that the emphasis on small groups may be his greatest contribution.

I am eighteen days into The Purpose Driven Life and am finding that last two days the best part of the experience thus far. I am looking forward to continuing the journey.

Up Next

Tomorrow’s topic is Cultivating Community


  • Deconstruction

    Walking Through Deconstruction

    I suppose by now we all know a least a few people who have begun the process of deconstructing their faith. Meanwhile, we have undoubtedly heard of many more who are doing so in a public way—celebrities who have decided to rigorously examine the faith they once professed and to reject much of what they…

  • A La Carte Friday 2

    A La Carte (January 17)

    A La Carte: Andrew Tate or Panda Express / The metrics monster / Nearer My God to Thee / Even as the fire rages / Why a jealous God is the best kind of God / Political idolatry / and more.

  • Quiet Time

    The Quiet Time Kickstart

    We are all people of habits. To some degree, we are always battling to establish good habits while battling to supplant bad ones. This is true of us in many different areas of life and most certainly true in our spiritual lives. In fact, some have argued that when we describe the way we relate…

  • A La Carte Thursday 1

    A La Carte (January 16)

    A La Carte: Why don’t we read the Bible more? / Did David rape Bathsheba? / To (almost) die is gain / Learn to pray the Bible / When you’re close to burnout / Called to freedom / and more.

  • How To Obtain a Plenary Indulgence in 2025

    How To Obtain a Plenary Indulgence in 2025

    I think we can sometimes fool ourselves into believing that the Reformation caused the Roman Catholic Church to abandon some, most, or all of the doctrine that was so concerning to the Reformers. We can sometimes believe that the Catholicism of today is materially different from that of the 16th century or that it has…

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (January 15)

    A La Carte: iPhones, idolatry, and evil spirits / At my mother’s deathbed / Nothing to do but pray / Bible study tips for beginners / Jesus did condemn homosexuality / Please don’t sing “Imagine” at funerals / Kindle and book deals.