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Historical Kingdom Christian Movements  /  Finding Fellowship in the 21st Century  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 5
He claims that producing these two kinds of fruit “you can do in virtually any setting,” so changing churches “rarely” makes you bear more fruit or fixes family/financial problems; where have you assumed the opposite—that the right church would solve what is actually an internal issue—and what would “getting your own life…in order” look like concretely?
Another way to ask: Bercot says you can bear fruit in almost any setting, and switching churches rarely fixes your life. Where have you thought the right church would solve what is really an issue in you, and what would it look like to get your own life in order?

Direct Answer Bercot argues the core of kingdom life—Spirit fruit and kingdom service—can be practiced “in virtually any setting,” so church-shopping often becomes an attempt to fix internal problems externally. “Getting your life in order” means honest self-examination and submitting your will to Christ so you can be a blessing wherever you fellowship.

Support from Transcript:

  • He states plainly: producing the two types of fruit “you can do…in virtually any setting,” and “the most important things…you can do in any church setting.”
  • He warns: “Changing churches is rarely going to enable you to bear more fruit or to solve your family problems or financial problems.”
  • He describes seekers who look radical outwardly but have “severe marriage difficulties…rebellion among their children…severe financial problems…owe a lot of people money.”
  • He includes relational/authority issues: “a real problem submitting to authority…causing strife and controversy everywhere they go.”
  • His concrete counsel: “do some honest self-examination,” and “ask others…close Christian friends…to help you in examining your own situation.”
  • The goal is fruitfulness: get life “straight through the power of Jesus Christ…so that…you’ll be a blessing…not a headache.”
Discussion Follow-ups What inner issue are you most tempted to blame on your current church setting? Who could you ask this week to help you see blind spots?

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