The wonder of discipleship

Estimated Reading time: 5 minutes · Written by Tim Chilvers

Have you ever found yourself looking at someone else’s life and thinking, “I wish that was mine”? Maybe it’s their job, their home, their car, their sense of style—or even something more intangible, like their peace or their sense of direction. If you’ve ever had that feeling, you’re certainly not alone.

We all carry around quiet comparisons. That friend who seems to thrive in their dream career. The family with the perfect Instagram-worthy holidays. The neighbour who just radiates joy and calm. It’s tempting to think, “If only I had that, I’d feel different too.”

Some years ago, an Australian tourism board ran an advert for what they called "the best job in the world"—living on a remote island in the Great Barrier Reef, surrounded by beauty, peace, and adventure. More recently, a similar job opened up on one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland: a solitary position tending sheep and maintaining old stone walls on a quiet, isolated island.

Sound appealing? It does for many. Because sometimes, in our fast-paced, always-connected lives, we crave something simpler, quieter—something that feels like it has purpose, even if it's just rebuilding a wall or caring for animals. But it raises a deeper question: Is it really the place we’re longing for—or something else entirely?

Maybe what we’re really longing for is a life of wonder.

Seeking purpose

The truth is, we all carry some level of weariness. For some, it's a physical tiredness. For others, it's emotional, spiritual, or existential. You might be doing well by external standards but still feel like something’s missing, as though your life should feel more alive, more purposeful, more connected.

In our current culture, we’re often told that rest or self-care is the solution to this inner ache. And while rest is important, it’s not always enough. A psychologist recently said, “The solution to burnout isn’t always rest. Often, the solution is purpose.”

That idea—purpose—lies at the heart of the Christian faith. And it’s not a vague, feel-good kind of purpose. It’s a deep-rooted calling to live for something bigger than ourselves.

Let’s unpack five aspects of a life full of wonder—through the lens of a story found in the book of Acts in the Bible. It’s the story of Philip, an early Christian, and his encounter with a stranger on a dusty road. But it’s really a story about purpose, openness, courage, and the surprising places God can meet us—even in our weariness.

1. A wonder-filled life has purpose

Philip wasn't a famous church leader or a celebrated apostle like Peter or Paul. He wasn’t one of the "super Christians." In fact, when we first meet him in Acts 6, he’s simply chosen to help distribute food to widows—a practical role, rooted in compassion and service.

But by Acts 8, we see Philip stepping into a much bigger story. He’s listening to God, responding to promptings, and sharing the message of Jesus with someone on the margins of society—a royal official from Ethiopia, traveling home with questions about faith and life.

What’s striking is not just what Philip did, but how he did it. He responded quickly. He was available. He didn’t overthink or wait until everything in his life was perfectly aligned.

That’s a crucial reminder: you don’t have to have your life perfectly sorted out before you can live with purpose.

Philip’s own life wasn’t smooth at the time. He and other believers had just been scattered by persecution. His circumstances were hard, but those very circumstances created opportunities he wouldn’t have had otherwise.

In our own lives, we often think purpose is something we arrive at after the storm. But sometimes, the storm creates the path toward purpose. Even in your mess, your exhaustion, or your uncertainty—God can use you.

Ask yourself: What doors might be open now, even in the chaos? What people are crossing your path today?

2. The wonder-filled life is open to God

Throughout this story, Philip is incredibly responsive to God’s leading. He hears an angel telling him to go, and he goes. The Holy Spirit nudges him toward a particular person, and he runs.

It's simple but profound: God prompts. Philip obeys.

We often admire this kind of decisiveness, but it’s not always how we live. Many of us are overthinkers. We want certainty. We fear making the wrong move. So we stay still.

Especially for younger generations—and let’s be honest, for all of us in a world of endless options—this can be paralysing. We’re so afraid of choosing the wrong path that we choose no path. But openness to God isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about being willing to take the next step.

Whether you're exploring faith for the first time or have been walking with Jesus for decades, consider this: What’s the next nudge you’ve been ignoring?

It might be a prompting to start a conversation, serve someone, join a group, or even give your life fully to Jesus for the first time.

As Bible scholar Steve Walton notes, one of the striking features of the early church in Acts is their “serious openness to God.” And one of the most neglected ways we express that openness today is through prayer. Not just personal prayer, but corporate prayer. Being together with others, seeking God, listening, and waiting. It’s no coincidence that those moments of unity and openness in Acts led to extraordinary outcomes.

3. A wonder-filled life is others-centred

When Philip meets the Ethiopian official, he doesn’t jump in with a monologue. He listens. He asks a question: “Do you understand what you’re reading?” And when the man says he doesn’t, Philip sits with him—literally and figuratively.

This simple act—sitting with someone in their questions—is powerful. It's also deeply countercultural.

We live in an era of “Project Me.” Social media often turns life into a performance. Success is measured in followers, likes, or personal branding. But Jesus calls us to something radically different: a life that’s not about us.

Who are you sitting with?
That’s a question worth asking regularly.

Who are you learning from? Who are you helping grow? Is there someone in your life who needs you to walk alongside them, listen to them, or just be there with them in their uncertainty?

Faith isn't just about knowledge or belief—it’s relational. It grows in community. It multiplies when shared.

In our church, we’ve seen beautiful stories of people who found faith through someone simply being willing to “sit” with them. Sometimes literally over coffee. Sometimes in a small group. Sometimes through shared hardship or service. Discipleship is rarely loud or flashy—it’s consistent, kind, and committed.

4. A wonder-filled life grows in understanding

The Ethiopian official was a seeker. He had questions. He was reading ancient scriptures, trying to make sense of them. And he wanted someone to explain.

That hunger for understanding is the beginning of transformation. And the good news? God meets people there.

Faith isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about being willing to ask the questions, and inviting others into the process. It’s about admitting, “I don’t get this yet—but I want to.”

A wonderful life includes the humility to keep learning—and the courage to share what we’re learning with others. Just like Philip, we don’t have to be experts. We just have to be available.

5. A wonder-filled life is on the move

The climax of the story is deeply personal. After Philip explains how the scriptures point to Jesus, the man responds with a simple, eager question: “What’s to stop me from being baptised?”

They stop the chariot. He is baptised right there and then. And he goes on his way rejoicing.

There it is: the wonder.

Not just information. Not just tradition. But a real encounter with the living God. A turning point. A moment of transformation.

He doesn’t wait to figure everything out. He doesn’t wait until he’s back home or in a religious building. He responds in the moment, takes a step—and that step becomes a turning point.

This reveals something important about the nature of faith: God meets people who are willing to move. Not just physically, but spiritually. Emotionally. Personally. God shows up when we’re open, responsive, and willing to take the next step—even if we’re not entirely sure where it will lead.

Philip had already modeled this. He walked a desert road with no clear plan, responded to a nudge from the Spirit, and ran to meet a stranger. He was constantly on the move—willing to follow where God led, step by step.

Too often, we want the full map before we’re willing to start the journey. But God rarely works like that. He invites us to trust Him in motion.

A wonderful life isn’t always tidy or planned out. It’s not about having it all figured out—it’s about having a heart that says, “God, I’m willing.”

What’s your next step?

1. Is it reaching out to someone?

2. Asking a question you’ve been holding back?

3. Serving in a way that feels uncomfortable?

4. Or simply praying, “I’m ready for what’s next”?

Wonder is something we continue to grow into. It's sustained by openness, by obedience, by service, and by purpose.

The original teaching has been edited for clarity and brevity; This is not a transcript.