The Gospel (Good News)
Notes
Transcript
Handout
(S1) —
Two things church people don’t like to hear…Money/Sharing our faith (Evangelism)
I DON’T WANNA HEAR IT
Landscaper/Evangelist
Can we just not talk about it? Are we going to be the church of believers, as Jesus intend (Acts)
“Evangelism, good or bad, is the reproductive system of Christianity.”
Defined—The preaching, proclamation, or sharing of the gospel
— (besora)—Message —(besar) Announce/share (heralds)
— (euangelion) good news/good message (angels)
“Evangel, unites the Good news (gospel) of Jesus with the ministry of a messenger. ism put that into motion
(S2)
"Sharing the message about Jesus Christ under the influence of the Holy Spirit"
To evangelize, is to participate in God’s work of bringing the gospel of salvation to people. It is the means of spreading the good news of Jesus, to build up the church.
— Less evangelism, fewer Christians, smaller the churches, less of the hope of Jesus in a troubled world
Christ Church —30,000 people in 60 weeks
(S3) — Why aren’t more Christians/churches doing it? Perhaps...
we have forgotten the gospel is Good News
we have lost clarity concerning our own beliefs
we fear rejection and pushback
we worry we will do more harm than Good
we have no idea how to share our faith
“Evangelism is giving God something to bless!
(S4) — SERIES — “E2D” — Biblical model for growing the church
Bishops approach is so simple that almost no church is doing it!
Make NEW Christians—Turn em’ into DISCIPLES—Send em’ OUT to make new Christians
Make NEW Christians—Turn em’ into DISCIPLES—Send em’ OUT to make new Christians
Over the next few weeks I will lay a foundation for evangelism, by creating a culture of INVITING...teach, equip, challenge...
Four objectives of this series
1. Clearly define what is meant by GOSPEL (today)
2. Embrace the Gospel as GOOD NEWS (Next week)
3. Fully live into Christ’ imperative to SHARE the Gospel
4. To receive the POWER to effectively proclaim it.
1. The IMPORTANCE of the Gospel. 2. SUBSTANCE of the Gospel. 3. The Christians IMPERATIVE to share it
What is the Gospel?
2 It is this Good News that saves
The Gospel of Jesus was always meant to be shared..
PRAY
(S5)
(S5)
Paul’s sharing the Good news to the people of Corinth (church plant)
1:4-6
He is reminding them of...
I. The IMPORTANCE of the Gospel
I. The IMPORTANCE of the Gospel
1 Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News (gospel) I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it.
Believers in Corinth were in the minority—It was a cultural melting pot, a cesspool of practices and beliefs of ungodly nature. Yet, they had welcomed Paul’s message, established a Christian community and were standing firm because of it.
Let me remind you...could be seen as a rebuke, to some who may have considered themselves faithful but only believed in vain
(S6)
2 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.
…not speaking of their level of belief/spiritual development…but whether they believed the Gospel of Jesus—why he was writing to them. To correct some who were in error in the church.
For Christians since the third century—the importance of what we believe (CREED)
Paul is not giving them new material—The church doesn’t need a new gospel.
—Problem today—the church has forgotten the importance of the Gospel, being tossed about by every wind of cultural change...
Drift illustration (pg13)
(S7)
“In a fallen world, you will eventually loose sight of what you allow to drift!”
“In a fallen world, you will eventually loose sight of what you allow to drift!”
Because Paul and others had evangelized (shared the gospel)…they had RECEIVED it, were saved by it, and would remain steadfast because of it, if they continued to believe it.
NEW name…is not about a new gospel…its about standing firm in the gospel of Jesus Christ that saves!
(S8) —verse 3
3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me.
Paul recieved it…shared it…lives were changed because of it…
I feel good when I am able to share Jesus…but I regret the times I have opportunity and don’t...
— One can only receive what is offered.
Nothing is more important than communicating the life-giving gospel of Jesus Christ.
We know its important, but what is the Gospel?
(S9) — Five essentials or truths, that make up the gospel (good news) of Jesus (broad strokes)
II. The SUBSTANCE of the Gospel
II. The SUBSTANCE of the Gospel
3 Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.
I. JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS!
I. JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS!
We are sinners. Everyone of us. The Bible teaches that all fall short of the glory of God.
SIN—When we drift from God’s intended best—Miss the mark!
— Modernism in religion minimizes sin and our need for Jesus’ death to make us right with God.
— Some will tell you that not all sin is sin. So we compromise the Gospel and Jesus saving work on the cross.
Greek (our)…for our sakes, in our place, as a substitute.
Because of Adam’s sin—without the gospel we are our bound to sin, destined only the grave. But in Christ we receive free gift of life.
Romans 6:23 “ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Sin— We can’t shake it on our own.
Facebook—Florida posts
We can’t live sinless, but because the gospel saves, we can sin less…
The gospel? Jesus died for our sins.
— Do you believe in sin? Do you believe you need Jesus?
Second essential truth of the Gospel of Jesus...
II. THE SCRIPTURES ARE ACCURATE TESTIMONY!
II. THE SCRIPTURES ARE ACCURATE TESTIMONY!
The Scriptures are sacred writings revealing God’s truth.
Just as the scriptures said…
Isaiah 53:5 “5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Psalm 22:16 “16 My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet.”
Early manuscripts…eyewitness that became the scriptures
Matthew 28:6 “He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.”
“The Bible is not “my truth” or “ your truth.” It is God inspired not merely our aspiration.
2 Timothy 3:16–17
The Bible is God’s truth. It does not adjust to us, we adjust to it. It does not sit up all night worried you may not like it. It does not conform ton us we conform to it.
The scriptures are an accurate testimony of God’s best and our worst. It’s why Jesus died.
— What do you believe about the accuracy of scripture?
Third essential truth of the Gospel of Jesus...
III. JESUS WAS BURIED!
III. JESUS WAS BURIED!
Paul’s whole theology was based on Jesus’ resurrection. For there to be a resurrection, someone had to be dead. No better way to prove death than to be buried.
Mark 16:43-46
The Gospel is that Jesus was buried
— Dead—cold and lifeless, taken down from the cross—wrapped in burial clothes—Entombed—no access to the world, confined to the walls of a stone casket…
God’s love for you and me took him to the grave.
How does Jesus being buried change the way you see Him? How God sees you?
Third essential truth of the Gospel of Jesus...
IV. JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD!
IV. JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD!
Resurrected, not resuscitated or revved.
The Holy Spirit filled a dead corpse, just as Jesus had brought back Lazarus from the dead. Only this time the grave clothes were removed — Jesus had risen! Death could not hold him!
The reason for Paul’s teaching…some followed untruth and did not fully believe
2 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.
Paul’s point—Jesus was dead, but he isn’t anymore. Jesus is alive and wanting to live in you and me. We do not follow the teaching of a dead prophet, but a living savior!
How does Jesus alive change how you live?
Last..the Gospel is Good news because…
V. THERE WERE WITNESSES!
V. THERE WERE WITNESSES!
(S9)
5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 He appeared to more than 500…7 then to James…all the apostles…8 then to me…
Paul says, if you don’t believe me ask them. Not just one or two but hundreds.
As Christians we anchor our faith in the eye witnesses…the Scriptures as our witnesses.
The heart of the gospel is that Jesus was seen alive!
(S10) — The Gospel
Jesus died (SINS)—Scriptures (ACCURATE)—Jesus (BURIED)—Jesus (ROSE)—Many saw him (ALIVE)
Do believe the Gospel?
Do you believe in...
III. Our IMPERATIVE to share it
III. Our IMPERATIVE to share it
— The Great Commission
Matthew 28:19-20
(S11) —
We are sent to GO with authority…into ALL the world…to Make disciples…to TEACH…and to be OBEDIENT to God’s will
This becomes easier when we believe on the Gospel of Jesus.
— Jesus DIED—Scriptures are ACCURATE—Jesus BURIED—Jesus ROSE—Many were WITNESSES
Challenge Questions
Do you believe in sin?
Do you believe Jesus died and rose from the dead?
Do you believe it was for our salvation?
Do you believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ
Do you believe the Gospel as Good News?
Evangelism Initiative
Starts by inviting (one person per week for a year)