“Pictures of Christ: The Book of Ruth”
Ruth 1:1-5
The Book of Ruth
- during the Judges
- estimated to take place between the Judges Gideon and Tola
- Moabites were descendants of Lot
- attributed to Samuel but author unknown
Crisis creates conflict. Conflict calls for response.
Crisis moments in our life come from something outside of our control. Whether it is weather related or it comes from relationships with people, there are just some things we can not control. However, these crises seem to have a way of causing us great internal conflict. We lose sleep. We become anxious. Whatever we may do, the conflict remains and it calls for a response of some sort. Here is where people show their differences. It’s in how we respond. If it was just something happening outside our control it would be easy not to respond. But we are human. We care. We hurt. We want recognition. We want peace. We want stability. Crisis attacks these fundamental desires that we have. Crisis creates the conflict. The Conflict calls for your response. I have the tendency to handle most things fairly well, but when it all quiets down, I vent. Others seem to never get worked up. Others admit to being like a duck, calm on the surface but the feet are going a million miles and hour under water, while others completely lose their minds in situations.
Here’s what we fail to understand in the midst of crisis, conflict and our response, “How we respond often has ripple effects that go far beyond our limited understanding.” How often do we take the time to really think about how this may affect our family weeks, months and years down the road? I know I seldom do. Of course, with the big decisions we think about the outcome, but what about the daily mole-hills that we make into mountains? Do you stop and think about how your response will affect your family, coworkers or neighbors? Of course we don’t and we don’t because it is so much a part of everyday life it is almost like breathing. We don’t think about it. This is how the Book of Ruth begins. There is a crisis a conflict and a husbands response.
Crisis #1 - Famine
Famine causes Elimelech to move family to Moab. As a husband and a father I can understand the decision to move where food is. It is a decision that many of us would make I believe. I understand the conflict taking place. However, let’s look at the response more closely. Why move to Moab? Did the Israelites NOT, just move into the promised land? How quickly we forget the mercies and promises of God. Was all of Israel in famine or was Moab just closer than Galilee?
Crisis #2 – Death
Elimelech dies in Moab, leaving Naomi a widow with two sons. This presents a slightly different conflict. Should Naomi return home to Bethlehem, or remain in Moab? The sons can reclaim the family land and take care of each other if they return. The response is to marry her sons to two Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth and stay in Moab.
Crisis #3 – More Death
Mahlon and Chilion, Naomi’s two sons, die, leaving three widows. Naomi tells Orpah and Ruth to return to their mother’s houses, and god’s. She is returning to Bethlehem.
Human Crisis
The reality is we are an outcome of our decisions and responses. Seldom are we shaped by one lone individual crisis. They are often compounded one on top of another. Our decisions often clearly reveal that we are indeed selfish sinful people.
Human Conflict
Someone tells us of the sin that we have. They explain why it is we do the things we do and how we can overcome that and more importantly who overcame it for us and made it possible. Just like the people listening to Peter on the Day of Pentecost, we are cut to the heart and convicted of our sin. How do we mange this sin problem? Why are my view points changing? Why do I desire to learn more about this? What do I do?
Human Response
Do you ignore the sin problem? Do you do your best to change some of your decision making processes? Do you repent and believe the Gospel?
These first five verses just clearly demonstrate life outside the promise of God. God never intended for His people to leave the Promised Land, but they did anyways.
They also illustrate the whole of humanity. How we once lived in paradise, a land flowing with milk and honey. Sin took us out of that land. It took us to Moab and death. But praise God for the rest of the book. He provided a redeemer for us to bring us back into the country. I say us as a Gentile. Not just one nation, but all nations. God used two different Gentile women who had faith, and demonstrated His goodness and sovereignty.
Friends, what crises are causing conflict in your life today? How are you responding? Is your crisis sin? Is the Spirit calling you to repent and believe and follow Christ? How will you respond?
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Scripture for Tomorrow's Study
The Gospel Demonstrated
Lesson 3
The Gospel Convicts
Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Acts 2:36-37
The Gospel aided by the Holy Spirit Regenerates
5he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life Titus 3:5-7
The Gospel Produces Works
8The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. Titus 3:8
The Gospel Strengthens and gives Power
25Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages Romans 16:25
23if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. Colossians 1:23
5because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction, 1 Thessalonians 1:5
The Gospel is to be obeyed
We are to Repent and Believe the Gospel
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15
And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. Acts 15:7
17For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17
The Gospel Judges
14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15
16on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. Romans 2:16
17For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17
The Gospel Veiled
3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
Lesson 3
The Gospel Convicts
Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Acts 2:36-37
The Gospel aided by the Holy Spirit Regenerates
5he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life Titus 3:5-7
The Gospel Produces Works
8The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. Titus 3:8
The Gospel Strengthens and gives Power
25Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages Romans 16:25
23if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. Colossians 1:23
5because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction, 1 Thessalonians 1:5
The Gospel is to be obeyed
We are to Repent and Believe the Gospel
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15
And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. Acts 15:7
17For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17
The Gospel Judges
14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15
16on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. Romans 2:16
17For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17
The Gospel Veiled
3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Practical Christianity
Practical Christianity
Hebrews 13
July 11, 2010
It would seem that for many of us, we would agree on many of the many different themes and subjects that we have spent the last sixteen weeks going over. We began this journey through the book of Hebrews with a very important building block, Jesus was the Christ. He was begotten not made. Christ was the very radiance of the Glory of God and the exact imprint of His Nature. To know and understand God, all one has to do is look to Jesus. In Him, all the fullness of God dwells. To be mistaken about the person of Christ will more than likely cause a person to be mistaken about the Gospel, and most definitely then be mistaken about their own salvation. Jesus Christ is the Gospel!
Not only has God revealed Himself to mankind through Jesus, He has been speaking to mankind throughout all of history. He spoke through the prophets and fathers, through angels and spirits, and now through the Jesus Christ Himself. He is speaking a wonderful message of salvation to those who would not only listen but follow obediently the message; “God has been reconciling mankind to Himself through out all eternity. In order to do so, Christ died for sinners. Belief, repentance, confessing of sins, being born again brings us into a relationship with God the Father. Christ accomplished His task of taking on your sins as He died on the cross. He made the perfect sacrifice.
Hebrews also warns us of the consequences of not believing and following God. As the Israelites in the wilderness had evil, unbelieving hearts, and perished in the desert, so we must examine our own hearts and listen to the Spirit when the Spirit talks and leads. The author also shows us what following God looks like. He gives us a whole chapter devoted to men and women who believed God and followed in faith. They were no giants. They were simply ordinary sinful people through whom God chose to display His glory.
Last week we looked at the foundation we build on. I was very direct about the difficulty many of us have following Christ because of the materialism we all have been born and raised into. If you build on a foundation other than Christ, it will crumble. While many people will boast of preaching, teaching, or believing in the Gospel narrative found in the Bible, so many people do not live it. Their life more closely resembles that of the prosperity gospel messages that we sneer about and make fun of. But when we walk out the doors of our church we sprint off to the fun things this worldly life has to offer.
Hebrews ends with a very practical look at a Christian’s life. I believe that now he is assuming that the person reading this is in fact on the foundation of Christ and is trying to walk in faith. I would assume that also if I devoted the time to write this. Much like a sermon that I prepare, I assume someone will listen to it, think about it, and apply it. Especially since it is not based on my expertise or advanced knowledge, but rather on the grace and mercies of God.
There are two main verses that I want to deal with today. We’ll look at most of the others, but in the context of these two. They are Hebrews 13:16 and Hebrews 13:20-21. I’ll sum them up. “Do good! But don’t forget it is God who equips you to do good.” That sounds pretty easy doesn’t it?
1. How can I do good when my heart lies and is sinful? (Genesis 6:5, 8:21; Jeremiah 17:9)
2. How can I do good when Scripture tells me I can’t? (Romans 3:10-12, 7:21-22)
You can’t! But God can! That what Hebrews 13:20-21 is telling us. God has been at work from the beginning, from before your salvation until now and until it is finished in glory! Romans 7:23 asks “who can save me?” God does through Jesus! How can I do these works? If what Ephesians 2:10 is true, the works have been preordained for you to do. He has equipped you to do them! Now here’s the sticking point for many, “Don’t neglect to do them.” There’s that word again, neglect. So much of Hebrews has dealt with the consequences of drifting away from the message, neglecting salvation, falling away in unbelief, and again with neglecting to do good. What does this look like? We hear the message, check. We respond because heaven sounds good, check. We change our schedule around to fit in church, check. We read our Bibles everyday, well for the most part, check. We do good to all those around us, what’d you say? I thought this saved thing was just between me and God and Jesus?
Now we don’t want to confuse doing good as being works based. It is sometimes easy to preach Salvation by Grace and slip over to Sanctification by Works. That isn’t God’s plan nor is it the life we are to live. After all, isn’t he the one who equips us for the work? We are saved by grace. We are sanctified by grace. We work by grace. It is grace from beginning to end. We just need to understand that it is part of the process of being conformed to the image of Christ. Our desires become His desires. We leave the Book of Hebrews with Christ as our foundation and not a list of things to do, but rather a list of who we should interact with. There are six groups we are to interact with.
1. Leaders
If you would listen and apply the scripture spoken to you, how different would your life be spiritually? We are commanded to remember, consider, imitate, obey, and submit to them, all while letting them do it in joy and not groaning.
2. Faith Community
Your brothers and sisters in Christ…LOVE THEM!! Provide for them when in need. Fellowship with them.
3. Strangers, both saved and lost
Show hospitality. I understand we don’t have many people knocking on our doors these days asking to spend the night, but can you still show hospitality?
4. Societal Outcasts
Visit a jail lately? How about the nursing home? Ever help in addiction ministries? There are ways to minister to these people without a church vote.
5. Immediate Family
As fathers, our first and primary sphere of ministry is within our own homes, beginning with our wives and then our children. Your job is to pastor them whether you like it or not.
6. Myself
Am I lustful? Do I hold marriage in high esteem? Do I love money? Money is not a bad or evil thing, but the love of money is. Am I content? Do I rejoice with those who rejoice or do I think it should have been me who got the promotion or the raise or the new vehicle?
Keep your life free from these thoughts and actions.
Hebrews 13
July 11, 2010
It would seem that for many of us, we would agree on many of the many different themes and subjects that we have spent the last sixteen weeks going over. We began this journey through the book of Hebrews with a very important building block, Jesus was the Christ. He was begotten not made. Christ was the very radiance of the Glory of God and the exact imprint of His Nature. To know and understand God, all one has to do is look to Jesus. In Him, all the fullness of God dwells. To be mistaken about the person of Christ will more than likely cause a person to be mistaken about the Gospel, and most definitely then be mistaken about their own salvation. Jesus Christ is the Gospel!
Not only has God revealed Himself to mankind through Jesus, He has been speaking to mankind throughout all of history. He spoke through the prophets and fathers, through angels and spirits, and now through the Jesus Christ Himself. He is speaking a wonderful message of salvation to those who would not only listen but follow obediently the message; “God has been reconciling mankind to Himself through out all eternity. In order to do so, Christ died for sinners. Belief, repentance, confessing of sins, being born again brings us into a relationship with God the Father. Christ accomplished His task of taking on your sins as He died on the cross. He made the perfect sacrifice.
Hebrews also warns us of the consequences of not believing and following God. As the Israelites in the wilderness had evil, unbelieving hearts, and perished in the desert, so we must examine our own hearts and listen to the Spirit when the Spirit talks and leads. The author also shows us what following God looks like. He gives us a whole chapter devoted to men and women who believed God and followed in faith. They were no giants. They were simply ordinary sinful people through whom God chose to display His glory.
Last week we looked at the foundation we build on. I was very direct about the difficulty many of us have following Christ because of the materialism we all have been born and raised into. If you build on a foundation other than Christ, it will crumble. While many people will boast of preaching, teaching, or believing in the Gospel narrative found in the Bible, so many people do not live it. Their life more closely resembles that of the prosperity gospel messages that we sneer about and make fun of. But when we walk out the doors of our church we sprint off to the fun things this worldly life has to offer.
Hebrews ends with a very practical look at a Christian’s life. I believe that now he is assuming that the person reading this is in fact on the foundation of Christ and is trying to walk in faith. I would assume that also if I devoted the time to write this. Much like a sermon that I prepare, I assume someone will listen to it, think about it, and apply it. Especially since it is not based on my expertise or advanced knowledge, but rather on the grace and mercies of God.
There are two main verses that I want to deal with today. We’ll look at most of the others, but in the context of these two. They are Hebrews 13:16 and Hebrews 13:20-21. I’ll sum them up. “Do good! But don’t forget it is God who equips you to do good.” That sounds pretty easy doesn’t it?
1. How can I do good when my heart lies and is sinful? (Genesis 6:5, 8:21; Jeremiah 17:9)
2. How can I do good when Scripture tells me I can’t? (Romans 3:10-12, 7:21-22)
You can’t! But God can! That what Hebrews 13:20-21 is telling us. God has been at work from the beginning, from before your salvation until now and until it is finished in glory! Romans 7:23 asks “who can save me?” God does through Jesus! How can I do these works? If what Ephesians 2:10 is true, the works have been preordained for you to do. He has equipped you to do them! Now here’s the sticking point for many, “Don’t neglect to do them.” There’s that word again, neglect. So much of Hebrews has dealt with the consequences of drifting away from the message, neglecting salvation, falling away in unbelief, and again with neglecting to do good. What does this look like? We hear the message, check. We respond because heaven sounds good, check. We change our schedule around to fit in church, check. We read our Bibles everyday, well for the most part, check. We do good to all those around us, what’d you say? I thought this saved thing was just between me and God and Jesus?
Now we don’t want to confuse doing good as being works based. It is sometimes easy to preach Salvation by Grace and slip over to Sanctification by Works. That isn’t God’s plan nor is it the life we are to live. After all, isn’t he the one who equips us for the work? We are saved by grace. We are sanctified by grace. We work by grace. It is grace from beginning to end. We just need to understand that it is part of the process of being conformed to the image of Christ. Our desires become His desires. We leave the Book of Hebrews with Christ as our foundation and not a list of things to do, but rather a list of who we should interact with. There are six groups we are to interact with.
1. Leaders
If you would listen and apply the scripture spoken to you, how different would your life be spiritually? We are commanded to remember, consider, imitate, obey, and submit to them, all while letting them do it in joy and not groaning.
2. Faith Community
Your brothers and sisters in Christ…LOVE THEM!! Provide for them when in need. Fellowship with them.
3. Strangers, both saved and lost
Show hospitality. I understand we don’t have many people knocking on our doors these days asking to spend the night, but can you still show hospitality?
4. Societal Outcasts
Visit a jail lately? How about the nursing home? Ever help in addiction ministries? There are ways to minister to these people without a church vote.
5. Immediate Family
As fathers, our first and primary sphere of ministry is within our own homes, beginning with our wives and then our children. Your job is to pastor them whether you like it or not.
6. Myself
Am I lustful? Do I hold marriage in high esteem? Do I love money? Money is not a bad or evil thing, but the love of money is. Am I content? Do I rejoice with those who rejoice or do I think it should have been me who got the promotion or the raise or the new vehicle?
Keep your life free from these thoughts and actions.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Bible Study for Sunday
The Gospel Declared
“A Biblical Definition of the Gospel”
The Gospel Declared
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-6
Paul delivered the Gospel to the Church at Corinth. Peter preached the Gospel to the Gentiles as well. John the Baptist proclaimed the kingdom of heaven. Philip proclaimed the Gospel throughout Samaria. There is a common saying that says, “Preach the Gospel daily and if necessary, use words.” I understand the importance of holy living and in no way wish to diminish it, but, it is impossible to live a holy life without sharing Christ with others. As we go through these verses that deal with declaring the Gospel, I understand that most are geared towards salvation of the lost, but there is an effect of declaring the Gospel that many of us might not know. The Gospel also makes disciples and grows disciples. The Gospel will also advance and provide opportunities for itself when it is declared. It is these aspects of the Gospel we will focus on today.
The Gospel Declared for Repentance and Salvation
John the Baptist
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 3:1-2
Jesus Christ
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Mark 1:14
And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.
Mark 13:10
And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal...” 6And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
Luke 9:1-6
Philip
Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5Philip went down to the city£ of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.
Acts 8:4-5
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.
Acts 8:35
40But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Acts 8:40
Peter
Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. Acts 15:7-9
Paul
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:16
The Gospel Declared makes Disciples
Paul
When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22strengthening the souls of the disciples
Acts 14:21
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18
I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 9:23
if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation£ under heaven
Colossians 1:23
The Gospel Declared will Advance
I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians,£ both to the wise and to the foolish. 15So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome
Romans 1:14-15
and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, 21but as it is written,
£“Those who have never been told of him will see,
and those who have never heard will understand.”
Romans 15:20-21
We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, 16so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s area of influence.
2 Corinthians 10:15-16
The Gospel MUST be Declared
For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
1 Corinthians 9:16
What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
Matthew 10:27
“A Biblical Definition of the Gospel”
The Gospel Declared
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-6
Paul delivered the Gospel to the Church at Corinth. Peter preached the Gospel to the Gentiles as well. John the Baptist proclaimed the kingdom of heaven. Philip proclaimed the Gospel throughout Samaria. There is a common saying that says, “Preach the Gospel daily and if necessary, use words.” I understand the importance of holy living and in no way wish to diminish it, but, it is impossible to live a holy life without sharing Christ with others. As we go through these verses that deal with declaring the Gospel, I understand that most are geared towards salvation of the lost, but there is an effect of declaring the Gospel that many of us might not know. The Gospel also makes disciples and grows disciples. The Gospel will also advance and provide opportunities for itself when it is declared. It is these aspects of the Gospel we will focus on today.
The Gospel Declared for Repentance and Salvation
John the Baptist
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 3:1-2
Jesus Christ
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Mark 1:14
And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.
Mark 13:10
And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal...” 6And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
Luke 9:1-6
Philip
Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5Philip went down to the city£ of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.
Acts 8:4-5
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.
Acts 8:35
40But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Acts 8:40
Peter
Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. Acts 15:7-9
Paul
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:16
The Gospel Declared makes Disciples
Paul
When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22strengthening the souls of the disciples
Acts 14:21
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18
I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 9:23
if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation£ under heaven
Colossians 1:23
The Gospel Declared will Advance
I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians,£ both to the wise and to the foolish. 15So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome
Romans 1:14-15
and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, 21but as it is written,
£“Those who have never been told of him will see,
and those who have never heard will understand.”
Romans 15:20-21
We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, 16so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s area of influence.
2 Corinthians 10:15-16
The Gospel MUST be Declared
For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
1 Corinthians 9:16
What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
Matthew 10:27
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
July 4 Sermon Notes
Independence Day
Hebrews 12
The Importance of the Foundation
Hebrews 12
If one is to build upon a foundation that is weak or cracked, what happens to the building? It will eventually fall apart and crack as well. What if no foundation exists and we try to build? The structure will rot, sink, move, etc. Or, like we found out with the shed this week, it blows over. If there is a problem with the foundation there will always be an inherent flaw with the building. Always. The same is true for any man or woman. Yes, I know I said man and woman and not Christian. The reason is because far too many professing Christians build on foundations other than Christ. According to Scripture, salvation, forgiveness, justification, being born again only happen THROUGH JESUS CHRIST and Christ is the foundation. To build on something other than Christ is foolishness.
Also as we read earlier, this unshakeable kingdom, this city that has foundations as chapter 11:10 puts it, is not something that can be earned or obtained. It is purely a gift of God. That means that the foundation has already been poured. It is plumb. It is finished and you can not improve it. Listen to the psalmist as he writes,
“He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.”
Praise God! He draws draws us out of the pit and clay and sets our feet on the rock! It not something that you or I can do on our own. Only God can do that. But too many people try to build and add on to that which is perfect. They try to improve the foundation that Christ has made. Either they try to improve it or they try to add on to it and what they unknowingly do is cloud what the foundation really is or. Is the foundation Christ or is it something else. They have put Christ on the open market of competition for our attention, focus, desires, admiration, and our worship. We make idols of all sorts of things and build our lives around them. It doesn’t work that way! Most of us adults know what I’m talking about. If not, and especially for the high school and college students, let me explain this.
What so many of us do when we reach an important decision in life is we have a really good tendency to pray for God’s direction and will in our lives. So for some of us, we believe God is leading us to teaching, nursing, agriculture, engineering or what ever it may be. That’s good right? Of course it is! So what happens next? We start picking colleges. Hopefully we pray about this decision too. But we have several items and expectations that go into this decision. We get it narrowed down to 2-3 schools and base our decision on;
1. Affordability
2. Job Placement
3. Distance from home
4. Where I want to go
You pack up, head for college and for most, and spend the next 4-6 years of your life, living like there is no God. You bounce from party to party and from relationship to relationship. Which if we are honest just teach us how to practice divorce? But somehow in this pagan stupor, we find the person of our dreams, fall in love, graduate, get married, find a job, have a baby, and hopefully it is in this order. All the while being “saved” and living that American Dream.
For a few years this from the outside seems to go rather smoothly. You move into a nice house in a nice community. You may have even earned a promotion at work and now have several nice things, as well as debt coming out your ears. The kids are getting older and asking questions. You begin to realize that there are larger things in life than fun and the world your children are growing up in is really as bad and depraved as your pastor told you it was. You decide to find a church so your children can learn right and wrong and learn the stories about Jesus like you did as a child. You find a church where the music is upbeat. The preaching is good. Not too harsh and not too deep because you really don’t want to be told about sin and hell and God’s judgment. After all, you are a good person and you go to church. Life is good. Norman Rockwell couldn’t paint this picture.
More years go by and work has slowly become such a stress. Nothing is going right. The boss is coming down on you because he’s not taking the blame for it. The stress is starting to spill over into your marriage and even that is getting unbearable. Your trophy wife isn’t such a trophy after a few kids. Your knight in shining armor is really not. He would rather hang out at the golf course or lake because that is the only place where he thinks he can get a little peace. But the wife thinks the same when she is out with her friends for coffee or for the every other week girls night out. Well both these situations only make the real situation at home worse. Our life has been shaken, shaken to the core. So what we do is avoid it, dismiss it, deny it.
Finally one day, we come home, late again. All that remains in the house is your recliner, clubs, guns, tv, and a note that explains how she left everything that was important to you. Your wife and kids have left. Ladies, statistics here say that you have been looking for and have more than likely found a new Mr. Perfect to make you feel wanted. Maybe you didn’t go out intentionally looking, but Satan took advantage and tore your faith, your family, your life apart. It seems that this is what the American Dream has become.
A question remains for us to answer though. “How do I build upon the foundation of Christ and only Christ and not possessions and earthly treasures?”
Hebrews 12:1-2
1. Lay aside every weight
Not everything that hinders the Christian life is sinful
2. Lay aside sin
Turn away from sin and towards God
3. Run with endurance
It is not a sprint, but you can’t stand still neither
4. Run the race set before you
It is your race, not mine. It is your race, not your parents.
5. Look to Jesus with joy
Objection
So you’re saying you don’t want me to have nice things or a career? No. God gives us these things in order to bless others. But have you allowed these possessions to become your God? Are they your idol?
What do you have that can’t be taken away? The only thing that can’t be taken away is Christ! Let’s look closely at Esau in verses 15-17.
Esau
- bitter
- troubled
- defiled
- sexually immoral (married Canaanite)
- unholy
- rejected
How many of us would look at Esau, and if we were Esau, we would blame Jacob? We’re good at that aren’t we? After all, it’s never our fault. Now here I do proceed with caution. Have you considered that in your life, the troubles and problems are not someone else’s fault? That maybe this battle isn’t against flesh or even powers and principalities? Maybe, it is God trying to get your attention? That’s what verses 3-14 are telling us. Wake up!! Pay attention to Christ!!! Look to Him!!! Friend you just might be being disciplined by God to bring you to repentance and if you don’t wake up, you could end up just like Esau, who found no chance to repent, even though he sought it with tears. Can I ask you something? What are we supposed to do with that verse? It’s literally telling us that Esau sought repentance, to the point of tears! And was rejected. Bitter. Troubled. Defiled. Sexually immoral. Unholy. Rejected.
Many of us feel we are being attacked and tempted. We are. But unlike in verse 4, we are not in danger of physical harm for our faith, you are in harm’s way because you have plenty. Many of us DO have storehouses of grain and treasurers. You are in danger because of wealth, things, distinction and honor, the American Dream. What do you have that can’t be taken away? The fact is, it can all be taken away. What, or who, is your foundation?
Are you willing to reclaim your faith from possessions and materialism? What does that look like? It is the;
- Nursing student who keeps her eyes with joy on Christ as she goes through college because she is going to go overseas to care for the sick in India. She doesn’t put obstacles in her way. She removes them.
- Teacher who leaves the public school system, sells all his possessions in order to go to a former Soviet country to teach orphans science and math.
- Heavy equipment operator who goes to Africa to build roads.
- Construction worker who find and organization where he can go build hospitals and schools in the name of Christ.
- Farmer who teaches others in a famine stricken land about crop rotation and conservation techniques.
- The family who isn’t called to go, but decides to cut out unnecessary expenses to give more to their local church. That church gives faithfully to the co-operative program. The co-operative program funds each of the people who went and took care of needs in countries that go without.
- The child who grows up knowing there is no greater call in life than to be pulled out of the clay and set on the rock of Christ. And because God is worthy of glory, honor and praise, he goes to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ to a people who have never heard.
This kingdom, can not be shaken.
Hebrews 12
The Importance of the Foundation
Hebrews 12
If one is to build upon a foundation that is weak or cracked, what happens to the building? It will eventually fall apart and crack as well. What if no foundation exists and we try to build? The structure will rot, sink, move, etc. Or, like we found out with the shed this week, it blows over. If there is a problem with the foundation there will always be an inherent flaw with the building. Always. The same is true for any man or woman. Yes, I know I said man and woman and not Christian. The reason is because far too many professing Christians build on foundations other than Christ. According to Scripture, salvation, forgiveness, justification, being born again only happen THROUGH JESUS CHRIST and Christ is the foundation. To build on something other than Christ is foolishness.
Also as we read earlier, this unshakeable kingdom, this city that has foundations as chapter 11:10 puts it, is not something that can be earned or obtained. It is purely a gift of God. That means that the foundation has already been poured. It is plumb. It is finished and you can not improve it. Listen to the psalmist as he writes,
“He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.”
Praise God! He draws draws us out of the pit and clay and sets our feet on the rock! It not something that you or I can do on our own. Only God can do that. But too many people try to build and add on to that which is perfect. They try to improve the foundation that Christ has made. Either they try to improve it or they try to add on to it and what they unknowingly do is cloud what the foundation really is or. Is the foundation Christ or is it something else. They have put Christ on the open market of competition for our attention, focus, desires, admiration, and our worship. We make idols of all sorts of things and build our lives around them. It doesn’t work that way! Most of us adults know what I’m talking about. If not, and especially for the high school and college students, let me explain this.
What so many of us do when we reach an important decision in life is we have a really good tendency to pray for God’s direction and will in our lives. So for some of us, we believe God is leading us to teaching, nursing, agriculture, engineering or what ever it may be. That’s good right? Of course it is! So what happens next? We start picking colleges. Hopefully we pray about this decision too. But we have several items and expectations that go into this decision. We get it narrowed down to 2-3 schools and base our decision on;
1. Affordability
2. Job Placement
3. Distance from home
4. Where I want to go
You pack up, head for college and for most, and spend the next 4-6 years of your life, living like there is no God. You bounce from party to party and from relationship to relationship. Which if we are honest just teach us how to practice divorce? But somehow in this pagan stupor, we find the person of our dreams, fall in love, graduate, get married, find a job, have a baby, and hopefully it is in this order. All the while being “saved” and living that American Dream.
For a few years this from the outside seems to go rather smoothly. You move into a nice house in a nice community. You may have even earned a promotion at work and now have several nice things, as well as debt coming out your ears. The kids are getting older and asking questions. You begin to realize that there are larger things in life than fun and the world your children are growing up in is really as bad and depraved as your pastor told you it was. You decide to find a church so your children can learn right and wrong and learn the stories about Jesus like you did as a child. You find a church where the music is upbeat. The preaching is good. Not too harsh and not too deep because you really don’t want to be told about sin and hell and God’s judgment. After all, you are a good person and you go to church. Life is good. Norman Rockwell couldn’t paint this picture.
More years go by and work has slowly become such a stress. Nothing is going right. The boss is coming down on you because he’s not taking the blame for it. The stress is starting to spill over into your marriage and even that is getting unbearable. Your trophy wife isn’t such a trophy after a few kids. Your knight in shining armor is really not. He would rather hang out at the golf course or lake because that is the only place where he thinks he can get a little peace. But the wife thinks the same when she is out with her friends for coffee or for the every other week girls night out. Well both these situations only make the real situation at home worse. Our life has been shaken, shaken to the core. So what we do is avoid it, dismiss it, deny it.
Finally one day, we come home, late again. All that remains in the house is your recliner, clubs, guns, tv, and a note that explains how she left everything that was important to you. Your wife and kids have left. Ladies, statistics here say that you have been looking for and have more than likely found a new Mr. Perfect to make you feel wanted. Maybe you didn’t go out intentionally looking, but Satan took advantage and tore your faith, your family, your life apart. It seems that this is what the American Dream has become.
A question remains for us to answer though. “How do I build upon the foundation of Christ and only Christ and not possessions and earthly treasures?”
Hebrews 12:1-2
1. Lay aside every weight
Not everything that hinders the Christian life is sinful
2. Lay aside sin
Turn away from sin and towards God
3. Run with endurance
It is not a sprint, but you can’t stand still neither
4. Run the race set before you
It is your race, not mine. It is your race, not your parents.
5. Look to Jesus with joy
Objection
So you’re saying you don’t want me to have nice things or a career? No. God gives us these things in order to bless others. But have you allowed these possessions to become your God? Are they your idol?
What do you have that can’t be taken away? The only thing that can’t be taken away is Christ! Let’s look closely at Esau in verses 15-17.
Esau
- bitter
- troubled
- defiled
- sexually immoral (married Canaanite)
- unholy
- rejected
How many of us would look at Esau, and if we were Esau, we would blame Jacob? We’re good at that aren’t we? After all, it’s never our fault. Now here I do proceed with caution. Have you considered that in your life, the troubles and problems are not someone else’s fault? That maybe this battle isn’t against flesh or even powers and principalities? Maybe, it is God trying to get your attention? That’s what verses 3-14 are telling us. Wake up!! Pay attention to Christ!!! Look to Him!!! Friend you just might be being disciplined by God to bring you to repentance and if you don’t wake up, you could end up just like Esau, who found no chance to repent, even though he sought it with tears. Can I ask you something? What are we supposed to do with that verse? It’s literally telling us that Esau sought repentance, to the point of tears! And was rejected. Bitter. Troubled. Defiled. Sexually immoral. Unholy. Rejected.
Many of us feel we are being attacked and tempted. We are. But unlike in verse 4, we are not in danger of physical harm for our faith, you are in harm’s way because you have plenty. Many of us DO have storehouses of grain and treasurers. You are in danger because of wealth, things, distinction and honor, the American Dream. What do you have that can’t be taken away? The fact is, it can all be taken away. What, or who, is your foundation?
Are you willing to reclaim your faith from possessions and materialism? What does that look like? It is the;
- Nursing student who keeps her eyes with joy on Christ as she goes through college because she is going to go overseas to care for the sick in India. She doesn’t put obstacles in her way. She removes them.
- Teacher who leaves the public school system, sells all his possessions in order to go to a former Soviet country to teach orphans science and math.
- Heavy equipment operator who goes to Africa to build roads.
- Construction worker who find and organization where he can go build hospitals and schools in the name of Christ.
- Farmer who teaches others in a famine stricken land about crop rotation and conservation techniques.
- The family who isn’t called to go, but decides to cut out unnecessary expenses to give more to their local church. That church gives faithfully to the co-operative program. The co-operative program funds each of the people who went and took care of needs in countries that go without.
- The child who grows up knowing there is no greater call in life than to be pulled out of the clay and set on the rock of Christ. And because God is worthy of glory, honor and praise, he goes to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ to a people who have never heard.
This kingdom, can not be shaken.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
The Gospel
We are beginning a multi-week study on the Gospel. I hope to show where some definitions are wrong, where some fall short, and most importantly, what the Bible says about the Gospel. We want the truth about the Gospel. There are 94 passages that mention the Gospel. Most just simply say the "gospel" and don't define it which is where most people are today. We refer to the Gospel but can we define it? We will begin with a passage that actually defines and says "This is the Gospel!" While there are many other verses that can be used to support the study, for the sake of the time we have in class, the verses in the outline are what I have chosen. It is a benefit of being the one teaching. I hope and pray that you will just use this as a starting point. Use your Bible and look up other passages and deepen your understanding on this most crucial aspect of a Christian's life.
The Gospel Defined
Lesson 1
“A Biblical and Systematic Definition of the Gospel”
The Gospel Defined
While there are many different ideas about what the Gospel is, Biblically there is really only one. 1 Corinthians 15:3-6 gives the clearest explanation. It says;
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ for our sins died in accordance with the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.”
What does this passage mean? If someone were to ask you what all this Gospel talk is about, how would you answer? (I’m assuming you talk about Jesus and the Gospel, especially outside the church.) Let’s break down this passage and be able to answer this question.
The Gospel is Salvation through Jesus Christ
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (ESV)
For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Thess 5:9 (ESV)
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, Heb 5:7-9 (ESV)
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory 2 Tim 2:10 (ESV)
Why through Christ?
The Gospel is Christ Died for our Sins
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly Romans 5:6 (ESV)
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (ESV)
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died— Romans 8:34 (ESV)
For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living
Romans 14:9 (ESV)
What are the implications of Christ’s death?
The Gospel is Christ brings forgiveness of Sins
for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matt 26:28 (ESV)
to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,
Luke 1:77 (ESV)
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,
Acts 2:38 (ESV)
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,
Acts 2:38 (ESV)
How is forgiveness possible?
The Gospel is the testified Resurrection of Christ from death
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26 (ESV)
he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ,
Acts 2:31 (ESV)
And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
Acts 4:33 (ESV)
having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.
Acts 24:15 (ESV)
Are the resurrection testimonies reliable?
The Gospel is in accordance with Scriptures
I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets
Acts 24:14 (ESV)
But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”
Matt 26:56 (ESV)
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself
Luke 24:27 (ESV)
for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
Acts 18:28 (ESV)
This is a very precise, systematic definition of the Gospel. Through out the gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the Gospel is also referred to as the “Kingdom” and the “kingdom of God or heaven.” Some might argue that they are separate, but what you see is that the Gospel is directly tied to the kingdom and in some instances gospel and kingdom are used interchangeably. A very broad definition of the Gospel is that of John 3:16. While broad definitions are not necessarily bad, we must remember that we at some point must be very specific in our delivery of the Gospel. Next week we will look at another aspect of the Gospel found in 1 Corinthians 15:3-6, the Gospel is delivered. We will call it the Gospel Declared.
The Gospel Defined
Lesson 1
“A Biblical and Systematic Definition of the Gospel”
The Gospel Defined
While there are many different ideas about what the Gospel is, Biblically there is really only one. 1 Corinthians 15:3-6 gives the clearest explanation. It says;
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ for our sins died in accordance with the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.”
What does this passage mean? If someone were to ask you what all this Gospel talk is about, how would you answer? (I’m assuming you talk about Jesus and the Gospel, especially outside the church.) Let’s break down this passage and be able to answer this question.
The Gospel is Salvation through Jesus Christ
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (ESV)
For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Thess 5:9 (ESV)
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, Heb 5:7-9 (ESV)
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory 2 Tim 2:10 (ESV)
Why through Christ?
The Gospel is Christ Died for our Sins
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly Romans 5:6 (ESV)
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (ESV)
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died— Romans 8:34 (ESV)
For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living
Romans 14:9 (ESV)
What are the implications of Christ’s death?
The Gospel is Christ brings forgiveness of Sins
for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matt 26:28 (ESV)
to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,
Luke 1:77 (ESV)
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,
Acts 2:38 (ESV)
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,
Acts 2:38 (ESV)
How is forgiveness possible?
The Gospel is the testified Resurrection of Christ from death
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26 (ESV)
he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ,
Acts 2:31 (ESV)
And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
Acts 4:33 (ESV)
having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.
Acts 24:15 (ESV)
Are the resurrection testimonies reliable?
The Gospel is in accordance with Scriptures
I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets
Acts 24:14 (ESV)
But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.”
Matt 26:56 (ESV)
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself
Luke 24:27 (ESV)
for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
Acts 18:28 (ESV)
This is a very precise, systematic definition of the Gospel. Through out the gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the Gospel is also referred to as the “Kingdom” and the “kingdom of God or heaven.” Some might argue that they are separate, but what you see is that the Gospel is directly tied to the kingdom and in some instances gospel and kingdom are used interchangeably. A very broad definition of the Gospel is that of John 3:16. While broad definitions are not necessarily bad, we must remember that we at some point must be very specific in our delivery of the Gospel. Next week we will look at another aspect of the Gospel found in 1 Corinthians 15:3-6, the Gospel is delivered. We will call it the Gospel Declared.
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