The Priority of the Gospel

Last week we talked about this idea of Identity. How everything in the christian life is determined in how we see ourselves in light of God.

If seeing Christ exalted really was the most important thing in our lives, how would that change our priorities and perspective?

Steven Runge

Today we are going to see how understanding our Identity will give us the right priorities that lead to boldness in proclaiming Christ. The last verse in this passage is a bold statement made by Paul.

Romans 1:16 CSB

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.

This naturally leads us to couple of questions the first is this:

Is this true of me? Can I honestly say that I am not ashamed of the Gospel?

How can I gain such boldness in that this becomes true of me?

I believe that it comes down to one word, Priority.

I. The Right Priorities Produce Thankfulness for the Working of God.

Romans 1:8 CSB

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because the news of your faith is being reported in all the world.

Do you get excited when you hear that God is at work in the world? Does is thrill you to know that people are going from death to life, even people over seas that you have never met? In this passage Paul is writing to a group of people he has never met.

Yet in this passage we see that he is overwhelmed with Joy and gratitude that God is working in other places.

When the Gospel work is our priority, when kingdom work is our priority it even changes what thrills us.

Paul is not just happy about it, He wants desperately to be involved in it.

Romans 1:11 CSB

11 For I want very much to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you,

Paul is so excited, He’s doing everything he can to get to these new believers in Rome. This letter is evidence of that. I can’t get to you fast enough so, in the mean time I am going to right you.

When is the last times, you felt a true desperation to be involved in the work of God?

When you prioritize your relationship with Christ, his work becomes joy and you will be involved in it.

If Christ is your priority , then it will lead you to participating in the mission with Joy.

II. What you work for will reinforce your priorities.

In the 1800’s a movement that would later be known as the great missionary movement began.

The Haystack Prayer Meeting (1806)

The movement's inception is often traced to the Haystack Prayer Meeting in 1806 at Williams College in Massachusetts. During a rainstorm, five students—Samuel J. Mills, James Richards, Luther Rice, Samuel Nott, and Gordon Hall—took refuge under a haystack and consecrated themselves to foreign missions. This gathering is considered the birth of the American foreign missionary movement.

Samuel J. Mills: The Catalyst

Samuel J. Mills, a key figure in this movement, played a crucial role in organizing the Haystack Prayer Meeting and was instrumental in founding the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) in 1810. His leadership and vision were pivotal in mobilizing American Protestants for overseas missions.

Adoniram Judson: The First American Foreign Missionary

Adoniram Judson is often hailed as the "Father of American Missions." In 1812, he became the first American missionary to travel abroad for evangelical work, departing for India under the auspices of the ABCFM. His pioneering efforts set a precedent for future American missionaries.

The Student Volunteer Movement (SVM)

In 1886, the Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions was established by Dwight L. Moody. Under the leadership of John R. Mott, the SVM mobilized over 13,000 college graduates to serve as missionaries, significantly expanding the reach of American missionary efforts

While this movement is credited with the sending thousands of missionaries all over the world, what often isn’t talked about is the impact this movement had on the united states. The gospel begin to sweep through our nation as the priority and the heart cry of the churches began to be Gospel as any cost.

Somewhere in my lifetime there was a subtle shift from gospel at any cost to church building at any cost. Overtime this shift stripped us of our gospel urgency. Pastors and our denomination began to focus on the size of the organization instead of the impact of the mission.

This lead to the shift from telling to evangelize our neighbors to just invite them to church and the professionals will take care of the rest.

Recent studies reveal a notable decline in the number of Christians actively sharing their faith, highlighting a shift in evangelistic engagement over the past few decades.Chronicle

📊 Key Findings on Faith Sharing

Decline in Personal Evangelism: In 1993, 89% of Christians who had shared their faith agreed that every Christian has a responsibility to do so. By 2018, this number had dropped to 64%, indicating a 25-point decrease over 25 years. Barna Access

Perception of Evangelism Responsibility: The belief that evangelism is primarily the responsibility of the local church, rather than individual Christians, has increased from 10% in 1993 to 29% in 2018 among those who have had faith-sharing conversations. Barna Access

Actual Sharing Practices: A Barna Group study found that 55% of born-again Christians reported sharing their faith with a non-Christian in the past year, a figure that has remained relatively stable over the past decade. Barna Group

Desire vs. Action: While 89% of U.S. evangelicals express a desire to promote biblical truths among people they know, only 9% say they always share a biblically informed view when someone says something that doesn't align with Scripture. Lifeway Newsroom+1Lifeway Research+1

You see, the gospel urgency has slowly been fading over the last 35 years from the gospel at any cost to the gospel when I have time.

So now the enemy has the perfect way to make sure that the gospel when I have time turns into, I do not have time.

What does he do....he keeps you busy.

Busyness has a stranglehold on the mission. If I am honest, I think it is a real problem in our church.

Symptoms of being two busy.

The Gospel mission seldom enters into my thoughts through out the week. My mind is so consumed with what I must get done that I do not have the mental capacity to think about anything else.

I seldom have time for close relationships. Church family relationships with other believers is essential for your spiritual growth, encouragement, and correction. It is through relationships that our fire for the Lord and his mission is rekindled. It is for this reason that the early church devoted themselves to the fellowships of the saints.

Devoted doesn’t mean they spent an hour with believers on Sunday. It means they made the relationship a priority.

We are not meant to be so busy that we have do not have time for each other.

3. My kids extra curricular activities complete consume my free time.

Even secular studies suggest that the schedule that we are allowing our kids to keep is not healthy for us or for them. But it’s bigger than this. Now we as parents are reinforcing a culture of busyness for generations to come. The enemy is crafty. He knows how to ensure that the gospel is harldy a thought.

But look what Paul says in contrast about how he lives...

Romans 1:9 CSB

9 God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in telling the good news about his Son—that I constantly mention you,

I serve God with my spirit in telling the good news. The term “Serve with my spirit” means. He is serving with his innermost being. His heart is captured by his purpose. His purpose captures his time.

It’s like anything in life. What you devote your time and energy to is what you will care about. If you can be convinced that you are to busy to serve God, to be apart of his mission. You will find the mission barely enters your thoughts. You will find your heart shriveling toward the things of God. Your priorities will be like shifting sand. Even your prayers will be focused on making your life easier. Then when they are not answered your faith may begin to waiver. Your prayer life will dry up because you do not see the fruit of praying, Adding to your discontent with the Christian life.

But look how Paul’s priorities shape his prayer life.

III. Our priorities shape our prayer life

Romans 1:10 CSB

10 always asking in my prayers that if it is somehow in God’s will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you.

Romans 1:11–12 CSB

11 For I want very much to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, 12 that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

Paul’s prayer was not for success or for comfort but rather that he would have the opportunity to see the believers in Rome and minister in person. His desire was to strengthen them. To impart spiritual gifts.

This is not the same as the gifts of the spirit But rather what he is saying is that what he is bringing them is not a physical gift but rather instruction that would be a gift to them in their lives. God didn’t answer this request right away.

Romans 1:13 CSB

13 Now I don’t want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now) in order that I might have a fruitful ministry among you, just as I have had among the rest of the Gentiles.

but we can be thankful for that he did not. IF he had we may never have had the book of Romans. For Paul writing was the next best thing but for us it was absolutely necessary. It was the plan of God for us today.

IV. The Right Priorities give us boldness.

Romans 1:16 CSB

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.

When we recognize our purpose in light of our Identity we become bold for the Gospel.

Why is Paul not ashamed? because what we devote our time too we believe in.

Look what he says about the gospel.

It is the power of God...

He understands that Gospel has the power to change lives. It is not him that changes lives but rather the power of the gospel. His job is not go and change the world, his job is to point people to the power that changes the world.

It is the only way of salvation

It is open to anyone who will believe its message and accept it. It isn’t one of many options it is the only thing that can save.

When you understand your identity in light of Christ, when you understand your purpose in light of your salvation. when you understand the power of the Gospel to snatch souls from the Pitt of hell and despair. It will radically reshape your priorities.

Do you want boldness in your witness? Remember who you in Christ, Remember what you have been called too. Remember the power of the Gospel. And then devote yourself to it.

Then along with Paul you can say...

I am not ashamed