Gospel Flourishing
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· 6 viewsA church that others can be thanful for and that glorifies God is one who knows and grows in its Gospel understandings and implications.
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Gospel Flourishing Churches know the true Gospel.
Gospel Flourishing Churches know the true Gospel.
Verse 3; 6b
That we are saved by grace, through faith in the finished work of Christ
That our greatest boast is in the cross of Christ and not in our own merit.
That the life of Jesus is just as important as His death and resurrection.
Many Christians emphasize the death and resurrection of Christ and it is right to do so. But we forget that to be the law fulfilling, perfect substitutionary sacrifice, Jesus had to live a perfect life.
We get no righteousness if Christ has no righteousness.
Gospel Flourishing Churches love all sorts of people.
it is the word of truth that is heard, received, and held deep within the heart.
“Thinking I deserve heaven is a sure sign I have no understanding of the Gospel.” -pastor and theologian, Sinclair Ferguson
In his book the Unsaved Christian, Pastor Dean Inserra asserts that much of what goes for true Gospel knowledge is more Cultural Christianity or mental assent to ideas.
“Cultural Christianity admires Jesus, but doesn’t really think He is needed, except ‘take the wheel’ in a moment of crisis. -Dean Inserra
Gospel Flourishing Churches love all sorts of people.
Gospel Flourishing Churches love all sorts of people.
Verse 4
A church that others can be thankful for loves lots of different types of people.
Different ethnicities
Different socio-economic groups
This is what marked the early church was this radical others centered nature of how they cared for people that most others shunned.
This is what Jesus wants for us today.
John Macarthur:
“We show godly love to someone when we sacrifice ourselves to meet that person’s needs.”
Not that we have strong feelings for every person in or out of the church, but that we show interest and real care for each other.
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Churches that are marked by love for each other are winsome to visitors and to outsiders.
In His book Everybody Always, lawyer and Christian advocate Bob Goff argues that Christians should love all people, even the difficult or different ones.
He calls this “becoming love in a world full of setbacks and difficult people.”
This is a huge challenge if we take it seriously. Jesus said our love for each other is proof of the Gospel’s power. He also said we are to love our enemies and pray for those that persecute us.
Pastor John Piper, looking at the greatest commandment in Matthew 22 says this,
“The Law and the Prophets are hanging on-depending on-something before them, namely, God’s passion that this world, this history of humankind, be a world of love to God and radical, other-oriented love to each other.”
What comes to your mind when you think of the people here at Redeemer? Are you thankful for the love you experience and get to share with others?
People may argue against our worldview and our theology but they cannot argue against real love for neighbor.
Application: we will have tremendous opportunities in our new church home and even now to love those that aren’t just like us.
Gospel Flourishing Churches grow in their fruitfulness.
Gospel Flourishing Churches grow in their fruitfulness.
Verse 6a & c
Paul has heard about this church while he is in chains and the report is not perfect but awesome: the people are growing even to this day.
They are bearing fruit and increasing!
And it is all rooted in their initial understanding of the Gospel and their ongoing, growing understanding of the Gospel.
Peter would call this growing in the grace and knowledge of God.
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
So just as churches back then were growing in their personal, corporate, and outward focused growth, so is the church today to grow.
We grow the same way we came to trust Jesus. Paul would go on in to say just as you receive Christ Jesus, so walk in him.
We are saved by grace through faith and we grow by grace through faith.
We are saved by grace through faith and we grow by grace through faith.
It is in reflecting on and soaking our hearts in the Gospel that we are focusing on Jesus, His cross, and His resurrection. This is why Paul would say that the Gospel has past, present, and future affects on God’s people.
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
It is in this remembrance that we see Jesus more clearly and are stirred to greater affection for Him and God’s glory and grace. We become very thankful people when we remember well.
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
Gospel Flourishing Churches grow in their witness.
Gospel Flourishing Churches grow in their witness.
Verse 6b
This is the other side of the coin for personal growth in grace: that we would be helping others know and grow in grace as well!
As we have heard the last couple of weeks, it is God’s very heart as well as our charge to seek out those that don’t know and trust Jesus and celebrate God’s grace when their eyes are opened by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel.
Flourishing churches not only give to help the Gospel spread, they are a part of the work themselves.
http://www.life.explo.red
We are called to go outside the camp and suffer just like Jesus did.
Part of that suffering is enduring what people say or think about you when you share the Gospel.
Another part is how we live winsomely in the world may be wise but to many, they will reject even the way we live as foolishness.
For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.
Where is outside the camp for you? Is your life marked more by comfort and ease or building relationships with unchurched folks to love them and share Christ with them?
This does not mean that you have to be preachy or tell everyone in the grocery store about Jesus. But as God gives you opportunity and you are praying the 3 Open Prayer, you may just find more and more opportunities in the places you already live, work, and play.
3 Open Prayer: pray that
God would open hearts
God would open doors of opportunity
God would open your mouth