Proclaiming the "Good News"
Notes
Transcript
Handout
The Gospel!
The Gospel!
The good news that Jesus wants all to hear and uses us to speak it so all can hear it. We have a command to obey, this morning we are looking at the proclaiming the Good News.
(Great commission picture inserted here)
The great commission is not the great suggestion. It is not the commission for the apostles only, it was for the disciples too, and are we not all disciples of Jesus Christ? (expand on this 1-2 minutes)
Go! lets look at the command to start with (Mk16:15-16; Mt28:19-20)
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
and the Matthew version of the command to go!
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Go! The command is to go and it specific, preach the gospel, make disciples, baptize, teaching to observe all the commands.
Go! comes with a promise too, Jesus will be with you always!
(Great Commission picture inserted here again)
Go! Go with a purpose, serve others, share with others
The term “go” really is “as you are going” meaning that we are going to take what we have and go put it into action. As we go there are things we are to do as we go and proclaim the gospel, the good news that Jesus wants everyone to hear.
Comfort the afflicted, restore the fallen, to exercise humility, to show love, grace and offer mercy. We are to cloth the naked, feed the hungry, care for the widows and the the fatherless. Visit the prisoners.
As we go we are to be a shining light. The light of Christ in the midst of the darkness around us in this world.
When someone is commissioned with something they are given authority and responsibility. It is the great commission again, it is not the great suggestion.
Maybe I should give the definition of commission then we can move from there.
Commission (n) 1. An instruction, command or duty given to a person or group of people. 2. A group of people officially charged with a particular function.
(Transition): So a command with authority with specific instructions given. Now may we consider a couple of questions as we “go” today.
Are we proclaiming the true gospel?
What keeps us from proclaiming the gospel?
The mission, the commission of the disciples of Jesus is just as serious today as it was in the first century, where they were willing to be imprisoned, beaten, oh wait let me give you scripture.
The commission had some consequences (2Cor4:8-10; 2Cor11:23-27; Act5:40-42; Act14:5-7)
8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
Paul was speaking of the Apostles and then look what more he had to say
23 Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;
27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
But they were so serious about the gospel, they did not care about the consequences, they were according to Act5:40-42 beaten for it, commanded not to preach it and they went out and preached it regardless.
They were mistreated by both Jews and Gentiles for the gospel. But yet they did not stop preaching it.
5 And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers, to mistreat and to stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region;
7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.
The commission consequences accomplished God’s purpose (Act1:8, Act8:4-5)
God’s purpose was for the gospel to be proclaim in all the world according to Act1:8, so for that to happen, look this.
4 Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.
So the persecution of the church, the consequences of being a disciple did not slow the church it multiplied the church. It scattered the church so it could have a bigger impact.
(Transition) God wants to use us to impact the world. The world is impacted, changed, transformed by the Gospel, the Good News, so now that leads to a question we need to ask, that I asked previously.
What keeps us from proclaiming the gospel?
What keeps us from proclaiming the gospel?
Satan wants to keep us from proclaiming the gospel for we know it is the power of God unto salvation (Rom1:15-16). Do we even hinder ourselves at times? Here are some things to consider on the subject.
Are we ashamed (Lk9:26; Mk8:38; 1Cor1:18-25)?
(Are we ashamed picture inserted here)
When was the last time you shared the gospel with someone? Not just had a spiritual talk, but shared the Good News that Jesus wants all to hear?
Are we ashamed because we feel ill-equipped?
Are we ashamed because we think someone else can do it better?
Are we ashamed that we do not live perfectly up to God’s standards, morals? So then we don’t share the gospel?
Having said those may we look at a couple of scriptures
In the parallel to the slide on the screen now, and it its entirely look at this
38 “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Are we ashamed of the words of Jesus and the command of Jesus? There are dire consequences if we are.
18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.”
20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,
24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
According to Paul the gospel is foolish, but are we ashamed because we are worried about being foolish, looking foolish or being rejected?
The gospel is the power of God that can transform the world. Instead of the church transforming the world, Satan through the world is making the church look like the world. The world, or many in the world, consider religion a weakness, a crutch, and being a christian is foolish for there is no God, no heaven, no hell.
Many are leery to share the gospel, are ashamed of the gospel because of foolishness or rejection.
Are we more concerned about man or God (Gal1:10; Act5:29)
Gotta love what Paul said
10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
Hey I would not take the beatings, the imprisonments, the shipwrecks and ll the the like if I was ashamed. He was like Peter and the apostles and had the same thought.
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
Remember we are talking about the Great Commission the command. They took it serious, as should we.
(Gospel meeting picture inserted here)
Now come forward a time, when was the last time there was a true gospel meeting? You know where we invited all the unsaved, unchurched, fallen to come hear the gospel message to save their souls? Most these days should be called revivals to help revive the church and it is not about the unsaved reprobate soul. Are the souls of man still a priority for the church?
Just a little side note, while looking for the gospel meeting pictures it is interesting that only Church of Christ gospel meetings were coming up, but even with ours, are they true gospel meetings?
(Transition) I know some of this is pretty heavy, heart heavy stuff and can be negative and even discouraging, but don’t be discouraged for the gospel is what? Power of God unto salvation, it is the Good News for all mankind, to be taken to all creation. We have the honor, and the responsibility of carrying it to others!
Gospel: Power of God unto salvation!
Gospel: Power of God unto salvation!
We know it is the power of God unto salvation (Rom1:16). And it is, all that and more when you look into it.
(salvation-1 picture inserted here)
We are so familiar with the word salvation, but I want to put the definition before you.
Salvation (N) 1. Preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin or loss. 2. Deliverance from Sin and its consequences (believed by Christians to be by faith)
Salvation from our past sins (Isa59:2, Rom3:23, 6:23; 2The1:9)
Our iniquities, sins, had separated us from God (Isa59:2)
We were all guilty (Rom3:23)
We all had wages coming; the wages was death (Rom6:23) eternal separation from the presence of God (2The1:9).
Salvation from our current storms, trials (Jn16:33; Mt7:24-27, 1Cor10:13)
Jesus told the apostles they would have tribulation in this world (Jn16:33); now consider this
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.
What are we building our house, our salvation on? May it be on the solid ground, the the Rock!
13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
our Rock, our solid ground, our salvation (deliverance from harm, ruin or loss, from sin and its consequences) gives us a way of escape (salvation) from current temptations that we face in the flesh today.
For with God’s Word that brings faith (Rom10:17) that can save our souls we are able to weather the storms of this life, for our God is able to deliver us!
Salvation from future judgment (2Cor5:10; Rom5:8-9)
Salvation from future judgment, it is important that we understand this future judgment, in short look at
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
add to that
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
There is a demonstration of love, a promise of deliverance, but also the warning of wrath. For may we also remember God’s will is that all men come to repentance (2Pt3:9). He wants all to be heirs, to be His children
Salvation so that He calls us family (Heb2:11, 11:16, Mk3:33-35; Heb11:6)
Jesus spoke that those who keep his commands are family (Mk3:33-35)
He is not ashamed to call us brethren.
11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
Not ashamed to be called our God!
So, to be our God we have to know HE is God and He is the rewarder of those who believe in Him
6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Reward, is there a greater reward than salvation? I think we have covered more than just our redemption, salvation that took us out of the darkness.
The gospel we carry, the message we are entrusted with, equipped with, empowered with and commanded to share is for eternal salvation. It may not cure cancer, but it saves the eternal soul for eternal healing!
So the challenge today is the same challenge issued by Paul to Timothy
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,
(Invitation slide- power of God unto salvation picture)
Invitation - (invitation slide 2) song (prayer slide) prayer (exit slide)