The Story of the Gospel

Second Kings, chapter 7, tells the story of four Hebrew lepers who sat at the entrance of the city of Samaria. Syrian soldiers had camped around the city, and God’s people within the city were dying from starvation. One of the lepers suggested that they go to the camp of the Syrians because it would not matter if the enemy killed them, since they were dying of starvation anyway. Considering their leprosy, they didn’t have much to lose. When the four arrived near the camp of the Syrians, they discovered that their enemies had fled, leaving behind all their food and much more. The lepers devoured as much as they wanted, and then one said they needed to go tell their fellow Israelites what they had found. All of God’s people soon began to celebrate because they had found food and the Syrian enemies had dispersed in fear. We have the good news of the gospel to share with others. Many times we may be like the four lepers, delaying or hesitating to tell the story, but God’s love constrains us to share it.

1. Isaiah 53:1–6.

53 Who has believed what he has heard from us?

And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

2  For he grew up before him like a young plant,

and like a root out of dry ground;

he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,

and no beauty that we should desire him.

3  He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;

and as one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4  Surely he has borne our griefs

and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken,

smitten by God, and afflicted.

5  But he was pierced for our transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

and with his wounds we are healed.

6  All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have turned—every one—to his own way;

and the LORD has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter

and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,

so he opens not his mouth.

33  In his humiliation justice was denied him.

Who can describe his generation?

For his life is taken away from the earth.”

Acts 8:26–40 where Philip witnesses to the Ethiopian eunuch.

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 8:26–40). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

2. Matthew 4:23–25 23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

Where did Jesus begin His ministry?

What is the gospel of the kingdom of heaven?

What kind of work is involved in gospel proclamation?

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mt 4:23–25). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

3. Luke 2:8–11 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Why did shepherds near Bethlehem become filled with fear?

What did an angel say to them?

Who is the world’s only Savior and what is His mission?

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Lk 2:8–12). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

4. Romans 1:16. The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

16 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. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

How did Paul show that he was not ashamed of the gospel?

What is the gospel?

Who is included or excluded in the good news of Jesus?

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ro 1:16–17). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

5. 1 Corinthians 9:14 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

God ordains that those who preach the gospel should live by support from the church. What if a church cannot support full-time workers?

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Co 9:14). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

6. 1 Corinthians 15:1–5 15 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

What does the gospel do for the believer? What three basic truths compose the gospel? Name a few who first saw the resurrected Christ.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Co 15:1–5). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

7. Galatians 1:6–8

English Standard Version Chapter 1

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

Even today people sometimes leave the gospel they have been taught and seek another “gospel.” How is truth sometimes diluted? Why do some add to or change God’s Word?

What does God say about those who preach another gospel?

8. Ephesians 6:19–20 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

The mystery of the gospel is that God wants to save everyone. How did Paul share the gospel?

Did Paul have more reason to fear sharing the good news than we do today?

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 6:19–20). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

9. Philippians 1:12 The Advance of the Gospel

12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,

What is Paul referring to that caused the furtherance of the gospel?

How can bad experiences sometimes be used to advance the gospel?

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Php 1:12). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

10. Revelation 14:6 6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.

What did the angel in this vision carry?

Why is the gospel referred to as eternal?

Where is the gospel to be preached? What are we doing to make this happen?

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Re 14:6). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles

Taylor, Preston A.. 102 Fascinating Bible Studies: For Personal or Group Use (pp. 77-78). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.