1. What is the Gospel?
The gospel is “good news”
Good news that God Himself has come to rescue and renew all creation on our behalf! He has done this through the work of Jesus Christ.
Why? Because creation needs rescuing.
From what? Sin. Your sin and mine affects everything.
What’s the deal with sin?
Sin is living life “my way,” for my fame and glory, instead of living God’s way for God.
What does sin do? Sin breaks our relationship with God and messes up how we see all of life.
Where does sin start? At its core, sin is unbelief in God — how He is our highest good and provides what we need — so we go pursue those things in our own way.
Where does sin lead? At its end, sin is separation from God, resulting in all the penalty and effects of sin. Sin’s effect is breaking everything, while sin’s penalty is death itself.
What changes because of the gospel?
Look up the following references and record “what is now true because of Jesus”:
John 5:24
2 Corinthians 5:17
Romans 5:1
Romans 8:1-2
Ephesians 1:5
Ephesians 3:16-18
Colossians 3:1-4
1 John 4:7-12
Revelation 12:10-11
The Gospel is more than heaven & hell.
We usually talk about the gospel as getting out of hell and getting into heaven, but what if the Gospel is about that and more?
Past: the gospel has saved us from the penalty of sin
Present: the gospel is saving us from the power of sin
Future: the gospel will save us from the presence of sin
The gospel did not just happen…it is happening now! Because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, Jesus enables us to say “no” to the power and pull of sin in our lives now. We can begin to live the life we were always meant to live. And together, we can practice and grow in Gospel experience each day.
Questions to discuss
Grab a blank sheet of paper and write a few thoughts in response to these questions. When you gather as a GC, you can draw on these responses in your discussion.
If someone were you ask you the question, ‘What is the gospel?’ how would you answer them?
Have you ever shared the gospel with someone? (What has usually been the response)
Does your gospel son like “good news” to people? (If so, they would really want to hear it…)
What has kept you from sharing the gospel with someone? (Fear, clarity, pride, unbelief, apathy, too busy, etc.)
On a scale from 1 - 10, how would you rate your “fluency” in speaking and applying the gospel today?
Thoughts to engage
Grab a blank sheet of paper and write a few thoughts in response to these questions. These get more into your experience of the Gospel and may be something you can discuss with others in your GC.
Which of your past sins were dealt with at the cross?
Which of your present and future sins were forgiven at the cross too?
How does this change the way you view your sin?
How does this change the way you view God?
How does this change the way you view others?
What is the hardest part of the good news for you to believe personally?