July 1, 2018
Pastor Jeff Struecker
Sermon Notes
The Gospel is the good news that “Jesus saves sinners.” The overall plot of the Bible is the Gospel. The Gospel has Jesus as the hero of the story and his church as the bride in need of rescue.
The gospel story consists of four chapters:
• Chapter 1 – Creation
• Chapter 2 – The Fall
• Chapter 3 – Redemption
• Chapter 4 – Re-creation
The Gospel requires a response by all that hear it. The proper response to the Gospel is repentance and faith.
I. Understand the Gospel
Galatians 1:6-9
I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—7 not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling 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 what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! 9 As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!
II. Share the Gospel
Acts 16:29-34
The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. 33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. 34 He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had come to believe in God with his entire household.
III. Live the Gospel
Philippians 1:27-30
Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel, 28 not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your salvation—and this is from God. 29 For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.Romans 1:16
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.
Next Steps
• Today, I responded to the Gospel for the first time.
– I didn’t properly understand the Gospel before today.
+ I will live the Gospel this week.
Discussion Questions
- When did you understand the Gospel for the first time?
- What is the minimum someone needs to know in order to properly understand the Gospel?
- What role does doing good deeds for someone play in the Gospel?
- Reread Romans 1:16. Why does Paul list Jews and Greeks in this same verse?
- Have you ever heard anyone preach a “false gospel”? (If so, explain what was false.)
- Is it possible to believe the Gospel but not live the Gospel? (Explain your answer.)
- Pray for people to ask us about our faith because of the way that we live.
The post Reach Deeper: The Gospel – What It Is and Isn’t appeared first on Calvary Baptist Church.
