Advancing Gospel Bible Study

ADVANCING THE GOSPEL AMONG THE LOST

To advance the Gospel of Jesus and His Kingdom into the nations, through spiritual generations of laborers living and discipling among the lost. 1

What is the Gospel? (Please use only one sentence for your answer)

Again using only one sentence, what is not the gospel?

When you consider the people God used to bring you to Christ, are there words or actions that are memorable to you? How have you followed their example in your own evangelism?

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STUDY 1: THE GOSPEL What is the Gospel The Greek word translated “Gospel” (euangelion), appears 77 times in the New Testament. For each of the references given below, record your observations as they relate to the Gospel. Then use your observations to answer the following questions. a. b. c. d. e.

What is the Gospel? What certainties are connected with the Gospel? What other characteristics does the Gospel have? How does it affect me? Mankind? Believers? What am I to do with the Gospel?

Mark 1:1,14,15; 13:10; 16:15

Romans 1:14-16 & 2:16

1 Corinthians 15:1-8

Philippians 1:5,7,12,27; 2:22; 4:3,15

1 Thessalonians 1:5 & 2:2,4

2 Thessalonians 1:8

2 Timothy 1:8, 10 & 2:8

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The Gospel Communicated - Examples from Scripture Fill in the chart using the passages of Scripture given. John 3:1-21

John 4:1-42

Mark 7:24-30

Who was the messenger? Who was the audience? What is known about the audience? • Culture • Religion • View of God How was the Gospel communicated? What kind of posture did the messenger have towards the audience? What was communicated in the Gospel? How did the audience view themselves? How was sin addressed? Was the Gospel addressing shame or guilt? What kind of knowledge/ view of the Scriptures did the audience possess? Which aspects of God’s character were emphasized? Why? What barriers were there to the Gospel? How did the messenger use the Scriptures? What was the response to the message?

Acts 2:14-36

Acts 17:16-34

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Acts 25:23-26:32

Who was the messenger? Who was the audience? What is known about the audience? • Culture • Religion • View of God How was the Gospel communicated? What kind of posture did the messenger have towards the audience? What was communicated in the Gospel? How did the audience view themselves? How was sin addressed? Was the Gospel addressing shame or guilt? What kind of knowledge/ view of the Scriptures did the audience possess? Which aspects of God’s character were emphasized? Why? What barriers were there to the Gospel? How did the messenger use the Scriptures? What was the response to the message?

Pulling it Together Look over your discoveries from the examples in Scriptures 5

What patterns emerged?

What were some of the similarities in the way the Gospel was presented?

Why were there so many ways the Gospel was shared?

Does this reveal anything about God’s nature and character?

Talk about how some of these examples relate to the people we are reaching?

The Gospel Communicated – Today 6

Think about some of the people you rub shoulders with regularly. How would you tailor the presentation of the Gospel to them? Think about the example you studied from the Bible. How well do you know your audience? What are the known or perceived barriers to the Gospel? How would you use the Bible in sharing the Gospel of Jesus with them? What images from today’s culture can you tap into to help communicate the Gospel? Use the following list to get you started in thinking about how to bring Christ to a variety of people. • • • • • • • •

A student who is of a Hindu background Someone who is from a broken home and distrusts those who want to “love them” A student / professional whose aim is to be the top of whatever they do A woman who has been sexually abused A Muslim who is trying to follow his beliefs in a society that is suspicious of Islam Someone who is gay / lesbian. A student / professional who is highly involved in social environment, political causes Someone who has grown up in the church

Rebuilding bridges Look at the different method you are using to share the Gospel. Take the time to analyze its components and thoughts. Could you come up with another way to explain the Gospel to someone? Could you as a team develop a tool which is effective and speaks to the hearers of the particular culture you are in? Some thoughts as you work on this : We live in a culture which is becoming more non-literate. That is, we rely on visual media more so than the written word. How could you share the Gospel using IMAGES? In our hi-tech, hi-touch world, can sharing the love of Christ be done INTERACTIVELY? Can the Gospel be shared NONLINEARLY or NONSENSICALLY?

Conviction Capsule on the Gospel A belief is something you hold, a conviction is something that holds you. 7

a. My Definition In your own words define the Gospel (20 words or less)

b. I Believe Write at least five statements communicating what you believe and why (include Scripture).

c. If-Then Write at least five “if-then” statements that show how your walk with God and your life as a believer will reflect what you believe about the Gospel. (i.e: if I believe that God loves and forgives me, then I will love and forgive others.)

d. My Life Examples (Give two real life examples) My life has been consistent with this truth about the Gospel in that…

(Give two real life examples) My life has been inconsistent with this truth about the Gospel in that…

e. Application

f. Passing It On “I would communicate this truth to another by…”

STUDY 2 : THE PURITY OF THE GOSPEL Introduction 8

Paul and Barnabas set out on their first missionary journey in AD 46 or 47. Their journey lasted about 18 months and took them into regional cities of Galatia. In each city they preached the Gospel that God had revealed to Paul. There was no difference between Jew and Gentile. For both justification was by faith in Christ apart from the law.

Through Galatians Not everyone agreed with Paul’s understanding of the Gospel. Some men, probably from Jerusalem, retraced Paul and Barnabas’ route for the purpose of correcting Paul’s gospel by “completing it”. The letter to the Galatians is Paul’s reasoned, but also emotional response to their mission What is Paul’s emotional response to the Galatians? What does he have to say about those who were preaching after him? Galatians 1:6-9

What were they adding to Paul’s message? Galatians 2:14

Galatians 3:1-3

Galatians 4:10-11

Galatians 5:2-4

Those retracing Paul’s footsteps didn’t appear to reduce the deity of Christ, His death or resurrection. Why then do you think Paul was so stirred up?

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What would have been the effects on the Gentiles believers if they had continued to follow this other teaching? Galatians 4:3-10 Note: Paul uses the same Greek word in Galatians 4:3 & 9. It is the word “stoicheia” meaning the basic principles of this world. The same Greek word is used in Colossians 2:8,20

Galatians 5:1-6

What motivated these visiting teachers to do what they did? Galatians 4:17

Galatians 5:12-13

Summary The purity of the Gospel is under constant threat by those who seek to mix it with human rules and traditions. The Gentile world couldn’t understand the Gospel as long as it came wrapped up 10

in Jewish tradition. It’s the same today. Whenever we add to the Gospel, we subtract from its purity. When this happens it ceases to be a Gospel for all the nations.

Thinking it Through… for Yourself 1. What similarities do you see between the Galatians example and what you face today as you bring the Gospel to the people around you?

2. Do you see any similarities between the Galatians and yourself in terms of how you view, understand and apply the Gospel to your life?

3. What traditional forms, practices and rules do Christians tend to impose on unbelievers or new believers today? Which of these have you experienced most in your own life and ministry?

4. How should we balance grace and truth in communicating the Gospel?

5. What were the first century responses to the threat to the purity of the Gospel? Which of these could be applied today?

6. What are some 21st century threats to the purity of the Gospel? How might they be countered from the pages of Scriptures?

Thinking it Through … for your ministry 1. What are unbelievers seeing and feeling as they listen to the Gospel where you live and work? What are the positive and negative aspects to the “tone” of evangelism in 11

your ministry

2. What are some ways your ministry might be contaminating the purity of the Gospel in words or actions?

3. What are the entry points for the Gospel among the people groups to whom you minister?

4. What are the great truths of the Gospel? What must you be careful to communicate? Which of these truths do you tend to underemphasize or even ignore?

5. How are you currently presenting the Gospel? Are you neglecting or adding anything? If so why? How can you address that?

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