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Sharing The Gospel
Brian Mashburn
March 26, 2017
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The Gospel
The book of Acts chronicles the epidemic-like growth of Christ's church. The author, Luke, notes that God - in partnership with Jesus followers - powerfully continued what Jesus started. What did the church in Acts do that allowed them to join God so mightily? What was their part in this joint operation with God? What is ours?
Today we take note that they had a particular and specific message, one that they repeated over and over. They shared it incessantly, telling anyone that would listen.
It was a news report, if you will, that became known as "the gospel," or "good news." Luke notes in Acts 5:42 that, "day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news." Have we? Have you stopped?
These days, we are conditioned by what is called the "news cycle." After our ears are tickled by the most fantastical of stories, we are quickly directed to the next, sometimes literally within minutes. As such, we may need to relearn how to "stick with our story". THE story. The one that, in Acts at least, carries power with it.
When was the last time you shared the "gospel message" with someone? We've spent a lot of time this year talking about the Kingdom and making it "here on earth as it is in heaven," and this rightly mobilizes us to do many good works. But the good works are not the good news. The Kingdom is a "way," the Gospel is a "message".
Today we look at the message in Acts that changed the world. If we share it like they did, maybe we will see results like they did. "They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples." (14:21)
An easy reading plan through the exciting book of Acts is available for you in the foyer.