August 2018
Upcoming 2018 Mission and Ministry Schedule
July 23-August 6: Colombia Mission Trip [Tuluá, Cartago, Armenia, Bogotá, National Preachers Conference in Santa Marta]
August 18-19: Iglesia de Cristo, Madill, Oklahoma
August 21-28: Peru Mission Trip (Lima, IBI, Los Pinos, Trujillo)
The 2018 Calendar is available on this site. I hope you can attend an event when I am in your area. Contact me for specific details of events listed or to schedule an event. A few open dates remain on the 2019 calendar.
Gospel-ing Today: "Good News-ing" Requires Sharing at Least Four Truths
I like the definition of "gospel" penned by Scot McKnight: "The gospel is the saving Story of Israel now lived out by Jesus, who lived, died, was buried, was raised, and was exalted to God's right hand, and who is now roaring out the message that someday the kingdom will come in all its glorious fury." (Scot McKnight, The King Jesus Gospel, 2016, p. 176).
Citing the book of Acts, McKnight delineates the major dimensions of the definition. Here they are:
Israel's story of salvation
The Lordship of Jesus
Summoning people to respond to Jesus (repent, place faith in Jesus, and be baptized)
The gospel saves and redeems (forgiveness, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and justification)
Read the book of Acts carefully, and you will see these four truths set forth again and again.
What does this have to do with us and our efforts in evangelism today?
Without doubt one must make clear that the Lordship of Jesus was demonstrated by his resurrection, so that Paul describes the "good news" as the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. But is that enough?
Based on the book of Acts, McKnight challenges us to recognize an essential dimension of the success of the early church-the first evangelists explained clearly how the story of Israel intertwined with the lordship of Jesus. Jesus, declared to be the Messiah, was the fulfillment and hope of Israel's past, present, and future. Jesus, shown to be Lord and Savior is the answer to human frustrations today. Only Jesus is our hope. To share the gospel effectively, one must understand the story of the person we want to share with. The Lordship of Jesus must connect to my personal story.
When Jesus is both Lord and the answer to the empty holes in my personal story, the summons to become like him and imitate him in his death, burial, and resurrection is meaningful. Faith, repentance that rejects former thinking and actions, baptism, and resurrection to newness make sense.
The gospel justifies, redeems, and saves. Forgiveness is made reality. Power for living is the result as God's Spirit comes to dwell in us to comfort, encourage, and plead our case.
Don't get caught with a partial gospel. Read the Bible carefully! The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is just history until it connects with my story, speaks to my life, and becomes the power of God for my salvation.
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The article can also be accessed and downloaded at: "Gospel-ing" Requires Sharing Four Truths
