Tag Archives: gospel

In Christ Alone

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I’ve never been one for blogging song lyrics, but the gospel message is all over these verses.  In Christ Alone  (Keith Getty, Stuart Townsend) is one of my favorite songs that any Christian artist has ever produced.

In Christ Alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song.
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, and strivings cease.
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ Alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love, and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save.
‘Til on the cross as Jesus died
the wrath of God was satisfied.
For every sin on him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live. Continue reading →

Immanuel, God With Us

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jesus-in-mangerIsaiah prophesied of the coming Messiah, saying that a virgin would conceive and have a child, and his name would be called Immanuel.  When Matthew quotes Isaiah he adds that Immanuel means “God with us.”  That’s the true meaning of Christmas.

I recently wrote that when we could not come to God, he came to us.  In Isaiah chapter nine he writes “His name shall be called Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  If the baby in the manger is anything other than God with us, you’re not understanding the full implication of Christ’s birth. Continue reading →

Total Depravity/Gospel Sermon

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This video well illustrates the point that it is our very nature to be evil.  He offers loads of scripture to back his claims.  Don’t give up on it too early; hang in there, it ends with a presentation of the Gospel.  They give you all of the bad news first, but the good news is in there.

Vodpod videos no longer available.  

Why Should Christians Hear the Gospel?

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jesusWhen Jesus preached his first sermon, it was a simple message of “Repent, and believe the gospel.”  (Mark 1:14-15)  It was obviously an invitation to the lost; Jesus the evangelist inviting souls to get saved.  So the question is, why do Christians need to keep hearing the gospel?  Continue reading →

It’s Hard to Find a Good Eutychus Sermon

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eutychusWhen’s the last time you heard a good sermon on Eutychus?  Okay Bible Trivia fans, do you even know Eutychus?  He’s the guy in Acts chapter 20 that falls from a third story window after falling asleep while Paul is speaking.  Now you know. 

I have heard preachers use this before, but its been a while.  I was a kid.  I don’t remember if that was the sermon text, or just something used to make a point.  I listened to a small-town Baptist preacher make a 25 minute sermon out of it yesterday. Continue reading →

The Greatest Commandment

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In the Old Testament, God gave Moses the Law so that the Hebrews could be His people and He could be their God.  Most people are familiar with the 10 Commandments, but there were many others.  You can read page after page in Leviticus and Deuteronomy about what to do if your bull accidentally kills one of your neighbors sheep and other such unlikely events.  Many laws were simply about calling the Hebrews out to be different from the culture they lived in.  Every now and then, some well-meaning Bible teacher wanders into the Levitical law and comes out preaching a sermon about how God does not want us to eat catfish.  Some people make the argument that it’s all impossible to understand, and that we could never keep all of the law.  That conclusion would be exactly the correct one to reach. Continue reading →

The Importance of the Gospel in the New Teastament

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Paul wrote to the Galatians how astonished he was that they so quickly departed from the gospel that they were taught.  Paul wrote to the Corinthian church that he wanted them to only know Christ and him crucified.  Paul praised the church at Philippi for being partners with him in the gospel.  And in what I think is the most obvious lesson of the importance of the gospel, in Mark chp. 1 Jesus preaches his first sermon, telling people to repent and believe the gospel. 

Gal 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble 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 the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

1 Cor. 2:1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Phil. 1:3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

Mark 1:14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Jesus himself gave the example: the gospel is the most important thing that the world needs to hear.  His earthly ministry was very short, and he had no time to waste.  But in his very first sermon he preached the gospel (Greek for “good news” by the way).  Recall the words of the Great Commission: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”  His first and last words to an audience was the importance of the gospel. 

The Apostle Paul wrote about two-thirds of what we call the New Testament.  It is clear on several occassions that he believed sharing the gospel was the most important use of our time and energy.  I’ve said this before: If I could talk to every preacher, I would say above all else, “Preach the gospel.”  The world needs to hear more than anything else Christians have to say that Jesus saves!  He is the way, the truth and the life.  God doesn’t just judge the world, he provides escape from judgement.  God doesn’t just hand out rules, he provides grace because he knows we will all fail at the rules anyway.  Our God is an awesome God, and the only way to come to him is by believing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Let’s make that what people see and hear when they listen to Christians or come into our churches, not all the other junk they see and hear and think we are about. 

Be the salt, be the light, let’s cut the crap. 

Mission Statements

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This is not a paid endorsement for Wal-Mart, just an example of brand recognition.  For years Wal-Mart has associated themselves with the phrase “Always low prices.  Always.”  It is common practice these days for every corporation and business entity to have a mission statement.  Where I work is no different.  I teach at a private Christian school, and the administration feels very strongly about each of committing our mission statement to memory.  What is the value of the mission statement?  It makes sure that everyone stays on the same page.  Any organization can start off well, and forget what it is they are supposed to be doing.  It happens in business, it happens to churches, it could happen anywhere.  I’ve written before about what “God honoring, Christ centered” is doing in my banner.  It’s more than a slogan or motto.  It keeps me focused on what it is I’m doing here.  That’s what every mission statement is designed to do; let everyone know, including the people working there, what the stated objective is.  It helps people working together to focus. 

As Christians, we have a responsibility to be on mission.  Whatever your ministry is, we have a general statement of mission given to us all.  In Mark 16:15 Jesus told his followers to go into all the world and preach the gospel.  Four times in Revelation the people of God are described as being from every tribe, language and nation.  We are to spread the gospel message to all people in all parts of the earth.  If the good people at Wal-Mart know what their mission is, how much more should we the people of God remember ours?

Pearl of Great Value

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It is important to remember what we have.  There is an old saying that you don’t know what you have ’till it’s gone.  I hope that’s not always true.  I’ve known people that were getting ready to sell a car, and wanted it to look it’s best to fetch the best price they could get.  After vacuuming and cleaning the interior, washing and waxing the finish, ArmorAlling the tires, etc. they decided to keep the car.  Sometimes it’s tough to recognize what we are in possession of, but it’s more important for Christians to be able to than anyone else. Continue reading →

After my own heart…

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God describes David as being a man after his own heart.  I found one of those tonight.  Thanks to internetmonk (this isn’t just a fan site) for turning me on to Ray Ortland, over at Christ is Deeper Still.  Consider this quote:

“What unifies the church is the gospel. What defines the gospel is the Bible. What interprets the Bible correctly is a hermeneutic centered on Jesus Christ crucified,”

That’s almost something I would write, only it says more in fewer words.  If you want to be a good writer, read people that are better than you.