Gospel Message, Part 2 – Applied

Review

In my introduction article, I discussed what the gospel is. I began with a definition of terms. I then offered a disclaimer about what the Gospel is NOT.

From there I suggested that the Gospel is a story, a story of how God created all things and then how he has dealt with what he created.

The Bible is the history of how God has dealt with Man, the pinnacle of God’s earthly creation. The Gospel is a short recounting of that history designed to draw those being called by God to come to him.

I laid it out the way I did to demonstrate the key elements that comprise a complete Gospel message, one that will not trivialize the message or skip any of the important elements, but at the same time makes manageable the presentation of the message of the Sixty-six books of the bible, written by approximately 40 authors, over a period of 1500 years.

The Gospel is the message of the Bible. And the Bible is the package of that message.

I am closing with a prototype suggestion for someone who wants to apply what they read in a practical way.

The Application

First, keep it simple. This article is a guideline. It is not a map. When sharing this message, keep it short (not more than 2 or 3 minutes) and to the point. You are sharing the reasons you believe.

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, (1Pet 3:15)

If you are smart, you will ask for two to three uninterrupted minutes to do so. This will make it easier to remember the nine elements of the story. You are not in a debate. Don’t get sucked into debating. When you finish giving your full presentation, then if you want to debate, go ahead. But get the message out in a loving manner first.

If you don’t want to debate, then simply:

“…put the stone in their shoe” (Greg Koukle).

Give them the truth and bow out.

Some people do not feel competent to debate. It is a learned skill with “rules of engagement”. You may not have developed those skills yet. It’s OK.

I’ve been doing this a long time and I know where my limitations lie with these skills. I tread with light steps because of it. If you don’t feel up to it, I don’t think that is a problem. Here is why.

• According to 1Pet 3:15 your task is to share, with anyone who asks, the reason of the hope that lies within … so share it. There is nowhere in the passage that commands you to debate it. Leave thatto the experts. It is NOT that you can’t debate; you aren’t commanded to debate.

• According to Jesus himself:

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (Jn 6:37)

You are not responsible for the outcomes. So, who does the converting anyway? God! Not you (or me). So, give your reasons and let the Holy Spirit take over.

• Having said that, don’t fail to give your reasons. The principle is :

‘How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”’ (Rom 10:14-15)

Don’t panic! You don’t have to be a preacher. You only need to give them something for the Holy Spirit to work on.

Stuck? Can’t Figure Out How To Start?

This article is NOT the definitive work on describing the Gospel Story. In fact, it is not even mine at the concept level. I took my cues from one of the best books I have read on describing the Christian worldview.

It is Greg Koukle’s The Story of Reality. I recommend it for anyone desiring to get their “arms around” how a Christian ought to look at reality.

The strategies presented here are his. If you like the model conceptually, he gets the credit. The content is mine. If you find fault with the specifics of the presentation, I get the blame.

Here is a quick set of guidelines for proceeding:

• The goal is a 2–3-minute presentation that you “own”. You can’t fail at it if you have practiced understanding it until you can’t fail.

• Hit all the points — there are only 9 (3 Cast members and 6 Events). However, if you are not practiced at it and are uneasy about dealing with the supernatural, then consider downplaying the Serpent. The irreducible minimum is:

• … “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (Rom 10:8-10)

The rest gives context that makes this intelligibly believable.

• Remember, the good news is so good because the bad news is so bad. We have failed but there is a way out.

The Cast

God

the Father – Creates

the Son – Redeems

the Holy Spirit – Empowers

Serpent — Deceives

Man – Is Deceived and Rebels

The Redemption Scenes

The Creation – (God creates it all, in perfection)

The Fall – (Man is deceived, and rebels from God)

The Promise of Redemption – (God begins restoring)

The Cross – (Jesus dies a substitutionary death for us)

The Resurrection – (Proves that Christ is God and eternal King)

The Second Coming – (the King returns in judgement)

Boil those nine elements down to a 2-3-minute presentation that you own and you will never be at a loss to meet your obligation to the Great Commission.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Mt 28:18-20)