Gospel...Sermon Notes from June 28.2009

The gospel defines the church. "A Christian without knowledge of the gospel is like a soldier without a gun!"

In Romans 1 Paul introduces himself to Christians he has never met. Before he introduces himself he introduces the gospel. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Paul reminds them of the gospel. At one level, all Christians agree on one aspect of the gospel. We all know Jesus is the savior, the church is the saved. Sometimes groups emphasize only one aspect of the gospel. The gospel is very big. We should never "shrink-wrap" its story to fit only one particular view.

Here are 10 aspects of the gospel which, if embraced, will build our identity as a gospel-driven church. The gospel is:

1. Christological: The gospel is about the incarnation of God. God does for us what we cannot do fo rourselves. Christ means annointed one. The gospel in the ancient world was proclaimed whenever a caesar won a victory. The Christian gospel is a royal announcement from the father that he has become flesh to dwell among us. Jesus re-defines Lordship. He is the Lord who comes to serve and save. The gospel can never be reduced to a private way of living or a private experience.

2. Theological: The gospel is of God. Its roots are in God. God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. The gospel is deeply trinitarian; it is the work of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is the love of the Father that sent the son Jesus went to the cross because it was the Father's will. Jesus bears the full weight of the wrath of God by taking our sin. Jesus came to rescue us from the wrath of God.

3. Historical: The gospel was planned in eternity; executed in history. It is an historical event. The historicity debate is crucial. These extraordinary claims really happened. The reign of death has been broken. The historicity of the gospel is embedded in our creeds...Jesus "suffered under Pontius Pilate." The gospel took place in space and time.

4. Biblical: The gospel was promised by the prophets in the scriptures. The bible interprets and explains the gospel. Law, Psalms and Prophets all point to the gospel. The Old Covenant is a shadow of things to come. The New Covenant is the fulfillment of the promise.

5. Apostolic: Paul passed along what he received. The apostles are those who heard and saw. They witnessed the gospel. No one is to be tamper with the gospel witness of the apostles. The church is apostolic.

6. Ecclesial: The gospel creates a new community centered around Jesus. Paul describes Jesus as the head of a new race. The church actually mirrors the Holy Trinity. The church is integral to the gospel. Fellowship, Sacrament, Discipline, preaching... we are to live inter-dependent lives around these activities of the church. God has a wonderful plan for His church and He bids us come, be a part of it!

7. Personal: Realities of Gospel are true whether we believe them or not. But if we want to enjoy the gospel there must be a response of faith. We must "bank" everything on Jesus, stand-fast and continue in faith. The gospel commands faith, we obey by believing. Faith produces obedience--where there is faith there is obedience. There is a love and loyalty to Jesus when there is faith. We can finally be honest about who we are. We don't have to hide our faults, we can see how great the love of Jesus is on our behalf. The gospel gives us motivation to be transformed and conformed to the image of Christ. Jesus' willingness to die produced life; so it is with us. Take up your cross and follow Him.

8. Public/Political: The gospel is for nations. All nations are to be discipled with this gospel. The gospel is about the comprehensive lordship of Jesus. The gospel is inescapably political. Sin and evil have corrupted every part of life; the gospel restores.

9. To be Preached: The gospel is to be uncompromisingly proclaimed as authoritative truth. Everybody lives by a story--this is our identity. The story of Jesus and the church is the gospel.

10. Gracious---it is all about what God has done for us. Grace means that God acepts us as we are. Bring the broken pieces of your life to church...God will put your life back together. The grace of God humbles us--it shatters our pride and makes us right with God. Nothing cuts us down to size like the gospel. Grace transforms us and makes us new. Grace is the action, obedience is the re-action. Thank God for his grace.

Reading the Bible (Again) for the First Time by James. B. Jordan

I highly recommend this! You can buy it here from American Vision. It's a great lecture series on understanding the story of Scripture...titles in the series are:

• Hearing the Voice of God
• From Children to Adults
• The Bible is a Story
• Patient Faith
• From Glory to Glory
• The Three Falls of Mankind

self control...the trick is to lose sight of the marshmallows of life

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things

Psychology: Don't think about it, and you probably won't do it

In a New Yorker article titled admirably simply, "Don’t!" The secret of self-control,
Jonah Lehrer reflects on what investigators have learned about how children develop self-control:

At the time, psychologists assumed that children's ability to wait depended on how badly they wanted the marshmallow. But it soon became obvious that every child craved the extra treat. What, then, determined self-control? Mischel's conclusion, based on hundreds of hours of observation, was that the crucial skill was the "strategic allocation of attention."

In other words, focus of attention.

Instead of getting obsessed with the marshmallow - the "hot stimulus" - the patient children distracted themselves by covering their eyes, pretending to play hide-and-seek underneath the desk, or singing songs from "Sesame Street." Their desire wasn't defeated - it was merely forgotten. "If you're thinking about the marshmallow and how delicious it is, then you’re going to eat it," Mischel says. "The key is to avoid thinking about it in the first place."

In adults, this skill is often referred to as metacognition, or thinking about thinking, and it’s what allows people to outsmart their shortcomings. ... Mischel’s large data set from various studies allowed him to see that children with a more accurate understanding of the workings of self-control were better able to delay gratification. "What's interesting about four-year-olds is that they're just figuring out the rules of thinking," Mischel says. "The kids who couldn’t delay would often have the rules backwards. They would think that the best way to resist the marshmallow is to stare right at it, to keep a close eye on the goal. But that's a terrible idea. If you do that, you’re going to ring the bell before I leave the room."

In the adult world, this need for focus of attention is one key reason for the millennia-old practice of religious retreats.

People often say they are going to make more time from their work day to think about the meaning of life. But do they? No, because they can't. They can't stop looking at the In Tray, the way many kids looked at the marshmallow.

Now just put that same person in a room with a chair, a desk, and a work by a serious spiritual writer - and NO phone, e-mail, or visitors - and many people begin to see key patterns in their lives that they had never noticed before. The trick is, as the kids discovered, to lose sight of the marshmallows of life.

DOE THE NEXTE THYNGE

From an old English parsonage down by the sea
There came in the twilight a message to me;
Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,
Hath, it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.
And on through the doors the quiet words ring
Like a low inspiration: “DOE THE NEXTE THYNGE.”

Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity, and guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,
Thrust them with Jesus, doe the nexte thynge.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
Leave all results, doe the nexte thynge

Looking for Jesus, ever serener,
Working or suffering, be thy demeanor;
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing.
Then, as He beckons thee, doe the nexte thynge.

--Anonymous