Gò0dNews for Everyone
It All Begins with The Gospel Story
T
by Matthew Bowden
his world we live in used to be good, but look
His command is clear: “Go.” We cannot “Go” if we are
around, it is now full of brokenness. I used to be
sitting still, if we are staying where we are, or if we do not
trapped in the chains of addiction to pornography. It
make a move. This verb means “as you go.” As we pass
messed up my mind so much that it caused me to be angry.
though this world, we are to carry the Gospel message with
That anger caused violent outbursts towards my family.
us, sharing it with everyone we meet. There are two ways
Everybody thought I was a great guy, but I was hurting on
we can do this.
the inside. I felt so empty when I would lay down at night. This pain was interrupted. I heard a still, small voice
The first is through our lifestyle. As believers in King Jesus, we are to be like salt—our life should create a thirst
while reading the Bible. It was God telling me that He
in people for our Lord. Our joy, our peace, and our lives
loved me. He wanted a relationship with this messed-up
are different from others in this world. Our lives should be
young man. Jesus died on a cross to take my punishment
like a great spotlight that directs its beam toward Jesus. If
before God. Three days later, He rose from the grave so
Jesus is the focus of our lives, people will see Jesus lived out
that I might have a new life with Him now and in Heaven
through us day by day! Do people want to know Jesus by
eternally. So, I gave my life to Christ.
the way you live your life?
A short time later, I lost my five-year-old sister to a
The second way is by our lips. We are told to “teach” in
brain tumor. I learned that coming to God does not mean
Matthew 28:20. That word has the idea of “making disciples
that nothing bad will ever happen to you. Coming to God
or to instruct.” We must speak our faith. We are to tell a lost
means that you always have a friend—that you have a new
world how the story of our lives is now intertwined with
hope. Only in God do I know that my sister is in Heaven
the story of the Gospel of King Jesus. We must tell people
today, and one day I will see her again because of Christ’s
how Jesus can do the same for them if they will trust in
forgiveness of my sins.
Jesus as we do. Look at the words of Jesus in Matthew 28. It is not
Jesus gave us a mandate in Matthew 28:19-20,
enough to simply live for Christ.
“Go, therefore, and
Believers must speak. Speak
make disciples of all
loudly, so that this broken world may have the hope
nations, baptizing
that only rests in King
them in the name of the Father and of the
Jesus. It all beings with
Son and of the Holy
the Gospel story.
Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with the age.”
30 // September 2021
About The Author
you always, to the end of Rev. Matthew Bowden is the Pastor of Mt. Alto Baptist Church of Rome, GA. www.mtalto.com. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from The College at Southeastern and a Master of Divinity degree from The Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
