Welcome to the Wells of Truth series on the Gospel. Drinking deeply from foundational Christian truths refreshes our spirits and strengthens us for joyful lives full of love in Christ.
Jesus of Nazareth launched his public ministry in the small towns of ancient Galilee with a profound message. He arrived on the scene with extremely good and mind-bending news: the Kingdom of God had come near in Him. His good news message, the Gospel, changed the world forever.
Don’t Most Christians Already Know the Gospel?
Almost certainly we’ve heard the term Gospel before. The word has become so common, however, that it is in danger of losing its meaning. Far too many of us miss the beauty and power of the Gospel because we have little or no clarity about what the word means objectively or subjectively.
This series delves deeply into a foundational truth which we believe and vaguely know but need to wrestle with in order to understand and express it coherently. The videos and viewing guides help us grasp, ponder, and articulate the good news of Jesus. We pray for the transformational power of God to make our “hearts burn within us” as we resolve to connect more powerfully with the Gospel.
How Do You Get the Most out of this Series?
Most importantly, pray. God himself inspired his Word and his Holy Spirit will help you understand and put into practice what you hear. Each session contains a 15-20 minute video with accompanying viewer guide which supports absorption and consideration of the content. Small group material is also available if you engage with the content amongst friends.
What Motivates Me to Create this Series?
The Gospel of Jesus changed my life over thirty years ago and continues to transform me now. The best work of God in my life continues to happen when I throw my bucket into ever deeper wells of truth so I discover, understand, and act upon the good news of Jesus more and more. Join me as we dive in together!
With Joy in Christ,
Steve Turnbull, Ph.D. Senior Pastor
Upper Arlington Lutheran Church Columbus, Ohio
SESSION 1 Why Study the Gospel? The Gospel is central to Biblical Christianity. Almost all Christians agree that it’s important, but we don’t all agree about what it is.
SESSION 2 The Gospel in Context. The first people to hear Jesus’ Gospel knew things we don’t. Texts from the ancient Roman world and the Old Testament come together to teach us how to hear the Gospel with fresh ears.
SESSION 3 The Gospels tell the Gospel. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are four books that teach and announce one Gospel message. Do we have ears to hear it?
SESSION 4 The Gospel Difference. “Gospel” was a word everyone already knew. Yet Jesus’ Gospel was like nothing the world had ever heard. What makes the Gospel of Jesus truly unique?
SESSION 5 Counterfeit Gospels, Bankrupt Hope. The Gospel of Jesus meets the deepest needs of human life. When we doubt the gospel, our real needs will drive us to look for satisfaction where it can’t be found.
SESSION 6 Gospel Living. How does the Gospel of Jesus impact our life and work? The Bible offers rich wisdom and powerful examples to guide our lives by the light of the Gospel.
SESSION 7 Good News is for Sharing. Good news begs to be told— so why does sharing the Gospel feel scary and awkward? Understanding the nature of the Gospel and our experience with it helps us share good news with others.
Why Study the Gospel?
WATCH
the session 1 video and use this viewer guide to better perceive and ponder the gospel.
FOCUS QUESTION
1. What is your definition of The Gospel?
The Gospel Isn’t Conditional
Although we will define “gospel statements” later, for now, you need to realize/know that gospel statements NEVER start with the word, “ .” For example, the Christian gospel is not “IF you believe in Jesus your sins are forgiven and you get eternal life.” The gospel isn’t conditional. The good news is true regardless of people’s varied reactions to it. Some receive it, some resist it, some run from it, others attempt to remove themselves from it. None of this affects the gospel. No “ifs” apply to this good news.
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Understanding the Gospel Brings Benefits
Understanding the Biblical word “gospel” transforms our faith & lives. An unobstructed view of the good news of Jesus brings:
• ●Clarity, peace, and to our relationship with God
• ●The ability to read the Bible with insight
• ●Better function in our relationships
When Jesus introduced himself to the world, he introduced the Gospel. Jesus and his message are intimately connected. No wonder He calls himself “the way and the truth and the life.”
(John 14:6)
Christians are Unclear ad Divided About Jesus’ Gospel
IN THE PAST: After Jesus’ death and resurrection, Paul, an apostle of Jesus, had to write to a young church there that was experiencing confusion about what the true Gospel was about. He told them he was “astonished that [they were] so quickly deserting the one who called [them] to live in the grace of Christ and [were] turning to a different gospel—which [was] really no gospel at all.”
(Galatians 1:6-7)
Because there was confusion about the gospel, some of Jesus’ disciples or early followers wrote accounts about Jesus which became the biographies we call Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They felt it fitting to call these books gospels. Paul, in writing to the Galatians, shows us how important he thought it was to know and understand the gospel accurately.
IN THE PRESENT: We often take the meaning of the word gospel for granted. We assume we know it and agree about the meaning. However, if we are unclear about the Gospel message, we receive less good news and share less good news. The gospel is an announcement of extremely news from and about Jesus.
FOCUS QUESTIONS
2. When have you received some really good news?
Mark 1:15
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Galatians 1:3-4
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.
3. Why do you think some don’t receive the Christian gospel as good news?
The Gospel Can Be Distorted
Most Christians probably use the word “gospel” and believe it’s important and good. However, if we only understand and communicate pieces of the message, then the message falls short of the whole truth, making it less than the good news it actually is. Below are some common fragmented ways of thinking about the gospel:
1. The gospel is really just a series of to follow about how to get to heaven. This is the message Christians share with others, asking them to commit to these steps.
2. The gospel/gospel message is important because it is the beginning of the Christian life. The gospel is the part that gets you saved - you believe it and then it becomes not so relevant anymore because you are moving forward in your Christian life
3. The gospel’s primary focus is only on matters that are eternal, , and vertical; it is not nearly as concerned with temporary, earthly and horizontal matters.
4. The gospel is essentially a social idea that deals with , equality, and peace among people and nations. It’s a message of radical inclusion for all people.
5. The gospel is synonymous with as opposed to sin and judgment; those things are too awkward.
6. *(see upcoming witness talk) The gospel is about Jesus dying on the cross to make a way for us to do enough to get into heaven. Because He paid such a high price, we need to live our lives in such a way that proves that we believe that. The gospel is a white-knuckled transaction. 10:55
13:33
All six of these ideas about the gospel contain fragments of truth, originating to some extent in the Biblical message of the gospel, but all are misshapen and cause distortions that deprive us of the truth. They keep us from understanding the Bible clearly and warp our picture of God. These disfigured gospels can’t bear the good fruit that God intends for us in our relationships with Him, with others, or even with ourselves.
God Transforms Our Understanding of the Gospel
Mario Alejandre describes the sixth distortion (noted above): The good news is that God is good and we’re not. We can’t get good. But thankfully God sent Jesus to die for our sins so we could get good and go to heaven when we die. The end game – the afterlife - is the gospel goal. Christianity is a white-knuckled spiritual experience because we are always trying to be good enough to make it to heaven. Mario concludes that this idea is/ was, actually, NOT good news at all.
Over time, God used many convergent threads to illuminate and transform Mario’s heart and mind. Grasping the depth of the love found in the gospel is an invitation to all of us by the Spirit to journey “further up and further in” to his kingdom
Mario’s understanding of the gospel changed from a transactional view concerned primarily with the end goal, to a transformational, redemptive view that is concerned not just with a future event, but also with present reality.
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The Bible provides a clear, COHERENT gospel message for us to understand, receive, and share. The Gospel is a good news message about Jesus: who he is, what he did in the past, what he is still doing today, and what he promises to do in the future.
“This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now......Come further up, come further in!”
C.S. Lewis
“The Last Battle”
READ
FOR FURTHER STUDY
Mark 1:14-17 and Matthew 4:16-17.
1. What is the good news (or “gospel”) Jesus proclaimed in these passages?
2. How might people of Jesus’ time have felt when they heard him say, “The Kingdom has come near?” What were they expecting?
3. How do you feel when you hear or read these same words?
Galatians 1:6-8.
1. How does Paul’s description of the Galatians’ problem reveal his view of the gospel?
2. How does your attitude toward the gospel line up with Paul’s attitude?
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
1. In what ways do you see others distort or diminish the gospel?
2. In what ways might you be tempted to distort or diminish the gospel? Why?
The Gospel in Context WATCH
the Session 2 video and use this viewer guide to jot down notes.
Review & Preview
The basic meaning of the word gospel is good news. Context is key to a more robust understanding of the word. Paying attention to the surrounding language in Scripture where the word gospel is used sheds light. Similarly, knowing the social and political setting of that time nuances our grasp of this important term. The Old Testament also uses gospel language, and its context should be considered as well.
How was the word “gospel” used by Jesus? How did His first hearers interpret the term? Because context matters in communication, it is wise to search out any unspoken perceptions and assumptions that might exist, [not just in Biblical times, but also perceptions and assumptions we bring to the word.]
We need to learn to understand the word ‘gospel’ as Jesus and the first Christians did.
Surrounding Language Context
Notice how often the Word Gospel is accompanied by words about King & Kingdoms. When Jesus first opens his mouth to teach, he ties them together: “ The of God is at hand, repent and believe this Gospel” (Mark 1:15)
When Paul wrote to the Roman Christians, he surrounded his good news announcement about Jesus with royal words and ideas. He calls Jesus: the son of King David, the Son of God in power, Jesus Christ (a royal word meaning ‘anointed one’ or messiah) our
Look back at what you wrote as your first idea of a definition of the word, Gospel. It’s on page 4 in this Viewer Guide. If you’re like most Christians today, you didn’t remember that royal words are so central to the Bible’s way of describing the gospel.
We need to begin with the bible’s own idea that the gospel of Jesus is about a king and a kingdom, about reigning and
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Social and Political Setting Context
Di d you know that Christians were not the first to use the word ‘ ’? People were already using the word before they even heard of Jesus. The word was used to describe news about a king or leader who would reign and rescue his people.
There’s a famous example of this usage in an archaeological artifact which says, “The birthday of the god Augustus was the beginning of the gospel for the world which came through him.” Commemorating Augustus’ birthday was a way for the people of ancient Rome to celebrate the good news of Augustus’ reign which promoted justice, peace, and prosperity. Augustus’ “gospel for the world” was good news to them because it changed their lives in tangible good ways. Understanding the social context of the word gospel gives us insight into Jesus’ use of the word gospel.
A prominent Jewish historian named Josephus wrote at the end of the first century about the victory of another Roman general, Vespasian, who later became emperor. While away from Rome, Vespasian was greeted by the gospel from Rome: the empire was secure, the people had been saved. This is another example of the word gospel being used in a political context - it was a good news that the leadership of Rome was secure and that the people were rescued from chaos and harm.
Romans 1:2-4
“The gospel [God] promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.”
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Alexander Story
Consider the imaginative story of a man, named Alexander, living in the time of General Octavian who was later crowned Caesar Augustus. This bit of historical fiction creatively illustrates the meaning of the word ‘gospel’ and raises our awareness of Jesus’ first hearers’ experience with the word ‘gospel.’ Beyond simply understanding the denotation, the actual meaning, of the word ‘gospel,’ it gives us an encounter with the connotation of the word ‘gospel’.
“…news about a king or leader who would reign and rescue”
-Steve Turnbull
FOCUS QUESTIONS
1. Can you think of a time when you were struggling under the weight of something that seemed too big to ever overcome or recover from?
2. What was it that served as the “good news” that got you out of a problem and into a better future?
9:50 12:37 14:06
Old Testament Context
Hearers of Jesus’ message would also have had another context for the word ‘gospel’ from their scriptures which are our Old Testament.
Can you hear the gospel announcement shouted in Isaiah 40? It’s about the God of Israel who establishes his and protects his flock.
In Isaiah 52 we see someone come running over the mountain to bring the good tidings that God is King. He reigns. The Lord is his people!
Takeaways
1. 1. The term “gospel” meant excellent good-news about something beyond oneself. A gospel announcement was NOT good advice to take, a good teaching to be learned, or a good plan to follow.
2. 2. A gospel announcement was about a king or leader who secured a victory that would make the better. That leader would now reign and rescue the people under his protection, keeping them from harm. So Jesus’ announcement made a profound declaration to anyone living in that time and place.
People immediately understood what Jesus was meaning when he announced his gospel: the kingdom of God was coming (or had arrived) in Him. The announcement presented them with a choice because Jesus was telling them they should believe this news and turn from what they had been trusting in, hoping for, or despairing about, because He was going to reign and rescue them.
Ten-word Summary of Sessions 1 & 2:
Jesus’ gospel: the good news about a King who and .
Excerpts of Isaiah 40:9-11
“You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Sovereign Lord comes with and he rules with a mighty arm… He tends his flock like a shepherd”
Isaiah 52:7
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
FOR FURTHER STUDY
Romans 1:1-6, 15-17
1. How might the descriptions of Jesus in verses 3-6 have sounded to those living in the Roman empire under Caesar?
3. What problems do you see in the world today that require the rescue of a good king? READ
2. What part of that description stands out the most to you as you read it? Why?
READ
Zechariah 9:9
Explain what this Old Testament announcement has to do with Jesus.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
Is our 10-word summary on the previous page a distortion or diminishment of the Gospel? Why or why not?
The Gospels tell the Gospel
WATCH
the Session 3 Video and use the viewer guide to stay engaged.
Expecting God’s Involvement
As humans we bring expectations into all that we do. The people of Jesus’ day were no different, so when Jesus began proclaiming His gospel - that God was reigning and was about saving His people - the people who heard the message had expectations of what that might look like.
As Amy Peeler points out, Jesus was also not the only one who was expecting God’s kingdom to come. These other believers expected, wanted, worked for, and even tried to coax God to bring about change.
1. The Pharisees felt that Israel needed and that if they could achieve that, God would come.
2. The Sadducees believed that Israel needed and so they courted Roman power in an effort to regain power for Israel.
3. The Zealots determined that Israel needed to overthrow all the broken worldly systems.
Amy declares that Jesus’ Gospel promises salvation in a way that exceeds and disposes of our expectations. She says that God surprises us with His redemption in ways in which we need to be surprised.
1. What is wrong with the world?
2. What do we need to do to fix it?
9:20
Exploring the Gospel in the Gospels
How do we connect Jesus’ gospel announcements at the beginning of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John with what happens in the rest of the books? What we discover is that the Kingdom is announced then enacted. For instance, in Mark 1, Jesus announces the good news of his rescue and reign in verse 14, then enacts it when he:
• gives people work that matters for eternity (verse 16-18)
• brings people together (verse 16-18)
• shows He has Kingly authority that is greater than the wisdom of the scribes and teachers (verse 21-22)
• casts out demons, demonstrating that His kingdom has power over and above the kingdom of darkness and that in His kingdom people are healed and made well. (verse 23 -28)
Jesus’ words and Jesus’ actions proclaim good news. In the Gospels we don’t just hear the news, we also see it in action.
Job 42: 5
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.
Exceeding and Disposing of our Expectations
Jesus came with a message He wants us to hear, but He knows that our preconceived notions of what kingdom life is like can actually keep us from hearing the truth. So, as a good teacher He re-educates us and gives us opportunities to align our thoughts with God’s thoughts through the parables He shares. He repeatedly says, “The Kingdom of God is like…” His parables are designed to help us grasp the reality of His kingdom, and yet, we tend to hear the parables in the same way we hear the moral lessons in Aesop’s fables.
It’s time to listen to the parables with new ears. The gospel is not about defeating the immediate threat of Rome or about working harder or fixing things ourselves. Jesus is telling us about his kingdom: “It’s not what you thought - it’s a mustard seed, it’s a field full of weeds, it’s a man with two sons.” Jesus teaches with a consistent theme about the kind of king and kind of kingdom he brings.
FOCUS QUESTION
How might we miss God’s Kingdom work today because it comes in small ways - like a mustard seed - or in ways we don’t expect?
In the gospels we see a King enacting the Kingdom by a means we don’t expect and a teacher explaining the kingdom in ways we don’t expect. In a similar fashion, the ultimate enactment of the gospel is what happened on the cross which no one expected; no one thought the cross could be a good thing, and yet, the cross became Jesus’ coronation. Totally unexpected!
22:40 Another area in which our preconceived notions or expectations can trip us up is in our thinking about Jesus’ titles of “Savior” and “Lord.” We frequently think we need to first accept him as savior and then obey him as Lord. This is sort of true, but it is backward thinking to say that the good news is that “Jesus is Savior,” while thinking that the fine print is that “Jesus is Lord’ so you had better get your act together and obey. The gospel says that Jesus is Lord with power and authority to teach, to overcome evil spirits, and to exercise dominion over nature; his power and authority enable him to give/confer status in the family of God. It is Jesus is Lord that he can do the saving things.
The Gospel books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell a cohesive story. They are not just a random collection of books full of teachings, announcements and unexpected deeds of power. Together, they tell the story of Jesus announcing, enacting, teaching, and embodying his kingdom for the saving of the world.
FOCUS QUESTION
How does Jesus’ Gospel exceed and dispose of your expectations? In what aspect is God’s way of redemption surprising to you?
1. What does Jesus say about the King and the Kingdom in these parables?
2. What concept is he addressing or correcting?
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
In the video at 22:40, the discussion panel explored the connection between the terms “Savior” and “Lord” as they are applied to Jesus.
In what ways have you seen Jesus’ lordship or authority in your life or the lives of those around you?
What difference does it make that Jesus is Savior because he is Lord rather than the other way around?
In the video, at 11:09 the question is asked, “If the kingdom is at hand, why do I only see little glimpses of it? Why do we experience just the inauguration and not more kingdom life?
The Gospel Difference
WATCH
the Session 4 video and fill in the blanks as you take notes and answer questions. This will help you grasp, ponder and articulate the ideas presented.
Recap
This is not the first time Jesus’ hearers would have heard the word gospel. gospels had been announced in their world. Other good news messages about victory or hope or salvation being brought by other forces, rulers, kings, or would be saviors. What makes Jesus’ gospel different? It was not just bigger and better or more. What makes the essence of Jesus’ gospel unique?
Jesus Makes the Gospel Unique
Aaron Thompson came to love Jesus, the person, when he read the gospel of Matthew. It was Jesus’ wit, character, love, mercy, strength, identity, and clarity of purpose in life that attracted Aaron. Everything about him is how Aaron imagined the perfect human being. Jesus is an inviting picture of what we’re meant to be as people.
But Jesus didn’t stay just an inanimate character on pages of scripture. In the midst of a crisis moment Aaron asked God to help. The next day, he could again feel hope and love. Jesus himself had drawn near to the broken hearted.
What’s so awesome, unique, and good about Jesus’ gospel? It’s JESUS: the greatest human being who ever lived, the LIVING God who changed my life.
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FOCUS QUESTION:
What has seemed unique about Jesus’ Gospel to you?
10:05
The person of the living Lord Jesus is not to any of his ideas, attributes, or actions. But we can describe what makes Jesus, his gospel, and his kingdom, and his reign so
Jesus Brings a Unique Kind of Salvation
1. 10:30 This salvation is deeply spiritual, not just material.
a. Jesus doesn’t only solve the material, physical, earthly problems we face
b. Jesus overcomes spiritual forces of evil that are behind the evils we encounter.
i. Jesus stands in to political or military gospels in the past and present that promise to overcome some broken, damaged, imperfect system but eventually replace this with another broken, damaged, imperfect system.
ii. Jesus is the one who can address the spiritual causes that are behind the evil things that we face.
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2. This salvation is individual, social, and at the same time.
a. God promises each of us, as individuals, that our sins will be forgiven, our shame will be taken away, our fears will be overcome, our brokenness will be healed.
b. Jesus’ Gospel creates a new kind of . He puts us into new patterns of relationships with one another. Christians are brothers and sisters - a new family in the household of God. This gospel is social.
c. This Gospel promises cosmic restoration. He explains that the new creation is dawning among us. He promises the eventual restoration of ALL things—a new heaven and new earth.
Psalm 34:18
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit
Colossians 1:13
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.
“Jesus forgives us for being his enemies and calls us his friends. His salvation is built on forgiveness and enemy love.”
-Steve Turnbull
Philippians 2:5
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus”
3. This salvation is built on and enemy love.
a. Jesus doesn’t rescue us only from problems outside of us because we are part of the problem.
b. We are both victims and perpetrators of sin.
c. All the good he promises to do in and for us he must do in spite of us.
Jesus Brings a Unique Way of Salvation
1. Through the - the pattern of self-sacrifice whereby Jesus laid his life down and God raised it up.
2. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who saves where there is no hope (Mark 12:10)
3. Through an way - Salvation and the kingdom of God have truly begun; yet, they have only just begun. Because of this we can expect in this life to have peace, freedom, healing, love, joy, God’s justice on the earth - but only in part. We also expect to suffer, pray, and long for God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven.
4. Through a pattern of which includes us as the body of Christ on earth. We are a foretaste of what’s to come. We are a signpost showing where Jesus’ saving work is happening and pointing other sinners, like us, to Jesus.
Storyteller: Anthony Priest
During the spoken word piece, write down things that are said that stick out for your consideration as you continue: 15:00 16:05 19:20
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FOCUS QUESTION:
Jesus’ Gospel distinguishes itself from other types of good news promises. Consider the passages below to explore these differences. 22:09
What unique attributes of Jesus’ salvation stand out to you the most?
Jesus Gives a Unique Gift
Every other good news message comes with some sort of “if” attached to it. (Recall in session 1 that statements beginning with an “if” are really not good news at all. 5:34) What do we have to do to get all this that is wrapped up in Jesus? There isn’t anything we bring to the table; it is all Him! Who is this kingdom, this Gospel, this Jesus for? It’s for !
Do You Want too Receive What Jesus Offers?
PRAY: Dear Jesus, I say yes to you today. I believe in you. I know you are Lord and I know you are good. I need you like everyone else does. Please be with me, forgive me my sins. Free me from sin, shame, and darkness and make me new. Thank you for this new gift of faith in you. Amen.
If you prayed that prayer for the first time, write down the name of a pastor or another follower of Jesus you’ll tell. Then invite them to walk beside you as you take your early steps in getting to know and follow Jesus.
Friend to walk beside me in faith
READ
FOR FURTHER STUDY
John 18:28-40
1. Why do you think Jesus responded to Pilate saying, “My kingdom is not of this world?”
2. How is Jesus’ Gospel about more than earthly authority?
READ
Ephesians 6:10-13
1. How might you be tempted to make the Gospel about one group of people against another group of people? Where do you see this happening in the world around you?
2. How might we Christians live differently if we embraced the truth that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against “spiritual forces of evil?”
Luke 5:17-26
1. In v. 20, we read, “When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” What do you find interesting about Jesus’ response?
2. What does this passage show us about the focus of Jesus’ ministry?
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
In the video, we hear that Jesus’ gospel has individual, social, and cosmic implications. How do you see Jesus’ gospel making a social impact and transformation?
How is Jesus’ Gospel good news for the cosmos?
Counterfeit Gospels, Bankrupt hope
WATCH
the Session 5 video. Fill in the blanks and answer the questions as you take notes. Use this viewer guide later to remember what you’ve learned.
Preview
We know the good news of Jesus but we still look for hope in other places. The world markets things that promise to solve all our problems and we’re quick to buy in. Why? What are we really looking for? Does the gospel of Jesus really address our needs?
The Gospel of Jesus tells us that God is meeting our real needs to be saved from sin’s multiple effects. But sometimes we are tempted to look elsewhere for the good things that really only come in .
Sin Brings Brokenness; God’s Good Gifts Bring Rescue
1. Innocence & Right Standing: We are forgiven - God makes our relationship with him , even though we are .
a. Brokenness: you might become acutely aware of your sins and the weight of your guilt feels heavy.
b. God’s Gift: The Gospel of Jesus rings out that you are forgiven by God.
2. Value & Belonging: We belong in God’s family and we are valuable. Jesus , dignifies, and shares food with people who have low status.
a. Brokenness: you may have felt disgraced, rejected, or like you were damaged goods.
b. God’s Gift: The Gospel of Jesus reminds that you are valuable and you matter to God.
3. Safety & Security: We are safe and secure from evil and harm. King Jesus has overcome the powers of this world and offers us rescue.
a. Brokenness: This might be hard to believe because we experience and ,
b. God’s Gift: The Gospel of Jesus promises ultimate rescue from evil and even from death.
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FOCUS QUESTION:
Innocence, significance, and security are things that all people need. Where do people look for these things? Which false hopes entice you? Which broken promises vex you most?
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Counterfeit Gospels: The Law
Broadly speaking, “the law” is ideas and systems that provide teaching, principles or criteria for judgment. The law is good and helpful unless people put it into competition with God’s gospel or confuse it with the gospel. Because the law has limits, it can’t provide what the Gospel offers.
OUR NEEDS GOD’S GOSPEL THE LAW WEAKNESS OF THE LAW
Innocence I’m forgiven. If I meet the standard and perform well, I’ll be fine/ good.
I can’t meet the standard or do enough.
Significance I belong in God’s family. I’m in the right; I’m of the good guys. Insider status is precarious at best; and it creates outsiders.
Safety I am ultimately secure from evil and harm. Everything will be alight if i do things right.
I can’t guard against every threat.
Ephesians 2:19
“no longer strangers, but fellow citizens and members of God’s household.”
Ephesians 2:5
“he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will”
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Romans 8:3-4
“For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son.”
Tasks Performed by God’s Good Law
God’s law is good for teaching, guiding, and providing wisdom. Boundaries, principles, and examples are helpful to us. The law also the truth about us and our failures. This is good IF we know the Gospel because, when we realize we can’t earn these good things for ourselves, we can be ready to receive them from Jesus by grace.
The law is good, but the law is not a good gospel. It can’t save us because sin is at work in us. We don’t just need better ideas or better efforts. We need to be by the Spirit of God.
The Gifts of Jesus’ Gospel
The eighth chapter of Romans talks about three good gifts of the gospel of Christ:
• ●Verse 1 says there is condemnation for guilt. We have forgiveness and innocence.
• ●Verse 15 says we have been into the family of God. We belong with Him so we have value.
• ●Verses 18 and 38-39 describe how we need not fear suffering because Christ has it all. We possess ultimate security.
You can earn or buy self-worth - Lexla Lyceon Hiding shame is a long-term solution - Unpittable
3. INNOCENCE
You can cure guilt with numbness and apathy - Trixczalta
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FOCUS QUESTIONS:
1. Which empty promise entices you the most?
2. Which of these three needs listed in the chart on page 29 gnaws at you the most?
3. Does Christ consistently meet that need? If so, how? If not, why?
READ
FOR FURTHER STUDY
Ephesians 1:3-8a and Romans 8:1-4
1. For whom might this be good news?
2. To which problems do these passages offer a solution?
READ
Ephesians 2:17-21 and Romans 8:14-17
1. Why might this news of connection - of being made part of God’s family - be good news?
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
2. Who around you might be desperate and delighted to hear that they belong?
John 16:33
1. How does Jesus’ promise here differ from all the other sources that offer to solve our problems?
Matthew 11:28-30
1. How does Jesus’ invitation sound unlike other people or methods we depend on to solve our problems?
Gospel Living WATCH
the Session 6 video and use this guide to follow along. These notes will both guide you through the lines of thought and cement these truths in your mind.
Introduction
The Gospel of Jesus does not work like our legal system. God has declared us “not guilty” even though we deserve the “guilty” verdict. He has set us free, though we deserve punishment. What do we do with this? What are we free for? How do we avoid turning our freedom back into law? How can the Bible help us connect this new freedom to how we practically live out our lives?
Christian Freedom Struggle
Aaron describes how one theme in the movie, Shawshank Redemption, deals with a phenomenon called institutionalization where people who have been in prison for many years are set free then don’t know what to do with their freedom. We Christians might ask the same question, how do we deal with our freedom now that we are free of the bondage of sin. This raises the question--how do we live life outside of a prison cell?
Aaron’s struggle to live in freedom came with a lot of law around how he ate. He tracked calories daily for 2 years. He felt captive to this endless focus on food, so he walked away from that lifestyle… and gained back 40 pounds. He had traded one prison cell of law for another one made of potato chips. Ultimately, we have to wrestle with how we can be free from law and yet also remain unshackled from the bondage of sin and idolatry?
6:16 6:59 8:02
FOCUS QUESTION
1. What are areas in which you’ve struggled to live in the freedom of the Gospel?
2. What are the temptations that invite you back into a prison cell from which Jesus died to set you free?
Living the Gospel Life Together: Galatians Examples
The letter to Galatians emphasizes from the law, yet it also emphasizes that the Gospel has implications for how we live.
1. There is such a thing as walking in line with the Gospel. When the King rescues you of sin and death and rescues you his Kingdom, there are ways of living that are more or less in line with the character of the King and His reign.
2. Christians who are free from the commandments of the law, are still commanded to love their neighbors like Christ, serving and for one another. This happens by “keeping in step with the Spirit.” Obedience to the law is not the guide for Christians; obedience to the King is. The Gospel set us free from the guilt, shame, and fear that come from not being able to keep the law. The Gospel sets us free to serve God as we follow in the way of our/the King.
Galatians 5:1
“…do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”...So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
3. Because of what Jesus has done for all people, the Bible says that Christians are free from the written law of Israel. But that doesn’t mean that God turns us over to an “anything goes” . That would just be a different kind of slavery--a slavery to ourselves and our own passions.”
Everyone who trusts the good news of Jesus, receives the Holy Spirit. We are shown the way of Jesus and empowered to love like Jesus in community together. We are free from obedience to the law but not free from obedience to God.
FOCUS QUESTION:
The Gospel sets us free to live by the Spirit and follow the way of Jesus. What is one area of your life, such as at work or in your relationships with family or friends, in which you would love to let this kind of freedom guide you? Make a note of it here so you can revisit this desire and ask the Lord for guidance when you have more time.
Living the Gospel Life Together: Ephesians Examples
What does it specifically look like to live the “way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him?”
(Eph 4:20)
1. Christians tell the truth. We shouldn’t lie, not because the law says so, but rather because “we are all members of one body.” Honesty preserves our connection to the community
2. Christians don’t steal. Christians share. Like Jesus, Christians lay aside their own advantages to lift up others.
3. Christian’s won’t join bodies with prostitutes, not because of adherence to the law, but because bodies matter. Our bodies are joined together as the BODY of Christ. The Holy Spirit lives in our bodies like a temple.
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We are free to , not evil. The New Testament shows that the Gospel can and does provide guidance for Christian living. We have a Lord to follow and He puts His own living Spirit in us so that we can walk in step with Him. We not only live Christ together, but Christ together.
How did the gospel get Aaron out of his potato chip prison cell? He had turned to food when other things are out of control. The world will always offer false hope and empty promises to the needs we have, but the gospel offers life. Aaron found that the solution to his needs was not in his kitchen, but in Christ. Even knowing this truth doesn’t make the struggle easy. And, real freedom can be hard to find on our own, so God gives us the good gift of Christian community. The prayer and encouragement of other Christians can release a flow of freedom, joy, and strength to make new decisions. This is not just mustering up a new and improved will-power or reinstituting a different kind of law, but rather it is allowing the good news of the Gospel to transform our way of thinking and feeling by replacing the false promises with unshakable truth.
When Aaron walked away from the prison cell of following the law in his fight with food struggles, he thought he was walking into freedom only to find that it also became a prison cell. Anytime we replace the gospel with a counterfeit promise, we will find ourselves imprisoned and stuck. Aaron replaced the good news of the gospel with false promises of food when his humanity (emotional needs) threatened to sideline him. See how this played out in the chart on the following page.
NEED COUNTERFEIT GOSPEL PROMISES: FOOD
Innocence
Significance
Grabbing a snack and switching on a show can cover over our guilt.
WEAKNESSES OF THE COUNTERFEIT GOSPEL
Snacks don’t meet our needs for innocence-they only cover the symptoms of our guilt, fueling the guilt addiction cycle.
Mindlessly munching on pretzels with a podcast will distract us from our loneliness.
Pretzels don’t meet our needs for significance. They distract us from our emotions without providing a way to process or come to grips with them.
GOD’S GOSPEL PROMISES
Jesus forgives and frees us from our sin and guilt.
Jesus promises ultimate, lasting security from evil and harm. Aaron’s experience of God’s Gospel vs. Food
Safety A late-night snack will set our mind at rest, comfort us, and drown out our anxieties.
Late night snacks don’t meet our needs for security. They momentarily drown out our anxieties, but leave us vulnerable and insecure in the long run.
Jesus welcomes us into His family and tells us that we belong.
FOCUS QUESTIONS:
1. Where does this speak to your life? What shackles does Jesus want to free you from through the Gospel?
2. In what area do you need encouragement? Who will you speak with or text for encouragement and prayer today?
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Takeaways
The gospel is the good news announcement about what God has done, is doing, and will do to save the world in Christ, even though we are powerless to save ourselves. It doesn’t depend on us. Rather, God gives us new life in Christ, full of the Holy Spirit, to guide and empower us for life together in the way of Jesus, our king.
READ
FOR FURTHER STUDY
Galatians 2:14-21
1. What do you think caused Peter to insist that Gentile Christians practice Jewish traditions?
2. How might we be tempted to replace the Law we have been freed from with another set of laws?
READ
Galatians 5:13-25
1. According to Paul, how are we meant to respond to our Christian freedom—what should be our guiding principle?
2. Paul contrasts living life under the law with living the gospel life in community (or together). How does he say we can live the good, gospel life?
READ
Galatians 6:1-2
1. In this passage, how does Paul write that we fulfill the “law of Christ?” (Hint: there are 2 things he references in these verses!)
READ
Ephesians 4:20-25
1. How does this passage address the question “how are we to live as Christians?”
2. How can you tell the difference between law-making and the Gospel?
Good News
Is for Sharing WATCH
the Session 7 video. Use this viewer guide to keep yourself mindful and on track.
Reflection
What’s your Jesus Story? Did it have a before and after section that pivots around coming to experience and know Jesus? Or, was there an awareness of the needed and gifts of Jesus in your life?
FOCUS QUESTION:
Turn back to the beginning of this guide to see what you wrote for your definition of the gospel. How has your understanding of the gospel changed, grown or been clarified as you’ve invested time and thought in this series?
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6:55 Living as a Faithful Witness to Jesus
Ashley has found people are drawn to her and that she connects with people. Part of her struggle with being a witness is wondering if being kind or helpful is enough of a witness or if one always needs to share words about Jesus. She has found that sometimes using words causes strife. Her desire is not to be trying to make someone else believe exactly what she believes, but to invite them into a relationship of love with a Savior who longs to love them. So, what does it look like to be a faithful follower and witness to Jesus and to the ways He has loved us? How do we share this beautiful news so people can know Jesus and experience love that transforms them?
FOCUS QUESTION:
How has Jesus been good news for you?
Ways to Think About Your Jesus Story
1. The gospel meets my needs for innocence, belonging, and safety (see Session 5). Perhaps your story is one of Jesus giving you a clean slate or a community of people who love you, or a rescue from threat. Do you have a sense of the needed grace and gifts of Jesus in your life? Do you see your story through this lens?
2. I had a clear before and after point in my life. Steve encouraged us to think about some of the Biblical characters whose lives had a “before” and “after” pivot - characters like Zaccheus, the Samaritan woman, the shepherds, and Peter. Can you see a clear before and after timeline in your story where Jesus is the pivot?
John 9:25
“One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
Romans 1: 16
“The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God for salvation for all people.”
Whether Jesus met a heart need or intervened in a moment in time, there are 3 questions that help us tell our story. Take a few moments to begin articulating your story.
FOCUS QUESTIONS:
1. What was your life like before knowing Jesus or before any time that God has been at work in your life? (It could be the beginning of your story or a recent chapter in your story).
2. What did God do to step in and change your situation or get your attention? This is the “...but then God....” part of the story.
3. Explain how your life is different now because of what God did. Be real. Remember that Carl’s life didn’t become perfect overnight, but he noticed changes.
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17:25
Your of the Gospel of Jesus is your witness. It’s what you have seen, heard, felt, or experienced. That’s what witnesses do. They tell their Jesus story. In being a witness it is helpful if Christians take time to listen, pray, and trust as they share their thoughts.
• ●Listen. Sharing your thoughts about almost anything goes better when you listen. So questions about themselves, about their hopes and dreams, as well as their worries or discouragements because you love them. As you listen, your witness grows into an act of loving someone. Earlier in this video, Ashley wondered whether simply loving someone or specifically sharing the Gospel with them was more effective. Listening enables each of those gifts to become a part of the other.
• ●Pray. to guide your conversations. Ask God to help you be a good listener. Ask God to help you share your experience as an act of love and not as a project or obligation.
• ●Trust. Trust the Spirit of God to use your story. What happens in the person’s heart next isn’t your job. You’re simply a witness.
Carl tells his story with a decisive before and after, like #3 in the list above.
Before knowing God Carl remembers black smoke from oil wells in Kuwait and oil on the water. He thought, “if there’s a hell, I’m experiencing it now.” He wondered if there was more to life.
But then God nudged Carl’s brother to write him a letter telling him that God loved Carl and created him in such a way that he could know God. He told Carl about Jesus’s saving life, death, and resurrection.
Because God had stepped in, something began to change in Carl. He wanted to be around other believers and read the Bible. The Bible went from being just ink on paper to nourishment for his soul. He began to think that Jesus is the one message everyone needs to hear. The Spirit was at work.
Notice how Carl heard about Jesus through his brother’s courageous witness of finding a life of meaning and purpose through faith. It was through that witness that Carl learned the good news that Jesus knew him, loved him, forgave him, and invited him into a relationship with God.
John 6:68: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life”
READ
FOR FURTHER STUDY
Below are several stories of people bearing witness to Jesus’ Gospel.
Luke 19:1-10 (The Story of Zaccheus)
1. How did Jesus encounter and respond to Zaccheus?
2. What was Zaccheus saved from? What was he saved into?
READ
John 9:1-25 (The Healing of the Man Born Blind)
1. What did Jesus save this man from? How did was the man’s before and after changed?
When interrogated by the Sanhedrin about Jesus, how does this man respond?
How is “I was blind but now I see,” a witness to the Gospel?
READ
Acts 16:24-34 (The Story of the Jailer)
1. What was the good news Paul and Silas shared?
2. How did that change the jailer’s story?
Closing Thoughts
This Wells of Truth series investigates the Gospel. You’ve heard and learned to think and speak about the Gospel more faithfully and fruitfully. You know that the Gospel is the good news of King Jesus about his rescue and reign. It is the power of God for the salvation of all people. I hope that your study of this foundational truth is helping you see, trust, and follow Jesus with new clarity and joy. I pray for the transformational power of the Holy Spirit to make us all bold and courageous as we share this good news message with others.
WRAP-UP QUESTIONS:
In 1 Peter 3:15, we read “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” Peter encourages disciples to always be available to bear witness to the Lord as the Bible does. And one of the best ways we can do that is to share about how Jesus’ Gospel has taken hold of us.
Based on what you’ve learned and discussed in this series, how might you share your story differently than you would have before this series?
How does telling our own stories about Jesus’ Gospel relate to living in step with the Spirit?
