Faithfulness: Our Call to Share the Gospel
Summary
Faithfulness is the foundation of the Christian life. God calls each of us to be faithful in the small and large things, even when we don’t see the results or feel successful. Our efforts, no matter how insignificant they may seem, are used by God in ways we may never know. The story of Bruce and the retreat leader reminds us that what we perceive as failure can be the very thing God uses to change lives and even impact the world. Our task is not to measure the outcome, but to remain obedient and trust the Holy Spirit to do the work only He can do.
We live in a broken world, marked by sin and disappointment, but God’s justice and love meet perfectly in the gospel. All of us have sinned and fall short, and the penalty for sin is death. Yet, God did not wait for us to clean ourselves up—He stepped into our brokenness through Jesus, who lived the perfect life we could not and paid the debt we owed. Salvation is a free gift, available to everyone who calls on the name of the Lord. This is not just a theological truth, but a personal invitation: God so loved you that He gave His Son for you.
Hearing the gospel is essential for belief, and belief leads to salvation. The story of the Philippian jailer in Acts 16 shows how a life can be transformed when someone hears and responds to the good news. But how will people hear unless someone tells them? Each of us has a unique sphere of influence—people who may never hear the gospel unless it comes from us. Sharing the gospel is not reserved for pastors or missionaries; it is the calling of every believer. Declaring God’s truth, whether in conversation, action, or lifestyle, is an act of worship and obedience.
We are sent into the world as ambassadors of Christ. The Great Commission is not just for the original disciples, but for all who follow Jesus. Our obedience in sharing the gospel is an act of worship, and God promises to be with us as we go. True fulfillment and purpose are found not in the things of this world, but in a relationship with Jesus. Every believer has a story—who you were, how you met Jesus, and who you are because of Him. Imagine being the person God uses to change someone else’s eternity. Let us be faithful, obedient, and bold, trusting God to do what only He can do.
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Key Takeaways
- God Uses Our Faithfulness, Not Our Success
What may feel like failure in our eyes can be the very thing God uses to change lives. Our responsibility is to be faithful and obedient, leaving the results to God. The Holy Spirit works through our efforts, even when we don’t see the impact. Trust that God’s purposes are bigger than our understanding. [35:25]
- The Gospel Is for Everyone, and It’s a Gift
Every person is born into sin and separated from God, but Jesus stepped into our brokenness to offer salvation as a free gift. We cannot earn it or deserve it; it is given by grace through faith. This gift is available to all who call on the name of the Lord, with the promise that “you will be saved.” [41:54]
- Hearing and Sharing the Gospel Is Essential
People cannot believe in Jesus unless they hear about Him, and they cannot hear unless someone tells them. Each believer is uniquely positioned to reach people in their own circles—friends, family, coworkers—who may never hear the gospel otherwise. Our silence can mean someone never hears the good news; our obedience can change a life forever. [54:56]
- Obedience Is Worship, and Worship Is a Lifestyle
Sharing the gospel is not just a duty but an act of worship. Anything done for God’s glory with an obedient heart is worship, whether it’s singing, serving, or speaking truth. The Christian life is built on faithfulness through obedience, and this is the greatest worship we can offer. [57:48]
- True Fulfillment Is Found Only in Christ
The world offers many things that promise satisfaction—relationships, work, pleasure, even religion—but all will ultimately disappoint. Only a relationship with Jesus brings lasting fulfillment and purpose. We are created for fellowship with God, and only in Him do we find what our hearts truly seek. [01:03:06]
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Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Introduction and Personal Story
[02:30] - The Power of Faithfulness: Bruce’s Story
[05:30] - God’s Justice and the Reality of Sin
[08:00] - The Gift of Salvation Through Christ
[12:00] - The Gospel Explained with a Debt Analogy
[15:00] - The Promise of Salvation for All
[18:00] - Romans 10:13-15: The Call to Share
[21:00] - The Philippian Jailer: Transformation Through Hearing
[25:00] - The Cost and Courage of Following Jesus
[29:00] - The Power of the Holy Spirit in Us
[32:00] - The Freedom to Share and Our Responsibility
[36:00] - What Preaching Really Means for Every Believer
[39:00] - The Great Commission and Our Obedience
[42:00] - Finding Fulfillment in Christ Alone
[45:00] - Your Story and the Invitation to Share
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Faithfulness, the Gospel, and Our Calling
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### Bible Reading
- Romans 10:13-15
“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”
- Acts 16:25-34
(The story of the Philippian jailer who hears the gospel from Paul and Silas and is saved, along with his household.)
- John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Romans 10:13-15, what is the sequence of events that leads someone to salvation? What role does each person play in this process?
2. In Acts 16, what actions did Paul and Silas take that led to the jailer and his family hearing and believing the gospel?
3. The sermon shared a story about Bruce and the retreat leader. What did the retreat leader believe about his impact, and what did he later discover? [[35:25]]
4. What does John 3:16 say about who the gospel is for, and what is required to receive eternal life?
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon says, “Our responsibility is to be faithful and obedient, leaving the results to God.” Why is it important to focus on faithfulness rather than visible success? [[35:59]]
2. In the story of the Philippian jailer, what does his response to the gospel teach us about the power of hearing and believing? How does this relate to our own stories? [[45:55]]
3. The pastor said, “Sharing the gospel is not just a duty but an act of worship.” How does this change the way we think about evangelism and obedience? [[57:48]]
4. The sermon mentions that “true fulfillment is found only in Christ.” Why do other things (relationships, work, pleasure, even religion) ultimately disappoint, according to the message? [[01:02:12]]
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### Application Questions
1. Think about a time when you felt like your efforts for God didn’t matter or seemed like a failure. How does the story of Bruce and the retreat leader encourage you to keep being faithful, even when you don’t see results? [[35:25]]
2. The sermon says each of us has a unique sphere of influence—people who may never hear the gospel unless it comes from us. Who is one person in your life right now who might need to hear about Jesus? What is one step you can take to share with them this week? [[54:56]]
3. The pastor shared that “obedience is worship, and worship is a lifestyle.” What is one area of your life where you can be more intentionally obedient to God this week, as an act of worship? [[57:48]]
4. The message said, “We are sent into the world as ambassadors of Christ.” What does it look like for you to live as an ambassador for Jesus in your workplace, school, or home? [[58:31]]
5. The sermon talked about how the world offers many things that promise satisfaction but only Jesus truly fulfills. Is there something in your life right now that you are looking to for fulfillment instead of Christ? What would it look like to surrender that to Jesus? [[01:02:12]]
6. The pastor described his own story of coming to faith and challenged us to think about our own. If you are a believer, what are the three parts of your story: who you were, how you met Jesus, and who you are now? How could you share your story with someone this month? [[01:04:23]]
7. The message said, “Imagine being the person God uses to change someone else’s eternity.” What fears or obstacles hold you back from sharing your faith? How can you trust God to help you overcome them? [[54:23]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to help you be faithful and obedient, to give you boldness to share the gospel, and to find your fulfillment in Christ alone. Pray for the specific people in your lives who need to hear the good news.
Devotional
Day 1: The Universality of Sin and the Gift of Salvation
Every person, no matter their background or story, stands in need of God’s grace because all have sinned and fall short of His glory. Yet, God’s response to our brokenness is not condemnation alone, but the offer of a free gift—eternal life through Jesus Christ. We cannot earn this gift, nor do we deserve it, but God’s love is so great that He sent His Son to pay the debt we could never pay. The beauty of the gospel is that it is available to everyone, and anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. [41:54]
Romans 3:23-24 (ESV)
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Reflection: Where in your life do you struggle to accept that God’s grace is truly a free gift, not something you have to earn or deserve? How can you rest in that truth today?
Day 2: Faith Comes from Hearing—The Power of Sharing the Gospel
The message of salvation is not something people can discover on their own; it must be heard. God uses ordinary people to share the extraordinary news of Jesus, and through faithful proclamation, hearts are awakened to believe. Just as the jailer in Acts 16 heard the gospel and was saved, so too are lives transformed when we speak the truth of Christ. You may never know the full impact of your words, but God calls you to be faithful in sharing, trusting Him with the results. [45:55]
Romans 10:13-15 (ESV)
“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ 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!’”
Reflection: Who in your life might never hear the gospel unless it comes from you? What is one step you can take this week to share Jesus with them?
Day 3: The Call to Obedience—Faithfulness Over Success
God does not measure our lives by visible success, but by our faithfulness and obedience to His calling. Sometimes, what feels like failure in our eyes is used by God in ways we may never see. Our task is not to control the outcome, but to do what we are called to do and trust the Holy Spirit with the rest. Even small acts of obedience can have a ripple effect for eternity, so remain faithful in the everyday moments, knowing God is at work. [35:59]
1 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV)
“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”
Reflection: Is there an area where you feel your efforts for God have been unnoticed or unsuccessful? How can you choose faithfulness over results today?
Day 4: The Great Commission—You Are Sent
Jesus’ final command to His followers was to go and make disciples of all nations, a mission that continues through every believer today. Sharing the gospel is not reserved for pastors or missionaries; it is the calling of every Christian. You have been uniquely placed in your sphere of influence, and there are people who may only hear about Jesus through you. Obedience to this commission is an act of worship, and God promises to be with you as you go. [58:31]
Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
“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.’”
Reflection: What fears or excuses hold you back from sharing your faith? What would it look like to take one step of obedience in the Great Commission this week?
Day 5: True Fulfillment Is Found in Christ Alone
Every person is searching for meaning, purpose, and fulfillment, but nothing in this world—whether people, achievements, pleasures, or even religion—can satisfy the deepest longings of the heart. Only a relationship with Jesus Christ restores us to the fellowship with God for which we were created. When you place Jesus at the center of your life, you discover a freedom and joy that nothing else can provide, and you become a light to others who are searching for the same hope. [01:04:23]
John 4:13-14 (ESV)
“Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’”
Reflection: What are you tempted to seek fulfillment in besides Jesus? How can you intentionally center your heart on Christ today and invite Him to satisfy your deepest needs?
Quotes
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