Unveiling the Gospel: A Call to Share
Summary
### Summary
In today's message, we explored the concept of secrets and the innate human desire to share good news. We delved into the "mystery of Christ," a secret that was hidden for ages but revealed through Jesus. This mystery, which Paul speaks about in Ephesians 3:8-13, is not meant to be kept but shared with the world. The Old Testament already hinted at this, urging us to declare God's glory among the nations. The New Testament reinforces this call, emphasizing that the gospel is for everyone, not just a select few.
We discussed the statistics around evangelism, noting that while many Christians feel comfortable sharing their faith, a significant number haven't done so recently. This isn't to condemn but to encourage us to be part of the solution. Sharing the gospel is a privilege and a blessing, as Paul himself described it. He saw himself as unworthy yet honored to proclaim the "incalculable riches of Christ."
The gospel is not just good news for us but for everyone. It offers eternal life and a relationship with Jesus, who is our greatest treasure. This message is so valuable that it should ignite a desire in us to share it with others. We also touched on the challenges of evangelism, including the offense it can cause to both religious and irreligious people. Despite these challenges, we are called to share the gospel boldly, knowing that it is God's power for salvation.
Finally, we reflected on the nature of persecution and affliction in the Christian life. These hardships are not to be avoided but embraced as they identify us with the suffering of Jesus. The Christian life involves taking up our cross and following Jesus, even when it's difficult. The good news of the gospel remains good, and we are called to share it with the nations, knowing that God will bring the growth.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Mystery of Christ Revealed: The gospel, once a hidden mystery, is now revealed and meant to be shared with all nations. This revelation is a call to declare God's glory and wondrous works to everyone, breaking the barriers of exclusivity. The message of Christ is not just for a select few but for the entire world. [02:28]
2. Evangelism as a Privilege: Sharing the gospel is not just a duty but a grace and a blessing. Paul considered it an honor to proclaim the "incalculable riches of Christ," despite feeling unworthy. This perspective should inspire us to see evangelism as a joyful privilege rather than a burdensome task. [08:34]
3. The Incalculable Riches of Christ: The gospel offers more than just eternal life; it offers a relationship with Jesus, who is our greatest treasure. This relationship is marked by the "incalculable riches" of Christ, including the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and confident access to God the Father. [11:29]
4. The Offense of the Gospel: The gospel is inherently offensive to both religious and irreligious people because it challenges human pride and self-sufficiency. Religious people may be offended by its freeness, while irreligious people may be offended by its call to repentance. Despite this, we are called to share the gospel boldly. [20:15]
5. Embracing Persecution: The Christian life involves embracing persecution and affliction as part of our identification with Jesus. These hardships are not to be avoided but seen as opportunities to grow in faith and witness. Sharing the gospel, even when it leads to persecution, is part of our calling as followers of Christ. [23:57]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - The Fun of Secrets
[01:31] - The Desire to Share Good News
[02:28] - The Mystery of Christ
[03:22] - Proclaiming to the Nations
[04:35] - Statistics on Evangelism
[05:34] - Encouragement to Share Faith
[06:50] - The Blessing of Evangelism
[07:50] - The Good News of Great Joy
[08:34] - Paul's Perspective on Evangelism
[09:38] - The Gospel's Incalculable Riches
[10:45] - The Kindness of God
[11:29] - Jesus as Our Greatest Treasure
[12:37] - The Necessity of Evangelism
[13:22] - The Free Gift of Salvation
[14:00] - God's Eternal Purpose
[15:21] - Conversations with a Muslim
[16:09] - Jesus: More Than a Prophet
[17:11] - One Mediator Between God and Man
[17:57] - Boldness Through Faith
[19:09] - Confident Access to the Father
[20:15] - The Offense of the Gospel
[21:42] - Saved by Grace Through Faith
[22:35] - The Call to Repentance
[23:57] - Embracing Persecution
[24:57] - Declaring the Gospel to the Nations
[25:50] - Invitation to Receive Jesus
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 3:8-13
2. Titus 3:4-7
3. 1 Timothy 2:5
### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul mean by the "mystery of Christ" in Ephesians 3:8-13? How was this mystery revealed? [02:28]
2. According to the sermon, what are some reasons why Christians might feel hesitant to share their faith? [05:34]
3. How does Paul describe his role in sharing the gospel in Ephesians 3:8-9? What does he call it? [08:34]
4. What are the "incalculable riches of Christ" mentioned in the sermon and Ephesians 3:8? [11:29]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is the gospel described as a "mystery" that was hidden for ages but now revealed? How does this impact our understanding of God's plan? [02:28]
2. How does viewing evangelism as a privilege rather than a duty change one's approach to sharing the gospel? [08:34]
3. What does it mean to have "boldness and confident access" through faith in Jesus, as mentioned in Ephesians 3:12? How should this affect our daily lives? [17:57]
4. Why might the gospel be offensive to both religious and irreligious people? How should this influence the way we share our faith? [20:15]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt hesitant to share your faith. What were the reasons behind your hesitation, and how can you overcome them in the future? [05:34]
2. Paul saw himself as unworthy yet honored to share the gospel. How can adopting this perspective change the way you view your role in evangelism? [08:34]
3. The sermon mentioned that the gospel offers a relationship with Jesus, who is our greatest treasure. How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with Jesus this week? [11:29]
4. Think of a person in your life who might find the gospel offensive. How can you approach sharing your faith with them in a way that is both bold and compassionate? [20:15]
5. The sermon discussed embracing persecution as part of our identification with Jesus. How can you prepare yourself mentally and spiritually to face potential persecution for your faith? [23:57]
6. Identify one person you know who hasn't heard the gospel. What specific steps can you take this week to share the "good news" with them? [07:50]
7. How can you remind yourself daily of the "incalculable riches of Christ" and let this truth motivate you to share the gospel with others? [11:29]
Devotional
Day 1: The Mystery of Christ Revealed
The gospel, once a hidden mystery, is now revealed and meant to be shared with all nations. This revelation is a call to declare God's glory and wondrous works to everyone, breaking the barriers of exclusivity. The message of Christ is not just for a select few but for the entire world. The Old Testament already hinted at this, urging us to declare God's glory among the nations. The New Testament reinforces this call, emphasizing that the gospel is for everyone, not just a select few. This universal message of salvation through Jesus Christ is a treasure that we are called to share with the world. [02:28]
Ephesians 3:8-9 (ESV): "To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who may not know the gospel. How can you share the mystery of Christ with them this week in a way that is loving and respectful?
Day 2: Evangelism as a Privilege
Sharing the gospel is not just a duty but a grace and a blessing. Paul considered it an honor to proclaim the "incalculable riches of Christ," despite feeling unworthy. This perspective should inspire us to see evangelism as a joyful privilege rather than a burdensome task. Many Christians feel comfortable sharing their faith, but a significant number haven't done so recently. This isn't to condemn but to encourage us to be part of the solution. Sharing the gospel is a privilege and a blessing, as Paul himself described it. [08:34]
1 Corinthians 9:16 (ESV): "For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!"
Reflection: Reflect on your own feelings about evangelism. Do you see it as a privilege or a burden? How can you shift your perspective to see it as a joyful privilege?
Day 3: The Incalculable Riches of Christ
The gospel offers more than just eternal life; it offers a relationship with Jesus, who is our greatest treasure. This relationship is marked by the "incalculable riches" of Christ, including the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and confident access to God the Father. These riches are not just material but spiritual, offering peace, joy, and a deep sense of purpose. The gospel is not just good news for us but for everyone. It offers eternal life and a relationship with Jesus, who is our greatest treasure. This message is so valuable that it should ignite a desire in us to share it with others. [11:29]
Colossians 1:27 (ESV): "To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Reflection: What are the "incalculable riches" of Christ that you have experienced in your own life? How can you share these experiences with others to show them the value of a relationship with Jesus?
Day 4: The Offense of the Gospel
The gospel is inherently offensive to both religious and irreligious people because it challenges human pride and self-sufficiency. Religious people may be offended by its freeness, while irreligious people may be offended by its call to repentance. Despite this, we are called to share the gospel boldly. The offense of the gospel is a reality we must face, but it should not deter us from our mission. The good news of the gospel remains good, and we are called to share it with the nations, knowing that God will bring the growth. [20:15]
1 Corinthians 1:23-24 (ESV): "But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."
Reflection: Have you ever hesitated to share the gospel because you were afraid of offending someone? How can you approach these conversations with both boldness and sensitivity?
Day 5: Embracing Persecution
The Christian life involves embracing persecution and affliction as part of our identification with Jesus. These hardships are not to be avoided but seen as opportunities to grow in faith and witness. Sharing the gospel, even when it leads to persecution, is part of our calling as followers of Christ. The good news of the gospel remains good, and we are called to share it with the nations, knowing that God will bring the growth. The Christian life involves taking up our cross and following Jesus, even when it's difficult. [23:57]
2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV): "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
Reflection: How do you respond to persecution or hardship in your life? Can you see these challenges as opportunities to grow in your faith and witness for Christ?
Quotes
1. "We like hearing secrets and being let in on the secrets, but then we also like to share the secrets so that they're not secrets anymore, right? That kind of sums that up. Last week, we talked about the secret that God let us in on. For centuries past, centuries previous to Jesus' coming, there was a secret. It was written in plain sight. Everyone should have known it by following what God was up to, following God's plan." [01:31] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God calls us to proclaim the mystery of Christ to all the world. Ephesians chapter 3 is where we're at this morning. Ephesians chapter 3. Verses 8 through 13. It says this. This grace was given to me, the least of all the saints, to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things." [02:28] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "A lot of people will say that evangelism is one of our biggest fears as believers, and not many Christians are doing it. And there's lots of studies that can support all these different viewpoints, but I want to look at this one chart, this one study that I saw recently, that kind of sums up some of these things, but also gives us a little bit of hope. It says that 58% of churchgoers' attitudes regarding sharing their faith, 58% say that they feel comfortable sharing their faith, which I think that's good news." [04:35] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Once again, I share this not to condemn anyone, but to encourage us. To say, well, maybe I haven't, but I can. Maybe I can be on the flip side of some of these things and be a part of that percentage of people who are sharing their faith. Who are inviting. People to church, who are inviting people to know Jesus. See, when we look at this chart, we could focus on the negative, but, or we can be, we can say, I'm going to be part of the solution." [06:50] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We have a message that should be shared. That's it's, it's a message that we should want to share. It's, it's a secret that we should be just itching to, to, to, to get out, to, to not keep it to ourselves, but to be excited about the message, um, so that we share it with all the world. So, so we should be challenged. We should be challenged to be a part of those who see the gospel as worth sharing, worth sharing." [07:50] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Paul saw himself as the least of all the saints. He saw himself as unworthy of carrying the message. He knew that the message, the message was so good that Jesus came as a little baby, lived the life. That we all fail to live. We all know that we're not perfect. We're sinners, but then died in our place, forgiving of our sins. Just as Jesus said from the cross, father, forgive them for they know not what they do." [08:34] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "The gospel is amazing. We don't deserve that. We don't deserve heaven. We don't deserve being co heirs with Christ of, of the eternal blessings that we have in Jesus. We don't deserve any of that. That's what Paul calls it the incalculable riches of Christ, not just, not just having heaven as our home one day. And that in itself would be amazing. Yeah. But the incalculable riches of Christ himself. See, Christ is our greatest treasure." [10:45] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "When you see how good Jesus is, you not only place your faith in him, you begin to want to share him with all the world. Verses 12 through 13 says it like this, In him we have boldness and confident access through faith in him. So then I ask you not to be discouraged over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are for your glory. When we see how good Jesus is, we begin to not just put our faith in him, but begin to share him with all the world." [17:11] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "We can't sin so much that God stops loving us. We can't. That's not a license to say, go out and sin as much as you want. Obviously not. But we can't mess up so much that God stops loving us. His love is greater than that. His love is deeper than that. His love is higher than that, wider than that, any kind of descriptor that you can put on it. God's love is greater than everything. He will always love you." [19:09] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "The good news is still good and we've planted a seed and somebody else is going to water it. God's going to bring the growth because he's promised that he would. See, God has given us a secret to tell to the nations that it's not just the Jews who are God's chosen people. It's not just one select family who gets to inherit salvation. No, we're to declare the gospel to the nations that God loves them too, that God has a plan for them in Christ as he's reconciling the whole world to himself." [24:36] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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