Good Shepherd Community Church

Big Idea:
Believe and share the Gospel through spiritual gifts, because it is the power of God for salvation and strength.

1. The Gospel is the Power of God for SALVATION!

a. When others try to shame you for believing and sharing the Gospel, don't be ashamed! Everyone you know needs to be saved, and only the power of God through the Gospel can save them.

b. We need to be saved from the wrath of God because of our sin.

c. We are saved by ongoing "believing" - turning from sin as the source of happiness and turning to Jesus instead.

d. Salvation is to the Jew first:
i. They are the historic chosen people of God.
ii. They are the guardians of God's special revelation, the Old Testament Scriptures.
iii. The Messiah and Savior, Jesus, comes to the world as a Jew to Jews.
iv. Salvation is from the Jews, since everyone who is saved is saved by being connected to the covenant with Abraham by faith.
v. The Jews are to be evangelized first when the gospel penetrates a new region.
vi. The Jews will enter first into final judgment and final blessing

e. Salvation is also to the Greek. Gentiles are saved by becoming, as it were, spiritual Jews according to Romans 2:28-29.

2. The Gospel is the Power of God for STRENGTH.

a. Through the Gospel, Jesus takes our sin, and we receive His righteousness by faith.

b. The righteousness of God is FROM faith FOR faith.

i. When we receive the Gospel, Jesus carries us, fills us with His Spirit, and empowers us to keep on believing until He brings us safely home to live with Him forever!

3. The Gospel was PLANNED, ACCOMPLISHED, and APPLIED.

a. The Gospel of God was planned and promised beforehand.

b. He accomplished it through the life, death, and resurrection of His divine and eternal Son.

c. He applied it to us by His grace when we were called through the Gospel to belong to Him!

4. The Gospel is our DEBT to others!

a. Grace is given to be shared. It is the nature of grace that it overflows with grace to others. This is the obligation or the debt of grace.

b. Romans 1:11 says that we share this grace through "spiritual gifts," or "grace given by the Holy Spirit."

c. The Holy Spirit wants to fill our words, actions, and prayers with His supernatural grace so that He can strengthen and encourage the faith of others through us.

"Next Steps" Takeaways:
With God:
Practice BELIEVING the Gospel of God for salvation and strength in the everyday moments of life.
• The power of the Gospel for relationships
• The power of the Gospel for work
• The power of the Gospel for temptation

"Next Steps" Takeaways:
With Others:
Practice SHARING the Gospel of God by receiving spiritual gifts for your words, actions, and prayers to love, strengthen, and encourage other believers

"Next Steps" Takeaways:
On Mission:
Practice SHARING the Gospel of God by receiving spiritual gifts for your words, actions, and prayers to love and save unbelievers.