The Gospel for Real-Life
The Gospel and Singleness
This week, we ask how the gospel informs singleness. The Bible teaches that singleness is a unique gift in that it grants the individual the opportunity to remain fully devoted to the Lord without the additional relational responsibilities of marriage. Whatever our relationship status, it is important to remember that God is able to use us in a way that is pleasing to Him. Discussion Questions How do you generally view singleness? Positively or negatively? Do you often find yourself…
The Gospel and Marriage
This week, we ask how the gospel informs marriage. The gospel reminds us that marriage is not just an ordinary relationship. Marriage is a profound gift from God and symbolizes the relationship between Christ and the Church. Ephesians 5:21-33 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,…
The Gospel and Suffering
This week, we ask how the gospel informs suffering. When we experience suffering, we often get stuck on the question of why. What the gospel does for us is shift our attention from the why to the who. The gospel informs who the Lord is for us as we suffer and how his heart soothes our suffering souls. Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon…
The Gospel and Mission
This week, we ask how the gospel informs missions. The gospel teaches us that the mission field is everywhere. God has created the church for missions, and all of us are missionaries wherever we are. As believers, we are sent as Jesus was to go into the world with the good news of the gospel. John 20:21 Discussion Questions What do you think of when you think of missions? Of missionaries? Do you consider yourself to be sent? Why or…
The Gospel and Communication
This week, we ask how the gospel informs how we communicate. The gospel teaches us that our words have great power; therefore, we ought to use them wisely. In its simplest, gospel communication is communication that builds others up rather than tearing them down. As believers, the words we speak and the tone we use ought to reflect Christ such that He is made real to all who hear us. Ephesians 4:29-5:4 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out…
The Gospel and Rest
This week, we ask how the gospel informs our rest. The Lord created us as spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual, and social beings. Rest, in all these areas, becomes essential to our overall well-being. Though there are practical steps we can (and should) take to rest well, the goal of rest is ultimately to point us to the One in whom are souls find their deepest rest: Jesus. Mark 6:30-36 30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all…
The Gospel and Work
This week, we ask how the gospel informs our work. In our passage, we learn that the Bible teaches that work is a gift of God and deeply significant. More than that, the gospel informs the manner in which we work, our motivation for our work, and, finally, the opportunity we have to work on mission. Colossians 3:23-4:1 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their…
The Gospel for Life Itself
To begin our series on how the gospel relates to tangible aspects of our lives, we start in the book of Philippians. In this passage, we receive a call to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel. To conduct ourselves in such a way as this, regardless of circumstance, communicates the beauty of the gospel and makes Jesus real. Philippians 1:27-30 (Philippians 1:27-30) 27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I…