So the fifth part of disciple making that I want to
address with you is the idea that those who are effective in disciple making
are those who do so simply. What does this mean? Read on…
In the above quote from Albert Einstein, makes the
assertion that those who truly understand their subject matter can make it
simple to those to whom they are trying to explain it. In other words, if you
know your material, the easier you can help others understand it.
When it comes to the Gospel, and that which is important
in it, we need go no further than 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. In this passage, Paul
lays out for us what is truly important in our presentation of Gospel. Here’s five
very important elements that need to be in any Gospel presentation you give.
1) THIS
IS GOOD NEWS! (1-2)
When you share the Gospel, you need to express it as
good news for people. What Jesus has done for them is something that no one
else in all the world ever would or ever will do for them. So the fact that
their sins can be forgiven and that their sin debt can be paid is of utmost importance…and
it’s GOOD!
2) CHRIST’S
DEATH (3)
Christ’s death is central to the Gospel. If Christ did not
die, then did not pay the sin debt, because the payment of sin to those who
commit it is death. So for us to eliminate or even downplay the death of Christ
strips the Gospel of importance and of its power.
3) CHRIST
IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD (4)
Christ’s death is important, but just as important is
that Christ rose from the dead. If he did not rise from the dead, then death
won and there is no hope for the future. But He did rise, and He did show
Himself to those who followed Him (more on that later). So whenever we tell of
the Good News of the Gospel, we need to make sure that the risen Christ is part
of that presentation.
4) EYE-WITNESS
ACCOUNTS (5-8)
Paul goes on to say that the Gospel is also about the
eye-witnesses who saw Jesus following His resurrection. He mentions Peter, the
rest of the Apostles, a group of 500 people at the same time, Jesus’
half-brother James as well as His other brothers, and then Paul Himself had an
encounter with the risen Jesus. These eye-witnesses are vitally important
because they make the claim that Jesus rose from the dead valid…and the fact
that 500 people saw Him at the same time tells us that it wasn’t just hallucinations
either.
5) THE
CHANGED LIFE (9-11)
Finally, Paul tells about the change in his own life
that came about because of the Gospel. This Gospel and the grace that came with
it was the foundation of a changed life. Paul was persecuting the church,
putting people in jail and even to death who were following after Jesus. But
when the Gospel took hold of him, God’s amazing grace changed him into the
hardest working apostle of all time.
So here’s the challenge: will you allow your
presentation of the Gospel to include these things? Or will you continue to
just share something that’s watered down and not very persuasive? This is the Gospel,
folks! This is what we need to be sharing with our loved ones, our friends,
those who we meet day by day, and demonstrating it with our lives. Christ died,
rose again, was seen by people and has changed MY life.
It’s just that simple!
Think about that today! And God bless you!
