WEEK 1
This is the Gospel…the Good News
Romans 5: 6-11
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
The reign of King Jesus has been ushered in to this world through his life, death, and resurrection. We are caught up into His Kingdom when we surrender everything we know ourselves to be and put our trust and faith into everything we know Him to be. The gospel is more than a belief. It is a revelation that demands a response and produces results
Jesus died for us!
While we were still sinners, God desired for us to be right with Him. For this to happen, His Son, Jesus, died a criminals death on the cross; was buried and spent three days in the tomb; and rose victoriously crushing death and defeating sin. This enabled and empowered us to have a right relationship with our Creator.
Our Response
When we acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of our lives and recognize our rebellion, we enter into a new life or new birth. Jesus changes everything and we can’t stay the same. Our life trajectory has been altered to live by the example Jesus modeled for us.
The Result
Yes, the Gospel leads you to your eternal destination, but it also cultivates your journey along the way. You have been redeemed! You have received God’s grace because of Jesus. His righteousness covers you.
The Gospel sanctifies you as you love and grow in Christ; brings joy in your relationship to God and others; and gifts you with a new heart, a new life, and a new Spirit within.
The Gospel affects you every day, in every way!
Jesus died for us!
While we were still sinners, God desired for us to be right with Him. For this to happen, His Son, Jesus, died a criminals death on the cross; was buried and spent three days in the tomb; and rose victoriously crushing death and defeating sin. This enabled and empowered us to have a right relationship with our Creator.
Our Response
When we acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of our lives and recognize our rebellion, we enter into a new life or new birth. Jesus changes everything and we can’t stay the same. Our life trajectory has been altered to live by the example Jesus modeled for us.
The Result
Yes, the Gospel leads you to your eternal destination, but it also cultivates your journey along the way. You have been redeemed! You have received God’s grace because of Jesus. His righteousness covers you.
The Gospel sanctifies you as you love and grow in Christ; brings joy in your relationship to God and others; and gifts you with a new heart, a new life, and a new Spirit within.
The Gospel affects you every day, in every way!
Read and Reflect
- John 3:1-21
- Romans 5
As you read these passages take some time to listen to Jesus.
- Ask Him to reveal new truths about the Gospel to you.
- Reflect on how you should respond to those new truths.
- Ask yourself how the Gospel impacts your life today.
- Thank God for His work in your life and for using a multitude of people, experiences, and resources to bring you into His Kingdom.
WEEK 2
The Spirit Empowered Gospel
(Romans 8:11)
“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by the same Spirit living in you.”
READ ACTS 2
Jesus performed many miracles throughout his time on earth, but the greatest miracle of all is the indwelling of His Spirit in us. The Spirit that lives in us is the same Spirit that caused the blind to see, the lame to walk, and the dead to rise! And that same Spirit bridges the gap between the weakness of our humanity and His powerful divinity.
In John 16:7, Jesus promised to send us an Advocate – the Spirit of Truth – to help us testify about Him. And it is nothing short of a miracle how the Spirit encourages us, strengthens us, comforts us, and counsels us.
The initial work of the Spirit is to lead us into a repentant and personal relationship with Christ. But as we begin to engage with the Spirit through the Word and through prayer, we begin to partner with Him in our everyday lives.
The Spirit of God is always at work to bring honor and glory to Jesus, strengthening us physically, encouraging us emotionally and counseling us spiritually. He knows exactly what we need when we need it and comes along side us to help.
The Spirit groans for us when we don’t know what to pray. He validates our words and actions when spoken in truth and done in obedience. He brings us energy when we are depleted, but also brings us rest in His presence.
There would be no Gospel if there were no Holy Spirit and our works for Christ are fruitless if we deny the Holy Spirit’s work in us.
In John 16:7, Jesus promised to send us an Advocate – the Spirit of Truth – to help us testify about Him. And it is nothing short of a miracle how the Spirit encourages us, strengthens us, comforts us, and counsels us.
The initial work of the Spirit is to lead us into a repentant and personal relationship with Christ. But as we begin to engage with the Spirit through the Word and through prayer, we begin to partner with Him in our everyday lives.
The Spirit of God is always at work to bring honor and glory to Jesus, strengthening us physically, encouraging us emotionally and counseling us spiritually. He knows exactly what we need when we need it and comes along side us to help.
The Spirit groans for us when we don’t know what to pray. He validates our words and actions when spoken in truth and done in obedience. He brings us energy when we are depleted, but also brings us rest in His presence.
There would be no Gospel if there were no Holy Spirit and our works for Christ are fruitless if we deny the Holy Spirit’s work in us.
Reflect and Respond
- Do you recognize the Holy Spirit as your helper and your friend?
- Do you allow the Spirit to work through you or do you dampen the fire of passion?
- Do you believe that miracles still happen today and that the Spirit of God is as alive and powerful as it was experienced in the Bible?
- This week, spend some time praying about the Holy Spirit’s work in your life and in the life of Alsbury.
- Write down ways you have seen and experienced the Spirit work in you and around you.
- Ask God to show you His glory through unexpected and miraculous ways.
“I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I might not be shaken; therefore, my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence” (Acts 2:25 and Psalm 16:8-11).
WEEK 3
To the ends of the earth
Acts 8:26-31
As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, ‘Go South’ down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza’. So, he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah (53:7-8). The Holy Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over and walk beside the carriage’. Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ The man replied, ‘How can I, unless someone instructs me?’ And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.
There is no doubt that people have “no excuse for not knowing God because His invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – are everywhere” (Romans 1:20), but to connect God’s invisible qualities to the work of His Son Jesus Christ can be hard to comprehend.
For many, the Bible is just a book telling a story. However, for Christians, we know the Bible is a book telling God’s plan of redemption for the whole world. All the way from Genesis to Revelation, God’s plan is for His creation to be reconciled to Himself and for each of us who call him Lord and King to be His messengers in the world.
For all, this means we disciple our neighbors. For some, this means God wants us to move across the world. It always means He knows someone in our path will need to understand God’s plan for their life in just the right way that we are able to explain it.
When I first went to Haiti, I was scared to death. Not because I was going to an unknown country by myself, but because I was going to share the Gospel.
I had no idea what that meant and was terrified I would be asked to explain something I wasn’t prepared for. Simply put, I felt unqualified.
What I found was the blessing of God not asking me to do more than I knew at the time. I was a new disciple, but I was solid in my belief. I had a lot yet to learn – and I still do in fact – but God sent me to the people who needed to hear exactly what I could explain. I didn’t have to give the deer in headlights look to anyone because God directed my way.
I had the faith to say “Here I am Lord, send me”, and he had the wisdom of who to send me to. (—Susan Dodson)
When Jesus gave us the Great Commission, He promised to be with us always! To guide us, to help us, to bring us wisdom in our words, and to connect us with the right people who need us to explain what Christ did for us and what He can do for them.
IT TAKES FAITH
Sharing the Gospel can be scary and we can so easily avoid the opportunities.
But here’s the deal…it takes faith. You may be lacking in confidence but you can put all your confidence in the one who you follow. Jesus is with you and the Holy Spirit will help you. You just need to obey. He will use every experience and every bit of understanding you have to help you share what you know.
Sharing the Gospel can be scary and we can so easily avoid the opportunities.
But here’s the deal…it takes faith. You may be lacking in confidence but you can put all your confidence in the one who you follow. Jesus is with you and the Holy Spirit will help you. You just need to obey. He will use every experience and every bit of understanding you have to help you share what you know.
Read and Reflect
READ ACTS 8:26-40
- We all have passages of Scripture that we don’t quite understand.
Seek God’s wisdom for a person that you can explore that passage together with. - What promptings have been on your heart lately?
Talk to God about what He wants you to do with that and ask Him for courage to follow through. - Sharing the Gospel is not for everyone else.
It is a responsibility that God gives to YOU. Ask God for opportunities, even if they are small, to explain the hope that you have with someone who needs to understand it.
