Spiritual DisciplinesSample

Week 5- Sharing

Day 1- Understanding the Gospel

Discover: What is the Gospel? These four words have power even in itself. These four words, when spoken and believed has the power to change lives. When someone utters the words, “What is the Gospel?”, they are looking for a way of hope. It’s the start of one of the greatest surrenders life has to offer. So, what is the Gospel? Romans 1:16 calls it, “the power of God for salvation.” There are many things we can think of when it comes to answering the question “What is the gospel?” But to understand the weight of the gospel, you have to understand the love that it brings. The gospel is God’s love letter to his creation. A love letter that isn’t superficial, but one that brings pain and suffering into the equation to present the amount of love our Heavenly Father has for us, His people. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15, the essential truths about the gospel that you should know to understand it. The truth is that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and raised on the third day. Why did he do this? Well according to John 3:16, God loves us so much that he willingly gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Learn: See the Gospel is the story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, which in itself offers up forgiveness for the sins we commit. But not only does it offer us a chance at redemption, but a chance to live in eternity with God in His Holy Kingdom. If you truly know what the Gospel is, then you know the power it has to transform lives. The same power, that can bring us into a right relationship with Him. This is why we should understand the gospel, because it’s not just a word, it's a love letter from the one whose love for you is everlasting.

Apply: So, what should we do now? Well, the first of many steps in truly wanting to know more about our loving Father, is to talk to Him. Alexander Whyte said, “The greatest and best talent that God gives to any man or woman in the world is the talent of prayer.” Spend these next couple of moments of your day praying to God. Ask Him to deepen your understanding of the Gospel and to give you that passion to share it with others. But also, put your desire to fully understand the glory of the Gospel by writing it down and start practicing ways to share it with someone. Maybe it’s a family member or a close friend. Take this time and ask yourself, what does the Gospel mean to me?

· In your own words, how can you explain what the gospel is and why is it significant to you in your life?

· Q2: John 3:16 talks about God’s immense love for us. How does knowing that God sent his one and only Son impact the way you view yourself and your relationship with God?

· How has the gospel impacted your life?

· How can you prepare yourself to effectively share the good news?