Simply Gospel

May my steps be worship. May my thoughts be praise.

  • Facts, Commands, and Promises

    How do we typically share the gospel? Often, we share the good news, emphasizing the commands of the New Testament. We assume someone knows the fact of Jesus’ life and death and the promises surrounding the message. However, the commands cannot be truly obeyed without a good understanding of the facts and the promises surrounding Jesus and His word. The Facts It is too simplistic to merely say Jesus died for our sins. Why did Jesus not save us some other way? Why is Jesus’ blood necessary for salvation? Jehovah God is holy, perfect, upright, and just. His plan is… Continue reading

  • Sin & the Solution

    What does the term “Christian” mean to you? The idea of being a Christian can range from merely being a good person to being a believer in God to identifying oneself with Christ. This consideration is not a new one. Back in the first century, there were many people who were becoming the first Christians, and the apostles guided them in these first steps. The main concern, though, was this: Sin separates us from God, and we need reconciliation to our God. This reconciliation is found in Christ; that was true then, and it is true today. Forgiveness of sins… Continue reading

  • A Proper Mindset

    On the way in this morning, most of us were asked, “What time is it?” We all answered in different ways, but the real answer is this: It is time to worship God. This serves as an illustration to a point made back in our studies on Corinth on how we are products of our society and how it is easier to think carnally than it is to do so spiritually. In John 17, Jesus prays for Himself, for the apostles, and for all believers. John 17:15 illustrates a saying some of us have: “In the world; not of the… Continue reading

  • Sermon on the Mount Part 5: The Conclusion

    Based on Jesus’ teaching, I have to be willing to check myself on a daily basis to see if I’m in line with what Christ expects of us, and I have to be willing to make changes in those places I am outside of His word. Remember the Beatitudes and the concept of being poor in spirit – humble before and submitting to God and His will. We’ve studied about the example we set for others and how hypocrisy can affect this example. Furthermore, we have examined the standard of righteousness defined in this sermon and the priorities we should… Continue reading

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  • Sermon on the Mount Part 4: Seen of Men

    In this sermon, Jesus is trying to impress on his listeners what it really meant to be followers of God. It is more than following stoic rights and rituals – there is a certain attitude and state of mind God’s followers should have. So far, we’ve studied characteristics of true disciples: being poor in spirit, peacemakers, selfless individuals. God’s followers are lights to be seen in their attitudes and their actions. Additionally, Jesus talks about righteousness, and the standards of true righteousness, but now He speaks about hypocrisy and the dangers of such conduct. Avoiding Hypocrisy Jesus speaks of three areas… Continue reading

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  • Sermon on the Mount Part 3: Focus on the Heart

    In the first lesson, we looked at what it means to be “poor of spirit” – to be empty of self and full of Christ. Prior to that, we examined Jesus’ meaning in saying that He came to “fulfill the law.” He summed up and accomplished all that the Old Testament pointed to. From here, Jesus sets a higher standard of righteousness for God’s people, and he contrasts several accepted truths of the time and contrasts them with God’s desire. Matthew 5:20 specifically speaks of becoming more righteous than the spiritual leaders of the time period in order to enter… Continue reading

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  • Sermon on the Mount Part 2: Fulfilling the Law

    Jesus makes statements that we might consider to me “mission statements” throughout His ministry, and one of those in in Matthew 5:17 – to fulfill the law and accomplish all it is meant to do. This heeding to the law and prophets is repeated in Matthew 7:12, and these two statements bookend the main body of Jesus’ sermon on the mountain. What Does Jesus Mean By This Statement? What does Jesus mean when He says He comes to fulfill the law in Matthew 5:17? To answer this we are going to look at what Jesus is saying and defining some… Continue reading

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  • Sermon on the Mount Part 1: Spiritual Poverty

    Think about these question: What kind of things make you happy? Similarly, what does it take to make you happy? For the next few lessons, we are going to be looking at the Sermon on the Mount, sometimes referred to as the Christian Manifesto or God’s Guide to Life. The three chapters (Matthew 5-7) that constitute this sermon contain a wealth of information, and this is a beneficial place to come to when we need to center or focus on what we should be as Christians. Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit This lesson begins with what we call the… Continue reading

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  • Attitudes & Outlooks

    Our decisions, the way we conduct ourselves around others, and how our relationships work are determined by our attitude and outlook on life. Our attitude also affects our spiritual lives, and, in this lesson, we are going to look at some attitudes and what God would have us be. Attitudes and Outlooks The pessimist expects the worst out of a situation. Everything is seen in a negative light, and no good can come out of whatever is being viewed pessimistically. The cynic questions motivations behind actions. The assumption exists that things are done only to somehow benefit the one performing… Continue reading

  • The Second Coming

    Can you imagine seeing someone you know do the incredible things that Jesus did during His ministry? Can you imagine seeing this friend put to death only to rise up again in three days? Can you imagine seeing this friend lift off the ground and ascend into the clouds? This is what the apostles witnesses, and these events came with the promise that Jesus would return. This return of our Savior is promised in Acts 1:9-11. His return is assured in Revelation 1:7, and Hebrews 9:27-28 tells of a return that would be filled with salvation for those who wait… Continue reading