THE GOSPEL (Advanced)
Series 1
QUESTION: Do you consider yourself to be like the Bereans?
I. Acts 17:10-11
A. The people from Berea (the Bereans) examined the Scriptures to make sure what they were being taught was Biblically true.
B. We should always be like the Bereans and test everything spiritual leaders say.
C. What do you think the Gospel is?
D. The word “gospel” means “good news.” Let’s be Bereans and see what the Scriptures say…
II. 1Corinthians 15:1-4
A. The gospel is the good news of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection (show the Gospel Illustration on pg. 15).
B. Let’s look at a very powerful and convicting passage…
III. 2Thessalonians 1:7-10
A. Jesus will punish those who do not know God and those who do not obey the Gospel.
B. Since the gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, how does one obey the gospel?
a. Obeying the gospel starts with discipleship. The word “disciple” means “student”
b. Did you know that the word “Christian” appears 3 times in the Bible, while the word “disciple” over 270 times?...
IV. Acts 11:25-26
A. Disciples were first called “Christians” by the people of the city of Antioch.
B. Therefore, a Christian and a disciple are the same…
V. John 8:31
A. A true disciple holds to the teachings of Christ.
B. Can a person know Christ and yet disobey His commandments?...
VI. 1John 2:4-6
A. A true disciple obeys God’s commands and walks in the manner of Christ.
B. Let’s see what Jesus says a person must do to become His disciple…
VII. Luke 14:25-33
A. We learned in Acts 11:26 that a disciple is the same as a Christian.
B. In all honesty, does this passage describe you?
a. The Greek word for “hate” is “miseo,” which means, “love less.”
b. We are influenced by those whom we love the most.
c. In order for us to be Jesus’ disciple, His words must have a greater influence on us than the words of family, friends, and religious leaders.
C. In verse 33, Jesus says we must give up everything, this includes preconceived ideas…
a. For example: When you wanted to become born again, did you say a prayer, asking Jesus to come into your heart?
b. Asking Jesus to come into one’s heart is known as the “sinner’s prayer” or the “altar call.”
c. Did you know that the sinner’s prayer was started in the 1800s by a man named Charles Finney?
i. This is why we must be like the Bereans…
VIII. Matthew 15:9
A. What type of teachings lead to vain (useless) worship?
B. The “sinner’s prayer” is a man-made teaching.
C. May I show you how people became born again in Bible times?
a. If Old testament is available: 2Kings 5:10-12
i. Before we look into how one Biblically becomes born again, let’s look at 2Kings 5:10-12
ii. Naaman had his own preconceived ideas as to how God was going to heal him.
iii. As a result, Namaam got angry because he wanted to be healed on his terms, not on God’s terms.
iv. Preconceived ideas prevent a person from receiving the teachings of God
v. This is why we must give up everything, including preconceived ideas, to be His disciple.
vi. Do you see yourself as a person who gladly receives God’s teachings?
vii. Let’s see what the Bible says about how one becomes truly born again.
b. I’m going to show you three passages that beautifully link together…
IX. John 3:3-5
A. A man must be born of water and Spirit to enter the Kingdom of God.
B. What do you think “born of water” means?
C. There are many interpretations as to what it means. Acts 2:37-38 will clarify its meaning. But before we turn there…
X. Matthew 16:16-19
A. Jesus gives Peter the keys of the Kingdom.
B. Keys are used for opening doors, in this case, the door to the Kingdom.
C. Consider these two points:
a. Since the Kingdom is entered by water and Spirit, the keys of the Kingdom must involve “water” and “Spirit”
b. Since Jesus gave Peter the keys of the Kingdom, then we should expect Peter to be the first to tell people how to be born again. And that he does…
XI. Acts 2:37-38
A. When the people wanted to be saved, what did Peter, the man given the keys of the Kingdom, tell them to do to become born again?
B. In the Greek, the word “repent” (metanoeo) means “change your mind”, which also involves a change in one’s actions.
C. Then he tells them to “be baptized.” That’s the “born of water” part.
D. Afterwards, God will give that person the gift of the Holy Spirit. That’s the “born of Spirit” part.
E. Do you see how John 3:5, Matthew 16:19 and Acts 2:38 perfectly flow together?
F. According to verse 38, for what two reasons must a person be baptized?
a. Yet, those who teach the “Sinner’s Prayer” say a person must “ask Jesus into their hearts” for the forgiveness of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
b. Do you see how the “Sinner’s Prayer” replaced the purpose baptism had?
c. Charles Finney admitted that the sinner’s prayer replaced the purpose baptism had (show the Charles Finney quote on page 17).
XII. Colossians 2:11-12
A. According to verse 12, at what point does Jesus circumcise (cut away) our sins?
B. The reason why baptism is for the forgiveness of sins is because Christ circumcises us at baptism.
a. This explains why Jesus said a man must be “born of water” to enter the kingdom of heaven…
XIII. Ephesians 1:7
A. We receive forgiveness through Jesus’ blood.
B. His blood was shed at His death. Do you agree?
a. Let’s see how one gets into Jesus and into His death, that is, His blood…
XIV. Romans 6:3-4
A. How does one get into Christ and His death?
B. Notice the death, burial and resurrection in this passage?
a. A person obeys the gospel in baptism (show the Baptism Illustration on page 16).
XV. Mark 16:15-16
A. According to Jesus in verse 16, how does one obey the Gospel? In other words, who will be saved?
B. Yet, many church leaders teach: “he who believes and is NOT baptized will be saved”.
XVI. 2Peter 2:21
A. If we reject the truth after we learned it, it will be worse for us on Judgment Day than if we never knew it at all.
B. Satan will use false teachers to try to get you to reject all you learned today. Protect yourself from falling into Satan’s trap by following Jesus’ example…
XVII. Matthew 4:3-9
A. Jesus used Scripture to refute Satan.
b. We should never say, “Well, I think…” or “Well, I feel…” or “Well, my minister says…”
c. Rather, we should respond like Jesus and say “It is written…”
B. In verses 6-7, Satan quotes Scripture, which causes Jesus to say, “It is ALSO written…”
a. Therefore, whenever a person uses Scripture, we ought to respond like Jesus and say, “It is ALSO written…”
C. For example: Let’s read John 3:16
a. Someone may refer to this passage and say: “Well, baptism is not mentioned in John 3:16. It just says believe. Therefore, we don’t need to be baptized to be saved”.
b. Using Jesus’ example in Matthew 4:6-7, how would you respond?
i. I would respond: “It is also written in Acts 2:38…”
XVIII. Romans 16:17
A. God commands us to stay away from those who teach contrary to His teachings.
B. Should we continue attending groups that do not teach purely from Scriptures?
XIX. Acts 22:16
A. What is God telling you to do?
a. Just as God told Naaman to dip 7 times in the river to be healed, God is telling you not to delay, but to arise and be baptized and wash away your sins.
b. This passage shows us that we call on His name through baptism.
Additional Passages:
Give (or lend) the person a copy of the “What Is the Gospel?” DVD as a supplementary study.
If the person wants to obey the gospel, do the “Discipleship” study with them.