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From The Desk of Pastor Jeff
Our Vision: (Adapted from:http://www.thevillagechurch.net)
To Exalt the Triune God through:
Gospel Centered Worship
Gospel Centered Discipleship
Gospel Centered Community
Gospel Centered Service
Gospel Centered Mission
Last week we discussed how the gospel is about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sins. The gospel is the central message of the Bible and the central message of Christianity. This week we will discuss how the gospel is meant to direct and determine the life of the church.
One of the things I’ve been learning to get my head over the past few years is how the gospel radically changes the life of the Christian. Nowadays, faith and religion are being pushed to the margins of society. But when we read Scripture we see that good news of Jesus Christ is not meant to be kept to oneself but to be shared with those who do not know it (Mt. 5:14-16, 28:19-20). We are not to be ashamed of it (Rom 1:16) but to be courageous. However, we are also not to simply preach the gospel to outsiders. We are also constantly called to remind ourselves and other believers (i.e. those inside the church) about the gospel (Heb 10:24-25, Gal 1:6-7).
This may be surprising to many since we would expect that those on the outside need to hear about gospel and that those on the inside who have already heard the gospel would need to grow spiritually. This is true. However, the question of how one grows spiritually is vitally important. This was the issue that was raised by Paul in his letter to the Galatians. Listen to what Paul wrote to the church.
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
(Galatians 1:6-9 ESV)
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