THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO YOU
Text: 2nd Corinthians 3:2
Introduction-
This message is really for preachers. It can
apply to all believers, but specifically, I have
ministers of the Gospel in mind in the things that
I will say today. It is a great and tremendous
calling to be a minister of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ, and it carries a heavy responisbility. I
believe that we have the greatest vocation in the
world.
In 1971 Tyndale Publications came out with a
paraphrase of the Bible that would prove to be imm-
ensly popular. It was called "The Living Bible."
Probably most of you reading this sermon have a
copy of it and have read some or all of it. Notice
what Paul said in the chosen text for today:
2nd Corinthians 3:2-"Ye are our epistle written in
our hearts, known and read of all men." People to
whom we preach will probably not remember many of
the sermons that we deliver to them over the years,
but they will remember their opinion of us, who
we are, and how we treated them, and lived before
them. We are "Little Bibles", so to speak, in their
eyes. They read us every time we come into contact
with them. That causes me to wonder-What kind of
Gospel do we preach? I read a poem once, and I
am not really sure if all the words are correct, or
who wrote it, but it goes something like this:
"You are writing a Gospel,
a chapter every day,
In the things that you do,
and the words that you say.
This little poem is surprising
but true,
For the only Bible some folks
will ever read is YOU."
Source: Sword of the Lord?
I. IS THE GOSPEL WE PREACH THE TRUE GOSPEL, OR IS
IT A FALSE GOSPEL?
1st Corinthians 9:6-"For though I preach the
gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necess-
ity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if
I preach not the gospel!"
Again, he said in 2nd Corinthians 4:3-"But if
our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are
lost: In whom the god of this world hath blind-
ed the minds of them which believe not, lest the
light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is
the image of God, should shine unto them."
It is true if it magnifies the grace of God,
and proclaims Christ as the only Way, and
calls upon men to repent and turn to God.
It is false if it glorifies man and seeks to
please people.
1. We preachers must make sure that the Gospel
that we preach is God’s truth.
2. We also must be willing to share it to any-
one, anywhere that we have opportunity.
II. IS THE GOSPEL WE PREACH A GOSPEL OF HOPE, OR OF
DESPAIR?
The word Gospel means "Good News." We are tell-
ing the world the most wonderful news they could
ever hear-that God loves them, and sent His Son
to die for them and save them.
Do we lift up the fallen, care for the dying,
snatch them in pity from sin and the grave?
Just this week a minister that I knew and his
entire family were burned to death in their
home about one or two o’clock in the morning.
The folks spoke well of him, and how that he
was always there when they needed him, and
how that he had helped their church to grow.
That’s a good legacy to leave behind.
The Gospel we preach is a Gospel of power and
love. It can change hearts, and heal wounds.
Are we presenting a positive message, or a
negative one?
III. Thirdly, I would like for us to ask ourselves-
IS THE GOSPEL WE PREACH PURE, OR POLLUTED?
Christ calls upon us as ministers, especially,
to live righteously.
There are some preachers who are ultra-conser-
vative in theology, but extremely liberal in
liveology. I pray to God we will never dis-
race the Gospel of Christ with one act of
immorality, or dishonesty.
Like, Paul, our goal in life and ministry should
be to know Christ, and the power of His resurr-
ection, and the fellowship of His sufferings.
If we do as we should, then someday, we will
meet our Master, and He will say-"Well done,
thou good and faithful servant. Enter thou
into the joy of thy Lord!"
Amen. So let it be.
