In the New Testament there are four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. In light of those four gospels I want to ask you an unusual question. What is the gospel according to you?
This week I read a story about a new convert who testified that he had been saved by reading a copy of the fifth gospel. No, it wasn’t Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. He was saved by reading the Gospel according to Mike the butcher. Mike was an earnest Christian whose godly life and testimony had been used of God to save this man. (Contributed to Sermon Central by: Bruce Howell) That story illustrates what I mean by the gospel according to you.
What do you need in order to write a gospel? The gospels are the first four books of the New Testament. Four men wrote those four books: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Is it possible that God could have used you to write one of the four gospels? Obviously, those four books were inspired by God for a unique time, place and purpose. I am not suggesting that you or I could duplicate that process. Only God can do that! However, do we have the same material in our hearts that was in the hearts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John? Could God have used us? Can God use us today?
Many of you have bought copies of Lee Strobel’s book, The Case for Christmas. Each chapter in that book draws from a different form of evidence to defend the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In each of these chapters Lee Strobel ask the question, can we trust the evidence? Chapter 1 deals with the eyewitness evidence. He analyzes Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as his eyewitnesses. Lee Strobel contends that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John can be trusted as witnesses of Jesus life.
It is my contention that all of us who know Jesus Christ can be used as reliable witnesses to share his story. It is my contention that you and I have the same material in our hearts that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John had in theirs. I want to use Luke’s gospel, chapter 1, verses 1-4 to consider this idea. What did Luke have in his heart that enabled him to write this gospel.
I. If you are going to write a gospel there must be a Belief in the subject.
A. Luke had accepted the truth and teachings about Jesus. They became a part of his life. Luke had received three forms of information about Jesus and he accepted that truth.
(1) Luke had read the writings of other authors who wrote about Jesus. In verse 1 we read “Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which are most surely believed among us”. We do not know the identity of the authors mentioned in this verse. All we know is that they communicated about Jesus and Luke accepted the truth of their teachings.
(2) No doubt Luke was familiar with the Old Testament prophecies. I am convinced that some of the writings referred to in verse 1 are the Old Testament prophecies.
(3) Finally, Luke was familiar with many eyewitness accounts about Jesus. (vs. 2) In fact, Luke was a traveling companion of Paul. How do we know this? Luke wrote the book of Acts and there are many “we” passages in the book of Acts when Luke testified of being with Paul. For instance, in Acts 16:10 Luke says “Immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.” Can you imagine what it meant to be the traveling companion of the apostle Paul? You could not help but hear about Jesus. That would be like traveling with a grand parent and not hearing about their grand children.
Luke was not some naïve dummy. He was a very intelligent man. He was a medical doctor. You do not get that degree at the dollar general. In addition, Bible scholars tell us that Luke’s Greek writing was some of the best Greek in the entire New Testament. He was a very learned man. Luke did not accept the stories of Jesus at face value. He had investigated. He gathered all of the available information and wrote an account.
There is nothing wrong with investigating the claims of Christ. The Case for Christmas book was written by a man who investigated the claims of Christ. There are other popular books written by individuals who investigated the claims of Christ. C. S. Lewis wrote a book entitled Mere Christianity, in which he does an intellectual discussion of the Christian faith. In fact, I believe Chuck Colson was saved while reading Mere Christianity. Josh McDowell has written two books, Evidence That Demands A Verdict and More Than A Carpenter. These books are books that defend the truth about Jesus Christ for those who want to investigate the truth about Him.
Luke accepted the truth about Jesus and believed in the subject. That was not easy. He more than likely was a Gentile. In fact, Bible scholars tell us that he was the only Gentile to write part of the New Testament. Luke had checked out the facts about Jesus and he believed in his subject.
Ill- The story is told of the renowned conductor Reichel who was leading a orchestra and choir in the final rehearsal of preparations for the Messiah. They had come to the point where the soprano soloist takes up the refrain, “I know that my Redeemer liveth.” With the chorus quiet, her elegant voice rang out. It was marked by perfect technique in breathing and enunciation. She sang every note just as it was written. As the final note faded into silence, the entire orchestra expected to see Reichel’s nod of approval. But instead, he stepped down from the podium and made his way to the singer. With a look of sorrow, he said, “My daughter, you do not really know that your Redeemer lives, do you?” “Why, yes,” she blushingly replied. “Then sing it ” cried Reichel. “Tell it to me so that I will know, and all who hear you will know that you know the joy and power of it ” Turning to the orchestra, he motioned to begin again. This time the soloist forgot about musical technicalities and sang the truth as she knew it in her own soul. The Messiah became more than a musical piece, it became a declaration of personal faith and experience.
(Contributed to Sermon Central by Rodney Buchanan)
The same is true for us. Do we act like we believe in our subject (Jesus Christ)?
-Do we read our Bibles as if we believe what they teach?
-Do we worship our God as if we believe in Him?
-Do we share our faith as if we believe in Jesus?
If you believe in something you are going to put your heart, your soul and you mind into your subject. Luke did that.
Ill- Someone once asked Jay Kesler, former president of Youth for Christ International, if he believed that God could make a fish big enough to swallow a man.
Dr. Kesler’s reply is one of simple trust in a great God. He answered, "Let me tell you, I not only believe that he can make such a fish, but the God who made the sun and the moon and the stars, if he wanted to, could air-condition and carpet the fish!"
[Belief in the Word, 1001 More Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking, p. 38](Contributed to Sermon Central by A. Todd Coget)
II. If you are going to write a gospel there must be confidence in the subject. In writing Theophilus, notice what Luke tells him in verse 4. He wrote so “that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.” Theophilus was called “most excellent.” The only time that phrase is used in the New Testament, it is used in addressing a Roman official (see Acts 23:41; 24:2; 26:23). Therefore, it is safe to assume that Luke was addressing a Roman official who had become a follower of Jesus Christ. Luke had found assurance about his faith and he wanted to help Theophilus find assurance in his faith. That is still the pattern today.
Have you found assurance in your faith?
Ill- There is a story taken from the sinking of the ship named Express of Ireland that illustrates the principle of having assurance. As the ship began to sink in the cold Atlantic Ocean it was discovered that there were not enough life belts on board for all the passengers. On that ship were 130 Salvation Army officers—109 were drowned and not one body that was picked up had on a life belt. The few survivors told how the Salvation Army Christians took off their own belts and strapped them even upon strong men, saying, “I can die better than you can” and from the deck of that ship was demonstrated what it means to live with this revelation in our hearts. (Contributed to Sermon Central by Richard Tow. Taken from: Paul Lee Tan, ed. , Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations (Rockville, Maryland: Assurance Publishers, 1979) p. 1177)
I want us to look at two New Testament passages that speak of this assurance.
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” (I John 5:13 NKJV)
”I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (II Tim. 1:12 NKJV)
In each of those verses you notice a common word. The word is “know.” Your faith should not be a “what if” proposition. Luke could write a gospel because he knew and he wanted to help other people find the same confidence.
I am convinced the reason many people struggle to share their faith and to serve the Lord is because they are not fully convinced in their own hearts.
Ill- When Philip Brooks, author of “O, Little Town of Bethlehem,” was seriously ill, he requested no friends come to see him. But when an acquaintance of his named Robert Ingersoll, a famous anti-Christian propagandist, came to see him he allowed him to come in right away. Ingersoll said, “I appreciate this very much. Especially when you aren’t letting any of your close friends see you.”
Bishop Brooks responded, “Oh, I’m confident of seeing them in the next world, but this may be my last chance to see you.”
(Contributed to Sermon Central by Rick Labate)
III. If you are going to write a gospel there must be a sense of obligation to share the subject. Notice what Luke says in verse 3. “It seemed good to me.” Luke felt an obligation.
Paul stated this principle in Rom. 1:14. "I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish." Paul felt an obligation to share what he knew to be true about Jesus.
A. Believers who make a difference feel an obligation to share their faith with others. Luke wrote 2 letters in our New Testament. Luke journeyed with the apostle Paul. Luke used his gifts to serve Jesus Christ.
There ought to be a deep seated sense of obligation in the heart of every born again, sold out and committed believer to serve and share Jesus Christ.
B. Believers who make a difference want to share their faith but they also want to support others in their walk with God. Luke wrote to inform Theophilus, and others like him, and to establish them in the faith.
Ill- They are Ps. 1 Christians. What is a Psalm 1 Christian? Look at it! “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” vs. 2-3 A Psalm 1 Christian has developed maturity in the faith and is producing fruit for God.
There is a gospel according to you. People are reading your life every day. You can pronounce a gospel message by believing in Jesus, by displaying confidence in Jesus and by fulfilling your obligation to share his story.
