I had an interesting conversation with a deacon from our church. We were talking about the declining membership at our church and some of the reasons for this. One of things that almost never comes up in this conversation is the idea of message . Maybe we need to ask ourselves "does the message we preach naturally lead people to become disciples of Jesus Christ?" Or does the message we preach lead people to become consumers of religious goods and services? (including the death and resurrection of Jesus)...
Some of the ways that our gospel is different from the Gospel, Jesus preached
Jesus said "repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand."
We say "recognize that you are a sinner."
Jesus said "go to all nations and teach them to do everything I have taught you"
We say, "there's nothing you can do to be saved"
We say "Jesus died on the cross so you wouldn't have to"
Jesus says "take up your cross follow me"
We say "trust Jesus so you can go to heaven when you die."
Jesus says "those who trust me will never die"
We say "eternal life is living in heaven with God forever."
Jesus says "eternal life is interactive relationship with Jesus Christ now"
Our gospel is ...Jesus died for your sins so you can go to heaven when you die
Jesus' gospel was the availability of the kingdom of God to anyone through confidence in Jesus Christ.
Colossians 1:13,14
13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,
14 who purchased our freedom[a] and forgave our sins.
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