JD Greear - Gospel (Recovering the Power That Made Christianity Revolutionary)

8/22/2019 JD Greear - Gospel (Recovering the Power That Made Christianity Revolutionary)

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Recoering the Power tht Mde

Christ inity Reolut ionry

J D G R E E A RForeword by TIMOTHY KELLER



“J.D. lear o te gopel, umle ad umorou. He’ wrttea oo tat’ good for te Crta lag aurae, te Crtatempted to legalm, te Crta tempted to gult, te Crtatempted to elfe. If you wat to e moal ad fatful, rea-

g out wle oldg fat, t oo wll eourage you.”—Mar Deer, eor pator, Captol Hll Baptt Cur ad

autor of Nine Marks of a Healthy Church

“Wt t oo J.D. Greear oldfe poto o a team of youg eagelal oe allg te twety-frt etury ur a to te gopel. He powerfully ad progly ow tat te gopel uta eeary ad releat after you eome a Crta a t eforeeaue te gopel doe’t mply reue u from te pat ad reue ufor te future; t alo reue u te preet from eg elaed totg le fear, eurty, ager, elf-relae, ttere, ettlemet,ad gfae. J.D. mae te lear ae tat we te word of tegopel—Crt’ loe for u wtout trg attaed—grp our eart,t et u free ad age eerytg.”

—Tulla Tda, pator of Coral Rdge PreyteraCur, Ft. Lauderdale, Florda,

ad autor of Jesus + Nothing = Everything

“My oul otue to e eouraged y te trrg up of trog oe to pot people to te gopel ad wat appear to e a geuemoemet a to tat tg tat Paul oder “of frt mportae.”

J.D. a doe a materful o of larfyg ad wrgg out te gopelmplato for te lfe of te eleer. Weter you are a pator, aeee ur your wole lfe, or ae reetly eome a Crta you

wll f d t oo to e elpful.”—Matt Cadler, lead pator, Te Vllage Cur

“My fellow pator, J.D. Greear, troug oo, a elped u t quet for gopel-aturated lg. He tae te prple of gopeletralty ad ow u ow to oret our le aroud t. I appre-ate ow refreg ad real way e mae te gopel aele tooter o tat tey a experee t traformg power. I epeally le te oo’ pratal eto o gopel prayer a a way to at u reearg tee trut deep to our eart ad md. Weter you

are explorg Crtaty for te f rt tme or are logg to ‘loo totee tg’ aga ad aga, let me te you to ped tme wt telpful oo.”

—Tmoty Keller, eor pator, Redeemer Preytera Curad autor of The Reason for God



“Radal oedee to te pero of Crt a oly prg from re-le trut te uffey of Crt. I am grateful to God for my fred

J.D. Greear ad all to plat our le ad ure oldly te olof te gopel. T oo wll elp you ret daly God’ great grae a

you le otually for God’ great glory.”—Dad Platt, eor pator, Te Cur at Broo Hll

ad autor of Radical

“Wt darmg oety, J.D. offer a gtful loo at te pr-tual realte w fae u today. I loe te eto o Your New Idetty!Perap te mot pogat ad etral trut for me ‘eg gopelCetered ot mog pat te gopel ut otually wmmg deeperto t.’ I eourage you to read t oo.”

—Dr. Fra Page, arma of te Exeute Commttee of teSouter Baptt Coeto

“J.D. Greear oe of te greatet me of God I ow. Ad oe of te mot rllat. H alty to ommuate te gopel a fre yetfatful way perfetly poto m to pea te lfe-gg meage of

Jeu to you a way tat you ae eer expereed. Ad a way tat wll age your lfe foreer.”

—Stee Furt, lead pator, Eleato Curad autor of Sun Stand Still

“I’e led log eoug to ow tat tere’ oly oe ope, oe tg tat a atually eal u ad traform u: te grae-aturated gopel of

Jeu. J.D. Greear te u to de to te ottomle ed of te gopelpool ad fd lfe tat deeply atfe.”

—Jud Wlte, eor pator of Cetral Crta Cur,La Vega ad autor of Torn,

“Wat left f te gopel lot? Tat queto ould aut teeagelal md a we are ow urrouded y o may fale Gopel,partal Gopel, ad ofued Gopel. Addreg t emergey,

J.D. Greear offer oud ouel, lear lal tg, ad te fullmeaure of oto elpg Crta ad ure reoer teautet gopel of Jeu Crt.”

—Dr. R. Alert Moler Jr., predet,te Souter Baptt Teologal Semary

ad autor of He Is Not Silent

“Te gopel truly age eerytg. I Gospel Pator J.D. Greearmae tat trut rytal lear. I t oo you wll lear tat Crt’



preee ad approal are al l you eed today ad alway for eerlatg oy. I loe t oo for te leg t wll e to te ody of Crt. Ita a word for u all.”

—Dael L. A, predet,

Souteater Baptt Teologal Semary ad autor of Engaging Exposition

“I elee God ad J.D. wrte t oo for u a tme a t,for tere a eer ee a tme te ur were we o deperately eeded to ee te gopel more learly, ad te pero of Crt oetral to te gopel. T oo a gft from God to H ur adto te world.”

—Clayto Kg, predet of Croroad Worldwdead autor of Dying to Live

“If you’re ot amazed y te lood-oaed good ew tatrpped you from te grae, te you ut mgt e o your way toeg ored to deat. Ad oredom lead to te futlty of rote per-formae, pretedg, ad ultmately depar. I’m taful oe of my faorte preaer te world, J.D. Greear, tae all tat o too. Wt preo ad pu, J.D. rg te o ad awe of

gopel power. T oo wo’t ut egage your md, t’ll que your pule.”—Ruell Moore, dea of te Sool of Teology ad eor

e-predet for Aadem Admtrato at te Souter Baptt Teologal Semary ad autor of Adopted for Life

I ae pet my etre lfe tudyg moemet. Great pr-tual moemet le Great Awaeg or moary moemetae at ter eter te reoery of te gopel. We deperately eed

u a moemet our tme, ad I for oe elee we are eeg t. J.D. Greear ge larty ad perpete to t growg gopel moe-met. T oo ould e read y eery pero reatg, wetereleer or ot, weter “leader” or ot. Get to ow afre te God

wo ae y readg t oo, ad fd reue for your oul.—Al L. Red, profeor of Eagelm ad Studet Mtry,

Baley Smt Car of Eagelm atSouteater Baptt Teologal Semary

“Notg a affeted my lfe more ta te gopel. My trty-fe year of patoral mtry ae ge me a eer-reag loefor, ad deeper awe of, t power. Dr. Greear a mu to offer te ody



of Crt emrag t gopel all t glory. Te gopel really te power of God for alato, o read ad e foreer remded!”

—Joy Hut, eor pator,Frt Baptt Cur of Woodto

“I loe te gopel ad te way tat te gopel fuel zeal . . . adI loe te way tat J.D. wrte aout t. T a gopel aturated oo tat wll gude you your dere to loe te Lord ad your egor.I gly reommed t.”

—Elye Ftzpatr, autor of Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus

“Wt te larty ad oto of a propet, J.D. Greear allu to more ta auray ad aadem wt te text. I oo e allege u to e ure tat te gopel more ta etral to ourteology . . . ut tat t a traformed our le.”

—Ma Bruo, eor pator,Frt Baptt Cur of Jaolle

“Are you tred of te doet etwee ead-relgo adeart-relgo? Read t oo. Are you tred of te treadmll of

performae-dre Crtaty? Read t oo. Are you ulearaout ow your loe for te gopel ould play-out your daly wal wt God? Read t oo. Are you tred of te empty ‘gopel-argo’tat, regrettaly, a eome ogue our day? Read t oo. It ort olume, J.D. Greear a gfted te ur wt ometg

woderful: e all u to redoer te Soure of te traformg power of te Crta lfe. I ort, e eo u, woo u, ad dreu to Crt, our great treaure ad eteral oy. Hopeful ad lfe-gg, I gly reommed t oo.”

—Sott Adero, exeute dretor, Derg God,Meapol, Meota

“Te frut we rae—oy, peae, loe, goode—pertetly elude our teque ad formulae. J.D. Greear remd u tat Jeuad gopel are ot te mea ad te ed. Saor t oo.”

—Gle Lue, predet, Doet Reear Group





Copyrgt © 2011 y J.D. Greear

All rgt reered.

Prted te Uted State of Amera

978-1-4336-7312-2

Puled y B&H Pulg Group

Nalle, Teeee

Dewey: 226

Suet Headg: BIBLE. N.T. GOSPELS \ GOD \

DOCTRINAL THEOLOGY

Ule oterwe tated all Srpture tae from

te ESV® Ble (Te Holy Ble, Egl Stadard

Vero®) opyrgt © 2001 y Croway Ble,

a pulg mtry of Good New Puler.ESV® Text Edto: 2007. All rgt reered.

Alo ued: Holma Crta Stadard Ble® (hcsb),

opyrgt © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2011 y Holma Ble

Puler. Ued y permo. All rgt reered.

Alo ued: New Kg Jame Vero (nkjv), opyrgt ©

1979, 1980, 1982, Toma Nelo, I., Puler.

Alo ued: New Iteratoal Vero (niv), opyrgt ©

1973, 1978, 1984 y Iteratoal Ble Soety.

Alo ued: Te Kg Jame Vero (kjv), w pul doma.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 • 15 14 13 12 11



Dedated to te memer of te Summt Cur,

wo ae patetly waled wt a pator wo wa

redoerg te reolutoary power of te gopel.



Agaist the orl; for the orl.

—St. Athaasis



i x

Ackolegmets

To my wfe, wo a led out te gopel a well a ayoe

I ow. Her paoate loe for Jeu a ofte reued my

tedey toward eparatg owledge from pao. Ta

you for your patee wt me, ad for extedg to me te

grae of te gopel. I er grae I ae ee tat I am “frt,er; oly eod, ed agat.”

To my paret, wo fatfully modeled a loe for Jeu for

te twety year I pet ter ome. Tey eer ued te term

“gopel-etered,” ut tey led awe of te God of gopel.

Tat, a I ee t, te wole pot of gopel-eterede.

To Tm Keller, woe tg a o permeated my

ow tat I a o loger really tell were top ad me

tart. I am ealy deted to m for may of te dea

t oo, partularly apter 2, 3, ad 6. I ae lteed

to ad read Tm Keller o mu tat I ted to plagarze

terpretato of a paage efore I ee ear m tea o

tat paage. I told m tat oe, ad e lauged ad ad e

dd te ame tg wt Ed Clowey. I ae met Dr. Kelleroly twe, for a omed total of x mute. Te eod



x GOSPEL

tme we met, I aed f I ould all m my fred. He ad

ye. So, to my BFF Tm Keller, ta you. I ae tred to ote

were I reout a pot I eard from m. Howeer, ag

lteed to ad read o mu of teag, I ometme

forget we I eard ometg from m frt. Ay omo

of tato adetal.

To Paul Carlle, Sam Wllam, Dad Powlo, Elye

Ftzpatr, ad Ed Wel, woe ouelg ad wrtg ae profoudly f lueed my tg. Se my frt ou-

elg la emary, I’e alway ad tat f I ould prea

le ayoe, I’d prea le a ouelor.

To my fred Brue Aford, Day A, Mar Droll,

Tyler Joe, Clayto Kg, Stee Furt, Dad Platt, ad

Tulla Tda: Hearg your gt, lteg to you

prea, ad oug dea off of you ae aged te ar-

ater of my mtry foreer. You ae ee gft of God to me.

Fally, I wat to ta te loyal, patet team at B&H

Pulg Group, partularly Jedda Coppeger, Mael

Kelley, ad Tom Walter for our ad our of laor wt me

o t proet. At tme t eemed you were ee more om-

mtted to t oo ta I wa! Ta you for your dedatoto mag teologally rgorou materal aele to all.

T oo mu etter eaue of your laor.

I ae o dere at all to e orgal. I ae ad oly tree

orgal tougt my lfetme, ad tey were’t tat good.

I dere for people to udertad te oept tat are t

oo. Coder me, ad t oo, merely a rea of trut

tat God reealed to H people aet tme. God te

oure; te ur te odut. I tad grateful det to

ot.



x i

Cotets

Foreword x

Itroduto 1

Part 1: How the Gospel Does What

Religion CannotCapter 1: Te Mg Gopel 9

Capter 2: Wy Relgou Cage Doe’t Wor 25

Part 2: The Gospel Prayer

Capter 3: Te Gopel a Gft-Rgteoue 45

Capter 4: Caged wtout a Commad 59

Capter 5: God I Better 69

Capter 6: Caged y Sgt 87

Capter 7: Gopel-Cetered Relatop 109

Capter 8: Extraagat Geeroty 123

Capter 9: Urget Mo 145

Capter 10: Expet Great Tg 161

Capter 11: “But f Not . . .” 177



x i i GOSPEL

Part 3: Toward a Gospel-Centered

Understanding of Life

Capter 12: Wy Are Tere “Commad” Srpture? 191

Capter 13: Wat I te Rgt Way to Wor for God? 205

Capter 14: Wat Doe a Gopel-Cetered Cur

Loo Le? 221

Coluo 241

Appedx 1: Te Gopel Proet 249

Appedx 2: A Gopel-Cetered Warg

to Youg Zealou Teologa 253



x i i i

Foreor

BY TIMOTHY KELLER

Oe of te mot tartlg paage te Ble oet te

magfee of agel wt te mytery of te gopel. Agel

are redly maet ad powerful eg, lg God’

eteral preee. Yet tere ometg tat a appeed

o te eart tat o tupedou tat ee tee mmortal

eg experee te pertet logg “to loo to teetg” (1 Pet. 1:12 niv). Wat are “tee tg” tat ould

poly ad otetly oume te atteto of God-

fxated reature? Te awer —te gopel.

Coerg t alato, te propet, wo poe of

te grae tat wa to ome to you, eared tetly ad wt te greatet are. . . . It wa reealed to tem

tat tey were ot erg temele ut you, we

tey poe of te tg tat ae ow ee told you

y toe wo ae preaed te gopel to you y te

Holy Sprt et from eae. Ee agel log to

loo to tee tg. (1 Pet. 1:10, 12 niv)



x i v GOSPEL

Te agel eer get tred of loog to te gopel.

T mea tat tere o ed to gopel explorato. Tere

are dept te gopel tat are alway tere to e doered

ad appled ot oly to our mtry ad daly Crta lfe,

ut aoe all to te worp of te God of te gopel wt

reewed o ad umlty.

Te uderlyg oto my preag, patorg,

ad wrtg tat te gopel—t eterally faatg me-age raed y te agel—a age a eart, a ommuty,

ad te world we t reoered ad appled. Te gopel

lfe gg, eaue t geerate age tat are reeed oly

y grae troug fat. T foudatoal trut, oweer, get

ypaed, oured, ad forgotte, eaue, a Mart Luter

oted, relgo form te default mode of te uma eart. It

eetal, te, tat we dtgu relgo from te gopel.

Relgo, a te default mode of our tg ad prate,

aed upo performae: “I oey; terefore, I am aepted y

God.” Te a operatg prple of te gopel, oweer, ,

ot urprgly, a aout-fae, oe of umerted aeptae:

“I am aepted y God troug Crt; terefore, I oey.” To

truly udertad t paradgm ft at a lfe-alterg leelrequre tat te gopel e explored ad “looed to” at eery

opportuty ad regular, ytemat way.

We te gopel explored t way, t produe

uommo properte. Blae Paal, wrtg te ee-

teet etury, reeal ow t our:

Without this divine knowledge, how could we help feeling

either exalted or dejected? The Christian religion alone

has been able to cure these twin vices, not by using the



FOREwORd xv

one to expel the other according to worldly wisdom, but

by expelling both through the simplicity of the gospel. For

it teaches the righteous that they still bear the source of

all corruption which exposes them throughout their lives

to error, misery, death, and sin; and [yet] it cries out to

the most ungodly that they are capable of the grace of

the Redeemer. Thus, making those whom it justifies to

tremble, yet consoling those whom it condemns, it so nicely tempers fear with hope through this dual capacity. . . .

Grace and sin! It causes infinitely more dejection than

mere reason—but without despair, and infinitely more

exaltation than natural pride—but without puffing us

up! (Pensées 208)

It oe tg to udertad te gopel ut qute

aoter to experience te gopel u a way tat t

fudametally age u ad eome te oure of our

detty ad eurty. It oe tg to grap te eee of

te gopel ut qute aoter to t out t mplato for

all of lfe. We all truggle to explore te mytere of te

gopel o a regular a ad to allow t meage to flueeour tg.

My fellow pator, J.D. Greear, troug oo, a

elped u t quet for gopel-aturated lg. He tae

te prple of gopel etralty ad ow u ow to oret

our le aroud t. I appreate ow refreg ad real

way e mae te gopel aele to oter o tat tey

a experee t traformg power. I epeally le te

oo’ pratal eto o gopel prayer a a way to at u

reearg tee trut deep to our eart ad md.



x v i GOSPEL

Weter you are explorg Crtaty for te frt tme or

are logg to “loo to tee tg” aga ad aga, let me

te you to ped tme wt t elpful oo.



1

Itroctio

I am a profeoal Crta. But for may year I foud

Crtaty to e wearome. Tat’ a ofeo you wo’t

ofte ear from a pator, ut t wa true of me.

I frt put fat Crt we I wa g ool. My

oero, a far a I a tell, wa ere. I udertood tatCrt ad pad te full pealty for my , ad I urredered

to do wateer God wated me to do. I got a g lt of tuff

to tart ad top dog for God.

I wet to a Crta ool tat empazed oformty

to a et of rule. We dd’t dae, eaue dag would

mae you ae mpure tougt. Ad we ould’t lte to

mu wt a eat t eaue tat would mae you wat

to dae. We were’t allowed to go to ee moe, eaue

moe would mae you worldly. We ould’t ee go ee te

Crta moe we tey ame to te teater eaue f

people aw u at te moe tey mgt aume we were tere

to ee worldly moe, ad tat mgt mae tem t t wa

OK for tem to ee worldly moe. It wa rule le tee tatreal Crta led y.



2 GOSPEL

I leared tat real Crta tell oter people aout Jeu,

o I et goal for ow may people I would tell aout Jeu

a ge mot. I ee etaled a maxmum tme lmt (ff-

tee mute) for ow log I would t wt a trager o a

arplae efore rgg up weter or ot tey ew Jeu.

I ollege I leared tat real Crta loe teratoal

mo, o I too lot of mo trp (twety-fe ou-

tre te year!) ad gae lot of moey to mo. I eepaed up my etre lfe to a oerzed duffel ag ad wet

to le a trd-world fudametalt Mulm outry for

two year.

I later leared tat real Crta loe te poor. So I

poored a Compao ld. But wa’t e ut oe a

edle ea of urtg people tat deperately eeded my elp?

Sould I adopt fe more? Twety-fe more? Dd I really

eed to dr tat Coe wt der? Could’t tat moey

e ued to feed aoter orpa? I otatly felt gulty aout

aytg I owed. Wateer I gae, t wa’t eoug, eaue

tere wa always more I ould ge. Ad, after all, “God

doe’t udge your gg y te amout you ge, ut y te

amout you ae left.” I alway ad a lttle more left ta ted Ida dd.

Ad te of oure, tere wa te ufortuate day tat

I read te ograpy of a moary wo taled aout ow

mu more you ould do for God f you were gle, ad o I

oluded f I wa really erou aout eg ued maxmally

for God, I ad to e gle. Tat’ wat Paul ad, rgt? To

paraprae 1 Corta 7, e ad, “I w you were all le

I am” (.e., gle), o you ould e ueumered mtry.

Tu, f I wated my lfe to e maximally leeraged for God’



InTROduCTIOn 3

gdom, ow ould I dere aytg but elay? Would’t

I e wllg to e gle for eety year o oul ould e

aed for eterty? So I tred to gore grl for a emeter dur-

g ollege—ut to my agr, tey would’t leae me aloe.

(At leat tat’ ow I rememer t.)

By tat tme I wa lg a way tat would ae met ut

aout ayody’ tadard a a “real,” ommtted Crta.

But t relgo of o-alled grae ofte felt more to me ledrudgery ta delgt. No matter ow may rule I ept

ad ow dpled my lfe wa, I waled aroud wt a

eer-preet ee of gult. I te deepet part of my eart, I

ew—knew—God wa ot really pleaed wt me, eaue

tere wa alway ometg I ould e dog etter. Te really

good Crta were alway dog ometg tat I wa’t.

To mae matter wore, my marrage ept reealg ow

elf ad petty I wa. Seeg oter more ueful ta

me mtry made me ealou to te pot tat I delgted

te tougt of tem fallg to ad eg dqualfed

from mtry. I tll felt elaed to te lut of my fle. My

ere for God wa feret, ut my pao for Hm were

old. I ertaly dd’t desire to ow Hm more.I wa tred, ad wle I would eer admt t, I wa tart-

g to ate God.

He wa te merle tamater alway tadg oer me

yellg, “NOT ENOUGH! I wat MORE!” He wa alway

tere, wag damato my fae, ayg, “If you wat My

approal, tere’ ometg ele you mut do.” H otat

demad were drg me ae. Te more I tred to wal

H way, te le loe I felt for Hm. Te more loely my

feet followed Hm, te more my eart ra away.



4 GOSPEL

O, I ad te fat dow. I ew He ad tae te pealty

for my . I alo ew tat He wa te uere’ mot atfy-

g poeo. But f my ead ew tat trut, my eart dd’t

feel t. I wa motated to

wal wt God prmarly y

my dere to tay out of ell.

Reetly, oweer, I

doered ometg tata aged eerytg.

Te gopel.

I ow ayg tat oud trage for a eagelal pator

wo leadg a growg megaur to ay, ut t true.

It’ ot tat I dd’t udertad or elee te gopel

efore. I dd. But te trut of te gopel ad’t moed from

my md to my eart. Tere wa a uge gap etwee my

tellet ad my emoto. Te Purta Joata Edward

leed reawaeg to te gopel to a ma wo ad

ow, ead, tat oey wa weet, ut for te frt

tme ad tat weete urt ale mout. Tat wat

appeed to me.

“Redoerg” tegopel a ge me a oy

God I eer exper-

eed all my year of

feret relgo. Now I

ee, almot daly, a loe

for God growg my

eart, dplag a loe for

myelf. Te ealouly tat

oe oumed my eart

The more closely my eet

ollowed Him, the more

my heart ran away.

The Puritan Jonathan

Edwards likened his

reawakening to the

gospel to a man who

had known, in his head,

that honey was sweet,

but or the frst time had that sweetness burst

alive in his mouth.



InTROduCTIOn 5

eg replaed y a dere to ee oter proper. I feel elf-

e gg way to tedere ad geeroty. My rag

for te lut of te fle are eg replaed y a rag for

rgteoue, ad my elf-etered dream are eg replaed

y God-glorfyg amto. A power urgg me tat

agg me ad pug me out to te world to leerage

my lfe for te gdom of God.

I tll ae a log way to go, ad I daly ae to truggleagat te God-atg dere of my fle, ut I am ag-

g. I am, a Paul would

ay, mag “progre”

te gopel. Te gopel a

doe my eart wat rel-

go eer ould.

I elee t a do te

ame tg for you. Tat’

wat t oo aout.

Oer te ext eeral apter, I wat to reaquat you

wt te gopel. Not ut wt te dotre, ut wt t

power. Te gopel te aouemet tat God a re-

oled u to Hmelf y edg H So Jeu to de a auttute for our , ad tat all wo repet ad elee

ae eteral lfe Hm. I wat you to ee te gopel ot

oly a te mea y w you get to eae, ut a te

drg fore ed eery gle momet of your lfe. I wat

to elp, ome mall way, your eye to e opeed (aga) to

te eauty ad greate of God. I wat you to ee ow te

gopel, ad t aloe, a mae you geuely paoate for

God, free you from aptty to , ad moe you outward to

oyful arfe o ealf of oter.

“Rediscovering” the

gospel has given me

a joy in God I never

experienced in all my

years o ervent religion.



6 GOSPEL

Here’ ow we’re gog to go aout t togeter. Te

frt eto of t oo aout why te gopel—ad oly

te gopel— te mea y w we a truly e aged.

I wat to ow you wy “relgou” (wat we’re gog to all

“meaal”) age aolutely, potely, doe ot wor. I

t eto, I wll ow you ow te gopel age u a

fudametally dfferet way ta relgo doe, ad tat t a

do ometg our eart tat relgo utterly uale to do.I part 2 I wat to trodue you to a mple tool tat

a elped me, for eeral year ow, aturate myelf te

gopel. It a mall, four-part prayer tat I’e ome to all

“Te Gopel Prayer.” Ea part of tat prayer ere a pef

purpoe, potg you to wat God a doe for you Crt

ad ow tat age ow you ee God, yourelf, ad oter.

I elee t prayer a e te mea y w you “prea

te gopel” to yourelf daly.

A you read te frt two eto, tere wll proaly e

ome queto tat are. Tg le, “If we are free Crt,

wy do I tll fd o may ommad te Ble?” “Wat

ould I do we I do’t dere God?” “How mu doe God

expet me to do for Hm?” “Wat doe a true, gopel-eteredur loo le?” ad o fort. I te trd eto, I wat to

ofrot tee queto ead o, ad I ope to prode old,

lal awer for you. I ope t eto wll oe you

tat te gopel really , a te apotle Peter would ay, all tat

you eed for lfe ad godle (2 Pet. 1:3).

Tat’ t. Smple eoug? Good. Tme watg, ad

te mot amazg ew all te uere watg to e

doered.



PART 1

Ho the Gospel doeswhat Religio Caot





9

CHAPTER 1

The Missig Gospel

I te gopel really mg? If o, were dd t go?

Mot Crta ae te fat tragt: Jeu wa or of a rg, led a perfet lfe, ded o te ro our plae, ad

wa raed from te dead. All toe wo plae ter fat

Hm wll e forge ad ae eerlatg lfe. So, te gopel

ot mg.

Not o fat.

I metoed te troduto tat tere a dfferee

owg tat oey weet ad ag tat weeteurt ale your mout. Beg ale to artulate te gopel

wt auray oe tg; ag t trut aptate your oul

qute aoter.

Te gopel ot ut uppoed to e our tet to

eae; t to e a etrely ew a for ow we relate to

God, ourele, ad oter. It to e te oure from weerytg ele flow.



10 GOSPEL

Let me lay all my ard

o te tale: I elee ea-

gelalm, a a wole, de-

perately eed a reoery

of te gopel a te eter

of Crtaty. Ee

oerate deoma-

to le my ow (te Souter Baptt Coeto), tegopel a ee elped y ay umer of eodary tmul

for growt.

I do’t mea tat we ae orrupted te gopel—o, we’e

tll got toe fat rgt. But te goal of te gopel ot ut

tat we pa ome d of tet y aurately reoutg te

mportae of Jeu. Te goal of te gopel to produe a

type of people oumed wt pao for God ad loe for

oter. We ertaly do’t eem to ae that rgt.

A Crtaty tat doe ot ae a t prmary fou

te deepeg of pao for God a fale Crtaty, o

matter ow zealouly t ee oero or ow forefully

t adoate rgteou eaor. Beg oerted to Jeu

ot ut aout learg to oey ome rule. Beg oertedto Jeu learg to o adore God tat we would gladly

reoue eerytg we ae to follow Hm.

I graduate ool my roommate ept a dog amed Max

our oue. Beaue poor Max wa rppled a leg,

lfe oted of lyg o our doortep ad targ up at u

we we waled y. I rememer loog at m oe day ad

tg, “Baed o ow mot people ee Crtaty, Max

would mae a fe Crta: e doe’t dr; e doe’t

moe; e doe’t u; e doe’t get agry; we’e ad m

Being able to articulate the gospel with accuracy

is one thing; having its

truth captivate your soul

is quite another.



THE MISSInG GOSPEL 11

eutered o tougt-

lfe uder otrol.”

Jeu’ dple are ot

uppoed to e merely

omplat, eutered dog.

Jeu’ follower are to e

alive wt a loe for God.

We you loe God adloe oter, Jeu ad, all

te ret of te Crta

lfe fall aturally to

plae (Matt. 22:37–39).

How Do We Learn to Love God?

How, te, do we lear to love God? Tat’ te dlemma of

te “great ommadmet”: “You all loe te Lord your God

wt all your eart ad wt all your oul ad wt all your

md” (Matt. 22:37). But ow a true loe e commanded ?

Beg ommaded to loe omeoe you ae o atu-

ral affeto for eome wearome. True loe grow a arepoe to loele. Te frt tme I aw my wfe, I felt te

egg of loe for er. Te more I’e gotte to ow er

oer te year, ad te more I’e ee of er eauty, te more

I’e grow to loe er. My loe a repoe.

Loe for God ommaded Srpture, ut te om-

mad a oly truly e fulflled a our eye are opeed to ee

God’ eauty reealed te gopel. Te Sprt of God ue

te eauty of te gopel to awae our eart a dere for

God. “We loe Hm,” te apotle Jo would ay, “eaue

A Christianity that does not have as its primary

ocus the deepening o

passions or God is a

alse Christianity, no

matter how zealously it

seeks conversions

or how orceully it

advocates righteous

behavior.



12 GOSPEL

He frt loed u” (1 Jo 4:19 nkjv). Loe for God grow out

of a experee of te loe of God.

We we fou prmarly o eaor age, we are

gorg te real ue: a eart tat doe’t wat to loe

God. Tat’ ertaly ot

to ay tat we ould oly

oey God we we feel

le t; oly tat preag Crtaty prmarly a a

et of ew eaor wll

reate people wo at rgt wtout eer log te rgt.1

T reate yporte, weary ad reetful of God.

What Is “Real” Spiritual Growth?

I te lat meage Jeu gae to H dple, He told

tem tat te way to frutfule ad oy—te “eret” to te

Crta lfe—wa to abide Hm. Tey would’t produe

“audat frut” y readg oo, tefyg ter elf-

dple, memorzg Srpture, or gettg aoutalty

group. Toe tg all ae ter plae, ut real frut omeoly from oe plae: adg Jeu.

“Adg Jeu” may oud le prtual mumo umo

to you. It alway dd to me. I aumed tat we you were

“adg Jeu” you’d wal aroud wt a etereal glow

your eye ad explaly wae up at 4 a.m. trummg

pao tue o te golde arp you eep ede your ed.

But te word abide mu more tragtforward ta tat.

Te Gree word meno mea lterally “to mae your ome .”

We we “mae our ome ” H loe—feelg t, aturatg

Love or God grows

out o an experience

o the love o God.




ourele wt t, refletg o t, tadg awe of t—pr-

tual frut eg to prg up aturally from u le roe o

a roeu.

Sprtual “frut,” you ee, produed te ame way

pyal “frut” . We a ma ad woma oee pyal

“frut” (.e., a ld), tey are uually ot tg aout te

mea of mag tat ld. Rater, tey get augt up

a momet of log t-may wt oe aoter,

ad te fruit of tat log

tmay a ld.

I te ame way,

prtual frut ’t made

y foug o te om-

mad of prtual growt.

You a’t ut grt your teet ad ay, “I wll ae more log

feelg toward God! I wll e more patet! I wll ae elf-

otrol!” I’ll expla later te role for deal of te fle ad

elf-dple, ut true prtual fruit ome from gettg

wept up tmate, log eouter wt Jeu Crt.

H loe te ol w all te frut of te Sprt grow. We our root ade there, te oy, peae, patee, d-

e, getlee, ad elf-otrol grow aturally our eart.

So f you wat to ee prtual frut your lfe, do’t fou

prmarly o te frut. Fou o Jeu’ aeptae of you,

ge to you a a gft. Foug o prtual frut wll uually

produe oly frutrato ad depar, ot frutfule.

Hae you eer looed at your lfe ad tougt, “Wy

am I tll o mpatet? How ould I really e aed ad tll

ae u a prolem wt elf-otrol?” I ertaly ae. If

When we “make our

home in” His love,

spiritual ruit begins

to spring up naturally

rom us.



14 GOSPEL

aytg, te more I’e waled wt Jeu te more aware

I’e eome of my fule. Jeu, oweer, dd ot tell me

to “ade” my frutfule. He told me to ade Hm—

H aeptae of me, ge to me freely a a gft.

Adg Jeu mea udertadg tat H aeptae

of u te ame regardle of te amout of prtual frut

we ae produed. Iroally, t oly we we udertad

tat H loe ot odtoed o our prtual frutfuletat we ga te power to eome truly frutful. Oly toe

wo ade Hm produe mu frut. I oter word, toe

people wo get etter are

toe wo udertad tat

God’ approal of tem

ot depedet o ter

gettg etter.

So wat I really wat

to elp you do t

oo ade Jeu. Te

y-produt of adg

Jeu tat you wll eome more patet your marrage;

you wll deelop elf-dple; you wll eome geerou. Adg Jeu wll produe all of te frut of te Sprt

you—ut ot y ag you oetrate partularly o ay of

toe tg. You oetrate o Jeu. You ret H loe

ad aeptae, ge to you ot eaue of wat you ae

eared, ut eaue of wat He a eared for you.

To see spiritual ruit

in your lie, don’t

ocus primarily on the

ruits. Focus on Jesus’

acceptance o you, given

to you as a git.




Without Love, It’s Ultimately Worthless

My eor year of g ool, I tarted a relatop

wt a redle grl for wom I should ae ee ead oer

eel. “O paper” e wa perfet. Te prolem wa tat

we we were togeter tere wa ut o magic , f you ow

wat I mea. I ould’t fd a reao to quit datg er, ow-

eer, o we ept o datg, ee after I left for ollege 1,200

mle away.

I retured ome for te frt tme oer Crtma rea,

ad we agreed to ee ea oter te day efore Crtma.

All wa well ad good utl te afteroo efore I wet to

er oue, we I ad a alarmg tougt: Was I supposed

to get her a Christmas present? It wa, after all, te day efore

Crtma. If e got me a Crtma preet ad I dd’t geter oe, te I would loo le a total leezeall.

Jut to e afe, I topped at te mall o my way to ee

er. I wet to a portg good op, te atural plae you

loo for romat gft, ad tere I aw t—te aolutely

perfet gft: a Adda ow-g e-warmer. It wa $7.

I wrapped up te woole materpee ad put t uder te eat

my ar ad droe te forty-fe mute oer to er oue.

Se ame to te door, ad after a few pleaatre, e ad,

“I ougt you a Crtma preet.” I ad, proudly, “I got you

oe too!” Se ad, “Here your!” ad gae me a beautifully

wrapped ox from uder te tree. I opeed t ad too out; to

my orror, t wa oouly a ery expee rt.

Se looed at me expetatly ad ad, “Were’ my gft?”I ad, “U . . . I left t at ome!” (Tg tat wa

afe . . . I ould go ome later, uy a ew gft, ad mal t to

er. Ad I got to eep te e-warmer. W-W.) But te



16 GOSPEL

e ad, “Well, we do’t ae aytg to do togt. Maye

we ould go a to your oue ad get t. I’d le to ee your

paret, ayway.”

I’m ure tat durg te forty-fe-mute dre ome

I eemed a lttle dtat. It’ eaue I wa plottg. Prayg.

Vowg. We we waled te oue, I pulled my mom

ade ad ad, “Hey— tere aytg you were plag to

ge my ter tat e doe’t ow aout yet?” My mom ad,“Wy?” I ad, “No furter queto, pleae.” My mom wet

ad got a gft teded for my ter (aoter pretty expee

weater) ad we put my date’ ame o t tead. I too t

to my “grlfred” ad ad, ofdetly, “Here’ your gft.

I tougt t would e perfet for you.”

I’e ofte wodered te year e te wat would

ae appeed tat gt ad I ome lea ad told er te

trut tat my gft to er wa oly doe to ae fae. No dout,

e would ae refued t f latly. No grl wat to e loed oly

out of olgato.

Someow we t God dfferet, a f He pleaed

we we ere Hm eaue we’re requred to. He’ ot.

God dere a people wo dere Hm, wo ere Hmeaue tey loe Hm. He “ee toe,” Jeu ad, “wo

worp Hm Sprt ad trut.”

I fat, Paul ay wateer we do for God tat ot

fueled y loe for God ultmately wortle to Hm:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have

not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And

if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries

and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove




mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give

away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,

but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Cor. 13:1–3)

Let’ fae t: Paul’ lt ere mpree y ayoe’

tadard. “Speag wt te togue of me ad agel” a

to put you te top 1 peret of prtually gfted people.

“Udertadg all mytere ad all owledge” mea tat you’e got ee te fer pot of Crta dotre dow

pat. “Fat to remoe mouta” mea you a flat get tuff

doe prayer. Ad “ giving away even your body to be burned” ?

Wow. Oedee doe’t get ay more “radal” ta tat.

We te offerg plate goe y, you pull out a mat ad

lgt yourelf o fre for God. Tat’ Varty.

Yet, Paul ay, prtual gftede, dotral matery,

audaou fat, ad radal oedee do not equal te oly

tg tat atually matters to God—loe for Hm. Wtout

loe ee te mot radal

deoto to God of o

alue to Hm.

Let me make sure that sinks in . . . You a ga

all te prtual gft

te world. You a tae

te mot radal tep of

oedee. You a are

eery meal wt te ome-

le your ty. You a

memorze te oo of Letu. You a pray ea morg

for four our le Mart Luter. But f wat you do doe

Spiritual gitedness,

doctrinal mastery,

audacious aith, and

radical obedience o

ot eqal the only thing

that actually matters to

God—love or Him.



18 GOSPEL

ot flow out of a eart of loe—a eart tat doe toe tg

eaue t geuely desires to do tem—t ultmately worth-

less to God.

Te pot tat to produe real loe your eart for

God tae ometg eyod prtual gft, greater dotr-

al owledge, audaou fat, ad ee radal oedee.

Sometg etrely dfferet. Radally dfferet.

Tat’ were te gopel ome . Te gopel, ad tegopel aloe, a te power to produe loe for God te

eart. Paul all te gopel “God’ power for alato” (Rom.

1:16). Tere are oly two tg tat Paul eer refer to a “te

power of God.” Oe te gopel; te oter Crt Hmelf.

A te tory of te gopel prolamed, te Sprt Hmelf

mae te eart ome ale to ee te glory ad eauty of God

reealed t. Jut a Jeu’ ommad to te lame ma to “get

up ad wal” ad in itself te power to oey te ommad, o

te tory of Jeu’ deat ad reurreto a in itself te power

to mae dead eart ew. A te gopel eleed, troug

te power of te prt, our elf, ardeed eart urt ale

wt rgteou ad godly pao.2 A we eold te glory of

God te fae of Crt, Paul ay, we are traformed toglory (2 Cor. 3:18–4:14).

Relgo, te, a tell you wat to do—amely, to “loe

God wt all your eart, oul ad md” ad “to loe your

egor a yourelf”; ut te gopel aloe ge you te

power to do t.

Te gopel produe ot ut oedee, you ee, ut a

ew d of oedee3—a oedee tat powered y

dere. A oedee tat ot pleag to God and delgt-

ful to you.




Now, oe larfato: I’m ot ayg ere tat eery ar-

fe we’re aed to mae for God wll e ad of telf desirable .

Te ro wa ot ad of telf derale to Jeu. Herew

12:2, fat, ay tat Jeu ad to endure t pa, w

mea He ad to umt H dere to God’ wll. But ee

te rufyg of H fle wa rouded oy for Hm. Te

oy of wat He wa ota-

g—te pleaure of Godad eterty wt u—wa

greater ta te pa.

Tat’ ow God wat

our oedee to e a

well. We we p up

our ro to follow Hm, He wat ee te pa of te ro

to e rouded oy oer wat we are otag.

Tat d of oy Jeu aot e produed u y

mple reoluto to oey. Tat d of oy ome oly from

eg aturated te gopel.

Tu, f you are ot were you ould e prtually, te

awer ot mply to get uer for Jeu. It ot ut to get

more radal your deoto to God. It’ ot oly to ee greater prtual gft or ee to lear more aout te Ble.

It to mae your ome God’ loe ge to you a a gft

Crt.

Tat’ wat I mea we I ay te gopel mg.

We ae uttuted all d of omet age for true

eart age. We eourage people to purue ew ad et-

ter prtual gft. We tell tem to reoer aet deotoal

teque. We try to eef tem up o a partular dotral

ytem, a f more orret fat wll do te tr telf.

The gospel produces

an obedience that is

powered by desire.



20 GOSPEL

We tell tem to ow audaou, mouta-mog fat

prayer. We tell tem to get radally ommtted to te Great

Commo. Tee tg all ae ter plae, ut all we are

dog plg uperfal age oto a eart tat doe’t

really loe God. None of toe tg a produe loe for

God. Oly te gopel a. Wtout tat, ultmately our

age are wortle.

I am a lazy yardma. To my wfe’ agr, I do’t (wll-gly) plat flower.4 I do’t fertlze. I pay omeoe ele to

ut te gra. All I are aout, a t relate to te yard, tat

I do’t get omplat letter from my egor ad I a ee

te top of my d’ ead we tey go outde. My wfe, o

te oter ad, loe a plu, rgt, eatly maured law.

Oe day e omplaed tat our flower ed ad too may

weed tem, ad tat I eeded to do ometg aout t.

Now, tere are two way to ll weed. You a get o your

ee ad ped eeral our pullg tem up y te root.

T te orret way. Or, you a apalm tem wt weed

ller. T te lazy way. My way. So, multple tme ea

ummer I lated our flower ed wt weed ller . . . ad

all our weed ded, ut le te adertemet promed. Ado dd qute a few roe ue tat were augt te le of

fre. Beautful, gree e wt uddg arlet flower were

tured to tumleweed.

My wfe, of oure, omplaed aout tat too. I a Sprt-

flled way, of oure. So, let’ ay tat to mae er appy

I ad goe dow to te flort ad ougt eeral doze roe,

rougt tem ome, ad ega to taple tem to te dead

rae of te roeue. Would I ae fxed aytg? For

a wle, te dead roeue may ae ge te appearae of




eg ale, at leat from a dtae. But tey would ot really

e ale, ad I would ot really e out of te dogoue.

Paul Trpp a ad tat mot of te tratege for

Crta growt amout merely to “roe-taplg te-

que.” Ge away more moey. Be more erou aout your

. Be more dpled your lfe. Read your Ble ad ae

aoutalty parter. Go to a mall group.

Sprtual dple ae ter plae (we’ll get to tatlater). But otg a tae te plae of orga age

te eart.

Oly te gopel, you ee, te power to oey te frt

ommadmet. Oly te trut of te gopel a a eart

tured o telf urt ale loe for God.

For may eagelal te gopel a futoed olely

a te etry rte to Crtaty; t te prayer we pray

to eg our relatop wt Jeu; te dg oard off of

w we ump to te pool of Crtaty. After we get to

te pool, we get to te real tuff of Crtaty: materg

good prple for our marrage; learg rule ad regula-

to of ow to eae; ad fgurg out f Kr Camero wll

e left ed. Te gopel, oweer, ot ut te dg oard off of

w we ump to te pool of Crtaty; t te pool

telf. It ot oly te way we eg Crt; t te way

we grow Crt. A Tm Keller ay, te gopel ot ut

te ABC of Crtaty, t te A–Z; t ot te frt tep

a tarway of trut, t more le te u of God’ weel

of trut.5 All oter Crta rtue f low out of t.

Tat’ wy growt Crt eer gog eyod te

gopel, ut gog deeper to te gopel. Te puret water



22 GOSPEL

from te prg of lfe are

foud y dggg deeper,

ot wder, to te gopel

well.

My prayer tat t

oo wll all u to a deeper

udertadg of te go-

pel a te true eter of Crtaty. I ope t elp you ee tat te gopel ould’t

ut e a tet to eae ut te ore of our etre le. We

you ae made your ome te gopel. You wll e radally

geerou. You wll ow audaou fat. Tee tg are ot

added after te gopel, tey flow from te gopel.

Te apotle Peter ay tat te agel tll “log to loo

to” te tg of te gopel, eaue t dazzle ter md

(1 Pet. 1:12). Te agel ae ee God fae-to-fae, ad yet

tey tll a’t get eoug of te gopel! Do we t we are

really ready to moe o to ometg ele?

Wateer prtual dyfuto you ae your lfe, te

ure te gopel. Do we wat to e flled wt pao for

God? We ould dr from te gopel. Do we wat to getotrol of our ode? We mut e aptated y te gopel.

Do we wat to e otet wt wat we ae? We eed to feat

o te gopel. Do we wat to lear to loe our poue? We

ae to e oerwelmed

y te gopel.

Mart Luter ad

Lectures on Romans

tat true prtual prog-

re wa “alway to eg

The gospel is not just

the diving board o o

which we jump into the

pool o Christianity;

it is the pool itsel.

Growth in Christ is never

going beyond the gospel,but going deeper into

the gospel.




aga.” He ad we mut daly “emrae te loe ad de

of God . . . ad daly exere our fat tere; etertag

o dout of God’ loe ad de.”6

Alway “eg aga” wt te gopel. Ade t; wm

t; mae your ome t. See more ad more of your lfe

troug t. Be aolutely oed at eery momet of eery

day of te goode of God your lfe. Tat’ te oly way

you’ll eer really grow. Te gopel a doe t wor u we we rae God

more ta we rae eerytg ele lfe—more ta moey,

romae, famly, ealt, fame—ad we eeg H gdom

adae te le of oter ge u more oy ta aytg

we ould ow. We we ee Jeu a greater ta aytg te

world a offer, we’ll gladly let eerytg ele go to poe

Hm. We we loe oter

le He loe u, we’ll wll-

gly yeld our poeo

to ee H gdom ome

to ter le.

Oedee tat doe

ot flow from loe ed upeg drudgery—ot to

u, ad to God. Te gopel tur tat drudgery to delgt.

It age u from eg lae wo have to oey God to o

ad daugter wo want to oey God. Aga, God ot ut

after oedee; He’ after a wole ew d of oedee—

a oedee tat flled wt dere.

Dwellg o te re of te gopel a foreer aged

my lfe. It a traformed our ur. I elee wt my

wole eart t a age you too. But te umlg tg for

The gospel has done its

work in us when

we crave God more

than we crave everything

else in lie.



24 GOSPEL

me tat I a’t really teach ay of t to you. Tee tg

are prtually reealed ad prtually dered. Tey requre

te gft of eaely eye. I ould’t ee tea t to myelf

we t wa rgt frot

of my fae, o wat would

mae me t I ould

llumate your eart?

Ad wat mae you t you a deelop a

pao for God y readg

a oo? So wy ot top rgt ow ad plead wt God to

ope te eye of your eart? You mgt ue te word of Paul

prayer for te Epea,

[I pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father

of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation

in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts

enlightened . . . [and I pray that you] may have strength

to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and

length and height and depth, and to know the love of

Christ that surpasses all knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Eph. 1:17–18; 3:18–20)

God is ater an

obedience that is flled

with desire.



25

CHAPTER 2

why Religios Chagedoes’t work

I walked out into our backyard one Saturday and encounteredmy four-year-old daughter, Kharis, pouring water from a

watering can into her sandbox. When I asked what she was

doing, she replied, without looking up, “Daddy, I need the

sand to grow. See? There’s not much left.”

I te t expl t e e t gw y wteg

t, eue, f ue, t t le. Te ly wy t eete mut f te x f Dy t pu me

.

Tt’ w elg ge yu. Relg pu t .

It ge yu lt f tuff “t ”: Ble tue t g t; ew

t t t yu lfe; tg t y t y, et. Tt’

wt me e lle “mel” ge.1

Tt’ fumetlly ffeet fm w tee gw.

A tee gw e fut eue t le. Fut pg



26 GOSPEL

up tully eue f te lfe e. T w te gpel

ge yu. Yu e ge eue yu ge. T “g” ge.

Mt ttege yu e f gwt Ct e up

eg, f ll te Ct lguge, “mel” ge.

We get uy f G. We ew ptul ple. We

ge mey. We m.

I te l y we ee tue ffeg eelpett te u ptul uye f te wee. Te eelpe

e quet le:

• He yu e yu Ble t wee?

• He yu pye?

• He yu e yu ft wt mee t wee?

• I tee tte/ulg fu/m plege t-ut t eelpe?

It ue t e gme t me t ee f I ul mmee

mplete ll te elemet te eelpe fm te tme te

ffeg tte t te tme t gt t me. I e Ct

wt my p te (w t ee me u) eey wee

f uple f ye.

Te plem wt mel ge tt tey quly

eme weme t yu. Tt’ t t y yu ul’t ee

tg we yu ’t wt t , ut tt f te extet f

yu Ctty eg te gt el t,

yu e ettg yuelf up f te. Yu e lyg elg

t et tt le te tg. A, wete yu ee

tulte t t, yu wll eet G lg yu pte

t tuff yu wul’t tewe e g f He wee’t

teteg mt.



wHY RELIG IOuS CHAnGE dOESn’T wORK 27

Te e “me-

l” ge ’t elly w f u ge t

te e f wt’ wg

wt u—ll te wy

t u gl te

ge f Ee. I wt

t te u tee tpte, eue ly te

we uet wy elg w’t w wy ly te

gpel “fx” u.

Functional Gods

Ou gl w lty.2 Yu my e tme

eeg tt. “Ilty? I ’t ee tem wg w py-

g t l.” Tt’ eue we metme fl t gp

wt wp elly . Yu wp wtee t yu eem

mt eetl f lfe ppe. F Am Ee t

w te tee f te wlege f g el. It fut w

mptt tey wee wllg t ey G t get t. F

u, t my e mey, te pe f te, g mge,

elty fmly, eg et ttu t w, expe-

eg me eul pleue.

We metg eme mptt t yu tt t

e yu e mm yu emt, yu e

wppg t. Yu e wllg t y “” t G t get t.

Te Heew w f “gly” (kabod ) ltelly me

“wegt.” T ge metg gly yu lfe (, t wp

t) t ge t mu wegt tt yu ul’t mge g

You will resent God

holding you captive to

do stu you wouldn’t

otherwise be doing i

He weren’t threatening

damnation.



28 GOSPEL

lfe wtut t. A l e lmt ytg—ee te g

gft f G. Fmly, fe, em, ee u—teee ll g tg, f ue. But tey eme l we we

g tem “G-type”

wegt.

Ultimately, idolatry is

behind all of our sin. We

place a greater weight onsomething other than God.

Wtee te tg e

tt we feel le we ’t le wtut tt tl u

e e “futl g” t u.3 We my t ptte

u e efe tem, ut we ptte u et.

All peple, elgu t, e g, eue ll e

wppe. My peple feel le tey e t wppe

eue tey e’t elguly te. Yu me tu

ff yu e f wp

y t eg elgu t

yu ul tu ff yu ex

e y emg gle.

All um eg e

metg tey elee t

e eetl f lfe; me-

tg tt tey ul t

mge feelg ppy fulflle wtut. Wtee, tt

tg , yu e wppg t, llly peg.

An idol can be almost

anything—even the good

gits o God.

All people, religious or

not, have some sort

o god, because all are

worshippers.




Functional Saviors

Te ft et Am Ee fte te tll f

etg te fe fut w ee f te w ee.

Wee tey e efe etg te fut? Ye. But ly fte

tey ete te fut te ee te tem.

Wt ge?

Te ely u fte (guy le Gegy f Nzzu

Atu) exple tt p t te Am

Ee ee “lte” te le epte f G,

te ee t te tem. Nw g tppe

temele f G’ le epte, tey wee left wt

ee f expue, fe, gult, me.

S wt Am Ee ut tt ee f e-

e? Te me tg y f u we we feel e—tey le f metg t put ! If yu e plem

leepwlg uely we up e gt tg

Supe Wlmt, u e, yu ply wul’t ue tt

pptuty t p up few e yu eee f

te ue. Ite, yu’ mmetely l f te ltg

et f metg t e yuelf. A py tt e yu w ee yu.

Am Ee eetlly te me tg. Tey me

temele “eg f fg lee” fm G. Te

lte me tem feel me eptle.

We e ll ee te me quet ee e. We ty t

e te me f u ee y etlg u wt-e me wy. We f metg tt et u pt fm

te: we’e mte; we gt t et f l; we

e g me lt f mey; we’e g pet;

we’e me ftful u elg t te. We’ll ue ut



30 GOSPEL

ut ytg t etl u wt. Peple w e’t el-

gu t ll t ut mu elgu peple. Atetfeel le tey e f-me g tze. Hllyw

t pe temele l tt. Ty Sp y,

“I my ll lt f peple . . . ut I’m g .” Eeyy

l f tg t utfy te wte.

F mt f u, lfe le e g Survivor epe wee

we e tyg t e G eeye ele wy we et te e w ul e tw ff te l.

Te tg we ue t etl u wte, e

lle “futl .”

Why Religious Change Doesn’t Work

Relgu ge, mtte w well-tete, e’t

w f tee pmy e:

1. Religious activities fail to address the “root” idolatries

that drive our sin.

At t t, u e e y te ft tt we ee

metg me t we ee G. Relgu ge tget

te t f wtut eg te lty tt pmpte

tt te ft ple. I ft, lt f tme, elg

eme mply te

wy t get l f tt

tg we mt ee.

Let me ge yu

exmple: Tm Kelle tell

f tuly exully

pmuu e ew

Religious change targets

the acts o sin without

addressing the idolatry

that prompted that sin

in the frst place.




llege. Te yug m’ exul pwe w ut me

t lut, wee. Gg “te e pt” w ue f etty t m—t pe e w m, ge te

mt f pee, ge m ee f pwe e

wme.

Dug u ye t guy gt le wt m-

pu mty “gt e.” He quly gt “ fe f Jeu”

ge pg, l tetmy f ew mmtmett Ct.

Hwee, Kelle y, tee w tll metg “ff”

ut t guy. He w t ey eyle pe t e

u. If yu wee u wt m, e t w

wy e w gt yu wee wg. I mll gup e

wte yu t egze his p gtful. He lwy

wte te pt f pmee.

Te guy ll te extel g f le f Jeu. He

epete f exul pmuty. He wet t lt f

Ble tue wtee lly f Jeu. Hwee, t w

ppet tt e mply te ex f elg te ute

mfett f tue ee. Wt e elly wte—

“t l”—w pwe e te.4

T t e t Ct. T ew me f

puug l l.

Tue wp eee t G f te e

t tt yu elgt G. Tee fumetl ffe-

ee eg G t get metg fm Hm eg

Hm t get me f Hm. We I w llege, I t te

t let e ue fe t t gute.5 I ememe l-

g t my pt eeg metg ll mu,

metg pety, metg m my e.



32 GOSPEL

Ntg elly ue ppelg, ut I tugt tee w

e tt te m ue we’ get e up t t metg, tt ue me eyle t t-

tg u lteg t e emtg pety.

Mte. Hlf f te ue w pet leg te me

f ue Fe et, te te lf wtg -

e f me tgt lep pe ut te tge. Eey

wee I ee my m- t te efe I wle tte l. But I eee g ge te ue t mt

my GPA, I tuge t ut, tue , mge t

pull A.

Tt w me t fftee ye g. Se tt tme,

lt ge. I e gtte me. I e tee ug-

te. A my wfe I w e e tet t u ty’

pefmg t ete, wee we py tp ll t ee . . .

ahhemm . . . tete. Me tgt pe ut te tge.

A I ey t. Nt te tgt pt, ut te te tuff.

T ut t—w t that y? I llege I ue

tete me t get mey. I tue t I ul

get g ge I ul get g I ul make

money . But w I ue my -ee mey t get me

tete. Tete ue t e

te me t mey, w

t te e f my mey.

Tue elg we

yu ee G t get

tg ele ut me f

G. My peple ue elg wy f gettg metg

ele fm G tey wt—leg, ew, ee epe

fm ugmet. T weme t u, t G. But

True religion is when you

serve God to get nothing

else but more o God.




we G H w ew, Ctty eme tllg.

Sfe eme y.I te w, gettg elguly te u, ee

g e, e t eely me yu e eme

tue worshipper f G.

Yu my e mply -

ee elg t e

me eet me tte ee l le

epet, pe, ue,

g fmly, ppety.

2. When our acceptance is based on our performance,

we exacerbate two root sins in our heart: pride and

fear.

Te expue f u ee mplte u eep

ee f fe. We ee tt we wee t eptle we

wee (w tue), we felt e t metg t

me uele me eptle t G.

But wtee we t me u ette t te, we

feel pu ut, tt le u t me . Pe ge

e t lee, mptee, tlee, ugmetlm,

my te e.

Of ue, te te , we we ’t feel le we

meue up t te, we ep. Ou ee f ee

fe f eet gw. T le ly t me feet

ttempt t tgu uele fm te, eluy

te f te u u. Ou ep ete tt

we fte tu t te lut f te fle t fll. Dep e

u ul “ee” e peple t e ug, ll,

Getting religiously active

in a church does not

necessarily mean you have become a true

orshipper o God.



34 GOSPEL

etue mft, et. It tu peple t wl, el

mt, ee pet. Wle pefme-e epte tut u t

yle f pe ep, epte y G’ ge pue

extly te ppte fut. Te ue f G’ peee

ppl te wy u ee f ee u -

g f te ppl. We

e mplete Hm. Wee ee fee t let te

ee u fult, eue we

w we ley e te

lute ppl f te

ly Oe we p

elly mtte ywy. We

eme gu

tw te, eue we

e we f w mu we’e ee fge. We e t

f t le ll we e, eue Hm we e ll tt we

ee.

Te t e elgu ge e’t w t

wt t utlty.

3. The insecurity of always wondering if we’ve done

enough to be accepted causes resentment of God, not

love for Him.

A I te t te egg f t , we I ft

eme elee, I ttly felt gulty ut tg I eee

t ette t eme g Ct. Depte my feey,

my le f G w t gwg. Tut e tl, I ’t

wt t get le t G. He’ ut pt ut metg ele

While perormance- based acceptance

thrusts us into a cycle

o pride and despair,

acceptance by God’s

grace produces exactly

the opposite ruits.




I ul e g efe He’ ppe f me. S I wte t

eep Hm “p ff” t te I ul e t pee. A Mt Lute, te get Refme, te ut melf,

my fe f G’ ugmet w pug te f Hm

tt w g my et fte fte wy fm Hm,

ee f my t le, te ufe, me gly.

Tt’ eue tue le f G t gw we we

e uue ut H feelg f u. All f u ee f G wll e e wt eye t eletg u ttu efe Hm.

Ultmtely, t t le f G—t’ le f uele.

Cle Spuge tl ty lluttg t:

Oe up tme, ey p t fme le

mll fm ul Egl. Dug e et-

g e, e uete te lget t e

ee ee. He tugt, “Nw tt t tt

eft g.” S e tele t te g’ ple,

te uee, l te t yfully t te

g’ feet. “O g,” e , “yu e lwy ee

u weful, f gu g t me,

I le yu ey mu. A te f my le f yu,

I wt yu t e t t. It gft w yu

tuly eee.” Te g, tue y t m’ mple

ffeg, epe, “T yu f t gft. I p-

pe t w te fml tt uu yu fm

I wul le t ge yu tt l gft. Plee

w tt t l mll te f te ffet tt

I e f yu, my .”

Oe f te g’ leme, tg te ut

tt y, tugt, “Ww! If te g wul ge ll



36 GOSPEL

tt fml epe t t, mge wt

e wul ge f el gft!” S te lem wettt gt fu te mt met e e’

ee ee ugt t t te g te ext y. Te

fty lem , “Kg, yu e weful

wty g. A te f my le f yu, I wt yu

t e t e gft.”

Te g, eg ey we, w tug te ue, t te lem, “Yetey te p m

w gg te t t me. But ty, yu e gg

te e t yuelf.”6

We u lt epe up u gteu e-

, u gteue wll e e y ee t elete

uele te eye f G. T t le f G; t’

elf-ptet.

Te gpel tu elg upe w. Te gpel ue

u f G’ epte, ge t u gft ee y Ct’

wte, t u. I

epe t tt gft, we

e me t ey. Le

f Hm gw epe

t H le f u.

Te Bt pt

D. Mty Lly-Je

e e geg-

t wt tey wul f wle tey wee wy fm me

e y, fe, w w t te me tg, p

eue ll f tem. “It epe w mu te ll w

f,” Lly-Je . If t wee mll, up ptge

True love or God

cannot grow when we

are unsure about His

eelings or us.




lette, yu’ pt tem te y, “T.” If te

IRS flly ugt up t yu fte te ye f uptxe me t

te yu t l, yu

fe p ff yu ete

et, yu wul t pt

tem te y,

“T.” Yu wul fll t te feet y, “Command me!” Te gpel ewe u t te euty f G

ewelm u wt mey. Ou e ge eue

we ge. Utl tt ppe, ll elgu ge wll e

upefl. Ee f yu fe yuelf t t gt, yu et

wll e gg te te et. T te te f ttl

epty.

The Gospel According to J.D.

Let me expl w t ply ut my lfe. I e

et I tuggle wt, ut e te e me

eepe tt uully g ute.

Oe gt my wfe I ee t me py-

ly me t eteme wt my mt fequetly eu-

g yfut wee, wy I tuggle mu

wt tem. (Nte: I wul

not e g t wt

yu pue, ule yu

e uuully t .

Fm w I’m g

t alone .)

The gospel turns religion

upside down.

The gospel reawakens

us to the beauty o

God and overwhelms

us with mercy.



38 GOSPEL

Anger. Se pte ut tt I get mt gy we I

ete () feel le I’m lg gumet () mee mg me l tup. Tt eue, we eteme,

I ee peple t me me, I feel (wee gt

wg) tt my tellgee ey mpet t gg

te epet. Be my fle f ge lzt f

te mt f te. I ee te mt f te

e t e ppe lue. Te ppl f te my futl g futl . G’ peee

le e t uffet f me.

Overwork and neglect of family. I ew eue I e-

petely wt t e ueful. A wy I ee t e u-

eful? Beue I elee tt f I’m ueful tt I’ll e

te ppl f te.

Worry. Wee e my wy me fm? We eteme

tt my wy uully e fm te fe tt I’m t gg

t e te ue tt I wt t e. Te u gg t

fl; I’m gg t e luggt; I’m gg t ly e

mee. But, g, wy I ee t e ueful, t t

ut fm te w? Beue I ee t e me y te.

Depression. We I get epee? It’ uully fte

I pe em. A t’ t tt I’m ut futte tt

my peple ’t get te mege. I m ette eue

my etty ult my ll eputt pee. If

I m g pee, te peple wll me me.

Lying. Te temptt f me t le e, my wfe

I eteme, fm tw ple: (1) I le t e up my

tmg exggete my mplmet. A

wy I tt? Yu w te we. (2) I le t eep

te ppy eue I ’t wt t ppt tem. Beg




ft-, type A, peple plee, I ’t le t let peple

w. Beue, f peple e ppte wt me, te tey e t ppg f me, we’e ley etle tt

I ’t le tt. My lyg ymptmt f my wp

f peple’ ppl.

Yu y, “J.D., yu e e ue.” I m. But e

yu. I’m ut e eug t put t pt. (A, e-

tlly, mye te e I’m wllg t tt eue It tt eg et wll me yu me me f my

tpey. A . . . t ee e!)

I y f tee fe , yu mm me: “J.D.!

Don’t be angry!” O, “Thou shalt not lie!” But yu mgt well

tell g t t . My plem tt my et e

te ppl f te tt tee me ttely t

me etg!

My euty me me feful. It me me e t-

tempee. It me me wllg t e te tut f pel

tge. A ee f I ul ple myelf t t get

gy we le, I wul e ly ee up te el

plem: I elgt me te ppl f te t I

te ppl f G. I m lte. Tt my epty.

Te “lw” f G (.e., mm le, “J.D., ’t le,

e epee, wy, get gy”) tell me wt t , ut

’t elly ge me te pwe t tem—t let t ey

tem fm te et.

Wt elg ule t , G e f u te

gpel. Te gpel w me G w ette t te

ppl f te G me lule t te pe.

Te gpel w me tt G’ peee ppl e

te getet teue te uee. Te gpel eel G’



40 GOSPEL

mey tw me, tt me me me meful wt

te—t eue I e t e t g G’ ep-te, ut eue I m

ewelme y H

mey tt I ’t elp ut

exte tt t te.

We mut tute u-

ele, teefe, tetut f te gpel.

S, te text tt

fllw, I wt t ge yu tl t ut tt. It’ pye

I’e pye eey y f eel ye t mmee myelf

te tut f te gpel. I mply ll t, “Te Gpel Pye.”

The Gospel Prayer

Ft, let me me ue yu uet: tee’ tg

mgl ut t pye. It’ t tt t get G t

g tg f yu. Ietlly, t’ l t my ttempt

t eple te L’ Pye. T pye mply tl t

elp yu t yu m te ptte f te gpel. Te

pt t te pye; te pt tg le wt te

gpel.

Te Gpel Pye fu pt. Te ft tw pt le

u w, elpg u t eew u m G’ epte

f u te lue f tt epte t u:

1. “In Christ, there is nothing I can do

that would make You love me more, and nothing

I have done that makes You love me less.”

The gospel shows me a

God who is better than

the approval o others

and a God more valuable

than their praise.




2. “Your presence and approval are all

I need for everlasting joy.”

Pt 3 f te pye u e wt epg t

te ge f te gpel l le. Uetg G’ ge-

ety tw u ul le u t l geety tw

te.

3. “As You have been to me, so I will be to others.”

Pt 4 f te pye elp u ee u wl tug te

le f te gpel me u t uu ft. If te

elly e eel G’ mp f e te eu-

et eel H pwe t e tem, te u pye

te elf ul e uu l:

4. “As I pray, I’ll measure Your compassion by the cross

and Your power by the resurrection.”

I’e pye t pye eey y w f te lt few ye.

Yu w wt? It’ flly ttg t .





PART 2

The Gospel Prayer



The Gospel Prayer

“In Christ, there is nothing I can do



“Your presence and approval are all


“As You have been to me, so I will be to others.”

“As I pray, I’ll measure Your compassion by the cross




45

CHAPTER 3

The Gospel as Gift-Righteosess

Hw e G feel ut yu, gt w? A w yu

eteme tt? D yu e yu we wt f wee yu’e ? Hw tet yu quet tme e ee?

Wete yu’e ee e t yu le? F my ye

qulft le tee e my epe.

If I’ g wee— el “Ct” wee”—I felt

le t G. We Suy me u, I wul feel le

lftg my e wp, lmt f t y,“G, ee I m . . . I w Yu’e exte ut eeg me

t wee.” If I’ tell wee, I le eg G’

peee w ue G w petty te ut g

me tee t.

But te ppte w l tue.

If I ’t e g t eg el Ct, I felt

petty tt fm G. If I’ flle t me temptt,

ee e t my wfe, ge me ey pptute t

e Ct, w tgy wt my mey, fgtte t eyle,



46 GOSPEL

e te g, et. . . . well, te wee I felt le G

wte tg t wt me. We I me t u, I ee t lft my ul up t G. I w petty ue He

’t wt t ee me ete. I ul feel H pleue—H

l f ppl.

Tt’ eue I ’t elly uet te gpel. O,

t let I fgtte t.

The Gospel

Te gpel tt Ct uffee te full wt f

G f my . Jeu Ct te ple wt me, lg

te pefet lfe I ul e le, yg te et I

ee eme t e. Se Ct 5:21 y tt He

tully became my tt I ul ltelly become H g-

teue. St Altu lle t “te get exge.”

He t my e, e f t, ffe me H pefet e

etu. He t my meful ee t lte me wt

H gteue. We I eee tt ge epete

ft, full epte eme me. He le my ple,

e my ple,

te ffee t me gft.

Telg ll tt “gft-

gteue.”

Tt me tt G

ul t le me y

me t He e gt

w, eue G ul

t le ept Ct

y me t He e,

God’s righteousness

has been given to me

as a git. He now sees

me according to how

Christ has lived, not on the basis o what kind o

week I’ve had.



THE GOSPEL AS GIFT-RIGHTEOuSnESS 47

G ee me Ct. G’ gteue ee

ge t me gft. He w ee me g t w Ct le, t te f wt f wee I’e .

Ct’ lt 100 peet mplete, 100

peet te pe f te w e eee t epe-

te ft. Tt’ wt we fe te ft pt f

Te Gpel Pye:




Jut let tt f mmet. Rgt w, f yu e

Ct, we G l t yu—egle f yu tu-

t—He ee te g-

teue f Ct. If we

elly elee tt—t

ly wt u e ut

l wt u et—t

wul ge eeytg

u le.

A New Way of Approaching God . . . and Life

Imge f yu ul y t t G: “G, ee wy

I t Yu ul e my pye: t wee, I lue

fty-y ft, ug tt tme I met St te fle,te m w, ete ll temptt. A te

I uffee uutly t te f e, ut wtut

mplt te ft fl f elf ge. Te ly tme

I pee my mut w t fge te w wee g tt

I you are in Christ,

when God looks at

you—regardless o your

situation—He sees the

righteousness o Christ.



48 GOSPEL

t me. Al, I wle wte, ele l guy te pt,

fe fe tu ugy me wt lf f e.” Ag t te gpel, that is exactly what you can, and

should, say. Jeu’ et

p f eey ue f

yu ; H pefet lfe

w ee ete t

yu. I lgt f tt, yu elly feel le yu

ul me G me

fle t yu y g

yu quet tme eey y?

Ct’ eee petul tee tg we ul

t t t; H et fl tt tg ul te

wy fm t.

Sptue y tt we e t t me t te peee

f G tmly ppeeely ut wt “le”

(He. 4:16 hcsb). Te le tt me fm wg

tt G ee u g t te mplmet f Ct.

F mt f u, tt mpletely utetute. Mt

Lute tt u et

e we f “w-

gteue”—tt ,

te e tt wt we

eteme w G feel

ut u. Ule we e

tely peg te gpel t uele ly, we fll

t “w-gteue.”

Christ’s obedience is

so spectacular there is

nothing we could do to

add to it; His death so

fnal that nothing could

take away rom it.

Our hearts are

hardwired or “works-

righteousness.”




Satan’s A-game

D yu w w le t pu u t elute uele

g t w well we’e e? Ou eemy, St. St,

elee t t, le t t u f u . Tt’ e f

me—te “ue f u ete” (Re. 12:10 nkjv).

Oe f St’ mt effete wep, I elee, mg u

fget te etty te Fte ele e u Ct

g u ee f ppl w well we’e e.

Yu tully ee tt plye ut te lfe f Jeu.

We St tempte Jeu te wlee, e te t e-

et Jeu’ ttet fm te Fte’ elt t te

ue f lt (Mtt. 4:1–7).

“[Se] yu e te S f G . . .”1

Emee tt quet ut. Te eemy w

mplyg, “Well, e Yu e te ‘S f G,’ Me y

. . . ul’t Yu e le t me tg ffeet? Wy

wul te ‘S f G’ e ut ee te eet ll le?

Sul’t Yu e le t me e fm te te, ete gel t Yu we Yu fll?”

Wt w gft ut tt w te Fte

ut ele e Jeu te peu pte: “T my

ele S, wt wm I m well plee” (Mtt. 3:17).

Rte t fetg te Fte’ elt, te eemy

wte Hm t l t te fm f lt f He Sp. Jeu tl te eemy tt He t ee

e ptet t pe He w te Fte’ S; te

Fte’ elt w uffet.



50 GOSPEL

If tee wee ee tme f St t g ut

“A-gme,” t wul e ee t. D’t yu t t g-ft tt St eg

“A-gme” y tyg

t get Jeu t te H

eye ff f te etty te

Fte ele e

Hm t ee l-t te wy?

St’ pp t u

te me. St’ mt

effete wep t te u eye ff f wt G

ele e u te gpel.

D yu t tt?

St’ pmy temptt ttegy t ty me

u fget wt G ut u t elute

u tg efe G y me te te.

A lt f tme we we t ut ptul wfe we

t f t tem f tge, pml peme—

peple lettg x feet e te e, te eye llg

te f te e fmg t te mut, gg

-me ey metl mu . . . De St tuff le

tt? I wul’t put t eet m. But I’m petty fet

tt’ t m ttegy.

He tt u etty te gpel. St’ e et

t t Jeu ’t lue lett Ou ;

e w Jeu pgp ptue ut te wlee. He

eete Jeu’ m wy fm G’ elt e Hm.

Satan’s most eective

weapon is to take our

eyes o o what God

has declared over us

in the gospel.




A quet, f ue, g f tut tem.

Wy wul G lee H S le te eet?St’ quet lwy e g f tut tem.

Ou eemy, f exmple, wll etly pt ut u flue.

Smetme e elp u ee w ly we’e g t eg

Ct y wg u mee w mu ette

Ct t we e: “Wow—did you hear how much Scripture

that guys knows? That’s what a real Christian sounds like. But you? Your Bible knowledge is pathetic.”

Ote tme e puff u up wt pe: “ At least you don’t

struggle with jealousy like she does.” Ete ttegy effete,

eue ete e we te u fu ff f Ct’ gft-

gteue put t t uele. A mp wt

te le t tw f St’ fte : pe ep.

Pe le t e f et tw G te f

te. Dep le u t epe, fe, ulgee

te lut f te fle. T te yle e le t e u .

Bt tt wt uelef f te gpel.

We St te u eye ff f te elt pe

e u t te gpel, we le te euty tft

we e te lg

ppl f u eely

Fte. Te gtewy

te pee f ll te

te temptt.

Jeu epe t tee

temptt y peg

fetly f te Fte’

ppl f Hm. Jeu put

ft G’ w. He

When Satan takes

our eyes o o the

declaration spoken over

us at the gospel, we

lose the security and satisaction we have in

the loving approval o

our heavenly Father.



52 GOSPEL

mte H “ele Sp” ee te fe f get tl

ut. We wll eme te eemy te me wy.S get t lely: t St te Hly Spt wll

pt ut yu . But tey etely ffeet wy

f etely ffeet pupe. I’e e t le t:

St tt wt wt yu , te w w

yu e. Te Hly Spt tt wt wt Ct ele e yu, elp yu eul wt yu

.2

St et u w wt u flue. Jeu ll u up

t u etty. Jeu tt wt te pefet tte He

pue f u y H et ue te pwe f H e-

uet t g u t fmty wt t.

E y Jeu y t u, “Yu e My ele l.

I m well plee yu. Nw le tt wy.” St, te

te , y, “L t yu. L t te t f yu

umte. L t w ply yu’e lg. Tee

wy yu e G’ ele l.” W e e yu gg

t elee? Tee’ etety f ffeee etwee tem.

We my let ugte, K, w x ye l, e

w ey tm, I ul’t get e t ty ytg ew—

ew f, ew plygu, e t te f, yg, e

utg, e pelug—e f t! I’ euge e t

ty metg e’ y, “I’m e, Dy. I ’t wt

t.” I tle t e eel tme ut te ee t e e.

Oe y e my fu-ye-l ugte, Alle, I

wee g te tlg ut te tte f m-

g t tw. I , “Mye t ye, K, we te




Fe weel!” I my eew m, I ul ee fe gwg

e eye. “N, Dy”, e , “I ’t. I ’t wt t.”I , “K, yu w, yu’e ut gg t e t e

e. Smetme yu ut e t ty ew tg.” It w t

le I w g e t g tug tt eepy lw ext

ytg. Se le w , “I w, Dy . . .

metme I feel le I’m ut g ey-t.”

Hetly I w lttle futte t t pt, I tumptly, “Tt’ gt, K. Smetme yu e

ey-t, yu’ll ee g ywee lfe utl yu

eme e.” My fu-ye-l, Alle, w w lteg t

ll f t, le e t e wt te weetet, mt ee

expe , “N, K, yu e NOT ey-t.

Yu e my g te.”

I felt le mee lppe me te fe wt tw

y fu. I tugt, Great. My four-year-old is the voice of the

Holy Spirit, and I am the voice of Satan.

St te my f u t eleg e

tully te e f te Hly Spt. We’e gw

utme t te e f emt tt we t te

ly tg te Hly Spt ee y t u , “Stp t! Stp t!

Stp t! Wt’ wg wt yu? Yu’e tele!” He pe

ltgete ffeet: “I e me yu, My l. I e te

wy ll yu . I ul t ppe f yu me t I

gt w. Le tt wy.”3

T f wt Jeu t te wm ugt te t

f ultey, He t e, “Nete I em yu; g

me” (J 8:11 nkjv). Wt mt gft

ut H ttemet t e: pme ft; mm

e. “Nete I em yu” peee “g



54 GOSPEL

me.” We lmt lwy ty t eee te. We y, “If

yu mge t g me, te G wll ept yu.”

G, wee, mtte u from epte, t tw

t. Jeu’ ffmt wul ge t wm te euty tt

ul fee e fm e etute eltp wt ex.

Wtut tt, e’ ee tuly e fee. G’ ppl

te pwe tt lete u fm , t te ew f g lete uele.

Embracing Your New Identity

My peple ’t e me flue tt t te

pt. Pep tee e e tt wpe t yu ul,

“See? Tt pe t. L t wt yu . Yu e flue.

Yu e g.”

Tt te e f yu eemy. Wt mut yu ?

Eme yu etty te gpel. I Ct, G ul’t

le yu y me t He e gt w.

Mye yu’e t ueful yu lwy tugt

yu’ e. Mye yu feel le yu let yu pet, yu

fmly, yuelf w. Mye yu ee geel pt

f ppl e yu lfe—fm we, yu fe,

yu pue, yu pet, fm G. I tu f-

feet wy tey tell yu, “Yu’e t g eug. Yu’e

pptmet.”

Pe te gpel t yuelf. Yu mut tell yuelf tt

eue f Jeu yu e te lute ppl f te ly

Oe we p elly mtte.




Mye yu e te ppte plem—mye yu’e

lwy ee “ we.” Yu’e lwy mpe fly teeye ele yu elf-eteem g. I’e ee tt

y lt f peple f lfe—utl tey flly meet me-

e ette t tem. O tey fe flue. If yu f yu

etty yu ue, yu’e gg t g tug yle f

pe ep. Yu’e pu meeg we yu

e tp, yu y eeye. Yet, yu l le -tt tte f p, lwy we ut mee tg

wy yu ue. If t yu, pe te gpel t yuelf.

Rem yuelf tt G’ epte ll tt mtte

tt t lt fee. It ee ge t yu gft; ee

y Ct, t y yu. Tee’ m f pe.

Mye yu e tue t w few f te fut f te

Spt e peet yu lfe. D yu ee t, How could

anyone who is truly saved be as messed up as I am? I t tt

metme. We I l

t my et I tll ee

futtgly mll mut

f geety ple y

ewelmg mut

f elfe. Jeluly

pe tll pp up le

wee. We I tt t e my ptul etty w mu

pge I e me, I tt t ep.

My etty my euty e t my ptul pg-

e. My etty my euty e G’ epte

f me ge gft Ct. A tt’ g, eue f

ytg, I m me, t le, we f my t I w te

ye g.

My identity and my

security are in God’s

acceptance o me given as a git in Christ.



56 GOSPEL

Get this: That is spiritual progress. T gw wee

f te ept f G e yu fm is gwt tegpel.

D yu wy lt? Wy pg fm t eg

e f eeg G’ lute le f yu. Wy

ppe we yu elze tt G le yu uflgly

wll let tg teupt H pl f yu g.

Yu ee, t ll f tee emt—fe, euty, fle-fee, ep, wy—we mut pe te gpel. We

mut tell uele, ly, tt tee tg we ul

tt wul me G le u me tg we e e

me Hm le u le, H le pefetly tl

f u le.

Ou u

flue e t,

ee g, epte u

fm Hm. He put

tem wy fee, f,

te et fm te

wet (P. 103:12). We e

ee ete, e

f ll, te gteue

f Jeu Ct. He t u Ct, “Yu e My

ele l. I yu I m well plee . . . I wll ee lee

yu fe yu,” “uely ge mey wll

fllw yu ll te y f yu lfe. Yu wll well My ue

fee” (Mtt. 17:5; He. 13:5; P. 23:6, ut ppe).

To all o these

emotions—ear,

insecurity, alse-

confdence, despair,

worry—we must preach

the gospel.




Abide in Jesus

He yu felt te w te ept f yu et?

Ag Jeu me emg uele ttly tt

tee tg we ul ee tt wul me G le u

me, tg we e e tt me Hm le u le.

• Wt ut f yu ge wy ll yu mey, wul’t

He le yu ut lttle t me? Nope.• Wt f yu wet t le te feg m fel?

No again.

• Wt f yu flly eg t tet yu pue wt

ge? Nada.

• Wt f yu t ut te t f e le e e?

She might love you more, but God wouldn’t.• Wt f yu wet e full-wee wtut gle, lut-

ful tugt? God’s acceptance of you is based on the fact

that Christ went a lifetime without sinning against Him

in even the slightest way. Now, you are in Him and He is

in you. Thus, God could not love you more than He does

right now, because He loves Christ perfectly.

Yu mut well

t get tut daily .

Smetme uly. Sme-

tme eey mute. It te

ly wy t e ut fe,

uelef, temptt. Wy fte? Beue,

g, yu e we f w-gteue. We yu’e

t eletely tg gpel, yu’e ply lppe

t elf-utft me. It’ lt le te plt et

You must dwell on God’s

great truth aily. It is

the only way to drive

out ear, unbelie, and

temptation.



58 GOSPEL

tt “w--mle” gme yu ply t te f. Jut we

yu’e e e w, te ppe fm ffeetple. Te mmet we

te u eye ff f te

gpel, te et f

elf-gteue elf-

emt pg

up. S, we mut pu tem wt te utetute

tut f te gpel: G’

epte ge t u,

t etety, gft we

eee y ft, t te pe gly f G.

Me yu me tt wee. A yu , yu wll

u futfule.

S I’ euge yu t py me fm f t pye

ly, ttg gt w:

h




The moment we take

our eyes o o the

gospel, those rodents

o sel-righteousness

and sel-condemnation

spring back up.



59

CHAPTER 4

Chage ithot a Comma

“In Christ, there is nothing I can dothat would make You love me more, and nothing


Hpefully yu’e egg t ee tt wellg tt mple

tut f te gpel le t g, tul utgwt. Pep

yu’e ley expeee w g ge yu lfe.

Te Ble ge u eel e tue w t w.

Oe f my fte te ty f Zeu. Zeu wet

fm eg e f te mt elf me et Iel t te

mt geeu—tteuly, wtut eg mme t.

Meet Zacchaeus

Zeu w t g m. I ft, e w w-

gt m. A wee, lttle, m.



60 GOSPEL

Te Rm plem lletg txe fm -

quee te. Te peple wul uy te te l met ee te tx. A tplte Rm ffl

wul t e fml eug wt te ty’ uee t

w wee ll te el mey w.

S te Rm e te fm te quee ty t

llet te tx f tem—mee w wul w wee

te mey w g. Te tx llet wee te ge g f le t t tem. Te Rm t e

w mu ext te tx llet llete f temele. A

lg tey gt te e, tey tue te e. A yu

mge, tx llet gt ey, ey .

I te w, Zeu’ uttl welt me fm

ellg ut fmly fe t mpel feg pwe.

Zeu eetly ’t e, wee. He le mey.

Tt’ te ly wy yu wul ee et t eg tx l-

let. Mey t e wt me t yu t eeytg.

Seriously—can you imagine a worse person?

Te Jew Mishnah tt tx llet wee lt-

me tt tey ul t ee e ee peple. Yu

wee fee t le t tx llet, t , eue lyg t

ml w t . Yu t glmpe f w uppu-

l Zeu w te ft tt e t lm tee t

ee Jeu. (If t pe wt t t ft f yu

w, yu uully ut let tem, eue tey ’t elly

ffet yu le f gt. But e me f Zeu.

Tey p-ee m gt te fe eey tme e me

me fw. Hee te tee-lmg.)



CHAnGEd wITHOuT A COMMAnd 61

Zacchaeus Meets Jesus

But te te uexpete ppee. Jeu le up t

Zeu’ tee , “Zeu, me w. I’m m-

g t yu ue f e.”

Wt extly w at tt e pty we ’t w,

ut we w te effet t te Zeu. He ,

“I wll py ytg I’e tle fu tme.” O tp f

tt, e ge wy 50 peet f teue t te p.

Tee e f Jeu’ mmg Zeu t

ep le tt. I ft, Zeu ge wy ey te

Letl equemet f ettut. Tee w ly e tme

tt yu e t py fu tme, tt w f yu’

tle mey’ w. (D’t w wy tt ? Mye yu

ue tem udder fl u metg.) A tee etly tg te lw ut gg wy 50 peet.

Zeu eetly ut t eue e felt le t.

New Tetmet l y tee et plyfule

te wy Zeu fm Jeu f wt e’ ut t .

He’ t le, “O Seeg L, umle epe t

Yu equemet, I ge wt Tu em. Plee eptmy umle ffeg ue empee f te we tg

I e e.” Te te f Z’ lguge , te, te

-le. Almt, “L, D, wt . . . l t wt I’m

g! L, D, !”

He’ ulg e wt gy geety. He’ tpy

gg. He’ t gg wy mey eue e t—e’gg wy mey eue he wants to.



62 GOSPEL

What Caused the Change?

Zeu wet fm eg m w l ul t te

g f mey t m w gt uzz fm gg t wy.

Wt ue tt ge? Te fu f te ty w

Jeu tete Zeu, te e. Jeu lle Zeu

w fm te tee we eeye ele ut m ut.

We l w tt Jeu wet t et wt Zeu

efe e epete. I tt y, t e mel wt mee

w g f epte, ee f tmte fellwp. T et

wt mee met tt yu wee emg tem.

Te Jew lee uetly ete: “Wt He

g etg wt guy w w e? Hw He

mmute le epte t tt guy?”

But Jeu pue Zeu, tt mmet, me-tg te Jew lw t ee le t. Jeu le t

wee lttle m tee—w w tee eue e w

epe, utt, gtfully — ge m -

tt f epte tmy.

Tt expeee ge Zeu fee. Eey te

elg te wl wul e t Zeu, “If yuge, yu f G. If yu ge, yu f ep-

te lt.”

But te gpel te ppte f elg. Jeu t

Zeu, “Zeu, lt come to you. Yu ’t

g ut f lt.

It fu yu.”Zeu w t

ge y mm f

Jeu, ut y expeee

wt Jeu.

Zacchaeus was not

changed by a command

o Jesus, but by an

experience with Jesus.




We Zeu tte f G’ ge, e w t-

fme fm m f geey expltt t e f l,exuet, uly geety.

The law produces Pharisees; the gospel produces

Christians

Uftutely mt pee tll t tt peg

te lw me wy w we ge u gegt.“Do tithe.” “Do give sacrificially.” “Do downsize.” Au u

u we ll te “-” em. Tey ge yu lt f

tg t me yu feel wtle we yu ’t

tem. Peg f t type mgt metme pue lge

ffeg, ut tey pue tg f el lue G’ gt.

Te peg f te lw pue ly Pee.1 Tey

mgt e Pee w ft twe wee, tte te pe

um, efue t wl me t et mut f

tep te St. O, tey mgt e Pee w ge

wy lt f mey, pt le, g m tp.

Ete wy, tey e ly Pee. Te fu extel

ge, wle te et e flle wt p. Tey e

mmultely eet tm.

Ge te Pee te ue et: tey wee qute zel-

u te eee. My ge wy lt f mey. Sme

telle te wl e f et (ee Mtt. 23:15).

Tey wee lwy t pye meetg ut te ft

e t g up f lutee tem. But tey wee l tte,

eetful, tfe, elf-fue. A tey te Jeu

Ct.

G e t wt Pee. He wt peple w e-

flw wt te y f eg Jeu.



64 GOSPEL

Transformed not by a command of Jesus, but by an

experience with Jesus

Le Zeu, we wll t e tfme y te m-

m of Jeu; we wll e tfme y expeee with

Jeu. A I’ll expl pt 3, eee t mm

eetl pt f te Ct lfe, ut te pwe f tf-

mt e’t me fm tem. Te pwe f tfm-

t me fm te gpel. We e ge t y eg tl wt we ee t f G, ut y eg te ew ut

wt G e f u.

Tu, te t

eumetg lt f m-

m t ey, tue g-

pel peg glgt ty— ty ut G

tt eel u pwe

euty tt yu e

ee te me e yu

e eutee t.

If yu’e ee wte e f te “ep me,” te plt

lwy lly te me:2 (Te, f exmple, te 2010

lute Avatar.) Yu e me le guy wt pupe

lfe, et, uge . . . ut te e’ wept up t

me get, tllg m, w e expeee el -

ge eute el euty fumetlly ge

y te expeee. (I te e f Avatar , me le eepy

euty wt lue tl. Le tll e f te Smuf.) He

etu t te el wl mpletely ffeet pe. He

lge f f ml ge. Wy? He’ ee el

ge eme t. He lge mte y

We are changed not

by being told what we

need to do or God, but

by hearing the news

about what God has

done or us.




ml, eeyy temptt. Wy? Beue e’ tte el

euty. Tt’ wt ppe we yu meet G te ty f

Jeu. Yu get wept up t ty f u m m

euty tt yu e fee ge. Yu e -

lly ltee eue yu’e ee tte metg fm

mpletely ffeet wl.

Gpel ge teSpt f G ug te

ty f G t me te

euty f G me le

u et. Hg u

eye pee t ee u pt

tt ty ete u

le f G tt tg

eug t flly e ut u ttt t te l. Te

gpel ue u f fe, tft, pe.

Pul ee t Zeu-tyle pe f ge t

yug pt-fe, Ttu:

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation

for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and

worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and

godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope,

the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior

Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all

lawlessness and to purify for himself a people . . . who are

zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11–14)

Gospel change is the

Spirit o God using the

story o God to make

the beauty o God come

alive in our hearts.



66 GOSPEL

Tt’ petty exute lt f gteu lg, ’t t?

“Reug ugle wlly p”; “lg elf-tlle, upgt gly le”; “wtg” egely f Jeu

t etu . . . But how e Pul y we eelp tee tg?

Wt t tt trains u t tem? Ble memzt?

Autlty pte? Beg ptze te Spt? Rl

et?

Nt tt tey ’t e te ple, ut Pul pt te f te ee: It “the grace of God,” Pul y, tt t

u t “renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-

controlled, upright, and godly lives.” T ut, Pul y,

w te ge f G me t te wl f yu, puug

yu t te . Te G f te uee “ gave himself for us,”

me u H w, wll appear g t te yu me

wt ll te gly ple pwe tt ugt Hm

ut f te ge.

We we get wept up t tt ty f ge, we wll

e “zelu f g w.” We wll ee lg f H

ppeg. Vey few peple te elg lg t t

efe G. Mt e lutely tefe y tt. I le

Mulm text f wle w tt wle Mulm e

feetly mmtte t All, mt t “lg” t ee Hm.

Te e f tg efe All tefyg.

Te gpel f G’ mey, wee, ete lgg f

G. Beue we w we e fe efe Hm, we w

te le He we t u te gpel, we lg t ee Hm.

S Pul tell Ttu t pe t peple te get ty

f ge, eue ly te tey wll le gtly. He e’t

tell tem “ty e” “le me.” H fu t

eg; t’ believing .




Tet, mm, t tep wll ly ge u

e extelly. Gettg ugt up t te ty f Jeuge u et.

Preaching the beauty and unfathomable grace of Jesus

S w te we mpel tue, et-etee ge,

t uele te? We tell te ty f ge.

We elp tem ee wt Zeu w. We tully e tge te mute tee-lmg tx llet,

eue we e le, t e f te , t ee te ge

f Jeu ee me lely t e ul.

Wy w Zeu te tee? Beue e w epe.

Jeu wul e H mty ug tee e. Jeu

lle Zeu w fm te ple f me t te

ple f , t Zeu’ ple te tee.

Te ge f G extee t u t te ul lw

u m. We “t mze te peee f Jeu te

Nzee, we w He ul le me, e -

eme ule.”

Tee wy t uet wt Jeu f yu,

et leel, t e lly ge. Ge ge

wee-lttle-tgy e t t f mgfet geety.

I pe yu wll wp yu py:

h

“In Christ, there is nothing I can dothat would make You love me more, and nothing






69

CHAPTER 5

Go Is Better

wt yu elly feel le t e peet yu lfe f

yu t e ppy? F lfe t e wt lg?Mye, f yu wee elly et, yu’ e t mt tt

t’ mey. O te lm f te. O pwe. O fmly.

Fe, ee u.

I t G? I He wt yu mt ee wt? I H

peee te e, pele tg yu ul t le

wtut? Te ft pt f Te Gpel Pye ef let u u-

e f G’ epte f u Ct. Te e pt f

te pye me u t eflet w get teue tt

epte . Hw mptt G’ ppl yu lfe?

It’ e tg t w tt G epte yu fully

Ct; t’ te tg f tt t eme te wegtet

mt efg elty yu lfe.



70 GOSPEL

Te e pt f te pye ge le t:



T e pt f Te Gpel Pye el wt u

ppety tw lty.

Idol Factories

A l wtee te te ple f G u le.

A l wtee we feel le we ul t le wtut; t

wt we t lute eety f lfe ppe.

Il e te tg tt we ge te mt “wegt” t.

Tey eme ey tt we ’t mge u le wtut

tem. A l t eely tg. It’ uully g

tg tt we’e me t g-tg tt te eme

tg t u.1

I Exu 20:1–5, G y tt l metg

tt () we “w w t,” w me t mm u

eee. It metg tt () we “ee,” w me we puue t eue we feel le we ul’t le wtut

t. A u, t tl u emt. We e tefe t te

ppet f t tg t. Flly, t metg we () le

me t G. G elu f u le, f peg

metg g u me y t G e, t eme

l. Tm Kelle tt l e u lftetem, u et gtme, u mt uyelg

emt.2

J Cl tt te um et “l fty,”

ttly ltg g-le wegt t ete tg.



GOd IS BET TER 71

Ilty w e te ft , t ee e eey

e te.S wt tt f yu? Wt e yu ge g-

le wegt yu lfe? I’m gg t yu me que-

t—f yu we tee

quet etly, yu’ll

ply tt t ee me

eug teme. Teee mt lely wt yu

e uttute f G.

The “Idolatry-Detector” Test

What one thing do you most hope is in your future?

Cee ue? A et ly? Owg yu w me?

Owg e e t te e? Gettg me? Seeg

yu gw up t e ueful? Hg te epet f

yu temmte? Gg p? Beg le epete y

yu llegue?

Wt t tt, wtut t, lfe wul ly eem wt

lg?

What is the one thing you most worry about losing? Wt

e tg ul yu ut lutely t get lg wtut?

Yu fmly? Yu ? Te le f yu pue? Te epet

f yu ?

I ue t e ut my etemet etmet eue

I w f I’ me me fl mte, le t ll,

e t w uly wge geetg peple t te

ft ete f Wlmt. Mey te euty

I fte feel le I ee f te g lfe, I fte wy ut

lg t.

John Calvin said that

the human heart is

an “idol actory.”



72 GOSPEL

Smetme I fe lg my fluee my u.

I fe tt I get le I’ll le my ege peple wll qutmg t e me pe. I e t eug gtme

wee I w up e Suy mg eeye ge

t ew u wee tte ew pee lgtg t up.

I w up u g utum t’ ut me my wfe,

e ttg te ft w lteg t em y

Mtt Cle e P.I’m t yg we ul e exte, ee ptet,

ut lg y f te tg. Te quet wete

t tey e lule t u tt te l wul e

uutle.

If you could change one thing about yourself right now,

what would it be? Wul yu le tty pu? Wul yu

ge yu l? Yu mtl ttu? Yu ? Yu zp

e? Wul yu e yu me me?

Wtee yu me up wt, yu ply wt t ge

tt tg eue yu t tt f yu yu’ e mu

ppe. Tee etly tg wg wt eg t

ge u le. But we we ul’t mge eg ppy

ule metg ge, we e l.

What thing have you sacrificed most for? Sfe

wp lmt lwy g . Wt e yu

we te et f? T get te lp? T t te

pefet y? T l te ? T e te et yu fel? T

get t et me leel?

Wt yu pze mt w y wt yu puue te

et.

Who is there in your life that you feel like you can’t forgive,

and why? A ex-u ue yu eputt tle



GOd IS BET TER 73

te et ye f yu lfe? Yu wfe w ete yu

pully umlte yu? A eple uetl pte w ue yu ue? A le fe w tle yu y-

fe? A u e w lle yu l?

My tme u lty t fge ete t te

ft tt mee t wy fm u metg we feel le

we ’t e ppy wtut. Tee tg wg wt

egettg, eeply, te l f y f te tg. We yut fge mee, wee, t uully eue tey

t metg fm yu tt yu epee f lfe, p-

pe, euty. Tey tle metg fm yu tt yu

t ee e eple, yu t tp tg tem

f t.

Wt left yu tte? Wt ppee yu pt

tt yu ut ’t e? Wee yu ele f pm-

t, ete ut f pptuty? W t eg ue y

pet, eg etye y pue fe?

Bttee lmt lwy te t lty. Smee

t metg fm yu tt yu tugt w eey f

lfe.

When do you feel the most significant? We yu l

yu e up te get? Wt tee tt yu pe peple

f ut ut yu? D yu ttly met yu ,

te yu t yu’e gg t e we yu gute,

wee yu gt yu egee fm? Ae yu lwy lg

f wy t w ff yu ue ? De yu et

wt pe we yu tl ut yu ? If yu’e pt,

yu le t we peple yu w g yu u ?

O yu te tt eue t’ mll? D yu le t we

peple mpe yu ptely t te pt?



74 GOSPEL

Yu etty wtee me yu feel te mt gf -

t. Wt me yu feel te mt gft wt yuput te mt wegt up.

What triggers depression in you? Tt yu ee ll?

Te ft tt yu mge e’t l le t’ ee gg t

get ette? I t tt yu e ee et ge tll

e’t me? I t we yu ’t get te egt yu

w yu eee?3

I t w lttle yu’e mple? I ttt mtte w yu ty, yu u tll w’t gw?

Depe tggee we metg we eeme

eetl f lfe ppe ee t u.

(Plee te: I’m t tyg t gl e me f te

pylgl ft epe. Ofte tee e me.

I m mply yg tt metme u epe fueled y

u lty.)

Where do you turn for comfort when things are not going

well? Mye yu uy yuelf yu w t um te ft

tt yu wfe ge yu yu e ftg wy

fm yu. O pep yu f epe te m f le.

Sme eul pleue, le pgpy mft f?

Pep ll ug?

Mye yu tu w t me tut ut yuelf tt

mft yu. I’e fte mfte myelf pptmet

y emg myelf f me tlet I . I g l,

we I w epee eue my tlet ee w t t-

g ff, I tl myelf my em lty et me pt.

My wfe tuggle wt ml etg e l-

lege. Se felt le e eee t e get y t e

y el wt. But e l fu mft f. Se’

get epee eue e ’t ee w e ul e ppy



GOd IS BET TER 75

f e ’t le wegt.

He epe e et mft f. It w

u yle ete y

te ft tt tw f e

g wee flt wt

e te.

D te queteel et ptte

yu lfe? St. Augute tt tg le wy, fe, -

e, eep epe e “me fm te fe” g

fm te lt f u lty. Fllw te tl f tt me

yu’ll ee wee yu e uttute metg f G.

Trying to make God an accomplice in our idolatry

Atugly we fte ty t me G mple

te puut f u l. Jme, te lf te f Jeu,

tt metme we we py, we ’t get wt we f

eue, “yu wgly, t pe t yu p. Yu

ulteu peple! D yu t w tt fep wt te

wl emty wt G?” (Jme 4:3–4).

We “py le ultee.” Tt’ petty tug

lgy, ut wt e t me? A ultee mee

w f te te tmy tey ul e fg

te pue. We e ultee t G we we em tt

He ge u et tg tt we f ppe,

tetmet, euty tee tg tt elly we

ul e fg Hm.

• “G, I ut have to be me I’ll e mele! ”

• “G, we just have to e le.”

St. Augustine said that

things like worry, ear,

sadness, and deep

depression are

“smoke rom the fres”

rising rom the altars

o our idolatry.



76 GOSPEL

• “G, wy haven’t You ele me? It’ t f.”

•“G, I have to get t mel l.”

Ag f y f te e tg t wg, ut we

u y depends tg te tg, we e eme

ptul ultee. We e ge wegte tt we

ul e gg t G t metg ele. A we’e g

G t elp u te pe f tg te tg.

Imge f I tmy wfe, “Sweetet, yu

ememe tt July 28,

2000, yu we t meet

my mt exul

ee?” “Ye.” I tue,

“Well, I e ee tt

wt I ee t e fulflle

mtlly exully

t e ff. C

yu ge tt f me?”

Hw my wfe lely t et t tt ppt?

If yu ’t w e, e ue tt’ ply te lt

et I’ ee e, pe. We we gt me, e

we t tfy tee ee eelf. Se ’t g up t

eme my pmp.

Neele t y, G wll t e yy’ pmp.

Our idols leave us empty

Ultmtely l lee u empty eue u et wee

ete f G. T ue te w f te eeteet-etuy

plpe Ble Pl, G ete u et wt -

uum. We e f metg t fulfll u eepet g,

We are adulterers to

God when we demand

that He give us certain

things so that we

can fnd a happiness,

contentment, and security that really we

should be fnding in Him.



GOd IS BET TER 77

ut tg et w eue te uum w ete

y te ee f G. Aytg we uttute f G tt ple lee u tll yeg. O, St. Augute put t,

“You have made us for Yourself, Lord. Our hearts are restless, until

they find their rest in You.”

Yu et w ete u wy tt ly te ete-

l le f G tfy t. A mge pte, mtte

w pefet f yu, t ply te le f G yu lfe.Rememe tt ee Jerry Maguire wee Tm Cue y

t Reee Zelwegge, “Yu mplete me.” Mt f u em

ut fg mee w mplete u; w me ll u

uppe, euty, meglee g wy.

Afte wtg ume f mge me tgete

e pt e te ye, I fetly y tt

eue, lely gle peple eme eue, lely m-

e peple. Plem le lele euty e t

ue y te um

eg; tey e ly ue

y G. Yu ul w

ete ft femt

f G, t f me.

Yu mge pte,

mtte w pefetly

ute f yu, ee

ply te le f G

yu lfe.

Wt ppe mt mge tt yu e gl

fltg e f lele ep, we lg me

6'5" tuly, well-ult lfe peee. A, f ue, e e

wt y wg pe wul —e lg t m f

Problems like loneliness

and insecurity are not

cured by another human

being; they are only

cured by God.



78 GOSPEL

e lfe. A e uffte te lfe ut f m, eue e,

ty e my, ’t meet te ee e lfe. He w’tege t. Oly G .

We wee’t ete f te um eg, we wee

ete f G.

Mey—te l f e—’t tfy u, ete.

Le mge, mey e get leg fm G. But

mey t pe ltg euty geue fulfllmet. Jut l t te peple w e mey— tey l eue,

ppy, fulflle? Ye g I e f Ftue 500 CEO

w , “I pet ll my lfe lmg te le f ue,

ly t f ut t w leg gt te wg ulg.”

Wtee l yu e, te eult wll tll e te me.

Il pme fulfllmet ut ele llumet. A

tt’ ut te egg.

Ilty l pue xety fe u et.

We le f, wg tt f u l te fm u, lfe

wll e mele. Te emy mgt g, wpg

ut wt lttle left u etemet. We mgt ee get

me. Ou ue mgt fl. A le e mgt get

e.

Ft J 4:18 y tt ly “pefet le” t ut fe.

Il ’t le pefetly, ut G . G’ le pefet

() t tety tw u (G ul t le u me t

He ley e); () t lty t tfy u (we e ete

t e tfe fully y te le f G); () t tl f

ll tg u le (we w tt te G w tl ll

te uee le u wll ee lee u tl-

lg eey mleule te uee t w ut H g

pefet pl f u le). Retg H pefet le e



GOd IS BET TER 79

ut y fe wy. N l ee ge yu tt, eue

te l tt lg, tt fulfllg, tt pweful.

Jesus Satisfies

Jeu te e eetl tg tt we mut e. He

lfe telf.

Jesus is better than money. G w ll te mey He’ u Fte; He pme t ge u wtee we ee.

A G ee e p elw 10,000.

Jesus is better than human love. Yu I e ee

expeee teee ffet le G we t u

we He t u H m t te .

Jesus is better than any earthly pleasure. G te

fut f ll pleue. Etly pleue, C. S. Lew

fmuly , e uppe t fut le y f te u

tt et u t te ue.4 A te y wm u

fe, we l up lg te y t t ue. Mge,

ex, mey, le, fe, g f e ll w

eflet f tue ge. F wle, me “lu” my

tut y fm ttg u fe. We mgt em gle

we we’ le t e me. We mgt e p we we’

le t e . Det my te e f u le. Te y

f te u wll t tme e ele fm u eye, ut te u

telf em.

Afte te ft te I wet wt my wfe, fe

e me te ext y wt I tugt ut e. I ppe

ut pee f te ppe le w me 60+

ete tt ee e. I put w e-w ep-

t f e pelty, e mle, e m, ee e te.



80 GOSPEL

I we t t m , “Tt’ wt I tugt ut

e. I’m gg t my e.” Afte we gt egge, I wet fu tt pee f ppe t fme. O

u weg y I ge

t t e wt te pt

ue t, “Yu epeet

metg tt ee

e te wy fm me.”I w e, eelf, ul

e te wy. But e

represents metg tt never e te wy fm

me, tt te euty le f te Fte G. A

Jt Ew , “Pleue te y, G’ le

te u. Pleue te w; G’ le te ute.

Pleue te tem, G’ le te e.”5

Jesus is better than earthly power. Tee gete

ee f empwemet t t w tt te eeg G

w et eey mleule te uee wg ll

tg f u g. That el pwe.

Jesus is better than popularity. Wt g etly fme

f yu e fmu ly t u f e? T e w

e y te G f te uee, tt ette t

te ppt f mll f lttle -ut etlg.

J Ppe, fte gg lt ml t te e I ge

e, y, “A t ge . . . eeytg te wl

t ffe, G ette me g. Tee m-

p. G w, eey tme.”6

Jesus is the one

essential thing that

we must have.

He is lie itsel.



GOd IS BET TER 81

Our ability to be joyful in all things is the measure of

how much we believe the gospel

Smetme we w tt Ct te ll f u ,

ut H ppl ut e’t y tt mu wegt u

le. Ote tg mtte me t u.

Te mut w yu uet te gpel meue

y yu lty t e yful ll umte. If yu gp

wt teue te peee epte f G e, teee we lfe ge elly wg yu wll e y tt

ut yu, eue yu’ll egze te lue f wt yu

e Hm. We lfe pue yu te fe, yu’ll y,

“But I tll e te le epte f G, teue

I ’t eee.” A te y yu f tt teue

me yu ee ee we yu e ly e. Yu e y tt et ept t tu. T wy Pul

ul y fm te fe f Rm p: “Ree

te L always ; g I wll y, Ree” (Pl. 4:4, ut

emp).

If the Coach Is Happy, I Am Happy

We I w llege, I e twele-ye-l y’

e tem. We wee petty g, we ge tug

te e uefete. My f twele-ye-l tu

tutte t te plyff e wt uute fee.

Te ft plyff gme w el t gt, e te

tem, lug me, tugt efet w ple.

Well, we gt ue. Te fl e ’t elly eflet

t—we ly lt 3 t 1. But te te tem lutely m-

te te fel f ply. A te wt f t w tt te t



82 GOSPEL

plye w . . . emm . . . gl. Se w te getet twele-

ye-l plye I ee ee. Se mte. Se t tfte t gl, I w f t.

S, wt ut te mute left t g te e lf,

w 2 t 1, I pulle ut e f u et efee plye

tl m, “D, I m te f tt gl gettg ll

te t gl.”

“Me t, C.”“D, yu e e gmet f te et f te gme,

t tt gl. Weee e me wt fftee y

f u pelty x wt te ll, I wt e e e e.

Yu uet tt?”

“Ye , C.”

“I me t, D. Se yu wle eplty. Yu

uet me? D, I ’t e f te guy ext t yu

ut t flme. Tt t yu eplty. Se .”

“I gt t, C.”

A D tue u t g te fel, I ,

“D, t legally.”

We we t pte. Te glu le-

tle. It w w u ly pe.

Wt ut fe mute left t g te gme, femle

M gt te ll ut mfel eg t me e

wy w te gt e. Se wet tug te left full

le e w le. Se ut e wy t te ete,

e metg tee t te tppe—I’m t ue wt—

ut te ext tg I ew e w te fetl pt yg

f mmm. Nw, ut e, te weepe, te gle.

Se pump-fe wt e gt leg t te weepe

gle fell te gu. Ete tt tey ut epte—



GOd IS BET TER 83

I’m tll t ue w. But w t w ut e we-

pe gl. A, te, el. He me.

Out f te left e f my pepel ge lu

ppee. Mg letly, teltly, ut t full-pee. David ,

te eet twele-ye-l efee. Tt em le

e, eg w wt ely pe, e t e, fm

e, te full pe-egle tt pt. Tee w tu, lu f ut, te lee.

Eee lee. Smewee te te ultue e.

(I mgt e g few etl t t ty f me -

mt fl, ut yu get te ft.)

It w e f te mmet we eeye w le,

“Did that just happen? ” A te, ll t e, lmt f

me et uely yelle “t,” eeye eupte

t ge. Te tem w gy eue tey tugt we

te t te ut te t plye. Te efeee w gy, ty-

g t fgue ut f t w pppte t ge twele-ye-

l e tw m ut f te e. Ou tem

w gy eue tey elze D ut e tem

pelty te pelty x, w tey wee ue t

e . Te e mm wee gy eue tey tugt

“py-” et t p lttle t g “gy-”

et gl.

D lwly t up, , le pefet lttle getlem,

elpe te gl up. Te, t my , tue t me ge

me g g tum-up, emg ll ut fm te

pet t w w e t tt. (All I ul e

my m w te tem lawsuit .)



84 GOSPEL

I pulle D ut f te gme , “D—wt

wee yu tg? Wt’ wg wt yu, ?”D le up t me wt pefetly et twele-

ye-l fe, , “C . . . ut yu tl me t te

e ut . . . illegally .”

D tugt te lt tg I tl m e wet t

te gme w t te t gl ut il -leglly . “Te e ut,

D . . . D—me t ty.” Tee t let e tg tt ey mpee—tu-

g, ee—ut D’ eee. D ew tee ul

e eee equee f t. He ew t wul t

u pelty . He ew e’ ply get e .

He ew e’ ply get gue y pet . . .

mye ee umpe te plygu fte te gme.

But e ’t e, elly, ut y f te tg.

Wt e e ut? My ppl. I lttle (wpe?),

twele-ye-l m, e tugt, “C my e. It

e’t mtte wt ele ppe. If the coach ppy, I m

ppy.” He w wllg t fe wtee equee f I w

plee wt m.

Jeu t y tt f wegt u le.

Oeee t Hm tly, ut H peee ppl

e wt ytg we fe y equee we u.

He elly tt glu. He te teue wt fg

ll ele t t.

Freed to Enjoy the Rest

Leg t e tfe Jeu wll fee yu t ey

eeytg ele. Beg fulflle Ct me tt yu



GOd IS BET TER 85

lge epe te tg f lfe ppe. Tt

me yu ey tem, eue yu e lge eley tem. Te ppet f lg tem e’t teze yu.

A yu y “” t tem we tey e t G’ wll.

Te get y tt yu elly ly eg t ey

mey, me, ex we yu ’t epe tem f

lfe. C. S. Lew t le t: I lfe, tee e ft tg

(G) e tg (eeytg ele). If yu put fttg ft, yu’ll l get te e tg. If yu put e-

tg ft, yu’ll t ly le te ft tg ut yu’ll

le te e tg t.7 We Jeu yu lfe, yu

tt t ey te et f yu lfe.

We yu e tfe wt G’ peee ppl

yu lfe, yu wll lge e ut wt eeye ele

t ut yu. Yu qut g yu fult tt

lg wt utetty, lettg peple ee te el yu—te

“yu” wt ll te fult wt—eue yu lge

epe te mt f pel fulfllmet.

It eluty, letg tut: Ct, yu e

ll yu ee f eeltg y. H ppl peee e

ll tt yu ee f lfe ppe.

He te only Oe w ul ply te le f G u

le. He equl, pte, e’t wt t e

te ffe f “G” wt ye.

If yu’e le me, yu ply ee t em yuelf f

tt eey y:

h







87

CHAPTER 6

Chage by Sight

Sgt e f te tg I t f gte utl I w

fte wt te plty f lg t.Stly fte I gt me I e te y

t ffeg le eye ugey f ululy lw pe.

It ’t u t me tt ttg ut yu eyell t te

lwet e w t elly g e.

I t t w te fteg f te tp u my e

tt flly tggee my m wt w ut t p-pe. Suely t eme ytl le tt tey wee ut t

eme my e efm my et wt g-pwee

et le.

Nw elple, I wte te lttle fe le ff te -

e f my gt eye (I elze tt e’t u le te

f tg yu want t wt . . . ut wee ele tee t l

t tt mmet?) Afte te e w eme, I w tete

t tw-mute lep lgt w, uple wt



88 GOSPEL

uu ug-ue mell . . . tug tw mute

e’t u le lg tme, t feel le y we yue pet te tle ee yu.

All I ul t ut te wle tme w, “Wt

f tee etque?” Etque e t mm

wee I le Nt Cl, ut I’e wte te Hty

Cel’ Unexpected Mega Disasters eug t w tt

tee’ tellg we te ext g e mg. Tfully, etque. A te wle pe, f

t eye, lte ly ut fftee mute. Te t

eple te e my eye, pte t e wt lttle

eyell-upe-glue, t me up, ee e te I’e ee

le t ee 20/20.

F te f yu eg le eye ugey, e

euge.

I elze I ply w’t y el ge f ee ee-

g g. But lyg tee ug te ugey I me e

mmet t eflet te lue f my gt. Wtut gt

tee mu f lfe tt we’ m. We wul’t w

te eute f l te mety f uet. We wul’t

w te tll tt me t u et fm eeg l

f elgt u le’ fe te ffette gze f

u pue.

Sptul gt ee me mptt. Sptul gt

w we peee G. Wtut ptul gt yu m ut

te mt glu ply te uee. A te tgey

tt f yu e ptully l yu e e tt yu’e

mg ytg t ll.



CHAnGEd BY SIGHT 89

Oe we e u eye pee t te euty f G, we

elly tt t uet te e pt f Te GpelPye:



Te ptle Pul y ptul gt wt ge u.

Seeg te le f G te gly f Ct wt etu-

tue u et ee u ee (2 C. 3:18; 4:4).

Tt’ wy twe te f Epe Pul

G t ge te Epe ptul gt. He y, “I py . . .

. . . that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of

glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation

in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts

enlightened, that you may know what is the hope . . . and

his power . . . (Eph. 1:17–19)

tt

[you] may have strength to comprehend . . . the love of

Christ.” (Eph. 3:18–19)

Pul’ e pye me gt te mle f te

f Epe. Te ft tee pte wee eep gpel

te; te lt tee e emly elet tutf lg. Ct tee fte ete w te

me mptt f te tw: te te te pplt.

I upet Pul wul y tt wle t e mptt, te



90 GOSPEL

mt mptt tg f

ll eeg te euty gly f G eele

te gpel. We te

gly f G ee

te gpel, ge u

tully. Te gl f

peg, te, etete eye f fmt tut pplt.

Te gl f peg wp.

Dte elp ee te G we mut ee; pplt

elp u ee w t le te G we e ee. But t e

uele f te eye f te et e t ee pee t ee

te euty f G.

Seeing What Israel Saw

Jut Pul pye f te Epe, te f t tg G

we He le te le f Iel ut f ley Egypt

w pe te eye t w He . Exu 19 y tt He

eee up Mut S, wppg t me t

e. Lgtg tue flle te e. A u le

tumpet pee te , gwg lue lue utl t

w lmt uele.

G ge Me tt tut tt e w t

tu tt mut— e, t ee ml. If ye

mu e te pemete et u te mut,

tey wul e tu e.

G te pe t tem ut f te mut, emg

tem tt tey wee teue pe t Hm, tt

Doctrine helps describe

the God we must see;

application helps us see

how to love the God we

have seen.



CHAnGEd BY SIGHT 91

He e tem “egle’ wg” ut f ley ut

Hmelf. We te peple w t, ee w tey epe:

“All te peple te mp trembled . . . tey . . . “believed ”

(Ex. 19:16, ut emp).

A eult f tt elef, te Ble e 19:8,

g 24:3, tt te peple , “All te w tt te

Lord pe we wll .” Hee te pge: Tepeple w. Te peple elee. Te peple eye.

O tt y tey w G’ weme ze, H utu-

le le, H tee mey. Tt gt pue

t fe f G

ft G. It w we

we mgle

wt tmy. Te up-

ple G w l

te tee Fte. Awe

me wt tmy

te eee f Ct wp. A te tey plege t

ey.

Relly eeg te tee tg, G’ weme ze, H

utule le, H tee mey, w we wll

ge t.

God’s awesome size

I te tue etque lgtg, tey w

tt He w te G w mme te mgfet pw-

e f et.

Tee metg ut weme ply f tue tt

ge yu glmpe f w g G . He yu ee le

Awe combined with

intimacy is the essence

o Christian worship.



92 GOSPEL

t te gt y tugt ut w g te uee

? Atme tell u tt f te te etwee te u te et wee te te f e pee f ppe, te

te te etwee te et te let t wul e

t f ppe 70 feet g. Te te u glxy

wul e t f ppe 310 mle g. A u glxy

ut e f ue f tu f glxe te w

uee. Tee G e ll f t w pe t t ex-

tee wt ut w l t ll te plm f H .

Te mleule ey H eey w. St me t ut

f extee t H wm.

He g tt yu ltelly t exggete Hm.

Aweme ply f tue—le, tuetm, u-

et, te, tum—em u f tt.

Te Ielte gt tte f tt t te mut.

I elee tt mt peple ty e lt ee f G’

weme ze. We eue G t mette, mle-

l-ze ety tt we expl tl.

He t. Te fte G tgge te m. We

we ty t eue G t mee we expl -

tl, we tully pple peple’ lty t elee Hm.

Cle Me, e f Ete’ tuet, exple tt te

e Ete ee elee te Ct G lt

t wt w Ct pee y pe ut

G:

Te eg f te uee ey mgfet

ul t e te f gte. I ft, I elee

tt wy Ete lttle ue f gze



CHAnGEd BY SIGHT 93

elg, ltug e tu me lly ey

elgu m. Ete mut e le t wt tepee ut G felt tt tey wee l-

pemg! He ee me mety t e ee

mge te et f te uee felt tt

te G tey wee tlg ut ul’t e ee

te el tg. My gue tt e mply felt tt

te ue e u t e ppeepet f te Aut f te Uee.1

We we pe f G, we pe f Oe we ze

pwe wm mgt e f ey u w.

Pep e f te e we fl t teue G we e

u lmte ew f Hm. G G f u me

ze tt u m ee quetg we we ee Hm. We

temle elee.

God’s untouchable holiness

N e ul tu te mut, G : “Yu t

ee my fe . . . le” (Ex. 33:20).

G G f u fte pefet tt t ee te

lgtet H peee e tlete. We I,

te ppet f G, w G up H te, e fell up

fe, tefe, , “Suely I m ue, I e ee

te L” (I. 6:5, ut ppe). We Uzz ee

ut t tey te A f te Cet wee G’

Spt welle, e w tu e.

G G we le pefet m-

plete tt t ext H peee. I e peple fte



94 GOSPEL

pe glly ut “eeg G.” If G ppe te f ff

te ple wee yu wee ttg gt w yu w Hfe, yu’ mmetely e. Stg te peee f G

wt wul e le tue ppe tug te ufe f

te u.

Seeg eg G’ le me Iel temle.

We fte t we e e G f y w-

plyg te wle e f H ugmet. Ou ue-fely G e t pu . He etly e’t e peple

t ell. But ell ge u ptue f te lute pefet

euty f G. Hell wt ell eue G w

G . Hell wt ell eue tt’ wt gt

ftely eutful glu G eee. Hell t e

egee tte t u

em tt t e. Hell

ul me u mut

t gpe t te g-

teu, ut, le f

G.

He yu ee e

mee y tt G

ul t e “fee,” ly epete? Yu’ e

tme ellg tt t te Ielte fte te eute e

te mut. Tt eute w designed t pue fe.

It ly we we ee te le f G— gt tt

ul tefy u—tt u et le t wp Hm. A

G tt tfy u ul G tt ftely

eutful tt gt Hm eque eee fte

pumet.

Hell is what hell is

because that’s what

sin against an infnitely

beautiul and glorious

God deserves.



CHAnGEd BY SIGHT 95

D yu elze w mpletely pue pefet G ?

D yu elze wt ge te peee f yu etple yu ? Imge yu wee g gl f ml

I tl yu t ee mxe wt few p f um

l tmte y te

AIDS u. Tt’ t

mu, ut tug tt

gl f ml t yu lp wul epule yu. We

t efe G wlly

tmte y . S

t ext te peee f G. Iel g e

t e f.

Tue wp eg wt fe. It e’t e tee, ut

tt’ wee t tt.

God’s tender mercy

A Iel temle efe G’ weme ze

lute le, e pe t tem fm te mut,

gg tem tee tee w:

“You have seen . . . how I bore you on eagles’ wings and

broiught you to myself. . . . [You are] my treasured posses-

sion. . . . I am the Lord your God, who brought you out

of the land of . . . slavery. (Exod. 19:4–5; 20:2)

G y t tem, “I w yu uffeg I e

yu e . . . I pe yu up, teely, le fte wul

y wue l ut f we ugt yu t

Myelf.”

True worship begins

with ear. It doesn’t

end there, but that’s

where it starts.



96 GOSPEL

Tee’ mge I ee fequetly te ew tt lwy

me me, wtee te text. Te me e teee f me tgey, tey’ll ptue me mge f

fte yg te ly, e y f l ut f

te wege. Mye t’

eue I’m w f

fu le, ut eeg

fte w te l’ p tue

me mewee eep my

ul.

A I le tt w treasure . G ll tem H

“teue” pe. T teue metg me

tt yu’ ge up ut ut ytg f t. If I fu

ut my le tte me e ee,

te ly pe w expee mee tt u-

e wul t py f, I wul ell eeytg I

t get tt mee f tem. Wy? Beue I teue

tem.

Te Mgty G f te uee, te G w

eeytg l tg, ll elple, gulty peple

H “teue.” He e te e, etee te p,

eue tem.

Tee ly e w I t f t ee G

lutely pefet tt e H peee le t mme-

tely lt yet tee H mp tt He

ete t u p eue u: beautiful.

There is only one word

I can think o to describe

God . . . beatifl.



CHAnGEd BY SIGHT 97

Sight Breaks the Power of Sin

Iel’ epe t t eelt w tt tey “elee”

tey “temle.” Tey , “Whatever God says to us, we

will do.” I lgt f wt tey’ ee, t te G tey

wte t w ey.2 Tey ge. Nt ut te

e, ut te desires. Tey wte t w ey

G.

We we ee te ze euty f te G w

pe t u, te pwe f lty e u et

e.

Te wy tt we wll tp g t y eg tl e

e, “Stp g!” ut y eeg te mety gly

f G u et.

“But wt!” yu mgt y. “Te Ble full f e-te pt. I’t te pt f te Ble t tp

g?”

Ye. But eg te by-product f eeg G. A

we ee te euty f G feel H wegte u

et, u et eg t ee Hm me t we ee

. Befe te Ble y, “Stp g,” t y, “Behold your God! ”

T f t le ll. Tee e tw wy t eep

ll flt. If yu fll ll wt yu et, te te

ly wy t eep t te t tully m t upw.

Tt’ w elg eep yu mtte: t epetely “t”

yu. “Stp g t!” “Get uy wt tt!” T my lfe pt. Peple me Suy I “m” tem

ut metg. “Be me geeu!” A tey tt f

wee. “G m!” A tey g up f tp. Eey



98 GOSPEL

wee I m tem t ptul t. N we

peple ’t le eg u me.But tee’ te wy t eep ll flt. Fll t

wt elum. Te t flt t w, mg eque.

Seeg te ze euty f G le te elum tt

eep u g ptully.

We yu e ee te euty f G felt te

wegte f G’ mety yu ul, ’ pwe e yu wll e e. I fte tell llege-ge guy t u u

tt tey tu te exul e ff le lgt

wt. Tey ee elee me. I tell tem, “I’ll pe t t

yu . . . Imge tt yu e le wt yu glfe, t-

tg wt e te u t e ue. Yu exul ee

eg t te e yu

feel le tee wy

yu tu tem ff.

At tt mmet, yu feel

ttlly ut f tl, le

tee wy t y ‘’

t te pwe f tempt-

t.” Tey y, “Extly.”

I tell tem, “At ut tt

mmet, e Amy Rge fte wl . . . . See? Sexul

ee, ff le lgt wt!”

Wee t g? It t tt tey uely lt l,

t w ut tt tt mmet te fe f e Rge fte

w wegte t tem t te exul lut. Dee f e

w upe y ee t et.

Te e my f u feel le we “’t y ” t temp-

tt tt G e t e tt f wegt u

When you have seen the

beauty o God and elt

the weightiness o God’s

majesty in your soul,

sin’s power over you

will be broken.



CHAnGEd BY SIGHT 99

et. G’ utty mut e gete t u ee; H

euty ul e me ttte t y lut f te f le. Ite w, te e we ’t y t temptt t

tt u ee f te tg t lge; t’ eue u

ee f G t mll.

I e t elly y t te ee f temptt, we

ee t eelp tge ee f G. Lee uge

ly e expelle y t-ge e. Put Tm

Clme lle t “te

expule pwe f ew

ffet.” Ou ffe-

t f l e ugt

ue tl ly we

tey e te pte y

tge, me etg

ffet.

Utl tt ppe, ll ge we me wll e upef-

l. We wll ey ly we we t tee tet f pu-

met te pme f ew. T f eee

weme, t t G t u. We e fg u et

t puue wt tey ’t wt t puue.

Mt peple le ul-ptty: tey e pte t

te ful lut f te et; ut tey e l pte t te

ule f te elg. S me tem ee te wg tg;

te elg eep tem fm g wt tey w ee.

Seeg te gly f G eele te gpel ge u fee-

m fm t elg. Te gpel et u fee fm

te tet f emt ge u et tt we

wt t w ee G.

Our aections or idols

are brought under

control only when

they are taken captive

by a stronger, more

enchanting aection.



100 GOSPEL

Yu y, “But wt! If peple t tt Ct ley

te ll te pelty f te tet f pumetem, te tey wll wtee tey wt.”

Well, t let w we’e g te gt quet. T

extly te et Pul expete fte lyg ut te gpel

Rm 1–5. H we: f peple ly wt t puue ,

tt eel tt te et e ptully e (Rm. 6:1–2).

Te we t, Pul y, t lp ule tem. If yuet le , tw yuelf te mey f G, g

Hm t ge yu et eme H gteue

ge t yu gft. Oly te wll yu et ge. Te

ge f G, Pul y, wt pue el epete

u (Rm. 2:4).

Feem fm , yu ee, hating . A te ely

u fte Igtu : “It mple f m (tuly)

t e fee fm te t f efe e te t.” Yu wll

ly te we yu tt t le G. Yu le t le

G y eeg H euty le f yu eele te

gpel.

Te lee f te u ple J Buy, te

ut f Pilgrim’s Progress , p f peg te gpel.

Tey tl m, “Yu ’t g tellg peple tt Ct’

gteue ee ete t tem full. If tey elee

tt, tey’ll feel le tey wtee tey wt!” Buy

eple, “If peple elly ee tt Ct’ gteue

ee ge t tem etely gft, tey’ll wtee He

wt.”



CHAnGEd BY SIGHT 101

“So, where can we see God?”

“S,” yu y, “Wee we ee G le tt? Wee’u mut wee G ee efe u fe?”

G quet. I’m t tellg yu t e ut Cel B.

DeMlle’ Ten Commandments wt t e e.

Te mut Exu 19, mpee t w, w ut

m w f lte mut wee G’ gly wul

e eele—Mut Cly. Me t 1,400 ye fteG ppee Mut S, Jeu wul lm up te

mut t put G’ gly ply. Jut le S,

Cly w ee y

t lu f e

G tue H fe

wy. O te Jeu wul eue te tu-

e f G’ ugmet

te lgtg f

H wt t H y.

Te fe f G’ le

wul u tug te y f Ct utl t mpletely

ume Hm. We tgee te le f G’ le,

Jeu w tu e f t. We Jeu e, te et

ltelly , te lt tg Jeu wul fm te

yell, wt e le tumpet, “ It is finished !”

Te ug mut f Exu 19 w ptue f

Mut Cly, wee Jeu ge u te leet mt

mplete ptue f te gly f G.

I te we ee te mgmty f G’ ge.

G me t y u egle’ wg fm ge;

The gospel not only tells

us about the power o

God; the message o the

gospel is itself the power

o God.



102 GOSPEL

He eue u ut f te w f et y uttutg Hmelf

u ple. Imge tg ut lf mle fm teHe Dm, tt me tutue lg utl

mut f wte. Imge, t yu , tt yu uely

w fmg up fm te ttm f te m, ly t

ee me fe f wte ut tug te m we

fe ue feet g me ug w te lley tw

yu. Det et. But uely, gt efe te wteweep yu wy, te gu ft f yu pe up

wllw eey ue, tt t p tue yu. We

Jeu e te , He t etwee u te ug

e f G’ gteu wt. He wllwe up eey ue

t Hmelf, tt t p em f yu me. He

te up f G’ wt t t eg, tue t e,

, “It fe.”

He tt f yu eue yu e teue t

Hm.

I te we ee te mee f G’ pwe.

Te gpel eel gete pwe t ee te pwe f

et. It te pwe f ew et; eeemg fm

egeetg lfe fm et. Pul ll te gpel “te

pwe f G” (Rm. 1:16). D yu w tt tg ele

Sptue, exept f Ct Hmelf, efee t etly

“te pwe f G”? T ut tt—te u 9,900

egee Feet te ufe 27 mll egee t

t e. Tum we e up t 100 feet g tel t

e 80 mle u, etyg eeytg te pt.

A eetly ee t epte t te tug te

ee t 1.5 mll mle pe u. We w f le

tt pew l up t 17 mle t te tmpee




we eupt e

e me t 3,000mle wy.3 Oe um

DNA t, le t

te um eye, t

eug fmt t fll

e tu 500-pge

. Ne f te lle “te pwe f

G.” Jeu’ tu

w f puttg wy u

fee g tumpt e te ge, wee,

wt G ll “My pwe.”

A yu ee elee tt gpel, t pwe tully

elee t yu. Yu ee, te gpel t ly tell u ut

te pwe f G; te mege f te gpel itself te pwe

f G. By te pwe f te Spt, te eg f te gpel

e-ete u et t le te tg G mm.

T f t le Jeu’ mm t te lme m t wl.

We Jeu , “Re, te up yu e, wl,” He

w gg te lme m t ly mm, ut H

w l ge te pwe t ey tt mm. I te

me wy te gpel G ge te pwe t wt He

mm.

Beleg te gpel t ly te wy we eme

Ct, t te pwe tt ele u t , eey mmet

f eey y, te ey tg Jeu mm u t .

Believing the gospel is not only the way we

become Christians, it is

the power that enables

us to do, every moment

o every day, the very

things Jesus commands us to do.



104 GOSPEL

Mahmud’s Vision

Oe mgt wle I w lg Ilm uty

I eee pe ll fm m I ee met me

Mmu. Mmu exple t me tt e ey

mptt em, e elee tt I w uppe t elp

m tepet t. I em e wee mlely

ele fel. T fel, e tl me, eeme t m t

ymlze lfe. He felt le, wtut pupe, tue m-

pp et. Afte wlg f wt eeme le

y, e e e e m ll me. Tee e

w m w, w, “w ee g wte

ltg. I ul t l fe, eue t e le

te u.” T eely m ee t te f e

pulle ut py f te gpel te t ple t Mmu’ . “T,” te m t Mmu, llg

m y me, “wll get yu ut f t fel.”

Mmu efue. Mmu w ftful Mulm,

e ee t pe “Ct ltetue.” He we up

l wet, et etg quly, feelg ey f.

He e felt f e eete ppet tw wt t .

We e fell leep te e gt, e fu m-

elf g te fel. Ag, te “m” ppee, ffeg

Mmu te py f te gpel. A g Mmu

efue.

Te t gt we Mmu wet t leep, te m w tee wtg m. “T, ly t,” e t

Mmu, “wll get yu ut f t fel.” Wt temlg

, Mmu t te gpel fm te m.




Mmu te t me, “My fe tell me tt yu e

expet te gpel. C yu tepet my em f me?”N e. Tt wt e .

Nw, I w e ey ttl Bptt me,

em wee t pt f u t elgu

epete. S, I , “Mmu, I ’t elee

em.”

Nt elly. I le t m , “Bte, yu e lu, em tepett ut ppe t e my ptul

gft.”

F te ext tw u I exple te gpel t m.

Tug e tll quet, e ’t elly ut te

we I w gg m. Afte ll, e’ ee tute

y e meege t lte! We I exple t m

w Jeu te te , e , wt te

temg w fe, “All . . . te Cet G, yg

my ple? C t e tue? O, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar ”

(Wt Mulm y we tey ge pe t G—meg,

ltelly, G te getet!).

It w u e elee, I e m f e

wul le t ple H ft Jeu. We e ye,

I e m f e ew wt u mmtmet mgt t

m. “Mmu,” I , “yu mgt le yu . Yu mgt

get e ut f yu fmly. T mmtmet t Ct

mgt ee t yu yu lfe.”

I’ll ee fget wt e ext. He mle ,

“Of ue I w ll tt. Tt wy t t me e

mt t me tl wt yu, eue I ew tt f I eme

fllwe f Jeu t mgt t me eeytg . . . ut f Jeu

Ct G, G ge Hmelf le tt f me te



106 GOSPEL

, I wll g ywee wt Hm. If I le my , my fm-

ly, my lfe, t OK. I’ g wt Jeu ywee.” Yu my ee e “” f Jeu yu em

le tt. I e’t ete. Wle u expeee my t e

tt mt, u epe t Jeu ul e le ttl.

We ee te gly f G, Pul y, te fe f Jeu Ct

peete t u te Gpel. Wt we ee tee ette

t em . Bemg fllwe f Jeu meg yu et eptue y te euty, mety,

lue f G’ gft f Hmelf t yu tt wg ple-

g Hm eme te e g p f yu et. Ee

f t t yu eeytg ele.

What about You?

D yu feel te wegt f G’ mety yu ul

t wy? Yu my e e te Ble tu tme, ut

e yu ee ee ewelme t te ply f G’

pwe gly tt yu temle? Befe Ctty tell

yu t do ytg, t ll

yu t t we

mzemet t wt G

e for you.

I yu et ptte

y te gly euty f

G? Ae yu eme y

ee f we and w

y feelg f tmy?

If t, wy t get w

yu ee gt w

Get down on your

knees, open the pages

o the Gospels, and pray

that the Jesus

who walks through

the pages o Matthew,

Mark, Luke, and John

gives you a glimpse o

His true majesty.




eg G t pe te eye f yu et t let yu ee Hm

f w He elly ? Bette yet, wy t get w yuee, pe te pge f te Gpel, py tt te Jeu

w wl tug te pge f Mttew, M, Lue,

J ge yu glmpe f H tue mety? Yu’ll ee e

te me. A yu’ll f yuelf yg tee w e

e g, w wt yu wle et:

h







109

CHAPTER 7

Gospel-Cetere Relatioships

wt te e, efte m f te w e ee

e? Gwg up, I e lt f we t tt quet. At e u I te, tey tt f yu wee elly e,

yu wul w t y () ge yu lguge; () te

wy yu ee (f yu wee y, yu t ut yu eg,

ut yu t, we plete ); () ue

tee te f ee, gette, Dey; ()

pefeee f mu wt lttle t umet.Mt f tt ulu. But te gpel e g

umtle ge yu lfe.

Te t pt f Te Gpel Pye ,


It’ mple t elly expeee te ge f te gpel

t e tfme t pe f e, geety,

le. We we expeee te geety f te gpel,



110 GOSPEL

we wll tully exte tt geety t te. We eme

peple wt geeu pt, tt ffet w we tette wt we wt u mey, tme, tlet.

Grace and Victor Hugo

Oe f my ll-tme fte me ee te pe-

g equee te 1998 me et f Vt Hug’Les Misérables . Lm Nee ply te pt f Je Vle,

tte ml w ut ee ple fm -l

mp Fe.

He tumle le lte e gt t te me f pet,

w te m ffe m f elte f te ee-

g. Tt gt Vle tel ll te lewe te pet’

me. Te pet, eg me mmt ue, get

up t etgte. Vle pue m te fe

m ut. He te lee wt te tle le.

Ely te ext mg te ple g Vle

t te me f te pet. Te gu mgly y t

te pet, “He tl u yu ge t le t m!” Beg

ple pe, ll te pet t fm tt

Vle tle te lewe, Vle wll g t

p—f lfe.

Te pet, fe tll ue le fm te

gt efe, l t Vle y, “Wy ye. Ye, I .

I’m ey gy wt yu, Je Vle . . .” Te e ,

uexpetely, ‘. . . eue yu fgt te let. Wy

yu fget te let? Tey e wt lmt 2,000

f.”



GOSP EL-CE nT EREd RELATIOnS HIPS 111

Te gu mmetely e Vle t e elee.

Vle, mewle, umfue t te tu f eet. Te pet ew e tle te le, Vle ew te

pet ew. A yet te pet t ly ue f te -

t, e e tl welt t . I explt

te pet y quetly t Vle: “A w ’t yu fget

t. D’t yu ee fget t. Yu’e pme t eme ew

m. “Je Vle, my te, yu lge elg t el. Wt t le I’e ugt yu ul. I’e me yu

fm fe te . . . w I ge yu t G.”

Les Misérables te ty f w Vle eme “te

ew m” te pet ele e wul eme. Te mey

f te pet tfm Vle fm ee ml

t ptet, , geeu m w e f te p

te p. A epet f get mey, e eme ge f

get mey.

T, f ue, t te full gpel. It te me t

t f mey t ge u et. Te Spt f G

t pe u eye t te mey euty f G Ct

ge u ee f t. But tee tut Hug’ etl

pt: mey eget mey.

Hug welt f mtel t w fm te Gpel

we e fte tle. I Mttew 18:23–25, f exmple,

Jeu tl ty ut e m w we te m

exty mut f mey—“te tu tlet” t

e pef. (Tt’ lt f mey. T “Cgel

tmulu pge.”) Te y me we te et w ue,

te m w lle t ut. Te m ul’t py

equetly w etee t “et’ p.” Tee

e wul l, tgete wt fmly, utl te et w



112 GOSPEL

p ff—ee f t met uequet geet eme

mpe. Te m, pele, tew melf te gu

eg t ple f mey—me tme t py ff te et.

Eeye wtg t ptet ee eg t feel um-

ftle, eue l ffe ’t eme ueful y

wg mey. Tey’e t lle “l ue” “l

puppe”; tey e lle “l .” If yu ’t py,mee me Bu w up t yu ue t e yu

tum.

But te te mt uexpete tg ppee. T l

felt emt Jeu ll “splagma ,” Gee w

meg gut-leel mp f te guy. We ’t w

wy. Pep e ememee w le, mye e

ut etfe wt t guy—wtee— ttm lp

tte t que te flle eye. He te te

utle: “Fget ut t. Yu we me tg.”

N e te m ul elee t, let f ll te

fge m. F te ft tme lfe, e felt fee. He

te te l ffe pfuely emege fm te

utm ew m. He ue me, feelg lgt ,

t tell fmly te ew f te elee.

A e e te teet fm te utue, e

w l llegue w we m $3. He ge te m

y te e , “Ge me my $3.” Te guy , “I’m

y. I’e wee. I ’t e y mey. I’ll py yu

ext wee.” “N!” te m ee. “If yu ’t py w,

yu’e gg t p.”

I mge tt we Jeu w tellg t ty, t t

pt H ee lle te eye. “Ge me e. Nobody




fge f mll f

ll wul tw me-e p e $3.” A

tt Jeu’ pt exactly .

Tee wy yu ul

e y ept f wt

G fge yu f

e ugeeu pt tw te. If yu e, t mutme yu e uwe f te ge G w tw yu.

Te peple w elly elee te gpel w t y

emg le te gpel.

Smee tute te ge f te gpel eelp

lmt e lty t fge.

A Radical Forgiveness

It w my flue t gp te ge w t me te

gpel tt lmt etye my mge.

My wfe I e ee me f egt wonderful

ye. Plu tw te e, f ttl f te. Te ft tw

ye wee ug. I ememe my wfe I g t

e te few mt efe we gt me, “We ee

fgt—we mut e pefet f e te!” A we ’t

fgt. At tt pt. Tugut te ete ye f u t-

g eltp eggemet, I t ememe gle

ltet.

Well, we me up f lt tme ug te ft x mt

f u mge.

Afte guelg t ut f uple f ye, epet

we wet t ee ll uel. He pee Ble t

Those people who

really believe the gospel

become like the gospel.



114 GOSPEL

1 Tmty 1:15 wee Pul ee melf te “ef”

f e (nkjv). He te e u f we tugt Pul wexggetg we e lle melf tt. My te f te

Ble me me wt t y “,” e te Ble et

Pul e’t exggete. But w ul Pul really t e

w gge e t Ju It Ne?

Stll mpletely uwe f wee te uel w gg

wt t, I , “I ’t w.”He tt Pul w ee tellg te tut yg

tt eue peept, e w te gget e. Pul

w ette qute wt w fule t e w

ye ele’. Of ue Pul ew, teetlly, tt te

peple wee eey t te e e w, ut e w mu

me we f t e w te. We Pul tugt

ut ee f ge, e ’t t f te ft—e

tugt f melf.

Ou uel exple tt t my wfe I w one

another, and not ourselves, “te ef f e.” I ul ee

my wfe’ , ut I w lfully lu t my w. If I

uet my w eep ee f ge, I wul e me

tully extee ge t e.

Te uel’ ext w exple my et le

mell: “We yu elly elee te gpel, yu ee tt

yu e ft e ly ely e gt. Te

plem yu mge tt ete f yu eem we

f w mu yu’e ee fge. Beue yu e’t elly

tte ge, yu w’t exte ge t e te. Yu ee

t g t te gpel.”

Ou mge plem wee gpel plem. Tt

fte my wfe I eg t exple me tmtely




te ge tt ee extee t u Ct. Tug

tt tuy u ete pt tw e te ge. We eg t ee uele ft, e, e, e

gt; we eme me we f u w ee

f ge, we eme me wllg t exte t t e

te.

We tll ut ppt e te. We tll get

mptet. But we I t ut w mu G f-ge me f, wt I’m e t fge e f e’t eem

tt uttl. A we t mze t wt G e

f u te f Ct, we f t t ty gy t

e te.

As God’s grace changes us, our grace changes others

I g elt wt ume f tugglg mge

u u e te ye, I e te tt e f te g-

get tle t wg ge t te te elef tt f

yu t etlte, te w ut yu wll ee le te

wge f wt tey e e. We te t up uele

t eute u pue, u , u we, u pet,

ye ele u pt t te fult w tey’e

ut u.

Tt’ wt I tugt ug te ft tw ye f m-

ge. I tugt te ly wy elly t ge my wfe w t

me e feel te p f

wt e w g t me.

If I ut e te me

wy e ut me, e’

epet.

God changed us by pouring out undeserved

kindness on us.



116 GOSPEL

Futeme, I felt gt pyg e f e wg.

We we e wge, lttle e tug f g uet tellg u tt te le f ute te uee

ff. We feel g ut ety we we e gtg te wg.

We t we we ete te le f ute, eeye wll

tt eg ppely g.

Tt le. I tt w G ge u, y pug u

f u ? N. G ge u y pug ut ueeee u. We we tte tt, u et wee t-

fme.

We wll elp te ge te ext me wy. Pul

exple t t wy:

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath

of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,

says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry,

feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink;

for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

(Rom. 12:19–21)

My fte pe tt ee tt y etug g

f el we wll “heap burning coals on [our enemy’s] head.” Tt

u le wt I wte t t my eemy (um . . . my wfe)

te ft ple! But Pul ’t yg tt we ump l

mee’ e t hurt tem—tt, fte ll, wul e gt

te ete pt f t pge. Dumpg l te e

met to wake them up.

Te pe w eee yu e epe t

te e t wee. Yu e t tem




me tem ee te uty f te elfe elp

we tem t te leg f eltp.Oly te, Pul y, wll yu overcome el. Yu ’t

eme el mee y pyg tem . Yu’ll ly

pepetute t. Yu etlt wll pue me ge

tem, , tu, me el, f t tw yu, tw me-

e ele. Yu ety te el mee y wg tem

extgt ge. Jeu t t wy: we we e wge, we ul

“tu te te ee.” Sme tepet tt t me tt

we egge me type f uelt pf m. Smee

pue u te fe, we t up, l t tem

y, “I tt ll yu gt? I’m tll tg! Hee, t me

g!”

But Jew tugt, te “ee” w te yml f

eltp; g mee’ ee w te g f pee

fellwp. “Stg mee’ ee” met tt yu

e ttg te eltp. T e yu e tu

met tt fe wee tg yu f gte. Nt gg

yu epet. Tlg e yu . Nt tg ut

yu ee.

Jeu y, “Tu yu te ee t tem.” I te

w, reoffer the relationship t tem. Jeu t y “tu

te me ee t tem,” “let tem t yu g.”

N e y “te tem te ee etu,” ,

“etlte tey e p t.” He “tu te te

ee” to tem.1 Reffe te leg f eltp. We

mgt ee t ft tem wee tey wge u, ut we

wtut te lgtet ee t wu etu. We



118 GOSPEL

te tg f te lw ffe tem te e f

ete eltp. Jut le Jeu f u.

I ftg tem, yu e t tyg t elly py

tem f te ffee—elly wppg tem. Yu e

ftg tem f their sake , eue yu e ee y

wt te g t tem, wt t g t yu

eltp. Yu t le, me ee wt w te utg tem te t t effet yu. Wee

tey wee elf uel, yu ep wt teee

ee t ele. Yu te lee ffe tem

pee. By g yu mgt ey well “we” tem ut f

te etute e.

Te gpel e t tell u t e pe tw te

te fult. It tell u t e ggeely geful. We e-

me el wt g. “Oeme” w’ tem. Pul

yg, “G t w wt el, efet t uly wt ge.”

Jeu eme el u

tug te ge f te

. We wll eme

el te y eg t

tem Jeu w t u.

Me, we e uppe

t le t u m-

ge. We Pul tell

u t “le u we le

Ct le te u,”

t pmly wt e

w tlg ut. Ct

le te u y eeg e utful lw ffeg

The gospel does

not tell us to be passive toward

others in their aults.

It tells us to be

aggressively graceul.

We oercome evil

with good.




e ly le epe. H ge tw te u

t f, ut me, te u eutful. T pue te u le f Hm tt ul ee e ee p-

ue tug etlt. C. S. Lew t well: “T ee

[Ep. 5:25] mt eme te u we wfe

eee mt ge te let, t’ te e we wfe

mt uwty f m, — e w mee tue—let

lle. F te u euty ut wt te e-gm ge e; e e t f, ut me e, lely.”2 We

me u we eutful y exteg t tem te ge f

te . T “we tem wt te w,” elp fm

tem Ct-le te. Ct t f u, ft; we

t f u we, e.

We respond to God, not to others

Nw, I e wt yu mgt e yg. “But t pe

e t deserve my ge. Yu ’t w w eeply tey’e

ut me.”

A mptely I , I wt t tell yu: That’s the

whole point .

We ’t eee G’ ge we G e u, ete.

Te ttm le tt te pe we e t fge my

t ge we we ft w tem ge. We ’t ete.

I ’t w my peple w elee te gpel te ft

tme tey e t. Jeu extee ge t me lg tme

efe I ge. He e f me “wle I w tll e”

(Rm. 5:8).

I ft, te pe yu e fgg mgt ee ge.

A tt’ OK, eue fgee eeft t fge,

t. We get e t le le G le. Ee f wg



120 GOSPEL

ge ee ge te we fge, t ge u, tt

G’ pmy pupe ll tt ppeg t u tlfe. Pul y G wg all tg u le tgete

tw H g pl f fmg u t te mge f H

S (Rm. 8:28–29).

Ultmtely I m epg t Jeu, t t te pe

ft f me. Te pe wgg me my t eee

epe f ge, ut te Jeu w le e f mee.

S . . . yu’e wtg f te epm, w tw

u lte. We e me yu wt t g Ol Tetmet

m. Pep tt

mmet f futt yu

mgt ememe, “T

epm’ te

tg mpe t te

lpemy I mmtte

gt G.” Yu mgt

tll ft te ep-

m ut te,

ut yu’ll e etely ffeet pt. (Nte: T

ppee t me lt. I e eme we tt G eem

t e ppte wle my f mpetet, ug

peple f my tft.)

We yu e tte te ge f te gpel, elt-

p, mtte w wg utful yg, l te

me t yu. Yu’ll ee yuelf “ft, e, e,

e gt,” we tt ppe, yu ete p-

t tw te’ ffee tw yu wll ge.

When you have tasted

the grace o the gospel,no relationship, no

matter how wrong or

hurtul or annoying,

looks the same to you.




Te leet m f G’ ge yu lfe geeu

pt tw te. Yu ul ly t te ge f G w yu

Ct, py:

h






123

CHAPTER 8

Etraagat Geerosity

“As you have been to me so I will be to others.”

Tt’ te mt f ge-e elee. We’e ee

w tt ete u geeu pt tw te ffee f

te. But w e tt ge u tttue tw u p-

e? Wt e gpel-etee elee’ eltp

wt mey l le?

I w yu’e ply expetg petty pt we ee.

Smetg le, “Wtee yu’e gg . . . t’ t eug.

Tee e I w ue tee g f e

y. Feel gulty ge me.”

Uetg te gpel wll etly le yu t

extgt geety. Hw ul t t? “Yu w te

ge f u L Jeu Ct” Pul y, “tt tug e

w , yet f yu e e eme p, tt yu y

pety mgt eme ” (2 C. 8:9). If we uet



124 GOSPEL

wt Jeu ge up t e u, w ul we t wllgly

yfully ge up u pe tt te mgt e lfel?

But tee lemm. Hw ul we ee ge up

eug t equl wt Jeu ge up f u? Jeu H

ele Fte tu H fe wy fm Hm te u He

eee Hm mt. Ne f u wll ee ge up ytg tt

ee mpe t tt.I t t tt, te Ble tl ut ume f

tg G wt u t wt u mey ee ut ge

t wy (tug He etly e wt u t e extgtly

geeu wt t). Mey tl He put u f te

mplg multple pupe u le. S, t pte

lttle me f -ept l wt “gpel-etee

geety” l le.1

Two Primary Errors

I f tt tee e tw pmy e we t me t

Ct’ tttue tw gg.

Te f t e ge metg le t:

“G wt 10 peet, fte tt yu

wtee yu wt wt yu mey.”

I te w, fte yu’e tte, yu’e e yu uty,

yu g yu mey wy ug te te 90 peet

t l gft up yuelf. F my Ct gg

wy tt ft 10 peet tully me t gettg G

t ee te te 90 peet. “Bg te tte t te



ExT RAvAGAnT GEnEROSIT Y 125

teue,” tey y, “ ee f G wll t pe up te

ww f ee pu ut u ue f le-g tt yu t t t” (Ml. 3:10, ut ppe).

F tee elee, gg etmet pl t get

me tuff.

T pt, y telf, t ut mplete—t me

unChristian, eue, ultmtely, t pmy mtt

mey. We ge t G t get me mey fm G. It tue tt G pme t le u we we ge, ut ee-

g me mey t te pmy e we e t ge. We

ul ge gteful epe t G w ge eeytg

f u. We we ge t G pmly e t get me

fm Hm, we e t wppg G; we e using Hm

(2 C. 8:6; 9:8; 1 Tm. 6:6).

T f gg tg t wt wt Jeu

w tlg ut we He t “te up u ”

fllw Hm. Fllwg Jeu me tt we leege u

le f te gm f G, ut He leege H f

u. Jeu H lfe w le ee tt fell t te gu

e tt lfe ul me ut f t t eeft t-

e. Eey ple f Jeu

mut feel te me ut

e w lfe (J

12:24). Jeu t tte

H l f u, He ge

t ll. Wt He eee

epe—ee, wt

He em— full

ffeg f u le.

Jesus said His lie was

like a seed that ell into

the ground and died so

that lie could come out

o it to beneft others.



126 GOSPEL

Te peple w ge G tte tey get

wt elf-etee lfe e t yet eme te pt f plep.

Te e, ppte, e Ct ppe

t gg ge metg le t:

“Te ly tg yu ul wt yu mey

ge t wy t te p. Afte ll, tee e lwyme p me lt peple. Tu, f tee’

metg yu e tt yu ul ge wy tll

ue, yu ul ge t wy.”

I’e e t tttue tw u pe ee

efe “ttle” metlty. I ttle, yu et yuelf

f ll luxue t pe eue f te ttle. All yu

“luxuy metl” get melte tw f ullet. All lle

ptl ul teefe e ue t fee te p py te

le f me.

Rememe tt ee Schindler’s List we te elty

f w my Jew ee lle te Hlut et

Lm Nee e l t wt y, “T wt

. . . I ’t ee t wt. Wy ul’t I e l t?

T wt ul e fee tw Jew . . .” Tt’ w peple

t pt t.

T pt ugget tt we ul le mmlly

umly ple ge ll te et wy. Yu quet

le t:

• “If yu wee tg, wul’t yu lqute

yu etemet t fee tem?”




• “If yu le wee l te ex te, wul’t

yu ge up eeytg yu t eue tem?”

I f t pt pg, t etly t let

ptlly et (we e el ttle wt el ulte

we ’t ge tt). But wle t pt mu me

le wt te New Tetmet t te peu pp, t

tll ut f le wt te full ll teg mey,

ple wt te gpel telf.

I te t pt pelly f wle, , qute

etly, t le me t ep. Tee w lwy mee ele

w eee Jeu te p t e e f. S,

I elly ee t get Ce wt lu? Cul’t I tp

wte ge tt $1.40 t m? Wul’t tt fee

p f wee? O, ul I ee e etg ut t ll? Aee f I et t me, I et ytg e e e?

Lt f p ’t ee e tt. A I elly ee

weg g—, t te ey let, gl e? I ul ell

my e gl g ge tt mey t m. Wee te

ut my ue peetme luxuy tt ul elly g

t pe wm pm f I?

Correcting Our Perspective

I e me t ee fu ll e wt tt tttue:

First, this kind of thinking has no practical end. We

eug, eug? A I mete t te egg f tpte, f pe mpe te fe t tt f Jeu,

tey wll lwy me up t. He left ee t me t

et, ple t ly H e, e ttuu



128 GOSPEL

et. He fe met y G. Tee’ tg we

t equl te fe f Jeu. A t te ttle metlty . . . well, ttle, f I

ullet te eemy w mg f my fmly, I wul melt

w all my p et wt my I ul e

ullet t efe my . I e te, wee, tt mt

ppet f te ge-t-ll-wy ew, wee, tll e

p. D tey elly e me ut te peu pt tey lt ul te Su? If t, wy t ell te

p? Suely tey ul ue wtut p!

See elee tg t pt tell u t “pe

mey ly eete; ge wy y exe.” But wt

extly excess ? If yu te ytg e e e,

w’t tt exe?

Fe ue ye g J Cl peee te ee-

eg tety f t type f tg. He ,

If m eg t ut wete e my ue le

f eet, t, eef, p,

e wll ftew e uet l ut emp . . .

F e wll tu e m wete e up

wtut p, g wtut eef. If y

m ul e te f ulwful, te

e e wll t e t pee efe G, we e et

ete l e mm tul, wle t u

t m tt e ul ut y ee e

f. If e ggle t weet we, e wll t wt

le ee ee flt we, flly e

wll t e tu wte f weete lee t

te wte.”2




Second, this approach assumes that God needs our money.

T ul me upe t yu, ut He e t.G ete te wl wt ut w elp fm y

f u. He me eug f f 5,000 fmle wt ut

fe le tw f. He ue te “tw mte” f te

ww t me t te et f te . He me

mey ppe f’ mut we He ee t. Weee

He ee, He peue Kg Cyu t py f teeulg f Jeulem. Belee me, He’ t t mey.

He w te ttle tu ll ell y f

tem weee He wt. At pt e He ee pp

u f He needs u eue t get H e.

Tt’ t t y tt He ’t me te u

-le H m. It etly tue tt He put

t te f te u te mtel eue He pl

t ue t g lt t te wl. But wle G ue u

geety pt f H pl, tt’ ffeet t mplyg

tt G ee u mey t get te e.

Third, this position ends up being, for all its spiritualized

language, a form of “compulsory” giving. We e e y gult

ge t llete t. Gpel-etee gg, y tt,

teze y feem. We ge yful epe t te

ge f Ct eue tee tg we’ te wt

u mey t glfy Hm ee H gm me

te et.

Te New Tetmet ge t metulu legt t

peg mut elee ul ge. F exmple,

te gpel f Lue, t let tee tme Jeu mme

ffeet mut.



130 GOSPEL

• I Lue 18:22 Jeu tlg t yug ule

w t f mey Jeu y t m, “Gewy all f yu mey—eey pey! A me

fllw me.”

• I Lue 11, Jeu efeg t w me peple

ge He y, “Yu tte” (w gg

wy 10 peet) He y, “T g” (Lue

11:42).• Hee Lue 19:9 Zeu ge wy 50 peet

Jeu y, “Tt ey g pe yu’e

ee e.”

F type A peple le me, u mguty e u zy.

“Well, w t, Jeu? I t 100 peet? O 10 peet? O

50 peet? Jeu, I ee x t e ff. Wt’ te extmut I e t ge t get ‘te gl t’?”

Te pt , there is no one answer . . . pt f gee-

ty mply t metg yu pue y etlg

t.

Fourth, this position is out of sync with a number of other

things the Bible teaches about God’s purpose in giving us possessions. G t ge u mey mply f u t ge t wy.

Plee ’t mtepet tt. G e pe u wt lt

f mey tt He e ee wt u t leege f te—

t ge t wy feely. But G te pupe gg u

mey ey gg t wy. Ag t Pul, G ge u

me mtel tg t ey He glfe we ey tem. Ay g fte le t elgt le wt gft;

u Heely Fte ffeet. We Kg Slm

tugt u tt g mey e puet, tt gly




me fte lee mey ee t te le’ le. S

let’ ele me t wt te pupe e.

The Generosity Matrix

We le ule, fmul, l--wte pep-

t. Wt mey, wee, te Ble ge u mpleme-

ty lue gpel-etee et l le.I f t let x ll pple ut mey tt

we ul l eeet te. Any one of these prin-

ciples, taken alone, will knock you out of balance . Hlg ll x

pple te, wee, le yu t extgt ge-

ety umle ppet f G’ g gft. Hee

tey e!

1. God gives excess to some so that they can share

with those who have less.

I 2 Ct 8:13–15, Pul ue te ty f te

m ge t te Ielte te wlee t expl

G ge exe t me we e t wt te. If my

wfe p my lttle gl ’ lu, e put tw we

t eue e ew tee w t l w

tg, we wul wt e t ge t wy we e w

ge te e. We ’t ee e t quel t wy e

tmw we fget t ge e lu. We w’t fget. G

e te me wt u. He ge exe t me f u ty

we e ty wt te ee ty. He w’t fget

ut u tmw.

Te Ol Tetmet tl umeu ple ut

elee’ eplty t te p. Jme y tt f we ee



132 GOSPEL

te uffeg wtl u eue fm m, te

we e t elly peple f ft. At y tt ely u“tee w t eey pe mg tem, f my

wee we f l ue l tem ugt te

pee f wt w l l t t te ptle’ feet,

t w tute t e

y ee” (At

4:34–35). Tu, te f u wt

eltely lt ul ge

feely t te wt lttle.

It’ peely why G ge

me f u lt. We’ll

e t we t Hm

f wt we wt u ue. Sg wt te p

t u uty u yful plege.3

2. Jesus’ radical generosity toward us serves as a

model and a motivation for our radical generosity.

I 2 Ct 8–9. Pul fute expl t te

Ct tt Jeu’ geety tw tem ul e te

ptte f te geety tw te.

A I e, Jeu t meely tte H l;

He ge ll f t. A G ee u lty t e mey

ge u gete pt f pwe, we ul leege

tt pwe mey le Jeu —t t ee u

t f lg, ut t ee u t f gg. We

ul t f lfe le Jeu , Pul y, w leege

H pt H eue t e u te t ppe

Hmelf. Tu, we ul leege u ppety f te e

Those o us with

relatively a lot should give

reely to those with little.

It’s precisely hy God

gave some o us a lot.




f wl egelzt, t gete elf-ulgee. Pul y

tt G tully multple u fl eue for the purpose of eg u “ee f wg” (2 C. 9:10).

Hw y f u w e tte te extgt le f

Ct e tgy wt u eue? De’t H mp

tw u me u tully pe t elp te ee?

If we ee mee w ee tt we meet, w

u et t wt t elp tem? W’t we le te ftele, te ww, te ut-, te mele, e we

w tt we e wee ftele, etge fm te Fte,

le, ee f etel ept fm G?

Hw we y we le te t pu ut u le

tt te e? I w e g te gpel wt gl

me R. Afte tlg f qute me tme, e ,

“I ul’t elee wt yu elee. It wul we my lfe.”

I , “Wy?” Se , “If I elee wt yu elee—

tt my fe wee eme lt ul ly

e fu y eleg Jeu—I wul pp e f

tem— ft, eey pe-

I met— my

ee plead wt

tem t elee Jeu. I

wul ee tp pleg,

ee tp weepg, utl I

e eeye t

elee.” D we feel tt

wy ut te lt?

Pul, w tle

mu ut feem

te Ct lfe, y e

As God increases our

ability to earn money

and gives us greater

positions o power,

we should leverage

that power and money

like Jesus did—not to

increase our standard

o living, but to increase

our standard o giving.



134 GOSPEL

felt “ue lgt” t te w e’t e ut

Ct (Rm. 1:14–17). G eele Hmelf t Pul ge; w ul Pul t yel lfe f te? Ae yu

leegg yu lfe f te Jeu leege H f yu?

3. The Holy Spirit must guide us as to which sacrifices

we , personally, are to make.

I te me Bptt Refme- le I u, peple e t extly ue, ptlly peg, wt

te Hly Spt does , ey egeetg u et

tg u f .

I’m t gg t ttempt t we te quet f wt

ll te Hly Spt e ee,4 ut I elee te Hly Spt

tely gue u. I ft, te e f geety, I epe

t. Hw I w w pte f ee I ul

leege my lmte eue f?

I ’t e lt f ule e ’t ge tt

mu wegt t “ly ue,” ut I t tt te Hly

Spt t w u w f H m pte e f

u. Wtut tt gue, I’m t ue wt I wul . I’

feel le I w lle t eeytg.

Nw, g, t pple, f te y telf, wll le yu

wy. I ft, f yu ly ge eue te Hly Spt “tell

yu t,” te yu gg t ef lwg fm et f

gttue. Yu e ut fllwg e. Rememe, G

e’t wt peple w ge ly eue tey e tl. He

wt peple we et e up pteuly yfully

we tey e ge te e t e geeu.




4. God delights in our enjoyment of His material gifts.

I le t ge my tg tey ey. G etly ffeet; Sptue tell u G te ultmte Dy

(Lue 11:11–12). He le t elgt u wt ll f

leg. Pul y 1 Tmty 6:17, fte emg te

f te eplty t e geeu, tt t “G,

w ge u ly ll tg t ey” (nkjv). G ge u

mtel leg gft, He glfe we we ey tem. Sptue me t pt ume f ple. F

exmple,

• Plm 104:15 y He ge f we (fut

ue f u Bptt) t gladden our hearts , t ut t

u u e. A Out te glfe Jeu.

Pe G.

• I J 2:1–11 t y tt Jeu ete elly g

we t te weg fet C. He ul e

e te wtee w, ep uffet, “w-

tme” we. (Ag, f yu fellw Bptt f wm

t we lgy lt , t wul e le gg t

weg eept wt Jeu wee tey u ut f te lttle m we, Jeu me pme

mp uffet te ple.) Te pt

tt Jeu pe g tuff f peple t te pty

eue He loved H Fte’ et ew tt

by enjoying it we glfy G.

• I Neem 8, we te peple wee weg w t expe te gttue f “eeg” te

lw, te ft epe w t weep. But Ez

Neem corrected te peple, , te, “G



136 GOSPEL

ey e f weet , e

me t te w e tg pepe. T y e t u L. D t gee, f te y f te

Lord yu tegt” (8:10 niv). G wte tem

t expe te gtefule t e tug

lavish pty. Cul’t tey e ut gwe

u egetle wte ge te

et f te mey t te p? Of ue. But t tmmet G wte tem t pty.

• We te wm te Jeu’ feet J 12,

Ju ete eue te pe f te pefume

pue ut e Jeu’ feet w $25,000, tt

lely ul e ugt lt f f f te p!

But Jeu e’t y, “Yu’e gt, Ju . . . My,

me , we’e w . . . yu ul ‘melt tt

tuff w’ ue t f w-ullet.” Rte, Jeu

elgte te extgt, ulle f, luxuu,

e-te-tp ply f le. Nw, yu my et

y, “But tg te feet f Jeu ffeet t

peg $4 mel mt f uele

we we ul wte te ge te

mey t m.” Of ue yu e gt, ut ’t

m te pt— Jesus recognized other uses for money

besides just evangelism and poverty relief.5

Ag, f yu te t pple pt fm te te

fe, yu wll get ut f le. “G ge me ly lltg t ey” “He e’t ee my mey” ely

e ue t utfy ulget, elf-eg lfetyle. But yu

( ul!) egze G’ ftely ge t yu

mtel leg.6




Yu ’t e t feel

gulty ut mg ltf mey. Yu ’t e

t feel gulty ut ey-

g me f te leg

f mey. Pul tt

t ly e w w

t e e; e l ew w t u (Pl. 4:11–13 kjv). Sme Ct eem t

w w t e e, ut t w t u. We mut le

t eee t uffeg ppety fm G’ .

Ly Oe y, “We G ‘Am’ me (lee me

wt ppety), I’ll ge Hm t, ey t, e t

geeuly; we He ‘J’ (te Ol Tetmet ppet)

me, te I’ll t Hm, tut Hm, ey my elt-

p t Hm. By G’ ge, I w t w t e e

w t u. I ll tg tug Ct w

ge me tegt.”7 I t t peely wt Pul met

tt ee.

5. God, not money, should be our primary source of

beauty and security.

My f u e up mey eely f “y y”;

te pe mey fluly t que te mt up-t-te

ttu yml etue mft. F te fme, mey

te pmy ue f euty; f te ltte, te pmy

ue f euty.

T te w ee mey te euty, Jeu y,

“Ce te f te . Tey ’t e mey, yet G

te e f tem” (Mtt. 6:26, ut ppe). G

Scripture tells us God

is the ultimate Daddy

(Luke: 11:11–12). He

loves to delight us with

all kinds o blessings.



138 GOSPEL

te e f yu ette t mey ee ul. S ’t wy

ut tmw, eue G ette euty t mey. T te w ee mey te euty, Jeu y,

“Ce te flwe f te fel. Tey ’t pe lt f

mey, yet G me tem eutful . . . ee Slm

gly y w t petty te flwe!” (Mtt. 6:28–29,

ut ppe).8 I te w, G wll euty,

gfe, eymet t yu lfe tt mey t.S yu ’t e t pe ll yu mey g te tg

t yu lfe. Let G e yu euty euty.

We we lge ee mey u pmy ue f

euty euty, we naturally wll e me t ge wy.

Ct w wp

G, t mey, ee

mu le fm te wl

t e ppy eue.

Tey , we le t

y u u u,

le sufficiently ge

extravagantly .

Futeme, Jeu l tl u tt f we uet wt

w mg te euet, we’ ee eely teue

mu we etmet t etly e. I te euet

we wll expeee te leg f et t te fullet.

S we ’t e t get t ll w ee. Wt we m ut

w ee, we’ll expeee te euet e f up

tee. S yu ee get t te t t te Alp? Bg

el. D yu w wt te euete e f te Alp

gg t l le? If Jeu’ euete y w egzle,

ul e tue, et f, ut ul l wl tug wll,

Christians who worship

God, not money, need

much less rom

the world to be happy

and secure.




wt te et f euete et gg t l le? Yu

ply w’t ee e t fly up tee t g ee te Alp. Yu ply w’t e t fly ple t ll.

Yu’ll ply f ly yuelf. S Jeu llege u t t

lttle fte ut et u eue wy tt ep

e f etety (Mtt. 6:19–22). A Ry Al y,

yu ’t te y f yu mey wt yu we yu e, ut

yu e lt f t e f yu.9

A G’ Kgm eme u teue, yful gee-

ty eme u tul epe.

6. Wealth-building can be wise.

G y t OK, ee llly we, t ul welt.

Ce tee le tut Pe:

• “Te w f te we te welt.” (14:24)

• “Welt ge tly wll wle, ut wee

gte lttle y lttle wll ee t.” (13:11)

• “G t te t, O lugg; e e wy . . . e

pepe [ e!] e e umme gte

e f et.” (6:6–8)

Slm ge f Pe 13:22 t y tt we

m lee ete tt lee ee gl-

e! Tt’ petty gft w f tt G expet

me elee t e wt.

I ft, ulg welt tully increase yu lty

t e geeu. Hg mey llw yu t e

tteglly geeu we te gt mmet e. Sme f

te elet Ct ue lge eug t l me

f te ft u meetg, w w g e tey wee



140 GOSPEL

e ut f eey te flty. Te G Smt w

le t ge mey t te m ee peely euee ext.

Futeme, te mt pple f em tt

mey ete mey. Tug te mpu teet tt

umulte zle g, yu ge me wy e

lfetme f yu et me f yu mey wely t yu

ul y mply g yuelf f ll f t yu gett. Pe tee tt, e Jeu te “ple f

te tlet” (ee Mtt. 25:14–30). Tu, metme te et-

met f pt f yu mey me geeu e

t gg t ll wy.

Nw, g, f yu el t pple le ( t

te wt te te), t wul le t te g f

welt, metg Sptue lely em (Jme 5:1–5).

We mut le eple g wt geeu gg.

Peple e yg now, we mut e geeu t tem w,

t ut t u et.

Clely, wee, te Ble te yu e mey

G-g wy.

How Much Should Christians Give?

Yu’e ee wtg f te ttm le. Flle um

tue le lw, eue we le elf-utft. But lw

eep u fm elg wt te el ue—u et. Te lw

ee t pe t—wete tt’ gg 10 peet; “gg

wy ll te exe”; “lg t te ege Ame ue-

l ly gg wy eeytg e tt”; ug

PC te f M; g Flge te f Stu,




et. Lw pe ely. But te gpel wte et te

temptt t eue Ctty t lw. Tey fu teet.

Tt’ wy, I elee, te Ble ge u te mtx f

tee x pple lee tem, me wy, uele.

Tee x pple wll ll e t w gpel-tute

et. S, let’ et te temptt t pefty wee

te Ble e t. Te gge quet tt we mut ut mey e

et quet, le tee:

What does your spending show that you delight in?

We yu get ext mut f mey yu wee’t

expetg, e yu et ft g t wt yu wt t uy

f yuelf, te elt lt t pe f

te? Wt e yu peg w tt yu elgt ?

Te lg l t yu e. Wt e tt

e f expetue w tt yu le?

What does your saving show you find security in?

W yu tut t te e f yu te futue? D

yu ee t e so much? Peple e uffeg now— G

ge yu eue w t elp tem. Cul we t e

metly ge wy extgtly? Ct we epe

te G w pe f u ty l t te e f u

tmw?

Whose kingdom are you building?

Te mt fumetl quet eey ple f Ct

mut melf w gm primary puut.



142 GOSPEL

Qut tg mu

ut te mut yu’egg t te

ut te gm yu’e

puug. Fllwg Jeu

me eeg yu lfe

ee t e plte f

G’ gm.S, yuelf: What have you done with the majority of

your resources up to this point in your life? How are you leverag-

ing your talents now for God’s kingdom? What have you spent the

majority of your money on thus far? Where does the bulk of your

treasure lie?

Awakening from “the American Dream”

to “the Gospel Reality”

Ame Ct e le ultue tute y

metg we e lee t ll “te Ame em.” Te

Ame em , t eee, g tg. It w te

pme f feem—te feem t puue lfe ppe-

ty wtut gemet etl ett.

I m ey gteful t le uty tt me t

ey t eme eltely welty. I’e le ee ue

ttp te

plety f Cmmut

ute. Belee me, I

le te Ame em.

But ple f

Jeu, wt mtte mt

The most undamental

question every disciple o

Christ must ask himsel

is which kingdom is his

primary pursuit.

As a disciple o Jesus,

what matters most is

what I do with the wealth

that the American

dream has aorded me.




wt I wt te welt tt te Ame em

ffe me. Jeu t put me ee et t puue elf-eeft. He put me ee t leege my leg, lug

te Ame em, f te pupe f te gpel.

Peple w e wtut Ct g t ell fee. Te ly

wy tey e ut te gpel tug u. We e

ttle, te ulte e el. We mut we fm te

Ame em t gpelelty.

We’e ly gt e lfe

t le, t tme t

le t. Tu, we ul

leege u le f ll

tey e wt. A t

ut t, ely: S

we t efe Kg Jeu, we wll ge ut f

wt we wt wt He ple u .

D we e te te eue pe t u y S

w le e f u fll u le wt pe

plege tt mply me u le me eyle?

I’ llege yu t py te t pt f Te Gpel

Pye e yu eue, te fllw wee G le

yu.

I’ll w yu: pyg t pye wt ety ge-

u. It ul lly lte yu lfe. But Jeu, te gpel,

lt peple ll e te wl e wt t.

h


Soon we stand beore

King Jesus, and we will

give an account or what

we did with what He

placed in our hands.





145

CHAPTER 9

urget Missio

Te gpel mpel u t ep t te Ct

epe t u. Tt’ wy we py: “As You have been to me, so I will be to others.”

We’e ee w tt ft ge w we fge te,

e w t mpel u t yel u eue f te

leg. I wt t tl w ut w t pue u ut t te

e f te et.

We I ft ueee t Jeu, I tl Hm I’ wt-ee He e me t . All I eee w me tut.

I ept wtg f me f “Dmu R” expe-

ee—wee G e me ut f my tl me

te pl, t let pelle ut my Cee wt He

wte fm me. Smetg le, “J.D., te te gpel t

Afgt.” But tg le tt ee me. N gt

lgt. N e. All my Cee ee pelle ut w

“oooooooooooo.”



146 GOSPEL

S I e ee pt I tugt I’ e g t gt

wt t. But ug my u ye f llege, I w etey Rm 2:12, “F ll w e e wtut te lw

wll l pe wtut te lw, ll w e e

ue te lw wll e uge y te lw .”

I Rm, Pul ly ut e wy ft Jeu

eey f lt, w peple e t e ut Jeu

e t put ft Hm, w we e te ly etey e t fm. I Rm 2:12 Pul expl tt ee

te peple w e’t e ut G mut we t

Hm, eue G eele Hmelf uffetly t tem

tug te ee te ple f te et.

Tey my ee e e te me f Jeu, ut tey w

tee G, tey e eete H utty H

gly. We ll, elgu elgu le, e eete

G. Beue f tt, we ll t eme. Tu, Pul

lue, u ly pe ueee “e e,”

tt me y eg te gpel.

It t ee wt ppee tt mg

I e tt ee. It w f tt tut uely eme el.

I uet t, efe, pptlly, ut f te ft

tme my lfe, I felt te wegt f t. It w lmt le we

yu e tg t e f te “mg eye” 3-D ptue tt

uely ump ut t yu we yu yu eye ut gt.

Te elty f wle t f peple peg, g ee

e ut Jeu, gppe my ul.

Yu ee, t mt, e t f u wl Ct.

Tt’ f yu ut eeye w lm t e Ct.

Tt me at least 4.5 ll peple e, y te w m-

, -Ct teefe epte fm G. Te



uRGEnT MISSIO n 147

Ju Pet, Ct m ee gzt,

tell u tt f tt 4.5 ll, t let 2.25 ll e lttlet e t te gpel.

2,250,000,000. Individuals.

It’ ey t get lt tt ttt. Jep Stl e ,

“Te et f e tgey. Te et f mll ut

ttt.” Tt’ llg ttemet mg fm m-

m, ut tee’ me tut t. Sttt ewelm. But we we e fte wt te et f ul, we

feel mp, eue we ee tt pe eflet f

uele. We etfy wt te p.

Tee 2.25 ll e peple ete te mge f G,

ut le yu me. Tey e te me ee, wt, ut,

ee yu I e. E e mee’

ugte. My e mee’ mm . Tey w wt

t le t e lely f. Gg t ell f tem eey

t te tgey tt t wul e f yu me.

A te wegte

f 2.25 ll people lt

wtut G pee

my ul, I felt le I

w ufftg. I ut t

tee, peele.

It ’t eem gt t

e gg ut my lfe, puug my em, wtg

G t tell me wt t . We w wt He wt u t .

Imge yu wee wlg y l t yu me

up yug l lyg te t, ut, ule t

me. Yu e t mg te te. If yu p te

l up, yu wll eue m; f yu t, e wll e. Wt

Going to hell or

them is every bit the tragedy that it would

be or you or me.



148 GOSPEL

yu ? D yu get w yu ee, py G

wt H wll , wt f wm, fuzzy feelg fm-g tt t H wll tt yu eue te l? Of ue t.

Yu w wt G’ wll . Se te l.

I elt t te

uee peple gup

f te wl, we w

wt G’ wll : “TeL t . . . wllg

tt y ul pe ut

tt ll ul me t epete” (2 Pet. 3:9 nkj). Peple

tl ut “fg” G’ wll. It t elly “lt.” H wll

tt lt peple e ut Jeu eme e.

Tt mg, fte y tt elty, I tee

pt:

1. I could deny it . I ul ey te pl teg

Rm tt peple e lt utl tey e ut

Jeu elee Hm. Pg g wt

yu wt t elee fm te Ble lle “le-

lm.” Yu fm te Ble t ft yu pelpefeee. But te Ble t uffet wee yu

te wt yu wt lee wt yu ’t. Yu

I ’t uge te Ble; t ul uge u. Te pt f

lelm e e.

2. I could ignore it. I ul put my e te

ge te ft tt ll f peple u me wee lt. I ul g ut my lfe, lettg Jeu

te me t ee gg me fulfllmet

meg. But w ul I tt w, wg wt

I w? Igg tut e’t ge t.

People talk about

“fnding” God’s will. It is

not really “lost.”



uRGEnT MISSIO n 149

Sly, I elee, t wt te t mty f

te egell u g wt te wlegeut ee ell. We g ut u le f

ell wee t el, le tee e t 2,250,000,000

peple w e e f eg te gpel

exept tug u. We ply wle peple pe.

3. I could embrace it. I ew t wul e l.

It wul le t mt eett f my lfe.

I e ume 3. Tt mg my pye ut wt

t wt my lfe ge fm, “God, if You spell out in my

Cheerios for me to go, I’ll go,” t “God, here am I. Please send me.

Use my life, to the greatest extent possible, to bring salvation to

others.” I elee tt te pye eey ple f Jeu ul

py. Ou pye ul t e “G, f Yu me pel

ppel f me t metg ut te lte f te

wl, I’ll t.” Tt’ f eele pye, eue He

ley tl u wt He wt f te wl. Ou pye

w ul e tt G gue u t u pef le. Wete we ul e le te Get Cmm

lge te quet. How we ul e le te

quet.

G wee my pye y llwg me t pe tme

ee e f te uee peple gup f te wl,

w He’ llwg me t pt u tt e utue f tuet yug ult e ye t te te

me f Ct wee He t w.

Eey ple f Jeu ul G t ue e

lfe mxmlly f H gm. Oee m wll



150 GOSPEL

t e G’ we f eeye. But f we e elly

expeee te gpel, te we’ll e g G t ue u H m. We wll y metg le t: “L, let

my lfe e ee f te, le Yu w f me, plte

t te gu. Let my em e tt te mgt le.

Sw me w t et et my lfe f Yu t f me.

As You have been to me, I want to be to others.”

T ut t: Hw ul we t py tt? Wee wul you e wtut Jeu? Ag t Pul, yu’ e t

extly te me ple tt lt f peple te wl e

f yu efue t eme

te t (Rm. 10:14–17).1

Mt Lute tt

t wul’t mtte f Jeu

e tu tme

f e ee e ut t. We e te ly wy tey e

ut t.

Nw, let’ ememe ee, let we le uele wt

ue we ’t y, tt te w f lt, fm tt t

f, G’ w. G ’t ly te Get Cmm

u ule f He expete u t g mpl t f

Hm. Jut He te ly e w e, He’ te ly

Oe w empwe upple f te m. Ee fte

Pul l ut te e tt peple ly e e f we

pe t tem, e y, “A w ll tey pe, ule

tey e sent ?” Nte, e e’t y, “A w tey e

ule we go?” But, “Hw tey e ule we are sent ?”

Pul tll l eew f te mpletg f te t.

Te Hly Spt t te eg efe te gg e

y g. Te Hly Spt t u, mm u,

Where would yo be

without Jesus?



uRGEnT MISSIO n 151

eue u. He’ll ue u u tuff te pe, ut

’t fue H g t through us wt Hm tellg u tt we e t t for Him. He ge u pme, tt He wul

ul H u tug u, t ge tt we wee t

ul t f Hm.2

Tt , te ew te ytem f eg, gg,

peg, eg, eleg ’t wt y flue

G’ pt t “e.” It’ wt u “gg.” We we peetuele t G wllg ge, et ue tt He’ll e

wllg See.

Tt’ wt I tt mg my m m:

I peete myelf t G e t e ue y Hm.

I e t e te ee put te gu t e. F egtee

ye w G wee tt pye. Tt lue

ee gmet well me te teet.

We yu py te t pt f Te Gpel Pye,

“As You have been to me, so I will be to others,” e pepe f

G t le yu t metg exty. Be pepe

f l eett f yu ete lfe.

Our Freedoms versus the gospel

We ll e em ut wt we’ le t wt u

le. But e we wllg t let u em e tt G

ue u H gm?

Oe f my fte te fm Pul’ lfe ptue w

Pul le t wy (At 16:16–34). Pul ee put

Rm p, t f metg e wg ut f me-

tg e gt. He elee gl fm em

em expltt. Rte t eg ewe, wee,



152 GOSPEL

e w ete, Rm-tyle, te mpe. But e

ly tee tt gt, wt pe, leeg wu,e eg t eflet te ge f G tw m

wppe Hm wt g.

I epe, G et etque. Te p wll

fell w, Pul’ fell ff.

He w fee m.

A t w G-ge feem t. Afte ll, ’tG te e w et te etque? Pul ew tt

G metme et gel t fee meege p;

He e tt f Pete ut few pte efe

(At 12). Wul’t t e ee ele t lue tt

w wt He w g ee t? Suely t w we

t pye!

Yet, Pul pepe t wl t te pe , e w

te te Rm le, wt w w, ut t ll

melf. Te ule te y w tt f Rm le

lt pe, f wtee e, e t py wt

w lfe. Pul w fee, ut e w te m .

De tme. Tee t Pul—wt G-ge

feem e , Rm pt te te.

Wt Pul ? He tue feem

wle t te p, yfully wllfully, e ul

e te gpel wt pt.

Te Rm le, ewelme y t wle equee

f eet, epe wt temulu quet, “S, wt

mut I t e e?” (At 16:30). I ’t elp ut e

te w te quet, “Wy, Pul? Wt wul

me yu t? Wy wul yu e ut me?”



uRGEnT MISSIO n 153

Pul wul expl lte, lette t te u t

Plpp (w wul e w lue t Plpp l!) wy e wul metg le tt. Pul exple

tt e melf ee mtl ge we Jeu tue

H H feem e t eue m. Beue

Jeu etee t Pul’ ptty, t e m, t ly me

ee, te, tt Pul wul tt me tg f te

(Pl. 2:5–11). We le wl f pte, t pyl ptul.

We wee e tee uele.

Wee wul yu e f Jeu e t tew H

eue yu e tewg yu?

Wt e yu g wt yu lfe? Hw e yu

leegg yu eue, yu fee tme, yu

tlet t ee lt me t te?

He yu elute yu tlet, yu pptute,

leege tem f mxmum gm mpt? T t

ut te uty f elet, pelly-lle-ut few. Hetly,

metme I t we ete t wle lguge f “ll-

g” t m te ft tt mt Ct e t elly lg

ple f Jeu. Rl geety l mmt-

met t te m te epe f eey pe w

expeee te ge f Jeu Ct. Fllwg Jeu, eg

H ple, me lg He le. He leege H lfe

f te lt.



154 GOSPEL

Ae yu ug yu gft, yu tme, yu pp-

tute t e yuelf, t le te wl wtte wlege f Jeu?

I ’t tell yu extly wt etg yu lfe f G’

gm wll l le. G put u melu y

f gft p t H y tt t l ffeet f

e f H fllwe.Mye yu le

mu, mu le t yu

me, ge te et

wy.

Mye yu ul ue

yu ue ll ee

ple wee Ct

t well-w. Mye

yu ul ete f

te tee.

Mye yu ul ge yu tme t ee te p yu

mmuty.

Mye yu ul me t p eg yu

w ty t e te peee f Ct tee.

Mye yu ul ge yu t tme t g m

tp u te wl.

Oe te lt few ye t u u I e ee peple

ep t te gpel te mt ele wy. I’e ee

peple eg fm g-pyg pte t me u

tff. I w f u, wfe, tw teege le

w e “te Ame em” wet t le

fumetlt Mulm uty. I’e ee peple ge wy

Sometimes I think we

invented this whole

language o “calling”

to mask the act that

most Christians are not really living as disciples

o Jesus.



uRGEnT MISSIO n 155

etmet ppete we ul exp u mte. I’e

ee peple upt fm e eg t le gett.I’e ee llege tuet tu w eel-ue-

tu-ll ffe t g t u pltg. I’e ee

tuet wt fm m wt g eg ptetl t

e wt lw eg ptetl eue tey tugt t wul

me tem me ueful f te Get Cmm. I’e ee

te w t g-pyg leege tem fpul wte. I’e ee peple get le u tuet

le’ mte. T pt mt we w twety-fe

peple upt fm u u t g plt u

uee pt f wtw Dee, Cl. I’e ee

fmle pe up te me t efugee. We e wle

my f peple u u w e pte le fm

u te wl—t eue tey wee ule t e e

lglly, ut eue tey wte t f mee wt

Jeu e f tem.

Tee peple wt t e

metg t ly t te

feet f Kg Jeu we

He me g.

De ll f t u

l t yu? If , then

you’re getting it . Jeu

t me t me lgt

ltet t u lfetyle. He lle u t le f mpletely

ffeet gm. T p up H le le He .

Stp wtg G t tell yu t ffe yu lfe f te

gm. He’ ley e tt. Ite, Hm t w

yu how best t t.

Jesus did not come to

make slight alterations

to our liestyles. He called us to live or a

completely dierent

kingdom.



156 GOSPEL

I py tt yu’ll eme te lte f te wl

ege yu lfe lgt f t.

“But you are the only Christian I have ever known!”

F tw ye I ee u plte Sutet

A. Te lt et I tee, lmt te ye g,

left elle m my lfe.

A Ilm fe, wm I wll ll Ame, met y g-ye. He ee my et fe tee. He

efee me t ey lely tme my lfe f tw

ye, we tle, telle, tue, f e tgete.

I te ume f tme t g up Jeu t m,

ut Ame eeme ege t lee te uet le. He w

mmtte Mulm I ee met. He w f

le Ilm “yut pt,” luteeg fte

t ee ueplege tee. We I wul tl

ut Jeu, e wul mle y, “Yu e g m f

ft. Yu wee Ct uty yu

te ft f yu pet. I w Mulm uty

I te ft f me. Yu wee Ct

wll e Ct. I w Mulm I wll e

Mulm.”

Aut wee efe I left, I ew I t e e me

et wt m. S, I t m w pue my

et ut. I tl m tt, g t te Ble, ly te

w e elee Jeu Ct f te fgee f te

ete G’ gm. F fftee mute e t

pltely ltee. He te te me f my fep

left.



uRGEnT MISSIO n 157

I t ee m g utl te y I w pepg t

etu me. A few mute efe I w uppe t lee, eme t y g-ye. I ul tell metg w m,

I e m ut t.

“Ou et fm wee g,” e . “Afte we

tle, I tugt ut w mu I ppete yu f tellg

me etly wt yu elee. But te I ’t t

mu f t . . . ‘He Ct; I m Mulm,’ I tugt,‘tt w e f u w , tt w t lwy

wll e.’

“But ee y fte u et I em.

“At ft I tugt t w e f te em tt me

we I et py f. But I’e te f em. T

w ffeet . . . I my ‘em,’ I w tg et

uely, pe efe my feet w te ‘tgt w

wy’ leg t ee.3

“A I le up lg t ptwy t ee,” e

, “ you wee t! Yu e t ee’ gte, ut te

wy e w le y uge, . I tugt t

myelf, ‘Tt wee uey e. W te pwe

t pe te ?’ But te, I wte, mee fm

e ew yu, tey lle yu me. Te te

wug pe we f yu, yu wet . . . te my

et e eue I elly wte t g wt yu. But te,

te pee g yu me ut, wle

w te pt lttle wy, tete yu ut t

me w ee et. A yu pulle me up t ee wt

yu. D yu t G tyg t tell me metg?”

I wul e plem tepetg t e.



158 GOSPEL

F te ext u I wle m tug Rm

At, wg Hm w Jeu, te G-m, me tet, le u uttute, e u et, e g,

ffee lt t ll

w wul elee.

Wt e ext

metg I ee,

ee fget. He , “Iknow wy All ge me

tt em. He w tell-

g me tt yu wee et ee y G t w me te pt

tt le t ee. Yu wee t te me G’ wy

expl t me H Injil (gpel). But ty, my fe, yu e

gg me, we wll ply ee ee e te g.

Yu e te ly Ct tt I w. W wll te me

te wy f G?”

I wul le t tell yu tt e eme elee. Sly,

e t, , t my wlege, e t.

We le wl f Ame. Tey e t ume.

Tey e ul.

He yu elly tugt wt tt me f u?

We t pete t’ t tue. Smee e Cle

Spuge e f tey tugt peple w ee e

ut Jeu ul e e. H epe wet metg le,

“I ’t elee tey e, ut te ette quet “How

could those of us who have known Jesus and failed to take Him to

those who have not heard possibly be saved?”

I e ty eel ye g ut m w w

g w tette ute f L Agele lte

e eeg. A gft etque umle tug te

You are the only

Christian that I know.

Who will teach me the

way o God?



uRGEnT MISSIO n 159

eg te m pulle e t te e f

te t wt t ut. Te etque w eee ut efte few e. S, te m pulle t te

, t left t ge, eg t e. Aut

lfwy te ge e te te tllgt f te

ft f m ppe. He tppe , gt ut,

elze tt et f te ge flle ut ug

te etque. Te ft f m e t tem, t full pee, plugg ely 75 feet t te wte

elw.

Te m tue u, elze tt eel me

wee ee tw te e. He eg t we

m ftlly. Peple g ge ute f L

Agele t 3 .m. e t lely t tp f wt l le

zy pe te e f te , e wte fu

e pt, plugg t te et elw.

He te w lge u mg tw te e. He

me up m tt f tt u w gg ff te ge, t

t te m wt t. S e t te pt we

m. Te u e t fle t lgt, ut te

m wul t me. Te u e gt ut, w te ge,

gle te u me ul g pt.

Wt wul yu e e f yu ee te e t

e te e te ge? Yu ply wul e

e ut wt tt m —ptely ple f peple

t tp.

Peple te wl w t w Ct e ee

f etut f we t tt peete y te flle

ge. Mll me e ee tee w.



160 GOSPEL

Eey y yu ul t ut wt Ct ge up

tt yu wul t pe. Te, yu ul G t elp yu f te wt He e f yu.

Ag, I’m wg yu: t geu pye. It wll

le yu t me l ge. S I llege yu t py t:

h




161

CHAPTER 10

Epect Great Thigs

we w te lt tme yu pye f metg tt tu-

lly ppee? Mye t’ ee wle. But t t ttmmet, let me yu te quet: We G

me, were you surprised ?

S f t gpel pye we e ee (1) te

feee f G’ epte f u, (2) te wegte tt

ul e wt u, (3) w t ll f l epe

f geety tw te. I t fl pt f Te GpelPye, we’ll ee w te gpel me u t uu ft

get ttempt elf f te Get Cmm.

Hee t :





162 GOSPEL

Jeu ge petty emle pme t H ple

J 15. He tt f we “em Hm” (.e., e H le), we ul wtee we wt t wul e

ge t u. If we le wt wee f H le for oth-

ers , te f pwe pye we ul tp t wul lw

u m.

A few ye g I w g tuy f te m mle

Sptue. I te mt f tt tuy I te metg I’ ee ee efe. Mt f tee mle t ppe

eue mee w tg et, pe mm

fm G. Mt ppee eue mey peee

wt G ply wte t ptul tut

e Hm t t. Te tte f te mle eg

wt tem.

A get exmple f tt te ty f S, Me,

Aeeg.

I e yu’e ufml-

wt tt ty, ee’

qu eew f te plt:

Kg Neuezz

t, lg, egtt-

l g w ugt

tgete eeye

gll gm tey

w w t ety-ft ttue f melf, eue

e w tll lttle ete ut te ft tt peple me

fu f tge me ll tugut mle l. (Sme

lee tepett ee te.)

S, Me, Aeeg efue eue tey

w tey ly w w t te G f Iel. S, we

Most o these miracles

did not happen because

someone was acting

on a direct, spoken

command rom God.



ExPEC T GREAT THInGS 163

te mu tt, tey ’t w. Tey t ut le ee

t te pe.Neuezz ll tem up ft f eeye

t expl wy tey e efy utty. He te

wl’ mt pweful ule fey fue t

t up.

Te eply lwy tgue me. Tey pe wt

uu mxtue f etty uetty ut G’ plt ele tem:

“Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the

burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your

hand, O king.” (Dan. 3:17)

Tt u petty et tt G ut t me-

tg petul t w Neuezze w g.

But te tey y,

“But if not . . .” (v. 18)

Wt? Wt mute, wee’ te fee g?

Tey e fet tt G wt t w

Neuezz te et f te wl tt He te ly

tue G. Yet, tey e gutee tt G wll tt

y eleg tem. He mgt t y elpg tem uffe

well te p. But tey w He’ll metg.

Wy wee tey ue G wul ue t pptuty

t w ff tt He w te e, tue G? Well, tee’

lttle pe t te egg f Del 3 tt ul t

yu ttet. It y tt Neuezz gtee



164 GOSPEL

tgete peple f eey “te, tgue t.” T w

te ft tme ll te t e ee gtee tgetee te tteg t te Twe f Bel. (Befe te Twe

f Bel, eeye pe te me lguge; t Bel

G e tem up t lguge ttee tem.)

A w tey e ee gtee y egm et

elf-wp. G tt He wul gte te t

u t wp Hm.S, Me, Aeeg ew tee w

wy G wul let Neuezz tel H pt. S

tey e G t w te t tt He w te ly

Oe t e wppe tug tem. A t ppee.

Neuezz tew tem t te fey fue, ut

tey wle ut ute. Eeye ew tt G, t

Neuezz, w te wl’ tue Kg.

Take a Dare on God

A te y te uet eply t Neuezz,

S, Me, Aeeg t ee pme

tt G wul w up te tem y elee.

Tey ut t e G. T ptte eem t e te

m we G me te Ble.

T ut D ppg te fel t fgt Glt.

Nwee 1 Smuel we f G pullg D e t

tell m w t’ ll gg t g w: “OK, D. Hee’

wt’ gg t ppe . . . Yu’e gg t e t g f

Glt tlg m, yu e t g ut tee wt

lete tp fe mt te . . . yu pyg ttet,

D? I f e mt te. Te . . .” N, D mply



Ex PECT GREAT THInGS 165

w tut wee e ew wt G wte t ,

e t e G t t.I’m ug tt lguge f “e” tetlly. We

te le f Iel etee t te Pme L,

G t tem: “Be

tg ugeu . . .”

(J 1:9). I Egl, “e

tg” and “ugeu”u eut. I

Heew, wee, te tw

pe e ffeet. Te

e f “e tg,” te metg le “e g.”

G wte tem t e fet eug Hm t te

e Hm.

Cle, ft-flle tge te f Ju,

e ut tt. He pte t uquee mut

ttle tug etue, “I wt t que tt

mut f G.” A te e le up te mu-

t wt wle, g gt-tl tg me

(J. 14:11–12).

A few ye ele, Ju fu melf ttle

w e tugt e eee lttle me ylgt t f

te . S, e e G t me te u t tll (J.

10:1–14). Nwee te Ble G pme He wul

me te u t tll f Ju eee lge y. But

Ju e ywy. A G t.

Nt ly G “tp te u” f Ju, He e m

e y twg w “lge te fm ee tem

f Aze, . . . tee wee me w e eue f

te lte t te f Iel lle wt te w”

God wanted them

to be confdent enough

in Him to take a dare

on Him.



166 GOSPEL

(10:11). Te pt: G le t fgt f H peple we

H peple uet wt H wll “te e” Hm t t!

If ytg, we ee t pple tefe te lfe f

Jeu.

A wm e u up e Jeu t tu te em

f H gmet. F twele ye e ee efle y

“ue f l,” metul flw tt me e pepetully ule. Se’ pet ll

e mey py,

ut e ul elp e.

Heg ut Jeu, e

tugt, I bet He can do

something . . . He has so much

power that just brushing His

clothing might heal me.

We eeye e wt e’ e, tey expet

Jeu t e gy. Jeu’ epe t e, wee, ytg

ut ge. He y, “Dugte, yu ft me yu well”

(Lue 8:48). Se elee Jeu’ mp, tt’

wt e fu.

Ply my fte pt f t ty tt Jeu’

tlly epe t e f He ’t ee e tl

f te elg pwe tt wet ut f H y. He y,

“Smee tue me, f I peee tt pwe ge ut

fm me . . .” (Lue 8:46). It lmt le elg umpe

fm H y eflex. Te pt? G’ elp flw

ut eflexely t te w peume up H ge

pwe.

God loves to fght or His

people when His people

understand what His will

is and “take a dare” on

Him to do it!




I te ty ee M 7, Getle wm,

epe y mt Jew, e Jeu t t em ut f eugte. Jeu’ epe t e t e te mt pltlly-

et ttemet ll te New Tetmet: “It t gt t

te te le’ e tw t t te g” (M 7:27).

Dog? Tt’ e’t eem ey e. Sme l ty t

fte wt Jeu y yg g ee me metg

me le “lttle puppy.” Mye , ut He’ tll efeg te g. A llg mee “g” tt y w ee

we t t wul e u, eue g wee ule!

Te wm upe. Se egze tt Jeu’

ttemet t l lu, ut ept f e

uwte. Se e’t pute e uwte f

Jeu’ ttet; te, e y, “Ye, L, yet ee te

lttle g ue te tle

et fm te le’

um” (. 28 nkjv). I

te w, “Jeu, tee

mu ge pwe

Yu tle, tt tee

ut upply ee

f g le me.”

Wow. Se put ll e

pe te mp

pwe f Jeu. A

e fu t w ee-

eg upply.

D’t m te pt. I ll f tee tut, te pe-

w eee te mle w t epg t “et

e” fm G. Tey mply peee te mp

The person who

received the miracle

was not responding to a

“direct order” rom God.

They simply perceived the compassion and

power o God, and then

asked God to act on it.

And God answered.



168 GOSPEL

pwe f G, te e G t t t. A G

wee.Let me w yu e me ll exmple f t

f ly peumpt. T ut e f te mt mp-

tt mle te New Tetmet, I elee, f w we ee

mty.

A Ministry-Defining Miracle

Jeu tugt ll y te 5,000+ peple H

uee w ugy. S Jeu tue t H ple

e tem wt they tugt He ul . T w elly

ut “ tet,” te ptle J wte, “F He Hmelf ew

wt He wul ” ( J 6:6 nkjv).

A tet. S wt extly w He “tetg”? He wte t

ee wete t H ple uet w wllg

le He w t fee tt multtue.

Te ple fle t tet mely, f ue. Oe

ple tl Jeu t e tem wy. Ate gt f

tety metg le, “Ye, Jeu, get e . . . we

ul ll g get w f egt mt te pl

u mey we mgt e le t uy tem e le f

lm Ceez-It.” Jeu, wee, ptetly t te

fe mll le f e tw f f yug y’ lu

( Heew Hppy Mel) multple t tt tee wee

twele et full f lefte, e f e f te ple t

te me memet f te uelef.

Jeu we tem tt y tt tee w tge

H lty wllge t fee te multtue. Why was

He teaching them that? Beue f te et f te le tey



ExPEC T GREAT THInGS 169

wee gg t e tg ft f ptully tg mul-

ttue, ee f te gpel, tey eee t w utw wllg le He wul e t fee te multtue

wt te Be f Lfe.

Jeu t ge. He tll wllg le t fee

te multtue. Wt He wt u t ly l f H

wllge, pye, elee H pwe t wl

epete ee.

Intercessory Faith

We te ept t u u lle “teey

ft.” Iteey ft me eleg Jeu’ wllg-

e elf f mee ele. My tme we ee tt w

“tee” we t “pye.” Itee pye,

f ue, ut peple metme t tt pye we t

le G’ CNN ew-te eel tell G u f

tuff He wul’t tewe w. Afte we py, G y,

“O . . . I e tt w gg . T f tellg

Me. Nw I g w fx tt.”

Iteey pye t fmg G elf f

mee ele; t eleg G elf f mey

ele.

Stly fte I left

Sutet A, te l

w I le w -

ge y tum tt

t te le f ely

200,000 peple. I etue

tee few mt lte

Intercessory prayer is

not inorming God on

behal o someone else;

but believing God on

behal o somebody else.



170 GOSPEL

t te e, gy t G. Why, God? Why? You

could have spoken a word and sent a wave of salvation. Instead You sent a wave of destruction.

G pe t me tt e. Nt uly—ut lely.

He , “I wt t e we f lt, I wll. Tt’

wy I wt yu ee. Belee My ge My pwe,

teey elee we f My mp t t l.

G ple H peple tut wee He wt tem telee H ge pwe, teey eleg t t

te tut.”

Ou mt mptt w eleg.1 Belef ul

te pwe f te m f G. We e t elee G’

teee geety f lt peple, and ask accordingly.

No Shortage

Tee tge G’ wllge lty t

e. Te tge u uelef tt He mp-

te pweful te gpel y He .

D yu really elee

tt G mp-

te pweful

te gpel eel Hm t

e? De te ze f yu

pye eflet tt elef?

Reetly I w py-

g f my le, ptully uee y me llege

tey wee fg. I te mt f pyg I w flle wt

t ewelmg ee f God’s love f tem. It w petty

mzg tugt: G le my le ee me t I .

We are to believe

in God’s tenderness

and generosity or

lost people.




I Lue 11:11, Jeu t: “Wt fte mg yu,

f f f, wll te f f ge m epet?” Ay f yu pet ee tt? Yu yu

f w yu lp m le ? Of ue t.

Yet, Jeu y, “If yu te, w e el, w w t ge

g gft t yu le, w mu me wll te eely

Fte ge . . .” (. 13). Evil petty tg w t ue t

ee u eltp t u le. Mt f u le ule. But mpe t G’ le f tem, u le eem

“el.” G le my le, wmee I m pyg f,

me t I ply mpee.

D yu py wt ee f G’ get le f te f

wm yu wee pyg?

Wt wul yu pye l le f yu elee tt

te elly w te meue f G’ mp f

mee?

We Cle Spuge wul py f peple

gegt, e felt tt teee. He wul fte te up,

gpe y, y metg le, “G, I t e

t ee my le uffe. Hw Yu e t ee Yu? If

I ul elp tem, I wul. W’t Yu w mp ee

t Yu l?”

Cle Spuge w lly “me t lm t”

telg. He egze tt metme G y “”

t u pye, eue metme G ette pl

t pyl elg t te mmet. But tt ’t eep

m fm eg te teee f G f peple e

pye. Spuge el up G’ ge efe G

elee G’ pwe t tut.



172 GOSPEL

I te ext pte, I’ll expl lttle me fully w yu

el wt uwee pye, ut uffe t ee t y ttu fee te mp pwe f G ul

t e ffete we He

e’t we u pye

le we t He ul.

Te te meue

f H mp, te euet te me-

ue f H pwe. We

we ’t uet wt

G g u -

umte, we l t wt we ee eele ut

Hm te . We tll w tt G good. He

e ut u, feel u p, ee weep we we weep

(J 11:35). He ette fte t H le t we e

t u. We ul eme tt we py.

So, Ask!

Tee eem t e lmt t wt G wll we

we peee H wllge t elp Hm t t.

A Jeu J 15:7, f we peee H le f te,

uet tt He me t ee e te lt,

tt He wt t g lt t e f te gly f te

Fte, te we “wtee [we] w,” He’ll ge

t t u.

Tee tge f mp G. Te tge

u wllge t elee tt mp.

What would your

prayers look like i you

believed that the cross

really was the measure

o God’s compassion or

someone?




The tragedy of wasted opportunity

Hee wegty tugt t e I le tpte: If G elly wllg le t e te

gpel te He , ey e He e’t pu ut

tt pwe eue yu I ee Hm t, e’t

tt me u eple, pt f, te l f mll

w mgt e ee e, ut wee’t, eue we ee

e?2

I w tt te Ble tee tt G eeg

G wll e ll He eteme t, t e wll e

lt (J 6:37, 39). But te Ble l tee u tt He

ple H pwe t u pl, t e elee y ft. He

wll l u utle f we fl t e t.

Hu Tyl, te get my t C, felt tintensely :

We e t wt Oe w L f ll pwe

mgt, we m t tee tt t t e,

H e ey tt t t e; wt Oe we

ugg W et u t eee tt

u y my e full, t pe u mut we, tt He

my fll tem. A we well t ememe tt t

gu G, w eee t ple H

lmgty pwe t te mm f eleg pye

l t lgtly te lgulte f te w

eglet t l temele f t f te eeft f te

peg. . . .

I te tuy f tt e W, I lee tt

t t ueful we, t elte ppel f

elp, ut ft eet pye t G t tut ft



174 GOSPEL

le. . . . I ut ut tt f I pye f

fellw-we, te me f te L Jeu Ct,tey wul e ge. I ut ut tt,

we t u pye, te me f u gg ft

wul e pe, tt wul e pee

efe u uee pt f te Empe. . . . Te

ee f lgulte eme me me

tee. Smply eue I efue t f tem,te le t me fw, t g ut t

C: eey y te f tu tt l

wee pg t Ctle ge!3

Te gpel eel t u w wllg G t e. We

ul gly.

S wee G ple yu, we elf e

yu uppe t elee? D yu elze w mu pwe

lle, f we wul ly elee?

Mttew 13:58 e f te et ee te New

Tetmet. It y tt Jeu t my mgty w

Nzet “eue f te uelef.” It w t tt Jeu

w uwllg ule t w tee, t w tt tee w

e t elee Hm teey elee H pwe. I ee

wt tt t e f my ty, my u, my fmly.

I m fet t fu t wy t te

f mee we l ty G wt t tu upe

w. O mye G tg yu et t g t e f

te 6,600 uee peple gup. Mye yu wll elee

G’ mp f tt gup, tug yu ft te

lt wll eme elty. Mye yu e te ft elee

yu fmly, G wll ue yu ft t g te et




f yu fmly t Hm. Weee yu e, expet get tg

fm G, te ttempt get tg f Hm.4

Py wt te fee tt me fm te gpel:

h







177

CHAPTER 11

“Bt if not . . .”

S, Me, Aeg me ut f te fue

wt ee te eyew tt. Ju exteepe f ylgt. Te wm wt te ue f l w

ele. Tee tg ge u fee G’ wllge

t elp u, teefe we lly py:



But ee’ te u quet: Wt f He y ? F

eey elee fm fey fue, tee e te mty

w e t f lme. S wt yu we te mty

flp? O yu fe eet te gpel? O yu teege

tu wy fm te ft? O G e’t el yu?



178 GOSPEL

I’e tut wee I ul’t ee wy G wul

t ge me wt I w g f. My equet eeme t e le wt H pupe. S wy ’t He we?

“But if not . . .”

Te e te utg w tt S, Me,

Aeeg ue t lue te pee t Kg

Neuezz. Tey ew tt G’ pl mgt t

lue te elee, t let te ee w. Jut eue G e’t we yu pye te wy yu

t He ul e’t me tt He y le mp-

te y le tl. It e’t ee me yu me te

wll f G wt yu wee g f.

J te Bptt w Spt-flle m wt Spt-

fuele mty, ut mty ee (eemg) flue.

H ppulty e. N me le wee eg p-

tze epete Jew lee lge weg

efe H ppet e. He “eme get tg f

G,” e w eee.

Ft-flle pye Spt-flle mty t

lwy pue lge, mpee memet.

Te u I pt w fly lge e, we e

eeg me tuly G-ze tg ppe u mt.

P t t, wee, I le llege mty (t t me

u) tt I ee ue G w gg t ue t e

tu t te m fel. Tee wee ut 120,000

llege tuet wt ffty-mle u f te u,

I e G t tt wl-gg memet mg

tem. At te e f tw ye f ft-flle l, I ut

twety tuet my mty, mt f wm wee t ey



“BuT IF nOT . . .” 179

mmtte t te u. Neele t y, t w’t qute te

At 2 expeee I ee pg f.Befe tt I pet tw ye peg Ct feg

uty, expetg He wul tu te t upe w f

H gly. I ly w tw peple me t Ct.

Tee e tme we yu G f metg He

e’t ge t t yu. S wt e tt me? Tt G

t fly pe t yu yu tugt? Te quet ut wy G llw tgey, el,

uffeg e wt ut telf.1 But w G feel

ut u, w He elte t u, ee fee et-

le te gpel. Wt I wt t elp yu ee t

pte w yu ep we G e’t t le yu

t He ul.

How to Respond When God Doesn’t Act

Wt yu we yu e g f get tg

g t G’ mp yu ’t eem t e

gettg we?

1. Keep asking

Jeu tugt H ple tt tee wee me tg

G wul ly ge epe t petet pye. T llu-

tte t, He tl ty ut y l et uge

w gte p ww e equet mply eue e

ye m t et ut t (Lue 18:1–6). He te tl u

tt pye metme we le tt.

I’m ue gl tt Jeu me t lgy, t me.

Cmpg G t pu, uut ule? Jeu’ pt w



180 GOSPEL

t t mpe te Fte t uut uge, ut t contrast

Hm wt e. If ee uut uge wul gt pettt wm mply eue e efue t let t g, te uely

G wll py ttet t te petet equet f te l-

e tt He le. Lue y tt He tl H ple t

ty eue He wte tem t t ge up pyg.

My f te getet te te gm f G

me fte t le le te ee pemetly le. F exmple, te le “le” f gettg te

le f Iel ut f Egypt. Tey ee ley f

me t fu ue ye te tut w get-

tg we, t ette. Te le “le” f El t

emtte t A te le f Iel tt Je

w te tue G, ut El wet e ult lt

ywy. Te le “le” f Pul t get t Rme.

But e f tee get me f G ept g ept

eleg. H tey ge up pyg te tet u tey

wul e ffete te ty G tee t ge t tem

te eleet. Te ely u pye ll gt t get Pete

ut f p—eetly e ul met t pye meet-

g eetly w t eug.

Yu my t e gtte yu we yet, eep g.

Te wle lgy f g Jeu ue f pye Lue

11:9 efe t e: yu ’t p te e wt.

Kg me t t epetely. Pyg me g

epetely.

Pul ge u glmpe t petee pye

1 Ct 16:9, “A get effete pee

t me, and tee e my ee” (nkjv). Nt “ get

eeme pe t me, but tee wee my ee



“BuT IF nOT . . .” 181

I lue t w le,” ut “ G pee get

and tee wee my ee.” Pul w te peee f ee, tle,

le pptu-

te t eep peg, t

gl t ge up. I ft,

Pul t e tl t quit

g f metg 2 Ct 12:9. G

flly et w me-

ge , “Pul, let

t e g. Yu’e t

gg t get t. Yu’e

gg t get ext ge te.”

I’ll e et wt yu: t e mytey t me. If t

G’ wll t ge u metg, wy t ge t te first

tme we f t? Wt le tt G e me tg

ly epe t petet, ueletg equet. S eep

g.

2. Understand that God often accomplishes His good

plan through our “unanswered” prayers

G wll ee ll f H g e. But He metme

e wy tt e myteu t u.

Heew 11 ee

tw gup f elee

w eee tw m-

pletely ffeet f

we t te pye:

Paul saw the presence

o adversaries,

obstacles, and closed

doors as opportunities

to keep asking and keep

pressing, not signals to

give up.

God does some things

only in response to

persistent, unrelenting

request.



182 GOSPEL

. . . [some] through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced

justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword,

were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war,

put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their

dead by resurrection. (vv. 33–35)

But tee wee l elee w:

. . . were tortured, refusing to accept release. . . . Others

suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and

imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two,

they were killed with the sword. They went about in

skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated.

(vv. 35–37)

Te e tw ey ffeet gup. But te wte f

Heew pt t t f tem exmple f ft

w w G ue t t mplete H w et:

“All tee, tug mmee tug te ft, t

eee wt w pme” (. 39).

I w wt yu e yg: “Plee, L, let me e

gup #1.” Me t. But G pupe f t. Bt e

pt f H pl. I e gup, G we ff H power

y gg tem wt tey e. I te te, He we ff

H value y lettg tem tetfy tt He w ette t lfe.

At te e f te y, G’ pwe t pmly ut

ty e yu ptul tut. It’ ut te gly f

H me et. Smetme He e tt y gg yu

ty e tle; te tme He e tt y lettg



“BuT IF nOT . . .” 183

yu uffe t w wtg wl tt He ette t

ytg ele te et. T pfu mplt f e ptul tem

f elgu tugt gt w. Te -lle “ppety g-

pel” tee tt t ee G’ wll f H peple t e

p tule y wy. Ppet f u elef

ll peple t ee te eee f G’ leg mtel

pyl well-eg.Let me e lut: Te

ppety gpel le.

G e le t ge gft

t H le, He

elgt u uee.

But te getet ppety

t g ew ; t

wg Hm -

g lfe tt g gly

t Hm. Peg mege tt y f yu me t Jeu, He

wll me yu t ly wg, t le peple t lty

te t ft. It le peple t ue Jeu, t le Hm.

G glfe we peple get well, ut He’ l

glfe we peple e well. We ee t te ty

f S, Me, Aeeg. We tey me

fely tug te fue, Neuezz :

“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,

who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who

trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and

yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any

god except their own God.” (Dan. 3:28)

Preaching a message

that says i you come to

Jesus, He will make you

rich is not only wrong, it

leads people to idolatry

rather than aith.



184 GOSPEL

Neuezz ge gly t G t ly eue G

elee S, Me, Aeeg, ut euetey we tt G w me lule t tem t ee

lfe. Neuezz wul ee e ee le t ee tt

S, Me, Aeeg t ge tug te

fe. Suffeg put t elef te lue f G e ll

tg.

We ’t meue G’ mp y wete He

we u equet le we t He ul. We

meue G’ mp y te gpel.

We u umte me u wee G , we

u ul te G w ge Hmelf f u t te

.

Tt le t pple ume 3.

3. Never stop believing

It ey t elee te le pwe f G we

yu e eeg t mfete yu umte. Beleg

G’ le e, wee, we He’ t weg

pye te wy yu t He ul.

F ye, tet e e gumet gt

G e te peee f el te wl. It ge me-

tg le t: If there were a God who is infinite in love, He

would want to stop pain. If He is infinite in power, He could stop

pain. Therefore, since pain exists, God must not.

Pep yu’e e ml quet, ee elee:

• G, wy w’t Yu le my mty?

• G, wy e’t I me yet?



“BuT IF nOT . . .” 185

• G, wy ’t my ue ppeg? I’ ue te

pft t le te!• G, wy w’t Yu el me?

• G, ’t Yu ee? Wy w’t Yu elp? D’t Yu

e? D Yu t le me?

I ’t we ll te “wy” quet, ut I w t:

We mut t etepet w G feel ut u e u

umte. Te ettle fee w G feel ut

u, te euet w u w mu pwe He

ug t g ut H g pl f u le.

Te l pt u t te mytee f w G

w. If tee wee ee tme we t le le G w

et el w tl, t w we Jeu, te up-

pe ele S f G, w eg ttue t et. Wew w tt tee w

ee tme we G

w more te e’

et. He w mpl-

g u lt tt

mmet. Smetg ttppee t e get -

ty f el tue ut t e te et pt f H pl. He

’t g lt epte te , ut tully through t.

Tt me He wg H getet pl ut ee yu

wt mmet t.

It ul’t e upg tt metme G’ getet w e ey u mpee gt w. If G’ w-

m g e me H pwe e me, e

t t me ee tt me f te wy He w ut H

le et mgt e ey my mpee gt w?

We must not reinterpret

how God eels about

us based on our

circumstances.



186 GOSPEL

T ut w mu gete G’ pwe t yu. He

me te glxe wt w; yu ’t fgue ut w t gette l yu DVD plye t qut f lg “12:00.” If tt

mple t ll t w mu gete H wm t

u, e t t me ee t yu tt me f wt He e

my t me ee t yu t te mmet?

Beue f wt we le ut G fm te gpel, we

tut tt metme He gg H le t e u le ee we He e’t we u pye te wy

we wt Hm t. He u Fte, eue fte w

me t le tey metme y t l’ equet.

I te peu pte, we w w Jeu tugt u t

l t G le lg Fte. He e u, Lue 11,

t e wt we wul f u e u f pee

f f t et. Wul we ge m te? Well, w

ut: f yu yu f , wul yu ge that t

m? I pe t. Yu’ tell m because yu le m.

G ette we fte t u t we e t u

le. Smetme He y because He le u

gete pl t we mpee t te mmet. Mu

f te eg e te “’” I ge my tey ’t

uet yet. My fu-ye-l y, “But D, wy ’t

I put t f te lttle le te wll? It l le

t ft.” “Altetg uet” e tll lttle ey e,

I ut y, “F w, l, tut me. D’t put te f te

et.”

W gete? Te gp etwee my fu-ye-l’

uetg f elty me; , mine and God’s ?

S t me ee t me tt me f wt He e e’t

me ee t me. Yet metme G’ egte we t



“BuT IF nOT . . .” 187

my pye e te mt lg tg He ul f me.

I’e e t t wy: “G metme we upye y gg u wt

we wul e e f

we w wt He

w.”

Te ttm le

t: We ul eege up pyg f G’

pwe t e t u

le, ut t te e f te y we et te le f G

emtte t te , ee f we ’t ee w t eg

mfete t te mmet u umte.

4. Abide in Jesus

Uwee pye fte pe yu te pptuty

t e wete t Jeu elly eug f yu. A

we’e lee, “g Jeu” me, ltelly, “mg u

me H le f u,” t f pe te g pl He

wg tug u, ee

u p. T f t-

ft H peee

wt u, ee we we

e tg ele.

T mg I

eft wt fe wt wm I ge t emy.

Tee ye g e w ge wt leuem. Eey m-

ty em e w te wy. He tl me tt e ly

ptl m, e w fe t melf f

Jeu elly w eug f m. If e ee e

God sometimes answers

our prayers by giving

us what we would have

asked or had we known

what He knows.

We should never give up

praying or God’s power

to break into our lives.



188 GOSPEL

f mty em me tue, Jeu eug t e

y w?Smetme G tp yu f ue tt yu ee

wt yu elly e . Smetme He wt yu t e

tg ut Hm yu w tt He elly eug.

A Ly C y, “Yu mgt ee elly w Jeu

ll tt yu ee utl He ll tt yu e.”

Te extet t w yu e Jeu me-

ue y yu lty t e

yful ll umte.

If yu y e e

yu ue, yu

, yu eltp

ttu, tt me yu e’t elly g Hm—yu’e

g te tg. Wtee tl yu y wt

yu e .

We G t weg yu pye te wy yu’

le Hm t, yu ee t pe t te gpel. Yu ee t

yu ul te mp emtte t te

te pwe emtte t te euet.

Yu ee ly t em yuelf:

h



Sometimes He wants

you to have nothing but

Him so you can know

that He really is enough.



PART 3

Toar a Gospel-Cetereuerstaig of Life





191

CHAPTER 12

why Are There “Commas”i Scriptre?

A yu py tug Te Gpel Pye, y y ut,I elee te me tg wll ppe t yu tt ppee

t me: Yu et wll ut le wt ptul fut. Yu

lfe wll e tfme yu tully mel t wt

G e f yu Ct. Yu p f G wll

gw gete t yu ttt t . Yu wll eg t

m, ttely, tt me ge, le, mey w yu te gpel.

Tt’ wt eg “gpel-etee” elly ll ut—

t mg pt te gpel, ut tully gg eepe t

t. It’ ut elzg tt te gpel te fl we t

eey ue plem lfe ut eeg te wle

wl tug te le f te . A we e exple w te gpel ge u, tee

e et ue I’e left te tle utl w. Tee e



192 GOSPEL

g, l quet yu ply e yu ee

ut w eeply te gpel ge yu we yu ete yuelf t.

Te ft quet ey ptl e, e tt

e ut fm eg te Ble: If te gpel ge

telly, te pt, tt we ee wt gt, wy

e tee my “mm” tll te New Tetmet?

De’t te wle ept f “mm” mply tt we eet e tl t metg tt we tewe mgt t ?

If gt e me tully, wy wul we ee t e

mme t ?

Yu ’t epe te

ft tt tee e m-

m tully

eey pge te New

Tetmet. Tey ge

fm tut w

t tet yu emplye t

w t e yu le

t w t’ OK t leep wt. But f te gpel ge u te

et tt fulfll te lw, wy e G tll pe u wt

tee ule tut? Ae tey ut tg weel f

Ju Vty Ct?

A u u eee te e f gpel-

eteee, t quet ufe ume f tme.

Oe, fte ee f em w I l ut f

wee we u wee gg wt we eee e

meme t e g t get tee, I eee tg let-

te tellg me tt ug tt em I e te

gpel flle t leglt mpult t ee

I God has really

changed us with the

gospel, why do we still

need to be commanded

to do aythig?



wHY ARE THERE “COMMAndS” In SCRIPTuRE? 193

peple t g wt I wte tem t ! If I ut pee

te gpel peple wul tully wt tey wee uppet I wul’t e t uge tem t ytg, tey

. I tellg te u tt we e eplty

t ge, t ee, le u mmuty, I e

te gpel.

I tt tue? De te pt f mm lte te p-

ple gpel-etee ge?Nt t ll. Hee e tee e te New Tetmet tll

ge u mm:

1. The commandments enlighten our darkened hearts. Te

ptle Pul expl Rm 1 tt te plem f te

flle um et twfl. Ft, e y, u fl et

e ee, mg u ignorant of much of what is right . He

ge t y tt u ful et e l peee, fte

hating the right even when we know what it is.

G’ lt f u lue teg u wt gt (y

gg u tut mm) emg u et

tt we le wt gt (tug te pwe f te gpel).

Bt mmmet gpel e le.

Te lw f G e le l t, ptg u

te et t g. T ee t t u . But te

t tg t pwe te ege.1 Smlly, lw,

temele, e ule t ge u te pwe t tem. Te

gpel te pwe f G f lt. Jey Bge um

t up well,

G’ le pe u wt te mtt f e-

ee, wle G’ lw pe te et f te

ll expe f le.2



194 GOSPEL

2. Obedience to the commandments limits the damage of our

sin. When we , we ut G, te, uele. Sin eg peee ee, w etute eug

f telf, ut we t t, te etut pe. I m t

ey te mmmet ee we I ’t wt t f f

te e t I ’t wt t pe te etute pwe

f my .

Jme mpe ’ etutee t te gett p-e, “Te [ful] ee we t ee ge t

t , we t fully gw g ft et” (Jme

1:15). Te ft tg t uully e ty t lmt te

mge f ee. We ey te mmmet ee we

we ’t feel le t eue we ’t wt t ee u ful

ee g ft et u le te le f te.

F exmple, f I m tempte t ultey, I mut y

t t, ee f ptul mmet I tuly ee t. Wy?

Beue I w tt ulgg ulteu lut te my

lpemg f G’ me tep fute, ett-

g equee f my fmly, my u, te wm I lept

wt, me.

I ’t ut y, “Well, ultey wt my et,

I ’t et my et tug extelly-fue elgu

ule. S I mgt well t t pe lte G ge

me.” I y pfu “” t te temptt eue f ll te

etut t g.

I ’t tfy myelf y mply g ete te uge,

wee, I em te tte f my et tt ee mputy.

Jut eue I ete te temptt t ultey e t

me I e tg f w t epet. I mut fe te

twte tt f my et G t me t ew.




A I mut well te G f puty w e

f my mputy, eue tt wll me me t te mputy le He e.

3. Disciplining ourselves to practice certain behaviors helps us

develop a love for them. Oeee t te mmmet ge

u e t eelp le f te Oe we te tey

eflet. Tt my e lttle t gp, let me expl.

Jme K. A. Smt me te e Desiring the Kingdomtt te wy we le t le et tg y ptpt-

g t pte tt t u t le tem. If u

ly ute e tue t ulge te lut f te fle, f

exmple, we wll gw u le f te tg. If u -

t put u fe-t-fe wt te eute f te gpel, wee,

we wll gw t le te te.3

Appette, yu ee, grow yu ue tem. He yu ee

ge ut t et t yu fte teue gge

mu tt we yu’e e yu y, “Uggg. I ’t t I’ll

ee et g!”? Fu u lte, wee, yu e ugg

u te pty f Pp-Tt. A te ext tme yu

g t te teue, yu et ee me. Te ppette f f

gw yu fee t.

T tue wt ll f u ppette. Peple w tuggle

wt pgpy fte y tt te me tey fe te

ppette f llt ex, te tge e tt ppette

eme. Te lze yu e, te tge eme yu ee

t t u te u tg. Te me we get

t G’ W, py, pte puty, te me we ee

te tg. Tu, plg uele t wt we ’t

lwy wt t elp u le t le te tg we ul

le.



196 GOSPEL

Of ue, mply ptg te tg t eug

f temele. Sptul ple mut e mpey eep tut te gpel. Te gpel ge te

ee g f te

et. Te wle pupe

f te ple, ft,

t ge yu pptuty

t t ut, me-tte , me wt

te gpel. Sptul -

ple e le we tt

et u t te pwe f

te gpel. Tey e pwe temele, ut tey -

et u t te ple fm w te pwe flw. Tey e

gtewy t te gpel, ut t te gpel telf.

Sy yu ’t “feel” le eg te Ble; te yu

“feel” le wtg TV. I “mg yuelf” e te Ble

mply leglm? N. By feeg yu ul te W f G,

yu e tg yu et t le t. A yu e te W

f G, eute te

G wt t, yu le

f Hm H W

wll gw. If yu e,

wee, t wt TV,

yu ppette f lze

te lut f te fle

e lely t gw te.

Tu, te ext y yu wll ee me TV le f G,

f yu ulge te fle g, t wll g

ww yle. A yu fee te fle, yu ppette f te

Disciplining ourselves to

do what we don’t always

want to do helps us

learn to love the things

we should love.

Spiritual disciplines are

like wires that connect

us to the power o the

gospel.




fle gw. A yu fee te Spt, yu ppette f Hm

gw. T te pt Pul me fte e f te getetexplt f gpel-etee ge te Ble: “D t

e eee, G t me; f wtee m w,

tt e wll l ep. F e w w t f le wll f te

fle ep upt, ut e w w t te Spt wll f te

Spt ep eeltg lfe” (Gl. 6:7–8 nkjv).

We my le, I ’t mply y, “Well, yu leeue tt’ wt w yu et t te mmet. I’m t

gg t fe yu t tell te tut, eue I ’t wt t e-

te lttle Pee. Jut mette te gpel pefully

yu’ll qut eg ety.” Ite, I “ee” tem t

tell te tut (y gg pumet f tellg le). My pe

tt ptg tut tey wll le t le t, eue

we we t e wt G’ eg we expeee

meue f fulfllmet tt me fm tg my

wt w we wee ete.

I egze, wee, tt my mm t tell te tut

ly te tem f. S mu I m “mg”

tem tell te tut, I m l teg tem ut te euty

f te G f tut, w ept H pme t u ee we t

t Hm H lfe. Leg f H ftfule t tem ee

we tey wee l te ly wy tey’ll ee elly le

t love tut.

O, e e me exmple: geety. Te wy yu

le t le geety y eg geeu. Tee e ee

my tme I ’t “feel” le gg wy mey. I’ get

ext $1,000 w f me ee I ul ge t t ut

“felt” le uyg flt ee TV te. We I ge wy



198 GOSPEL

te mey, wee, I expeee te y f gg. Beg

geeu ete me ee t e me geeu.I tt mpmg gpel-etee ge? Am I

“g metg t te gpel” y yg yu’ll eme

geeu t y ft Jeu y ptg geety?

Nt t ll. Afte ll, Jeu Hmelf , “Wee yu teue

, tee yu et wll e l” (Mtt. 6:21). D yu ee wt

me ft tt equee? Yu put yu teue mewee, then yu et fllw.

Yu y, “But ’t gpel-etee geety eg

ewelme t te l ge f Ct tt yu elgt

eg geeu?” (ee

2 C. 8:9). Well, ye.

But tully eg ge-

eu put yu tu

wt te et f G

yu expeee Hm,

yu’ll le t le Hm

H wy. D’t ty

t e me gpel-etee t Jeu. He uet w

gpel-eteee w.

Ou eee t G we we ’t feel le t ee

e t f ft f telf, u t f eee

y t G f Ct’ e t ge u et tt we

ee t ey. Tt etly me ft t t not

eyg.

Sptue tell u, ft, tt we e t e tely pu-

ug te mtft f u fle (Rm. 6:1–14). Mortify

mple tt we e tg et efe f wt u

fle ee. But w extly we “mtfy te ee f

Our obedience to God

when we don’t eel like

it can even be an act o

aith in and o itsel.




te fle?” Pul’ we y eleg we e ee me

le Ct. We u fle ee tt w ty t te wll f G, we e t elee wt G ele

e u te gpel, y g expuge u et

fm t ely ttt t . Gpg te G eele

te gpel pue te “ew ffet” tg eug t

p u t t te lee pleue. A J Owe ,

“Sptul ple tm te t f , ut ly tegpel pull up te t.”

What, Then, Is Legalism?

I’t leglm y tme yu te ge tug exte-

l eee? Nt extly. Leglm ete we yu

() feel le t G we yu tem, () yu put

mu emp eelpg te utw e tt yu

eglet te w ge

tt me ly tug

ft te gpel.

Leglm, f exm-

ple, tg tt e-

g te Ble me G

le ept yu me.

It e t. Ct ept

te lw pefetly f me,

eg te Ble f

fu u eey mg wul t me G l y me

fly up me.

Leglm l tg tt fg myelf t e te

Ble uffet, f telf, t geete my et

A gospel-centered

approach to reading

the Bible means that you discipline yoursel to

read the Bible even when

you don’t eel like it.



200 GOSPEL

le f G H W. Reg te Ble ’t tt

ete; ly te Spt f G e tt tug te megef te gpel. Reg te Ble e, wee, pe

opportunity f te Spt t ft me wt te mege. A

Pul Mlle y, “Reg te Ble e’t ete tmy

wt G, ut t e me m f t.”4

A gpel-etee pp t eg te Ble me

tt yu ple yuelf t e te Ble ee we yu’t feel le t, ll te wle epetg t G tt yu ’t

le Hm me tutg yu m wt te mege

tt G’ epte f yu ge gft Ct.

Case Study: Fasting

Oe fl exmple I’ll ue t elly ty t e t me:

ftg. Ftg metg I ely “feel” le g. I ft,

my y ee “feel” le g wtut f. We yu ft,

yu e tully epg yu y f legtmte g

tt yu t yuelf tt tfyg yu ul G

me tfyg t tfyg yu y wt f.

Ftg, te ufe, l qute leglt. Hw e

epg yu y f f pue tue ptul fut? It

e’t, y telf. Gg wtut f etly e’t me

yu me pleg t G. But f yu ue te ee f f

t t yu ul t fet te gle f te gpel, ftg

eme ppe tug w te pwe f te gpel

flw. Tt’ ppetly wt Jeu we He fte. He

te H y fm f He ul elly uet

tt “M ll t le [e: “te, me le”] y e

le, ut y eey w tt me fm te mut f G”

(Mtt. 4:4).5




I te w, ftg

ete te pptuty texee me effete

ft te gpel. Te

gpel te ly ple

wee te pwe f ew

lfe—te pwe t eelp

le f G f t-e—ee. Te pwe f te gpel ly elee we

elee t. Ftg meely pe u ette pptuty t

fu te gpel elee t.6

S, te New Tetmet e ee t mpete,

ut tey e ue te te f te gpel. Te

gpel wte tell u wt we e t f G, ut ly

tey ute u wt te tut ut wt G e

f u.

Understand the gospel; practice the disciplines

Sptul ple ly tu t leglm f yu ’t

elly get te gpel. If yu e tugly tute

te gpel, wee, yu wll pte ptul ple

etly.

Uftutely, mt Ct gtte tw ptul

ple before tey uet te gpel. Te eult

yle f pe ep.

A ey ee pt fe exple t me tt e tugt

te peple u t eptulze te Ct

gwt te pe f weel. E pe epeete e

f te ptul ple—pye, ftfule Ble e-

g u, geety, wte, mmuty, et. He te

The New Testament does indeed contain

imperatives, but they

are shrouded in the

indicative o the gospel.



202 GOSPEL

tl tem, “Rte yuelf 1 t 10 w well yu’e g

t e, w te legt f te pe t ep ttt ume.” Te eultg ptue, e tl tem, ul ge

tem ee f wy te le wee ut f w ptu-

lly. “S,” e tl tem, “ele t gw t ye wtee

e yu e te tet.”

Su tl e ueful (we ee ue e f t t

u u!), ut ly f t tugly tute gpeltelgy. If t’ t, te we tt t e u ptul etty

w well we e g ptully te t wt G

ele e u Ct. Jeu ept ll te ptul -

ple pefetly, u ple, G uge u w e

H pefme, t u. Sptul ple pt fm

tug gpel telgy wll le t pe epeee

fm G every single time .

If yu uet te gpel, wee, te yu

pte te ptul ple G te: gtewy

t te gpel, t uttute f te gpel. Yu ee

et gl—f exmple, t pe t let fftee mute te

W fftee mute

pye twe eey y;

t ft e mt; t

e Ct weely, et.

Rte t eg ue

f pe ep, te

tg wll mply ete

f yu egul pptuty t tet wt te gpel.

Ee u flue tee e em u tt G e H

epte f u Ct’ eepg f te lw, t u.

I you understand the

gospel, you can practice

the spiritual disciplines

as God intends.




Tt elzt wll e u t t ee me we f te

ge f G, w wll pue ee me ptul fut. Te me we tte f te gpel, te me we le t. A

te me we le t le te tg f G, te me tme

we’ll pe tme g te tg, le y ple

me y ee. We ete t elf-epug yle f lfe.

We e wg t te Spt, fm te Spt epg lfe

eeltg. We wll e “g Jeu” ut Jeu mme,

we wll e mu fut, ut He pme.





205

CHAPTER 13

what Is the Right way to work for Go?

At te egg f t , I tl yu tt I’e -tt tuggle f gug ut wt G wte fm me lgt

f te ee f te wl. Te quet gg my m,

ttly, w: Am I g eug f G?

Te gpel tee u tt u ppl y G t

e g “eug” f Hm. Sme mgt lue,

te, tt we e lgt t te wl. Te gpel’t ut w, fte ll; t’ ut etg G’ w

yu elf.

It’ le tug, tt Jeu expet H fllwe t e

feetly t w H gm. A f we le peple le

He’ le u, t we t t ly y wle peple pe.

But w mu eug? A t ple t te tmu eplty? I eyg y luxuy ee et

flue t elly eme te fl ll f te ?



206 GOSPEL

I t, I’m g t: Wt e gpel-etee

pp t te ee f te wl l le? T mptt quet t , eue f we get

t wg, we’ll ete wte u le megle puut

eue we ’t t we ee t ytg f G; ,

we’ll u uele ut yg l Jeu ee tee

u t y. But f we get t gt, we wll e te y f lee-

gg u le f Jeu He leege H f u.

A House for God, by God

Kg D lee te we t t quet we e

pupe et t ul temple f G (2 Sm. 7).

By t pt D’ lfe G tugly etle

D te g f Iel. He ge m tle g-

m efete ll f D’ eeme. Te l f

Iel w ppeg t et.

A 2 Smuel 7 pe, D ttg tgete fte -

e wt Nt, te t’ pt, ut D’

p. D’ eye fell t te tele, mle tet

G H peple emle w H peee welt

tey telle fm Egypt.

By t tme, te tele w few ue ye l.

It w ply gettg petty tee. Plu, t w ut

tet, D’ ue ut ee ute f MTV

Cribs . S D y t Nt, “Yu w, t ’t gt . . .

I le e ue tt mell le e, G le

tet.”



wHAT IS THE RIGHT wAY TO wORK FOR GOd? 207

Nt ep le y pt e we mee

welty ffe t ge m mey: “G, my te, lltt yu et” (2 Sm. 7:3 ut ppe).

Lte tt gt, wee, G ppe t Nt:

“Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord :

Would you build me a house to dwell in? I have not lived

in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in

a tent for my dwelling. In all places where I have moved

with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word . . . saying,

“Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’” (vv. 5–10)

I t tee et plyfule G’ eply. “O

. . . yu’e gg t ul ME ue, e yu, D?

D, yu elly t I’m we ut My mm-

t w tee? D, e I ee , ‘I’m te f t

fty l tet?’ Yu t I wt e ue? Ce f

mte, D. My teet e me f gl. Yu e

e wt My el ue l le up ee. A f I elly

eee e ple t le, D, I wul’t e mg t

yu g yu t pt Me me mey t ul e. Afte

ll, ememe tt . . .”

“ I t YOU from the pasture, from following the sheep,

that you should be prince over my people Israel. And

I e ee with you wherever you went and e ut

ff ll YOUR eeme from before you. And I wll me

f yu get me. . . . And I wll ppt ple f

my peple Iel wll plt tem, so that they may



208 GOSPEL

dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. . . .

And I wll ge yu et from all your enemies. Moreover,the Lord declares to you that te Lord wll me yu

ue.” (vv. 8–11, emphasis mine)

W te fetue ule tee ee? Nt D—

God .

G y, “T wle tg t ut yu gg tMe, D. T ut Me gg t yu. T t ut

yu ulg Me ue; I’m ulg you e. I’m te ge;

yu’e te eee . . . D, I’m t ttg u ee

gg, ‘O . . . f D wul ut pe Me lttle f ext

mey I ul get ut f tee qul lg t

ul Myelf el gm.’ I ete ll f t, D,

I ’t need ytg fm yu te pe. I’m te G

w everything needs tg. I wll ul t ue,

I ’t need e ue f yu elp te pe.”

G te ge t tell D ut te Me He wll

e w wul ul H ue et. Tt Me, f

ue, wul e G Hmelf te f le. G wul ul

te ue f lt et, D w t needed ,

te ee tt D w upplyg metg t G tt He

’t ley e.

G te y,

“And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure

forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.”

. . . Then King David went in and sat before the Lord

and said, “Who am I, O Lord G od , and what is my house,

that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a




small thing in your eyes, O Lord G od . . . . And what

more can David say to you? . . . Because of your prom-ise, and according to your own heart, you have brought

about all this greatness, to make your servant know it.”

(2 Sam. 7:16, 18–21)

Ce t: D tte t u wtg t

ul metg f G. He e t ttg we f wtG g f Hm.

I’t t te eug teme f te gpel? Slt

t pmly ut u

g metg f G.

Slt ut knowing

wt G e f

u— ttg tue

we f t. T ptl

f u t ememe we

e te gt wy t

w f G.

Ye, Ctty

we wll tg f G.

But wt we wll e gteful epe t wt He’ e

f u, t eue He needs u elp.

Slw w e tt ttemet g.

So David says: “Therefore yu are great, O Lord God”

(2 Sam. 7:22, emphasis mine).

Ag, w get? D, eue e ult f G

mgfet ue? N. G get, eue He f

In Christianity we

will do things or God.

But what we do will

be a grateul response

to what He’s done or

us, not because He

ees our help.



210 GOSPEL

D wt D ul ee f melf. G ult

D ue fm tg.

“For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you.

. . . And who is like yu peple Iel , the one nation

on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people,

making himself a name and doing for them great and

awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its

gods?. . . And your name will be magnified forever.”

(vv. 22–23, 26, emphasis mine)

G’ me wll e mgfe fee eue f wt

G et. Te wl t uppe t l t

Ct pmly y, “Wow, what great and impressive

things they have done for God,” ut “Wow, what great things God

has done for them.”

Wt ul t ut ut u peple l t u

te ge pwe f Christ tt exue fm u le.

Ct wte pmly tetmy ut G’ w

u elf, t ut u w H.

A D wlege pye, G et te pt-

te f w H w w t e e te ft get t

f lt, te Exu.

Te Exu t put

ply ll te get

mpee tg tt

Iel e f G.

Te Exu me yu

Christian witness is

primarily a testimony

about God’s work on our

behal, not about our

work on His.




t we f te mzg tg tt G e f

Iel.Me, f yu ell, w mt ulely lee. He w

lly epe wt lp, ge wt peeg te

getet pltl memet f ll tme. Mt peple e

ttlly te wg e ut Me. We t f 6'4" -

etll tem pt wt eep, te, Clt Het-

eque e w m ut t P, “G y, ‘Let My people go!’” eeye we eet te pwe f Me’

pe. Oe f te few pel tg we know ut Me

w tt e w “we pee,” w me tt l

peett left mu t e ee. Mye e lttle

muy e, mye

e tuttee. Wtee

t w, we e we

up P’ ut t

em Iel’ elee,

e t m euly.

But te te plgue

tte. Oe y e ll f

Egypt’ tgl wee

ttee. Te mgty Nle w tue t l. Te u w

ee. Fle et te l. Te ft f eey

uptete uel e.

A Iel wle ut f Egypt tt y t feem, e

, “Ww, Me qute te lee.” N tey mel

t wt ele peple t gup f le wee. Rte,

tey t we t wt G e f tem.

Tt’ w Ct eey geet e t e. Te

ue f lt t ult y u, f G; ut y G, f

God hangs a sign

outside o the

construction zone o

His kingdom that says

“No help needed.”



212 GOSPEL

u. G g g ute f te tut ze f H

gm tt y “ No elp eee.”

The Work Principle

Wt e t te u ut u eplty w-

g f G t mplete H m et?

God doesn’t need us.

G ul ue f u; He t lg t u t ul

e f m. Slt, tt t f, fm G, He

e’t ee ytg fm u te pe.

Jeu wet t te alone. Te w t tem

efft. Eeye e Jeu t te . Le D

e, Jeu ut t tt fel le t fe te gt f

u wle we ll t uftfule te ele.

We Jeu w e fm te e, t w y G’

pwe le, wt elp fm y f u. Te ple

wee’t ee Hm wt te t gg, “Cme ,

Jeu . . . Me mut t mut, Pete. J, ge m te

elet .” Te Fte ugt Jeu fm te e

all by Himself .

We Jeu etle H etel gm et

te futue, t metg te Ble y He wll y

Hmelf. Te f Reelt y tt te New Jeulem

me w t et fm ee, pepe y G f u.

We ’t ul t up t ee fm te et f Hm.

I te me wy, t G le w ul H u

te et ty. We Jeu et H ple ut t m-

plete te Get Cmm (Mtt. 16:18), He t tem,




“ I wll ul my u, te gte f ell ll t pel

gt t,” t “Yu wll ul My u, I’ ll e ut t yu we yu ee elp.”

Imge w ewelmg t w we Jeu ly te

Get Cmm te ple. “Blly, yu mut

te te gpel t eey pe eey uty te wl

eue I m te ly wy tey e e yu e te

ly wy tey e ut Me” (At 1:6–8).Bg m. Lt f w le. Bette get tte

wg gt wy. Supgly, wee, te ft tg

Jeu tl tem t g wt. D tg. Ntg,

tt , ut wt f te mg f te Hly Spt. I m ue

te me type A f te ple wee le, “Wait ? We ee

t get gze! We ee t e mey. We ee t t

up pee. Tme wtg! Peple e yg! We mut g

now!” Jeu uet te feelg, ut, ut He tll

tl tem t wt. Wy He tell tem tt? If nothing else,

Jesus was drilling into them that He alone can build His church and

complete the Great Commission. Tey wee pwele t g

ut wl lt. “Apt fm Me,” He tl tem,

“yu nothing .”

Te pt eme fm e t e te Ble

“G e’t need yu f ytg.” Yu I e uttely

pwele t g ut lt elg. T me-

ge t te e f te gpel. Te gpel m t tte

pe epeee fm eey gle. Te gpel’ ft

w t me u t t tue we t wt G

e f u.

Nw . . . yu y, “Wt mute. G e’t need

me? Te e tt me I ul g ut my mey wy



214 GOSPEL

peg ll my mey myelf, ttg wtg God

t fee te p w te lt?”Nt t ll. Beue ee te e pt f te gg

pple:

As recipients of grace, we will want to give back to God.

We we gp w mu G ge t u ge,

we ee w get te ee f te wl e, we wll want t w f G.

G tl D e te gt tttue—ut te wg

pl. D w w mu G e f Hm, e

wte t metg etu. D wte ll te

peple Iel t w tt G w te e e

ue. Te temple e wte t ul ul et peple’

ttet t te gete f G. G mmee D:

“Beue t w yu

et t ul ue f

My me, yu well

tt t w yu et”

(2 C. 6:8 nasb).

S fte eg tl

“” t ulg, D et

ut t lletg ll te

mtel pl f te

temple Slm wul

e wt e eee t

ul t (1 C. 22:1–6). Afte wt G e f

D, e wte t something ! Ee tug G ’t

telly ee m t elp ul te temple, D wte

t metg f te G w e mu f m.

When we think about

how many people in the

world are dying, both

body and soul, without

God, we want to see

the grace that has been

given to us come to

them also.




I epe t te gpel, we ul wt t ge t

G. T ut t: wee wul yu e wtut Jeu? A we we t ut w my peple te wl

e yg, t y ul, wtut G, we wt t ee

te ge tt ee ge t u me t tem l. Wt

ele wul gpel-etee pe want t wt te

eue?

We must offer ourselves to God and do what He leads

us to do.

We we put te ft tw pple tgete, we

e t te t: gpel-etee peple ffe temele t

G, yfully, te wtee He et tem t ,

wg tt ly wt He empwe tem t wll y

el g. That’s wt we e eple f—ffeg all we

e t G g f H et. Tt’ extly wt

D .

Yu ee le ptue f wt t l le At.

Afte te Hly Spt me, te ple ’t t te

u y, “Ww . . . Gl Yu’e ee, Hly Spt. Let

u w we wl egelzt e. We’e gg f-

g.” Ite, tey , “Hee m I, e me!” Tey pye

f G t empwe tem e tem. Tey e G t

ue tem. Tey ew tt f G ’t e tem, tey wee

pwele t y g. I epe t te gpel, wee,

tey egge t e et. Tey wte t e pue ut f t-

e Jeu ee pue ut f tem, ut t fm me

ltu, m-glfyg t tt tey ul ul te

gm f G te w.



216 GOSPEL

Te wegt f g te wl t u ule.

We ul’t le f t w. A we elly ul’t y-tg ut t ywy. G le e. G pe. I

epe t te gpel, wee, we ffe uele fully t

G, lgg f wl

lt. Te we

wtee He et u t

. Te w ple all f te eue t te -

pl f Jeu gteful

epe t H ge

wt get fee

H lty wll f ely ulmte pwe t te pl.

Jut t f te ty f te y wt f e le tw f

(J 6:1–15) te wm w ge te tw (Lue

21:1–4). G ’t ee wt tey pe. I ft, te lttle

y wet me wt me t e ge. But 5,000 plu peple

wee fe te pe.

Hearing from Nathan

Yu y, “Well, tt’ get . . . But I’e ee

Nt w em wee G tl m wt I w

uppe t . Hw m I uppe t w w G wt

me t w f Hm?”1

Telly, G ee tl D t llet te tuff f

te temple. D ut tte g t, G ’t tp

m.

S ee e few tugt t elp yu get tte wt

yu ul e g f G:

Those who place all o

their resources at the

disposal o Jesus will

fnd nearly unlimited

power at their disposal.




1. Start with the needs right in front of you. Te f

Jme y tt f mee tg t yu wt ee, te t G’ tet f yu t fll

t. Te e tt “G e’t ee u” ul ee

e ue exue t t meet te ee tt e

gt ft f u. Jeu pe te G Smt

te ple eue e met te ee we e w

t, tze te pet te Lete w pete m y, feelg “lle” t ge tg. S, tt

y elpg te ee “gt ute f yu gte.”

If tee ee tt yu ee yu fulfll, t .2

2. Carefully evaluate how your vocational talents can be

leveraged for God’s kingdom. Hw yu e

leege t le te?3 Oe f te mt ueut-

lze tl eg wt G wt yu t

te ll u. Jut G ue Nt, w w

pt f D’ ptul mmuty, t et D,

G wll ue H ll u t elp et yu.

3. Ask what your local church is doing that you can be

involved in. G ge u u ll ue t

elp et u effetely meetg te ptul

pyl ee f u ty. If yu u e’t e

mty t t ty, g t ew e.

4. Consider whether there is some area of passion or inter-

est growing in you. Wt t yu et? I tee

peple gup, uty, yu t ut ll

te tme? D yu e em f g metg

ptully get f G? Cmmt tt t G,

Hm t e yu. Wt Hm t pe te

(P. 37:4–5). D’t e f t ( te w f



218 GOSPEL

Wllm Cey), “Expet get tg f G,

te ttempt get tg f G.” G tell yu“” f He ee t, ut fte te em telf fm

Hm. A lt f tme te wy we e u ptul

gft y eg eep ee u et t

metg f te f Ct’ e.

5. Listen to what other believers say about your gifted-

ness. Ofte, G eel e f ptul-gftee u y g mee fm te u pt t ut

t u. Ote peple ee e wee we e ptu-

lly tg, wee G ue u te le.

Tt’ w I ee my gft f peg. Ote

peple tl me w mu G ue me te le

we I’ te G’ w.

6. Be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Jut G

gt mege t Nt, He get e t yu.

It mgt me te fm f w f ppey

mee pe t yu, te uel f we fe,

le , ytg ele G e t ue.

G’ t ew t t mmut tg. He

get H mege t yu. Yu tut Hm.

G te mte ule f H ue, yu

I ly lwly ftle. We mply y ut e; He p-

e te eue. He wll tell u wt He wt u t .

Te we t wt wt He’ pe.

D’ Slm, wm G ue t ul teetly e f te temple D melf wte t

ul, ply t et: “Ule te L ul te ue,

te w ul t l ” (P. 127:1).




We ul egely ye f G t ul H ue

tug u wt expettly Hm t ue u tepe. But egely ffeg uele t G t te me

ug ut t t f Hm. Cty t ppul p,

te Get Cmm e t eg wt “G t ll te

wl pe te gpel.” Te Get Cmm eg

wt “All utty ee ge t Me ee

et” (Mtt. 28:18 nkjv). Befe Jeu ge te GetCmm, He em te ptle tt ultmtely te

Get Cmm H. He te Oe wt te lty t

ul te u, He te Oe w mut t tug

u. A Mel Ht y: “Te Get Cmm eg

wt te Get Auemet.”4

Oly y eleg te uffey f te G f te

Get Auemet wll we ee e te fee t

ttempt l tg f te Get Cmm.

S, G eetly t e ue y Hm, te

wtee He put ft f yu wt te fee tt He

g t tug yu. Tt te ly gt wy t w

f G.





221

CHAPTER 14

what does a Gospel-CetereChrch Look Like?

Hee’ wee t get elly extg. It’ e tg f - ul t e eweg t te gete f te gpel.

It te t t te leel f ete u t expeee

metg le t. C yu mge te f wte

ue f peple lg gpel-etee le tgete

ll u mgt e mmuty? C yu ftm

te f mey ge tt wul exue fm te fel-lwp, te f mpt tey wul e we tey

eg t e t te mmuty Jeu w t tem? A

wt t l le we ete u f peple eg t

ee G’ wllge lty t e te mmuty,

gly? I get exte ut wtg tt.

S let’ get gt t te et f te ue: Wt e gpel-etee u l le?



222 GOSPEL

I’m gg t ge yu tee qulte f “gpel-etee”

u. Uftutely, I t te exmple f ue wmel ll tee e ey few.

1. In a gospel-centered church, preaching the message of

the gospel is the priority. Te gpel uemet, t

ut wt we e t f G, ut ut wt He e

f u.

Gospel, Gee, w t exluely elgu w.It mply met “g ew.” We Gee g wul

w ttle, e wul e “gpel e” u Geee

t ue tt e w te ttle, w tl

g, tt te peple wee fee. We tt ue-

met w me, te peple wee expete t elee t le

gly.

Te gpel uemet tt Jeu L

tt He w te ttle f yu lt. We e t

ep epete ft (M 1:15). Te gpel

t good advice ut w t le; t good news ut wt

G e.

Jeu tl H ple t “e H wtee,” w

met tey wee t tell eeye, ftfully, te ty f wt

He had done f te wl. Te le wul etly em-

tte te ge H pwe ugt te le, ut tey

wee t ttly pt t wt He e tt me te

ge ple.

Wee tee

plmt f te ty

f Jeu Ct, tee

gpel mty.

The gospel is not goo

aice about how to live;

it is goo es about

what God has done.



wHAT dOES A GOSPEL-CEnTEREd CHuRCH LOOK L IKE? 223

He yu ee e tt ttemet (ttute t F

f A), “Pe te gpel. If eey, ue w”? Hw yu expl te gpel wtut ug words ? Tt’ le

yg, “Tell me yu pe ume. If eey, ue g-

t.” Yu pe ume is gt. Te gpel is te w

ug wt Ct e. Peple ’t l t u

le w te ty f Ct. Tey my ee glmpe f

te e f Ct, ut expetg tem t get te gpel ut y wtg u wul e le tyg t gte fmt

fm ewt wt te u tue ff.

We e t e lwy, eeywee, peg te w.

Tt’ wt te ely u . Eeywee, fm ue t

ue, tey wee lwy tellg te ty f Jeu.

2. In a gospel-centered church, the emphasis of the message

is more on what Christ has done than what we are to do. A

I’m ue yu’e ee y w, te ly tg tt g tue

ptul gwt g —wellg , tg ut,

tg we f—wt Ct e f u.

We u mege mty glgt metg

ee tt, we ee te lfele etwee peple te

pwe f G, mtte w “g” ueful te tg

we e peg ut . Nothing we e t f G

mptt wt He e f u.

A I l te Ct lpe, I ee ue

empzg ll f good tg tt uftutely eep

peple fm fug te essential tg, te gly fee

ge f G eele te gpel.

Few f tee tg tey empze e f

temele, tey ut eme eue tey te t elpe

te e tg tt is itself te pwe f G f u—te gpel.



224 GOSPEL

My ept elw t met t tue u

tt, ut t mgt elp yu ee wee u ttte t uttute metg f te gpel te pmy

me f ptul gwt.

At many “charismatic” churches, te emp ple

g expeee wt te Spt. We etly ee t e

tmtely qute wt te Spt. But expeee wt

te Spt t eple te etlty f te gpel mege.I ft, wt te Spt mt lg t t me te g-

pel el t u et (2 C. 3:18–4:4), te wy we e

flle y te Spt y gpg eleg me f te

gpel. I te w, being filled by the Spirit happens when

we renew our minds in the awareness of the gospel, not through a

special ceremony . Yu wt t e flle wt te Spt? Belee

te gpel g (Gl. 3:1–3; At 10:43–45). We we te

peple t ee lee t G tug ett expeee

te t ptg tem t eewe ft te gpel,

we e elpg te gpel wt ey expeee. Te

Spt Hmelf wul never t. H le t pt u t

te gle f te gpel (J 15:26).

At many “seeker-sensitive” churches, te emp

le, ptl t tep f Ct lg. “Sw tem,”

t e ge, “w t le t ut. Sw tem w G

fx te mge. Sw tem w mu ette lfe wul e

f tey wul t G’ wy.” Nw, eg type A, t-

ete pe, I love action steps . Cle t tep t

ge te et, wee. Beg tl wt t t

ge me; ly tg we f wt G e .

Leg “f e tep tw g mmut” wll t




ely mu f my mge emg te ll tep

G te tw me Jeu Ct. Tm Kelle , “Relg tell yu t g ge;

te gpel ge yu te pt.” At tep tt

t flw ut f t f Jeu gtefule f wt

He’ e wll ultmtely pue ly futte, peful

Pee, mtte w wmely te t tep e

peete. At many “fundamentalist” churches, te emp

ppe e. Yu lwy lee wg w Ct

ul ee, tl, e. T e et, I ’t elly e

plem wt “guele,” eue—fe t—we ll e e-

t mut f guele we expet te t . At ee

te mt elxe ue t geelly uet tt gl

ul’t wl u tple, guy ul’t we tg,

e ul’t p te “f-m.” Te plem t

wt guele, per se ; te plem we te emp

te guele elpe te gpel telf. Cleg up my

lguge t ge me. Acting le Ct t

ge me. Oly eg ewelme t te G f te gpel

ge me. Te m plem t te guele tem-

ele (tug me f tem e, t tme, ulu); te

plem te emphasis ge t tem.

At many “younger” churches, te emp elx-

g te t f fumetlm. I u gpet’

ue u ptulty w meue y u ttee;

Suy l; Suy Weey gt ee; eg

t el; gg weely tt; wg ll fty-

ee ee f “Jut A I Am.” Ctempy ue fte

ut ge te lt te ff te te. Te ew lt lue



226 GOSPEL

luteeg t e f te weee ee, gg t mll

gup, , e ll, ttg. Te elemet te lt mgte ge, ut t tll lt f t-’, te expet-

t tll tt utw e mft e G’

pmy wy f gg u et. A lt f te ew, l,

emegg Ctty tue ut mply t e “l legl-

m” guge ltg. Mel Ht y: “F ll f te

(yuge) memet’ e tque f te megumel, te emp tll fll meug te leel f u

zel tty te t mmeg peple te

getet ty ee tl.”1

At many “Reformed” churches, te ptul f Refme

telgy ew te . Te umpt eem t e

tt f yu mte te ptul f te TULIP,2 e

ete t 1, 2, 3 J (J Cl, J Ppe, J

MAtu), te yu e ptully eptle eey-

tg wll e gt yu lfe. Rgt te , f ue,

eetl, ut “tl flwe” tfm yu et.

Oly te euty f Jeu tfm te et. I w me

wll y, “But te fe pt f Clm are te eee f

te gpel!” Pep. But f yu empze fmty t yu

e f te fe pt me t yu mple wp

f te Ct f te , yu e eple t wt

fmt. Rgt fmt eetl, ut I e ee

f t my peple w e me exte ut te TULIP

t tey wee we f te . I e l ee my

peple w ’t te my ext te te fe pt w

e ptely le wt Jeu ptely ewelme

t H ge.




At many “prosperity gospel” churches, te emp

ple te tu, lee lfe G wt yu t e.I ’t e plem teg tt G le t le H

le. He e. But wt elly ge yu t te

pe tt G ge yu me mtel tuff te futue;

wt ge yu we yu ee G Hmelf ette

t y leg He ul ge yu, tt ee f yu le

eeytg e Hm, t eug. A metme Gtee yu tt y p ept. Te real mge

f ppety teg tt t eet u eye wy fm

G t H gft. We “w G wll le u f we ey”

ew “te lue f te G ge t u te ,”

we euge lty et tue ptul gwt.

At many “discipleship-focused” churches, te emp

l, fl mmtmet t plep

geety. Ag, me. It’ tue tt fllwg Jeu me

eug ll we e, tg up u t fllw Hm,

pug ut u eue f H gm. How though,

can we produce a heart of generosity in people, a heart that pours

itself for the world because it loves it like God does ? Te ptle

J tt u l gg ul pe te pe-

ee f u le.3 Le wtut l gg wtle

(1 J 3:16–18), e y, ut l gg wtut le

(1 C. 13:1–3). S u mm t l lg ul

e ue te uemet f G’ le ge t u

Ct, eue ly tt mege wll we le t le

G (1 J 4:19).

If we ly mm peple t e geeu, we wll p-

ue meely epete peple w u ut t metg

extgtly geeu t pe tey e e. Tt type



228 GOSPEL

f w-gteue, w we ty t w t u

le t pe we e le f G. A et f geety wll ly e pue u we

eme elee te gpel. Te peple w e tte

te gpel wll ep wt extgt geety. D’t

fue g wt pg. Dg wt wg;

pg w t fx t. If u et e llue

elf, we ’t fx tt ut y gg mey wy. We et eme me we f te extgt e f G

tw u Ct. Selfe te g; te gpel

te pmy pg.

At many “emergent” churches, te emp te

wlt tue f lt, ptully l ute

l elt ue. Ame. We ee t e pyg

ttet t te ue, gpel-etee Ct wll

e ut tem. But yu t fue te effects of te

gpel wt te gpel telf. I Glt 3, Pul tt

Jew Getle wul e ugt tgete tey ue-

t wt G t t e ll f u. We we’e ee

ge y te gpel, we e ut te tm f ute

get le. Tee e te effet f te gpel; tey

e t te gpel telf. Mmg eluty Ct

te ft etuy wll

t ge u et;

emg wt Jeu

f u te ft etuy

wll.

I lmt ll f te

te e, te plem t wt wt’ eg tugt,

ut wt te emphasis eg ge t wt tugt. E, t

You cannot conuse the

effects of the gospel

with the gospel itsel.




ee , fte mply “tut ut f ppt.”4 I

te w, “eey” t ut wg teg; t lputtg uue emp et pet f g teg.

I le w Mel Ht y t: “We le Ct y

distraction ely y el . . . ‘Ctle Ctty’

ppe tug t well utt.”5

Gpel-etee ue, te, empze mt f ll

te ew ut wt Ct e f u. Te ey mtte flow out from tt; tey ’t elpe t.

3. In a gospel-centered church, the members demonstrate

the beauty of the gospel in the community. Wle te gpel

, ft femt, mege, t lwy mpe y

emtt f tt mege. Eey tme te gpel w

pee y Jeu te elet ptle, t w fllwe

y “g.” Tee wee me t we-pg mg t;

g wee mle wt mege. Tey put te mege f

G’ gm tgle ply.

A g e’t lwy e t e mulu. A g

mply emtte te le euty f G’ gm.

Te u, Pul , w t e G’ “emtt” m-

muty, wee He put ply f wtg wl H

“mfl wm” ele pwe (Ep. 3:10–11, 21).

I At, we te ely u w mply eg “te

u,” Lue tell u get ee f fe “we me

up eey ul,” tey “f wt ll te peple,”

“te L e t te ume y y y te w wee

eg e” (At 2:42–47). I te w, ut y g

wt elty ll ue (pyg, g, ttly

peg te w, et.), tey wee egelzg te mmu-

ty. Te peee f elty ll u mmuty



230 GOSPEL

te getet tlyt f

te egelzt f ttmmuty. I elty

u te ll mmu-

ty ul ee te gly f

te gpel ply. A

tey , my te m-

muty wll e eme wt ee f fe

we my wll e me t elee—ut tey wee

At 2:42–47.

Tee e t let fu tg we f te f At

ut te u tt “mze” te mmuty. E f tee

put te gpel ply. E f tee wll e peet

gpel-etee gegt.

The Church and the Book of Acts

Love and unity in the church

Te le uty te ll u mze te m-muty. It w me t ftety f fe; t w

elet fmly wt uexpete uty. I ge f mt

l, l, l ffeee, te ll u w

te ly ttut te Rm wl tt ugt uty

etwee le e. Te ue Pul plte wee

ee fellwp f Jew Getle, yug l, p

. Rey St y tt t e f te mt g-

ft ft tutg t te ely u’ exple

gwt te ft 400 ye fllwg Ct.6

The presence o a

healthy local church

in a community is the

greatest catalyst or

the evangelization o

that community.



wHAT dOES A GOSP EL-CEnT EREd CHuRCH LOOK LIKE? 231

F Seffe fmuly lle te u G’ “f l

plget” t eptl wl. Tt’ eue

te u te wl ee

uty tt tgge te

m; tt w tt ll

peple e mm

ety (G); mmplem (); mm S (Jeu).

Generosity

Te l geety f te u mze te m-

muty, t ew ttet t te l geety f

Ct. Empe Jul, e f Ctty’ f eet peeu-

t, mple lette t fe tt e ut ul t

eep te u fm gwg, mtte wt e . I

gut, e , “The godless Galileans! They take care not only of

their own poor, but ours as well.” It w Ct gg tem-

ele wy t te ule t py tem tt e

eptl Rm wl te tut f Jeu’ lm. I’e me

t ee tt my w mmuty t. I le wt Forbes

mgze ll “te eutl u f Ame.” Septm

fte mpe eut. I u mmuty, extgt

geety fte ee

me g t u

plpl eg

(w t t y we

’t l fte peet

ey, ele we

t te Ct ft!).

The church is God’s

“fnal apologetic” to a

skeptical world.

In a post-Christian,

skeptical age, love on

display is sometimes

the most convincing

apologetic.



232 GOSPEL

I pt-Ct, eptl ge, le ply te mt

g plget.I te ely u, e wet ugy. N e wet

wtut elte. Eeye w pe f. Peple l fel,

pe f, wet e f te e f te. Te u-

ug mmuty w mze. A tey elee.

Joy in the midst of persecution

Te y wt w te ely u uffee l mze

peple. Te wllge t pe ut Jeu we t t

tem eeytg w fug t te ul ee

(At 4:13). Te lty t e y te mt f get

p ew peple’ ttet t te lue tey ple G.

Ayy e ppy we tg e gg well. We

Pul w el pte uutly Plpp p, wee,

tll w fm te etg te gt efe, p-

g G te t ug G wg egee, te

eptl Plpp l t te (At 16:25–31).

I w wtg TV e mg wt my fe-ye-l

we pee wt mle te ze f Tex me

exple t ewe tt f tey wul ge m “ee

gft” f $1,500, G wul f et multply H leg

tem. He uge ewe w wee et et

t fll up te lt t f pe te et mg

t t m. “G mgt ew yu wt BMW,” e

, “ yu eg wll e mze t te mle yu e

yu fe yu pull ut f yu gge yu ew

, yu tell tem te get ew ut wt Jeu

e f yu.”




Relly? Yu eg wll e amazed t te mle

yu fe we yu e g yu ew BMW? I upetye wul mle tt umte. Wt wll mze

yu fe we yu y e wt e yu

401K etmet e te yu e tll le t y,

“I e pe y G ey te e f ll tee

tg.” We u umte e te et, te lgt f

u pe G e te gtet.

Miraculous answer to prayer

Lt ut t let, te mulu we G ge

t te pye f te ely u mze te mmuty.

Mulu we t pye e t ut metg G

Aptl tme. D’t wte te ff el f te

pt. G epetely tugut te Ble tt wt

wul tgu H peple w te wy He wee te

pye (Deut. 4:7). Pep te ly e we ’t ee G

me u mt le tey w we ’t Hm le

tey .7

Tty-e ut f fty mle te f At

ppe outside te u, te mmuty. I fte tell u

u tt me I, pt, e e t ly 1/40

f te pwe f G, e I pe mt f my tme te

u! Mt f t wt f tem. G’ pwe ey t e

mfete te mmuty. He wt t emtte u

ty tt He wllg le t e.

We I le mg Mulm Sutet A, tee

wee tme I ut ’t w wt t y t me Jeu

w t tem. S I’ ffee t py f peple. I l

my ze f peple pye f tem Jeu’



234 GOSPEL

me. Sme f tem gt ette. I’ll ee fget te y

gup f 12-ye-l y g my ell e ul me t py f mte. I e te f

te gup y, “Wy e yu g m t me? He’ t

Mulm.” Te te y , “Ye, ut t m G

lte t.”

G fte utette H mege mmuty

tug mulu we t te pye f te u tt mmuty.

The Signs Accentuate the Message, Not Replace It

Le uty. Geety. Jy peeut. Mulu

we t pye. Tee e mzg tg. But we mut

g ememe: tee mzg w etute, ut

ee eple, te el explt f te gpel. Ou ge-

ety, y, le, mulu pwe ly put ply

te glu gpel we plm wt u w. Tey t

eple peg. Sg e ly g f t le wt tey

e gfyg.

Weee y g w, mtte w wty t

w telf, gt te wy f te peg f te me-

ge, Jeu te p-

tle ee t mmetely.

Tt eue te g

wee t pt t te me-

ge. If tey wee tt-

g fm te mege, tey

wee lge eg

te pupe.

Whenever any good

work got in the way o

the preaching o the

message, Jesus and

the apostles ceased it

immediately.




F exmple, fte Jeu mululy fe te 5,000 wt

te fe le tw fe, te peple eme fxte Jeu’ lty t mmetely e wl uge. Tey

wte t me Hm g gt te tee. Wt w

Jeu’ epe? Stt wlwe “e uge” ue?

N, He efue t epet te mle pee te

t te peple ut te ee t ee Hm te Be f Lfe

(J 6:26–27). Jeu w e e y m t elp m ele pp-

ety pute wt te te. Te guy legtmte

ute mplt. A we w, G ee ut ute

(I. 58; Am 4:6–8). Yet, tt tut, Jeu efue

t teee, yg tt t w t elly “H ue.”

Ite, He pee em t t f tem ut te

f gee. Jeu’ “ue,” ft femt, w t ft

et wt te ee f te gpel (Lue 12:13–14).

I At 6, te ptle wee peete wt legtmte

l ee te mmuty—te ww eee mee

t elp put f te tle. Te ptle epe tt

te wul e t ee t t e eue tey ul

t e tte fm peg, te mt mptt t

(At 6:1–5).

D. Mty Lly-Je t ut tt ty:

C’t yu e peple ug tt tme y, “Wt

g peg f peple mg u e tg

uffeg? Te tme f peg e te tme

f t ee.” Hwee, te Aptle, ue te

fluee f te Hly Spt, w te geu temp-

tt put ft f tem , “Ntg



236 GOSPEL

elpe te mpte f peg te W. We’ll

G t elp u e up te w meet teee. We t, y y me, qut peg.”8

Ntg, mtte w g uget, eep u fm

puug u pmy ete: preaching the gospel . But we

e peg t, u le ul e puttg te le, pee,

y f te gpel gp ply. Ou mmuty ul tte u te le f Ct wy tt lee tem

mze, ugy f me.

De yu lfe tt?

We te lt tme

mee w mze y

yu geety? We

te lt tme tey e

yu wee te y yu

pe uffeg ul

ply me fm?

I yu u g

tt yu mmuty?

How one middle-class church has learned to put the

gospel on display

I 2004, G te u u tt we wee t put-

tg ply te geety f te gpel u mmuty.

I w teg tug te ft lf f te f At,

we me t At 8:6–8 wee t y, “Te w wt e

p ttet t wt w eg y Plp we

tey e m w te g tt e . . . . S tee w

mu y tt ty.”

Nothing, no matter

how good or urgent,

can keep us rom

pursuing our primary

objective: preachig

the gospel.




I e u u f tey tugt tee w “mu y”

te ty eult f u peee tee. Te I e te ty At 9 ut Tt (w te tuget me f

te New Tetmet: “D”) w e my g

w t f ty tt we e e te mmuty

gtee t e ee wept. I e u u, “D yu

t f te Summt Cu ‘e’ tt u mmuty wul

weep tt we wee ge?” We elee te we t t te quet w “.”

If ytg, te mmuty my e ee exte tt we

wee ge eue tey wul eg e t u tx-exempt

pee f ppety get le “u” ml lutteg te

mlx (tug I etly ’t wt t ueetmte te

gfe f te peple w tute Ct t u u

te y peet te le ug tt tme).

T me lg ty t, we ele tt wt G’

elp we wul eme leg t u ty—t te

Ct’ le t tem. T g H le H elg t

te ple u ty tt eee Hm mt. S we e G

t w u wy we ul emtte te pee le f

te gm t tem.

Stly teefte, G ugt t u ttet ey

uepefmg pul elemety l te e ty.

Te l w te wt e l u uty w

t t e ut w wt tw ye.

Oe te ext eel ye we eme ey le wt

tt l. We le eel et pet. My f u

peple gt le tutg le. Smll gup pte

lm tee, ue efugee, met pyl

ee f fmle te l. Oe -t-e-me uple



238 GOSPEL

u u e tt y gft f tem e eete t

fmly te l we ue ee etye fe. At te e f tt ft ye, te ppl e u f we

wul py f e tuet ug e-f-te-ye exm

eue te e wul e te pmy te y w

te l wul e elute.

I te fut ye f u lemet, te l (w

peuly te lwet e f y l te uty) te get peetge f t p te e-f-ye

exm. I ept lg u lemet wt te

l, te ppl ete te u’ efft wt elpg

t mpe te l’ em pefme.9 At tee’

quet tly teefte, e f te tee , “I e

lwy w yu Ct elee yu ul le yu

eg. . . . I’e ee w wt t le le utl w.”

T pt Juy I w te t pe t u ty’

ul Mt Lute Kg, J. lly. It ey gft

eet u ty—telee, wt ll ty uty ge-

met ffl peet. Tey e me mply t expl wy

we tugt t w mptt t le te mmuty.

Jut few mute efe te pgm tte, I w

tg tge eu Jel Otee t At 29

eet. Te uty mge, eg my xety, put

my ule , “J.D., yu w wy yu’e ee

e t pe t t eet?”

I , “N, f yu ul tell me I’ elly ppete

t, eue I’m upe eu.”

He , “Beue f ll yu u e f u ty.”

Lte I w tl, “Eeywee u ty we f ee,

we l f peple fm te Summt Cu meetg tt




ee. We ul’t t f ye t ette emy te

pt f tely le u ty t yu, elf f yuu.” I wet ut tt y f twety mute exple

tt u u’ geety w epe t te l

geety f Ct tw u. Ct e f u wt

we ul t f uele; w ul we t exte tt

t te w e ee? At te e f my tme te l

, my, ty ul ge tg t. Te w uttte te mege. Tey me t le

uetle.

Oe te lt few ye, I’e e my te u

u f mll gup tg up mey t py f peple’

ugee; ug efugee; ee wzg ue e

t ge me wy. We’e guet em w geeuly

epetfully tey wee tete we tey me t u

u mpu.

It u y t y t peple we tey te e

e u geety: “We le t e geeu t te

eue Ct ee geeu t u.” Ou geety

pe u te pptuty t plm te gpel. Ou -

e t te peple f u ty ly m w f Jeu’

get e f u, ut I elee t elpe peple u

ty t uet me f wt Jeu le. It elpe

ete u mmuty uge f te gpel.

Preach the gospel, to all people in all times at all places!

A gpel-etee u ptze te mege f te

gpel t mte; fue tt mege wt Ct

e te t ytg we e t e g, te

emtte te gpel te mmuty u tem.



240 GOSPEL

A gpel-etee u lwy ut te gpel. It

pee te gpel ll ple, t ll tme, t ll peple. Te gpel te efg elemet eey pt f te

mty.

Nelee ee t e te gpel t elee t e

e. Belee ee t e eme f te gpel tey

gw eepe Ct. Tee elly tt, yu

ee, etwee wt elee ee t e wt uele-e ee t e. Bt elee uelee ee t get

glmpe f G’ met gly, tte f H upg

euty, ee f w mu ge G w tw

tem Ct. Bt elee uelee ee t e

eue f te pe elf-uffey, t e eme

f te ll-upg euty f G. Tey t ee t e

te up t ft. Te gpel te ete f te mege

mtte w yu e tlg t. It eeytg. Ct ll.

S me te gpel etl eeytg yu . Pe

t eeywee. Alwy. T eeye.



241

COnCLuSIOn

Yo’ll neer Fi the Bottom

Oe f te tg I le ut Jeu’ te tt He fte

ue te y te t me H pt. Su tee te ple f te teue e fel, ee

Mttew 13:44.

I t, m mlg lg tug uy’ fel we

e tu te wt e ume t e ptug

fm te t. He g lttle wt , e

tt t ; t te e f get teue etflle wt tge El meml f temeu lue.

Rte t tellg uy ut wt e’ fu, w-

ee, e e-e te teue me ffe te fel.

H uy (w mpletely gt ut te teue)

wy e wt t uy t, te m y, “O, I ’t

w . . . te g te t te tee e . . . petty

. . . I ’t w . . . I ut wt t.” Beue fe

e t ell te fel, e qute m tml pe.



242 GOSPEL

Befe e ee get te fgue ut f mut, wee,

te m em “SOLD!” ue me t pull tgete mey. Te plem tt e e’t e tt f

mey , e t lqute eeytg. He e

me y le w mey fm wee wll le

t. He ge up ltelly eeytg. But Jeu ee te

m’ tttue tw t wle ff wt e w: “y.”

In his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that

field. (13:44)

Wt f ll et t w f wt e’ lg, ut

y f wt e’ gg. Te m p ll te wy t te

t et melf f ll et eue e w tt

wt e gg ftely me lule t ytg

e gg up.

Jeu tt fg G le tt. Me m-

te—t fllw Jeu me tt yu elqu yu gt t

eeytg ele te wl. Yu ltelly mut eue t ll

(Lue 14:33). Tt me tg e ff-lmt t Jeu.

Yu t put lmt wee yu wll le wt yu wll

. Yu “tt” wt Hm e tpult; t

lute, utl uee. Yu mut e wllg t

ept fm fmly, fe, mft, e, ee yu

w lfe. Yu mut e wllg t te p up H ug,

pful, we fllw Hm. Yu mut le f t-

e He le f yu.

But f yu peee te lue f Jeu, e f t wll

eem le fe. Te pful te t f -

plep e eee, ut te y f wt yu e te



COnCLuSIOn: YOu’LL nEv ER F Ind THE BOTT OM 243

Hm f utweg y w f wt yu e

e.Heew 12:2 y tt Jeu wet t te wt y.

“Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,

despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the

throne of God.”

He etly ’t le te , te ut f Heew

. He t eue t. It p w exutg. But He

w e tug H l y te y f wt He w g-

g. A wt w tt y? Amg te tg, you.

T te G w yu t p up yu

fllw Hm.

Jeu te teue

wt leg eeytg

f. Kwg Hm wll

tu fe t weet-

e uty t elgt.

Ee we yu mmt-

met t Hm le yu t , He wll e teue tt

u tt y.

Lg Jeu wt me Jeu’ feel “lgt.” Hw

ele ul Jeu e , “Cme t me, ll w l

e ey le, I wll ge yu et. . . . F my ye

ey my ue lgt” (Mtt. 11:28)? I’t t te me

Jeu w tl u t te up u ? Hw te e

“lgt” ue?

Oly we yu le te Oe yu e yg t f. He

me ee t ttee weet.

Jesus is the

treasure worth leaving

everything or.



244 GOSPEL

Te pt f t tt te gpel te ly tg

tt pue tt f le f G yu. Le f Jeu t e pue mply y mm. A wtut

le, Pul , ee te getet t f ft mmtmet

e ultmtely wtle t G (1 C. 13:1–3).

Le f G, Sptue y, flw fm H le f

u (1 J 4:19). Te ly wy tt le f G te

gw u tug ft te ty f G’ get lef u—te gpel.

A flle peple, we wll etly e t lt f

tg u le we ’t feel le g, ee fte we’e

gtte te gpel te gt ple. We ul wt’ gt

wete we feel le t t. But we ul t e tet

mply t ee G wt u t wle u et w-

e fm Hm. S we ple uele g wt

gt, let u l tute u ul te gpel tt we

le t le wt gt. Ou t f eee ul

temele e y f ft te gpel.

Let the Law Be the Law,and the Gospel Be the Gospel1

Be ey eful tt yu t ue f pg wt te

Ble te g. Dg ee wt wg;

pg tell u wt t ut t.2

Tee e my tg te Ble y wll e tue f u f

u ft geue. I e exple my t : we

wll e geeu wt te p (Jme 2:14–17); flle wt

le f te u (1 J 3:14); teely ee

wg elf f te peeute u (Mtt. 25:31–46);




fgg (Mtt. 18:21–35); gwg u le f gteu-

e (1 J 3:3), my te tg. If tee tg enot tue f u, te we my t e e.

“Lelee,” “pty,” “tul ” e ge

f ptul et. We g epetely wg, wee, we

we t we fx te tg y etg u e.

Ft te gpel lwy G’ pg.

Jeu w e e, “Wt mut we , t e g te

w f G?” (J 6:28). I te w, “Wt e te

‘pmy’ w f G, Jeu, tt yu e t e most

mptt?” I t primarily l ute, gll m, -

y elf f te p, Sptue memzt, u

ttee, -t-

tt, mll gup

ptpt—w

mt mptt t Yu?

Eey u lee

t te ege f te

et wtg t e Jeu’ we. Te we eteme te

ext g ze Ctty.

Jeu etf e e f tee. He , “T te w

f G, tt yu elee m wm e et” (. 29).

Ww. Ou mt mptt “g” tu ut t e

“eleg.” We we e “e” tt, f ue, we wll t-

ully tt g ll te te tuff. Tuly eleg te g-

pel pue u e f te p, le f Sptue,

ee t e utet mmuty, le f le,

eeytg ele tt pt f te Ct lfe. Te

Faith in the gospel is

always God’s prognosis.



246 GOSPEL

e e te eult f

(, fut f) ft tegpel. Beleg peee

gt eg.

S, yu elly wt

t te w f G?

Te elee Hm

wm He et.Beleg te gpel

wt elee exple

pwe Jeu’ fllwe

tt ue tem t le

wt l elee uu ft. It tte

eey te elgu teg te wl, tt t ffee

G’ epte gft t ew. Tt gft e-

te tety p f G Jeu’ fllwe tt

te elg w ple f pug.

Ft te gpel elee Jeu’ fllwe te pwe

tt me Ctty eluty.

S let me le y etug t te pt I me t te

egg: Lg lfe etee te gpel t ut

pyg te e’ pye t me ue yu’e gg t ee

te leg u f ew pple t mte te

Ct lfe. Gpel-eteee ut tutg yu

et te g ew f Jeu—lettg t eme yu

m tt yu ee eeytg ut yuelf yu lfe

tug t le.

Gwt Ct t gg ey te gpel, ut

eepe t t.

Truly believing the

gospel produces in us

a concern or the poor,

a love o Scripture, a

desire to be in authentic

community, a love or

holiness, and everything

else that is part o the

Christian lie.




Me te gpel te ete f yu lfe. Tu t t we

yu e p. Let t e te fut f yu etty.Gu yu fee

t. Ru t t we yu

ul feel etle. Te

le tee tme f

fu mft

tee tme f eget.Dwell t utl gteu

p f G pg up

wt yu. Let t pe

yu t G-etee,

et-efyg em f H gly.

My ul fu t etg ple. N lge I tug-

gle, gu, e wt I mut f G t e plee

wt me. Ct mple t ll my elf. I

tg t t, I te tg wy. I e lt f

m t gw my Ct lfe, ut my pt Hm

eue.

Hg fu ( ette yet, ee fu y) Hm,

ewelme t H ge, my et gwg le f

Hm te. Geety le tem tt flw ee-

tge my et. I ge wy me mey w t I ee

e, t eue I e t, ut eue I wt t. I t

ut myelf le w t I ee e—mly eue I

e fu gete, me pttg gm t le f

t my w. Te ple f H gm me me

e wt me.

S, I te yu t e eepe t te gpel. Stuy t,

eeply—le te em tue te, ut le yu

Believing the gospel

is what released an

explosive power in

Jesus’ ollowers that

caused them to live with

radical recklessness and

audacious aith.



248 GOSPEL

tuy uet tt lee yu peele; le m w

ptely le wt wfe tue e, utl e’ ptte y e tt etllmet wt e e ut y

lluemet tw te wme.3

Te gpel t meely te g ff f w

yu umpe t te pl f Ctty; te gpel te

pl telf. S eep gg eepe t t. Yu’ll ee f te

ttm.I pe yu’ll py t pye wt me f te et f yu

lfe!











249

APPEndIx 1

The Gospel Project

Te gpel te pwe f G f lt. Ntg wll

lte yu lfe me t wellg te e f te g-pel. It ppee t me; t’ ppee t u u; t wll

ppe t yu.

I lgt f tt, I’e gt llege f yu t mplete

fllw-up t t . Eey y f te ext fty y,

wll yu () py te fu pt f Te Gpel Pye, ()

e tee pte f te Gpel: Mttew, M, Lue, J?

Wy? I wt yu t tute yuelf te gpel

eey y. Te mt gpel-etee ee wtte

e Mttew, M, Lue, J. Yu’ll f Jeu

tee. Dwell wt Hm te Gpel f fty y,

let Te Gpel Pye tute yu et m H

euty le. I t t wll g lg wy elpg yu

le t “e” Hm.



250 GOSPEL

Ag, ee te pye:











APPEndI x 1 251

Day Reading

q 1 Mttew 1–2

q 2 Mttew 3–4

q 3 Mttew 5–7

q 4 Mttew 8–9

q 5 Mttew 10–12

q 6 Mttew 13–14

q 7 Mttew 15–16

q 8 Mttew 17–18

q 9 Mttew 19–20

q

10 Mttew 21–23q 11 Mttew 24–25

q 12 Mttew 26–28

q 13 M 1–3

q 14 M 4–5

q 15 M 6–7q 16 M 8–10

q 17 M 11–13

q 18 M 14–16

q 19 Lue 1–2

q 20 Lue 3–4



252 GOSPEL

Day Reading

q 21 Lue 5–6

q 22 Lue 7

q 23 Lue 8–9

q 24 Lue 10–11

q 25 Lue 12–13

q 26 Lue 14–16

q 27 Lue 17–19

q 28 Lue 20–21

q 29 Lue 22–24

q

30 J 1–2q 31 J 3–4

q 32 J 5–6

q 33 J 7–8

q 34 J 9–10

q 35 J 11–12q 36 J 13–14

q 37 J 15–16

q 38 J 17

q 39 J 18–19

q 40 J 20–21



253

APPEndIx 2

A Gospel-Cetere warig to Yog Zealos Theologias

I’e te tt my f u w gp t ept f “gpel-eteee” e teey t e me exte

ut te “tey” f gpel-eteee t we e ut

te gpel telf. At let I’m tt wy. I e gtte petty

g t etfyg -gpel-etee peg,

petty ly pt ut te tmg f et m-

te. Te pt f gpel-eteee, wee,

t te ew lty t

tque te. Te pt

f gpel-eteee

t e G wp

H ge.My f u w le t tl ut gpel-eteee

eem t pe ey lttle f te umlty tt ul g lg

The point o gospel-

centeredness is to

adore God and worship

His grace.



254 GOSPEL

wt t. Yu ee tt w elf-pmtg we e

w ugu we e wt te. It lwy mze me tt we e pu eue we uet te ey tg tt

ul le u t umlty.

My m fte ue tte wt te ltet telg-

l te t t p f te G w ge Hmelf f

me t te . Kwlege tt e t le, ultmtely, t

le umlty “wtle,” Pul wul y. Wt elly ut, e y, t wlege y telf, ut te le tt

u wlege f te gpel ul pue (1 C. 12:1–3).

Oe f my fe wtg t tt t mgt

tute t gwg elf-gteue mg yuge

telg w feel le uetg gpel-eteee

me tem me pel te eye f G (, te y!)

t te w ’t tulte t, w uge eeye ele

y wete t tey ue te me tem tt tey .

Reetly I tle wt lttle l ly w ee my

Suy l tee t te ey ttl u w I

gew up. Se , “Yu w, I le me me fe

t ee, I fte we wt t elly le up tee

wt I ul e lg fw t. I w tey y tee e

teet f gl, ut tt e’t eem t exte me ey mu.

Te e tg I elly wt t ee Jeu.” T ly

ee e f J Ppe e wt te Gpel

Clt , ut e ee ge y te gpel. Se

le Jeu, tt te wle pt f gpel-eteee.

Tee e my lttle l le eg u ue-

e w my t uet w t tulte te tee

f gpel-eteee e te geuty t zzle u

m wt pylgl gt, ultul et,



APPEndI x 2 255

Ctet tepett f ue Ol Tetmet p-

ge. Te et, wee, u wt le f Jeu eflw wt gtefule f H ge.

Te umle, gpel- le f G wt me

t ll te yu I wte t uet.

S ’t e qu t uge tem. Be umle y tem.

Mteg te tey f gpel-eteee t te pt.

Lg te G f te gpel .





257

notes

Chapter 1

1. At t pt, yu my , “But wy te e we mme t

le G, f tue le ly gw, tully, epe?” Tt getquet, e we wll get t tme (peflly, pte 12). Te

Ble etly pe lt f mmmet, we mut ey tem

ee we t me eyg eey p we e t te ty. A I’ll

expl pte 12, eyg G’ mmmet ee we we ’t

feel le t e f telf t f ft te gpel.

2. G ge te ft telf t elee te gpel tug te

peg f te gpel. Te Spt f G ue tt mege t mpt

te lty t elee t te ee (J 1:13; J 6:44; Rm. 10:17).

Te pef we w tt ppe elee my y , ut

mt wul gee tt ft te et ly e pue tug te

pwe f te Spt.

3. Te ft tme I e t ptul pg w fm fe,

Tull T, mege e ge t te Summt Cu 2010.

4. I we t lgy t Pul Tpp, w ge t t tl e ge t

te Summt Cu f Rleg-Dum, Nt Cl, M, 2010.

5. Te pg f t I we t Tm Kelle. A I te wl-

egmet, t wul e f me t eetmte te mpt D. Kelle,D Pwl, E Wel, te e my tg. Tey



258 GOSPEL

e et me tug gpel elut I e ee eee fm,

ply ee wll.

6. Mt Lute, The Sermons of Martin Luther , l. VI (G

Rp: Be, 1983), 146.

Chapter 2

1. I ft e tee tem Tm Kelle’ em te ple f

te ee fm M 4:3–20.

2. Pul y (Rm. 1:25) tt te eee f um wppg eg te etue me t te Cet. Am Ee te f te

fe fut eue tey wppe t ple f G.

3. Te ept “futl g” “futl ” e t

gl wt me. Mt Lute, f exmple, tl ut tee ept

Smaller Catechism, J Cl e te peg et f

Institutes. See l D Pwl, “Il f te Het Vty F,”

The Journal of Biblical Counseling 13:2 (Wte 1995), 35–50.

4. “Rt l” tem e y D Pwl te tle “Ilf te Het Vty F,” Journal of Biblical Counseling, l. 13, 2,

Wte, 1995, 35.

5. Hee g, I we t ept t Tm Kelle. D. Kelle ee

ml tut w e t ll mu le mply t get

ge, e ul get me mey. A e gew le, wee,

e eelpe le f ll mu tt e w pe lt f mey

t ey.

6. I ft e t ty em y Cle Spuge. I e le t tl y D. Mty-Lly Je Tm Kelle. A I t f

te gl, me f te etl I mgt e me up. Te eee f te

ty, te pt Spuge w mg wt t, wee, e te me.

Kelle’ e The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian

Faith (New Y: Dutt, 2008), 60–62.

Chapter 3

1. Sme l pt ut tt te lguge ee wul e ette

tlte, “Since Yu e te S f G.” A u, St my t e

etly g, “Ae Yu ue Yu e te S f G?” Rte, e

yg, “Se Yu e te S f G . . . ul’t Yu e le t me

tee umte ffeet? Yu ul’t e te eet; Yu ul



nOTES 259

e ttg te. Yu ul’t e ugy; Yu ul e fetg

e.” Ete wy, t tll tt Jeu’ etty. St utly

tyg t get Jeu t quet H etty y pltg ut ut H

umte. (See t lgt, “If Yu e te S f G,” my

tlt ee t, wul e me f telgl tepett t

tgt gmmtl e. Jeu etly euff St’ tt y fetg

G’ elt e Hm te lt f H etty, te

t H peet umte.)

2. T fm em y Lue Ggl ge t te Met Ble

Stuy Atlt, GA. Uftutely, I t ememe te em ttle.

3. See, f exmple, Mt Lute, Luther’s Works, Vol. 1: Lectures onGenesis: Chapters 1–5 (St Lu: C Pulg Hue, 1999),

21–22. Cl Tuem, ummzg w Mt Lute tugt ut

te pwe f w, “I te w, te mgt tell me I m flue,

t, lw, el, mpetet, u, geu, ptet, et.,

tee w e t ut epte: tey e et pwe t me me

tee tg, te eye f te ee my w eye, elf-ut

eep te Del wpe my e. But G pe lue,

w me pweful. Yu my ll me l, yu pe tut, fI e le; ut f G ele me gteu, te my le yu ult

e t te fl w, te mt pweful w. I e pee my ul

eue G’ w el elty. Tt’ wy I ee t e te Ble e

y, t e te w pee e wee, t me t G pye,

t e w f ge fm te te te I ee t pe te

me t tem. Oly G pe w t me, I e tt w

ft, my elty tfme te ult f te, f my w

ful tue, f te el e melf, ee t ttute my elty. Te w f my eeme, extel tel, mgt e pweful f

mmet, le few explg gt te gt y; ut te W f

te L tge, gte, lt fee.” See ttp://www.efm

t21.g/Upmg_Iue/Buee/385.

Chapter 4

1. I m eeg t ue “te lw” ue y Pul lette t te

Glt. Ue t uge, “eee t te lw” tt w ee

t ge u y e mft te t y ft te gpel.

Te lw tell u, Pul y, “ t yu ll le.” Pul y t te

eee f w-gteue. G ge u ffeetly. Rte t



260 GOSPEL

“ t yu ll le,” te gpel y “te ut ll le y ft”

(Gl. 3:1–6, 11–13).

2. T pt eelpe y ume f ut—Gy Tm,

J Elege, Tm Kelle, t me few.

Chapter 5

1. I’m t ue w t ft, ut I t te ft tme I e

t w y M Dll peg t te Ae te Cu feee

Dum, Nt Cl.2. F mplete tuy lty, I wul gly ugget Tm

Kelle’ Counterfeit Gods (New Y: Dutt, 2009).

3. F te f yu w e tt l wt me, I’ ugget When

People Are Big and God Is Small, y E Wel (Pllpug: P&R

Pulg, 1997). Wel ffe wefully gtful ly f um

tue, epelly f e, type-A peple.

4. See C. S. Lew, “Te Wegt f Gly,” The Weight of Glory and

Other Addresses (New Y: Sm & Sute, 1975).5. I’e e tt mgey ttute t Jt Ew, ut m

uue f te ue.

6. Ipt f t me fm ml e ge em

y J Ppe, “Te Peet Pwe f Futue Pe.” See ttp://

tegpellt.g/lg/uttyl/2010/09/03/g-g--

ette-t-mey-ex-pwe--ppulty.

7. Lew t lette t Dm Bee Gfft (Apl 23, 1951):

“Put ft tg ft we get e tg tw : put etg ft we le both ft e tg. We ee get, y,

ee te eul pleue f f t t et we we e eg geey.” He

metg ml “Ft Se Tg,” God in the Dock:

Essays on Theology and Ethics (G Rp: Eem, 1994), 280.

Chapter 6

1. Explt fm Cle Me, e f Ete’ tuet,

te e wy Ete ee elee te Ct G. N ue

lle.

2. Exu 19:8; 24:3. Lte, f ue, tey wul eege tt

plege, fllg ut f fm G ple. Tt w eue te

gt f G fe fm te eye.



nOTES 261

3. See www.fttg.m/tle/2007/12/te-femt-eel

t-38.

Chapter 7

1. I e e t tepett f Jeu’ w eel tme e

te ye, mt eetly fm Tm Kelle, R Bell, Ke Se. A

wt mt f my tepett tee pge, t t gl wt me.

Kelle’ em elly elp yu uet ge-e fgee;

Se’ Peacemaking for Families (Wet: Tyle, 2002) elp yupply te teg te text f eltp.

2. C. S. Lew, The Four Loves (1960; Hut Be: 1991), 105–6.

Chapter 8

1. Sme ee my we f I m epg t pte t

pte 6 f D Pltt’ Radical , “Hw Mu Eug” (ClSpg: Multm B, 2010), 111–44. Te we “,” “ye.”

“N,” tt I e t ttempte t pte fully fly t eut

D’ e ut mey ep t tem. “Ye,” tt me e-

e f Pltt’ e pte mle ew f mey G’

pupe f t u le. I e wtte t pte t lfy wt

I elee te Ble tee ut mey. Pltt eewe t pte

tl me tt e geemet wt te pple peete. D

I t elee tt gly fep gly tque e t t , I m gteful f Radical te mpt t wl m.

I elee, wt D, tt te ul f te Ame u ee p-

tte y “te Ame em,” py tt G ge u geet

te ge t le wt Jeu le leege u eue puut f

te tg.

2. J Cl, Institutes of the Christian Religion, e. J T. MNell

(1559, epte Plelp: Wetmte, 1960), 1:839.

3. Yu w’t f ette tuy te Ct’ lgt t te

p, my p, t Tm Kelle’ Generous Justice: How God’s Grace

Makes Us Just (New Y: Dutt, 2010). Ru, ’t wl, t te te

t get yu py.

4. J 14:18, 28. I w I m teg geu gu ee.

How extly te Spt gue mplex, llly u. If t

el pt f quet f yu, g, let me ugget Ke DeYug’



262 GOSPEL

Just Do Something : a Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will (Cg:

My, 2009). Tee e few eue t uet well-le

ey-t-e Ke’.

5. F g tl eue t tp, e Ry Al’

Money, Possessions and Eternity (Wet: Tyle, 2002), 285. Te wle

exellet, ut I fu ptully elpful pte 16, “Mg

Mey, Owg Pe, Cg Lfetyle,” fm w t

et me.

6. F me t pple, ee Gy Tm’ Pure Pleasure: Why

Do Christians Feel So Bad About Feeling Good? (G Rp: Ze,

2009), pte 3, 5, 11. Pelly, I f Tm t e lttle ut f le, t gg eug wegt t te Ct’ ll t uffe

fe. Tm ly ut te ll e f eymet f G’ g

gft, tug.

7. T me fm pel et I wt Ly Oe,

e pt f Nt Ct Cu Vt, Clf, My 2010.

8. I we te et f flwe t euty e t euty t

mege y Tm Kelle te pge ge t Reeeme Peyte

New Y Cty.9. T fm Ry Al’ Treasure Principle (Cl Spg:

Multm, 2005), 17, te f Al’ w mey w I wul

etly emme t yu.

Chapter 9

1. If yu f te e tt peple ly e e y llg teme f Jeu tulg, yu mgt e J Ppe’ Jesus: The Only Way to

God. Must You Hear the gospel to Be Saved? (G Rp: Be, 2010),

pte 7 D Pltt’ Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American

Dream (Cl Spg: Multm, 2010). I’e tugt myelf tt

mege ettle “Te T I Uget: Rm 10:14–17,” ge t te

Summt Cu Dum, Nt Cl, Ote 3, 2010. It

lle f fee wl t www.ummtu.m.

2. See te u pte 10. See l At 13:1–3. Te ely

u w ege t ee te gpel et fw t te t, ut tey

wte te Hly Spt t et tem empwe tem t te

w. T ut wt Jeu tugt tem t (At 1:6–8).

3. He ue tel Ilm tem f “te tgt pt” w

pple ly t te t ee.



nOTES 263

Chapter 10

1. Tt’ wt Jeu tl H ple J 6. Te getet “w

f G” tt we e uppe t elee Hm. Beleg wt

empwe ll te w, eue eleg elee wt G wll

te tut ( J 6:29).

2. Te Ble tee tw mplemety, t tty, tut.

O e , G mpletely eeg e ll w wll e e,

t e lt (J 6:37, 44), ee f we t ply u le

peg lt t tem, G wll e up mee ele t t u

ple (Ete 4:14–16). Te mplemety tut tt f we t g,te w mgt e ee e w’t e e eue tey w’t e

e t e (Rm. 10:14–17), we wll e gulty f te l

(Eze. 33:1–0; At 20:26–27). F u t e “l gulty” me tt

we e u uty, te lfe mgt e ee e. We mut elee

l t te.

3. Hu Tyl’ Spiritual Secret , pte 11 19, ttp://www.

wl.et//tyl/te.tm.

4. Fm Wllm Cey, Fte f te Ptett M memet.

Chapter 11

1. Tw get tt wll te yu me t G’ pupe

uffeg el e Ry Al’ If God Is Good: Faith in the Midst

of Suffering and Evil (Cl Spg: Multm, 2009) D. A.

C’ How Long, O Lord? Reflections on Suffering and Evil (GRp: Be, 1990).

Chapter 12

1. Ag, I we t lgy t Tull T.

2. T qute me fm Jey Bge’ exellet , The Discipline

of Grace (Cl Spg: NPe, 1994). I we get et t Bge

f t , well Transforming Grace (Cl Spg:NPe, 2008).

3. Cp D Het me t pt eul text te

eetly elee leep , Switch: How to Change Things When

Change Is Hard (Cw Bue, 2010). Tey expl w effete le-

e mplemet ge gzt. Tey me te e tt we



264 GOSPEL

pmte ge me y gg wt peple expeee t y -

g tem f te ee f ge. Tey mpe t t m g

elept w gug te elept wt e. Te e mgt t

e’ etg te ml, ut f te ml telf ee ee t g ew

et, te e wul e elple t tully tp t. I te lgy,

te elept le u ee, te e le u m. Tee e tw

wy t me te e g et et. Yu tell m t g tt

et, pe e peue te ml. O, yu peue te

ml, te e wll e t fllw.

4. Pul Mlle’ A Praying Life (Cl Spg: NPe, 2009)

exellet eue ume f leel. H tetmet f pye ptul ple mg te et I’e ee e.

5. A exellet tetmet f ftg te wle ept f ptul

ple J Ppe’ Hunger for God (Wet, IL: Cwy, 1997).

6. A fe f me pple t pple (tt yu te te et

t le metg y te ptpt t) ftg wy t

egelm. Pt B Ret y tt te mt effete wy t ge

ept’ m uully t tug gumet, ut tug .

If yu e tet, B y, w t pe t G t ll, te temt ee te p wt yu. A tey expeee te y f gg t mee

ele, te et eme ftee t G, eue G le. A tey

expeee fl le, tey e expeeg me f G. Tt

me te et me eepte t G, w me te m me

eepte t gumet f G. H—et—e. Wt tey le,

ee wt tey t, me fm wt tey wee expeeg

g. B Ret e f te mt effete egelt tt I w.

Chapter 13

1. T get g le w G et u ty, tt y g

tuy w t e te wll f G yu lfe. (I wul ugget

Ke DeYug’ Just Do Something (Cg: My, 2009) uple wt

Hey Bly’ l Experiencing God (Nlle: B&H Pulg

Gup, 1998). Bt e lmtt, my p, ut tgete I

elee tt tey wll e me g quet pt yu te gt

et.)

2. Tm Kelle’ Generous Justice (New Y: Dutt Ault, 2010)

elp yu e wt t l le f yu yu u.



nOTES 265

3. I’ ugget yu tuy w G ue eul t

H gm, u Gee Ew Vet’ God at Work (Wet, IL:

Cwy, 2002).

4. See ttp://www.meefmt.g/efult.pp?pge=tle

ply&1=AtRe&2=1201&3=m.

Chapter 14

1. Mel Ht, Christless Christianity (G Rp: Be,

2008), 119.2. Te ttl “5 pt f Clm” e “ Ttl Depty”;

“Utl Elet”; “Lmte Atemet”; “Ietle Ge”;

“Peeee f te St.”

3. 1 J 3:16–18. G’ f e f te wl flwe ut f H le

f t. Ou fe f te wl ul emtte u le well.

J yg tt le wtut fe wtle (1 J 3:16–18), ut

Pul tell u tt fe wtut le (1 C. 13:1–3).

4. Atu W. P, An Exposition of Hebrews (G Rp: Be,2003), 601.

5. Ht, Christless Christianity , 143–44.

6. Rey St, “U C Ce: Te Ce f At,”

The Rise of Christianity (S F: HpeCll, 1997), 156–72.

7. T t, f ue, t ey, tt tee wee me tuly uque

tg ppeg te elet y f Ctty. I elee G

me pel tg t utette te mege f te ptle, pge

le Heew 2:1–4 eem t te. Tt e t, wee, me wet f, expet, G t mulu tg u mt t.

8. Preaching and Preachers (G Rp: Ze, 1971), 23.

9. “Cu Efft E Fmly Sttu t Elemety Sl,” Biblical

Recorder , l. 175, . 19 (12 Septeme 2009), 7.

Conclusion

1. I we t pg t Mel Ht, Christless Christianity ,

(G Rp: Be, 2008), 124.

2. T mte me te ue-zelu Pee te “tw-fl l-

e f ell” te f Jeu Ct (Mtt. 23:15).



266 GOSPEL

3. I we t lgy f pte tuy t te mteful w f

Pete Keeft lee lttle Between Allah and Jesus (Dwe

Ge: IVP, 2010).



Introduce your church to the power of the Gospel Prayer.

Start a revolution.

l i f e w a y . c o m / g o s p e l

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imagine what would happen if everyone in your church experienced these

teachings. So why not multiply the message of Gospel Revolution through an

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questions that take groups into a deeper dive of the revolutionary message of

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the group experience with unique insights from the author. It also contains

sermon outlines and many promotional tools to get your entire church excited

about doing the study. Visit us online to see free sample chapters and video.





Every wordmatters.

Every word of Scripture matters because every word is

from God and for people. Because every word is from God,

the HCSB uses words like Yahweh (Is. 42:8), Messiah

(Luke 3:15), and slave (Rev. 1:1). And because every word

of Scripture is for 21st century people, the HCSB replaces

words like “Behold” with modern terms like “Look.” For

these reasons and others, Christians across the globe are

taking a fresh look at the HCSB.

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JD Greear - Gospel (Recovering the Power That Made Christianity Revolutionary)