The Ripple Effects of the Gospel

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Romans 1:16

1. The Gospel has a PERSONAL ripple effect.

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”    John 3:36

1. 1. We will go to heaven.

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life….”

1. 1. We won’t go to hell.

“…but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

1. The Gospel has an INTERNAL ripple effect.

1. 1. Christ lives in me.

“…the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”  Colossians 1:26,27

1. 1. Christ can live through me.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

1. The Gospel has an EXTERNAL ripple effect.

1. 1. We proclaim it with our lips.

“He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.”  Colossians 1:28,29

1. 1. We demonstrate it with our lives.

1. 1. 1. We feed the hungry, clothe the naked and help the hurting.

^“Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”  James 2:15-17

1. 1. 1. We correct injustice and give generously.

All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’”  Luke 19:7-10

1. 1. 1. We stand against prejudice, favoritism and racism.

“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.”  James 2:1

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility…”  Ephesians 2:13,14

1. 1. 1. We love everyone no matter what.

“‘…love your neighbor as yourself.”  Leviticus 19:18

“You have heard love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you….” Matthew 5:43,44

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”  John 13:34

1. The Gospel has an ETERNAL ripple effect.

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.  Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he “has put everything under his feet.’ Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.  When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.”  1 Corinthians 15:22-28

Questions:

1. Which ripple effect resonates with you the most and why?

1. How should the External ripple effect influence the church’s response to racism?

1. How could accomplishing our mission at Dare 2 Share accelerate these ripple effects?