what to say

What is the essence of the Gospel? There aren’t too many of us who enjoy talking to other people about our faith. Part of the reason the topic doesn’t come up in conversation much is that we’re not sure what to say after the topic is brought up (by us or by others).

Part of the reason I was thinking about this is that the Nominating Committee is starting the process of finding candidates for the leadership team (elections are this May). I asked the current LT members to submit a brief description of the what it’s been like for them and what the challenges are for Grace Community over the next couple years. One member spoke of the challenge of getting back to a focus on personal evangelism, i.e., sharing the Gospel with people we know.

Jesus said that his message was that “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” That message is in our name, Grace Community. Anyone is invited into God’s Kingdom because of God’s grace. You don’t have to do anything except to trust in God’s invitation through Jesus.

What does the Kingdom of God look like? Jesus has shown us that through his life and teachings. His death takes the penalty for our sin so that we can enter the kingdom, and his resurrection proves that he can give us a Kingdom life, i.e., a life as God designed it (free from things that dehumananize us). And that's pretty much it.

Life as a church community can get kind of complicated. I’m constantly sorting through expectations and programs aimed at us and at me. But when it comes right down to it, the whole point of being a church community is proclaiming and living out “the Kingdom of God is at hand.”