Thanks for the article and bringing up Dallas Willard’s teachings on discipleship to Jesus. It is very clear that many of the churches has been focus on conversion of their beliefs rather than becoming the kind of person that loves God and our neighbors. I, too have been a part of a church for many years that focuses on converting people’s beliefs and making them active part of the church in converting others to our practices. It is sad to see that I thought I have became mature because I was busy and committed to our cause of multiplying converts. But, the truth is that I have became legalistic and hard on myself in order to obey God’s commands.
May the Lord help us preach the correct gospel of Christ to this generation and the next. Amen!
The Announcement from Jesus, pertaining to God’s Gospel, is this: ‘Repent’, believe the Good News…the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
‘Repent’, spoken as in invitation by Jesus, for us to ‘change your thinking’, change your mind…rethink about the way you have been living your life…I have another kind of life for you and it’s learning to live your life with me in My Kingdom here on earth, as it is in heaven.
And later….For God So Loved the World - His Entire Creation including you and me and every single person - that He Gave Himself Entirely to us, so we might experience another kind of life in and with Him.
And in Luke’s Gospel account in Chapter 10, where Jesus is asked by the scribe this most important question we are all most familiar with, but maybe not too familiar with the answer Jesus gives…and the question was this: “What is required to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus essentially tells us that eternal life is not something that happens to us after we die, but rather, eternal life is another kind of life…eternal life is defined by Jesus as “eternal living”. And it’s found as a gift from God of finding ourselves becoming In Love with Him, which is evidenced by God transforming us into becoming people of love.
God’s Gospel of Good News, in its simplicity, is an announcement!
Once we understand what this Good News is that Jesus Proclaimed, then we can dive deeper into how to encounter and experience this Life Altering Good News in our daily living.
But if we think that God’s Gospel is something that cannot be shared without an explanation, then, imho, I think we have not genuinely grasped God’s Gospel in its most truest essence. And for me, this has only taken about 57 years of my 59 total years into my journey as a Christian to understand this:)!!
Thanks for the article and bringing up Dallas Willard’s teachings on discipleship to Jesus. It is very clear that many of the churches has been focus on conversion of their beliefs rather than becoming the kind of person that loves God and our neighbors. I, too have been a part of a church for many years that focuses on converting people’s beliefs and making them active part of the church in converting others to our practices. It is sad to see that I thought I have became mature because I was busy and committed to our cause of multiplying converts. But, the truth is that I have became legalistic and hard on myself in order to obey God’s commands.
May the Lord help us preach the correct gospel of Christ to this generation and the next. Amen!
Amen! Thank you
Thank you Garrison. My mind is fed and my heart is encouraged when I read your posts.
Thank you for the encouragement! May the Lord bless you today.
It is Keasler’s PhD dissertation but written for the everyday person. Well done.
Garrison, I assume you have read “Kingdom Apprenticeship” by Keas Keasler.
It is on my list! Have not gotten to it yet.
The Announcement from Jesus, pertaining to God’s Gospel, is this: ‘Repent’, believe the Good News…the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
‘Repent’, spoken as in invitation by Jesus, for us to ‘change your thinking’, change your mind…rethink about the way you have been living your life…I have another kind of life for you and it’s learning to live your life with me in My Kingdom here on earth, as it is in heaven.
And later….For God So Loved the World - His Entire Creation including you and me and every single person - that He Gave Himself Entirely to us, so we might experience another kind of life in and with Him.
And in Luke’s Gospel account in Chapter 10, where Jesus is asked by the scribe this most important question we are all most familiar with, but maybe not too familiar with the answer Jesus gives…and the question was this: “What is required to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus essentially tells us that eternal life is not something that happens to us after we die, but rather, eternal life is another kind of life…eternal life is defined by Jesus as “eternal living”. And it’s found as a gift from God of finding ourselves becoming In Love with Him, which is evidenced by God transforming us into becoming people of love.
So good!
God’s Gospel of Good News, in its simplicity, is an announcement!
Once we understand what this Good News is that Jesus Proclaimed, then we can dive deeper into how to encounter and experience this Life Altering Good News in our daily living.
But if we think that God’s Gospel is something that cannot be shared without an explanation, then, imho, I think we have not genuinely grasped God’s Gospel in its most truest essence. And for me, this has only taken about 57 years of my 59 total years into my journey as a Christian to understand this:)!!