What does it mean to spread the gospel?

[drgibson]

First off since I am new here I’ll give an introduction.

I have been an SDA for 24 years and as a hint to my age that is almost half my life. I have been married for 24 years as well. I have 2 daughters 19 and 17 soon to be 20 and 18. I am in charge of the Media Ministry in our Church and I also serve as an elder. I have another ministry that God is leading me into that is called Mid-Pointe. The summation of the ministry is developing tools for churches to use to draw the congregation back to having Jesus as there Mid-Pointe. The tools include not only the study materials to draw the congregation back to their first love with a deeper understanding but with new methods of presenting the gospel to others.

Now for a short dissertation;
Since I was not raised with any religious upbringing I tend to look at things differently. I don’t automatically accept some of the rituals that our church has “Just Because”. Don’t get me wrong I do believe whole heartedly in the 28 fundamental beliefs of or church but we are long over due for a fresh way to present them. The way I gauge this is by looking at and listening to our youth, not for what they say they want but they do and what fruits they show. They are hungry for the truth but we still present it like they are living in the fifties. When was the last time we took a hard look at our youth program and how well they relate to the youth of today? When was the last time the GC approached the question of why the young people of or church are leaving in droves, why they’re not excited about what God has done for them, why they aren’t compelled to serve Jesus?
So I ask the question: What does it mean to spread the gospel?

I ask this question because I believe we need to constantly evaluate how we present the Gospel not only to non believers but to those whom God has entrusted to us, our children.

I await your responses.

 

[woobadooba]

First off since I am new here I’ll give an introduction.

I have been an SDA for 24 years and as a hint to my age that is almost half my life. I have been married for 24 years as well. I have 2 daughters 19 and 17 soon to be 20 and 18. I am in charge of the Media Ministry in our Church and I also serve as an elder. I have another ministry that God is leading me into that is called MidPointe. The summation of the ministry is developing tools for churches to use to draw the congregation back to having Jesus as there MidPointe. The tools include not only the study materials to draw the congregation back to their first love with a deeper understanding but with new methods of presenting the gospel to others.

Now for a short dissertation;
Since I was not raised with any religious upbringing I tend to look at things differently. I don’t automatically accept some of the rituals that our church has “Just Because”. Don’t get me wrong I do believe wholeheartedly in the 28 fundamental beliefs of or church but we are long over due for a fresh way to present them. The way I gauge this is by looking at and listening to our youth, not for what they say they want but they do and what fruits they show. They are hungry for the truth but we still present it like they are living in the fifties. When was the last time we took a hard look at our youth program and how well they relate to the youth of today? When was the last time the GC approached the question of why the young people of or church are leaving in droves, why they’re not excited about what God has done for them, why they aren’t compelled to serve Jesus?
So I ask the question: What does it mean to spread the gospel?

I ask this question because I believe we need to constantly evaluate how we present the Gospel not only to non believers but to those whom God has entrusted to us, our children.

I await your responses.

There is no better way to present it but as it is in Jesus.

I think that the youth ought to come to know what it means to walk even as Jesus did. In other words, more emphasis ought to be placed on character development in Christ.

Yes, many know how to give a study on the gospel, but are they actually disclosing it in their actions? It's very hard to see Jesus today when so many are unwilling to reflect His character. It's no wonder the gospel is often confused and misunderstand by the youth.

 

[drgibson]

There is no better way to present it but as it is in Jesus.

I think that the youth ought to come to know what it means to walk even as Jesus did. In other words, more emphasis ought to be placed on character development in Christ.

Yes, many know how to give a study on the gospel, but are they actually disclosing it in their actions? It's very hard to see Jesus today when so many are unwilling to reflect His character. It's no wonder the gospel is often confused and misunderstand by the youth.

Amen!
I agree!
See what this really boils down to is can they believe what we tell them? It is hard to convince some one that they need to believe in something or to trust in something if we ourselves are not doing it. We tell them that Jesus loves them and died for them yet if it isn't real in our lives then we will reflect that. How we act what we are interested in, how we treat others... They are always watching, observing how we back up what we say.

See my teaser was about presentation and updating how we do things and yes we need to do that. But what needs updating the most is OUR relationship with Christ. Putting on a fresh coat of paint over mold doesn't remove the mold. In other words if WE do not remove the mold it will continue to spread. In this example the mold is not the materials we use, not the methods, not the children, it is us and our lack of enthusiasm for the reality of what God has done for us. When we present the gospel from any other vantage point except our own personal experiance our presentation will be found lacking no mater how updated it is. We can only make Jesus real to others if He is real to us. We have to make Jesus our Mid-Pointe.

 

[capnator]

I'd say the youth are leaving in droves for the same reason that people aren't joining in droves.

Can we convert people by jazzing up the gospel? Will a clean ritzy entertaining performance convert more people? No way, you'll just create more uncomitted christians. Hence mid pointe sounds like a good idea!

 

[reddogs]

I come from a Adventist "celebration" church and its purpose is not to really present any 'substance' but to draw people in with 'style', much like the 'word of faith' churches. My friends and some from my family helped start it as we felt the main church had become just a social gathering and like you said of the Gospel " still present it like they are living in the fifties".

It was nice in our Adventist "celebration" church, and they played beautiful music and said "bless you brother or sister" to everyone, but any wayward belief, vice or thinking was tolerated as we could not "rebuke or admonish anyone" for it, so soon we had all kinds of 'beliefs' and no agreement and didnt stand for anything and we became know as "church lite" to the other Adventist churches. As long as they let me sleep in the back I didnt worry as I was struggling against God and had gone into the "wilderness" religiously, kind of like Job, just sitting and pondering why God had put me through the 'fire'.

So I have seen the dangers of standing for nothing, and it puts you in 'limbo' in which you feel you are neither for God or against him, drifting allowing with whatever current takes you along...

 

[OntheDL]

First off since I am new here I’ll give an introduction.

I await your responses.

This is what God commissioned His endtime people to do

Rev 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

Rev 14
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.


"In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world. . . . They have been given a work of the most solemn import--the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels' messages. There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention."
"The most solemn truths ever entrusted to mortals have been given to us to proclaim to the world. The proclamation of these truths is to be our work. The world is to be warned, and God's people are to be true to the trust committed to them" (9T 19).

 

[OntheDL]

First off since I am new here I’ll give an introduction.


I await your responses.

Also have you read the book Child Guidance? There are many practical instructions on how to deal with the youth.