The Gospel and the Invitation

What is the Gospel?

1 Corinthians 15:1–8 (NLT) Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News (“Gospel”) I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it.

3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.

According to Paul, what are the four most important – even essential – parts of the Gospel from the 1 Corinthians passage?

1. (v. 3)
2. (v. 4)
3. (v. 4)
4. (v. 5-8)

What is the Context of the Gospel? 

 John 3:16–17 (NIV84) 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

1. God , so
2. God .
3. We , so
4. We .

What is the Invitation from Jesus?

 Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT2)28  Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

 If I , Jesus will give me .

1. What does a yoke do? 
2. How long does v. 29 take? 
3. What does Jesus teach me? (e.g. – Col 1:9-10) 

Colossians 1:9-10 (NLT2) 9  So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10  Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

5. Do I ever need to fear Jesus?  Why? He is and .
6. What does Jesus promise me? I will find .

 What is the Outgrowth of Remaining close to Jesus?

 John 15:4-5 (NLT2) 4  “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5  “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

1. If I  in Jesus, I will be fruitful.
2. What are some ways that I can remain in Jesus? 
3. What kind of fruit will develop in my life? (include, e.g. – Gal. 5:22-23) 

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT2) 22  But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!