Love is the compelling reason why the Gospel of Christ is shared, for the best example for this expression of love is God. A Bible verse that is well known to many people weather they are Christians or not, John 3:16. It became very popular at many a American baseball game a man holding a sign that says, "John 3:16", that would end up being caught by one of the TV cameras. 


I often thought when I would see the sign, "How many people know what that means?" or "How effective is this sign?" As time went by people in sports media, were commenting on the sign by saying "There's that sign again." 


Now days the sign is no longer seen, but thank God that the message of the Gospel is not dependent on just one sign. For there is a sign that has been in existence for more than 2,000 years. The cross of Jesus Christ is the ultimate sign of the love of God being express to all humanity, and the Bible explains what is "John 3:16" the message of the Gospel of Christ, 


"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18 KJV)


What are your thoughts on, are there many expressions of the Gospel of Christ?  

     

The above picture was taken in a town in Western Kenya in Oct 2011. This small town had never had anyone from America come and share the Gospel of Christ. This out door evangelistic outreach was done for 5 days, and we had between 150 to 200 people each night come to hear the message of salvation. But the hook if you will is that to so many villagers coming out was just to see someone from the USA for the first time. For this was a town in a deep rural location of Western Kenya and they never saw a non-african so up close to them. Each night we saw 50 to 60 people make a decision to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. We give the honor and glory to God to be a laborer in the Harvest field of the Lord.

Traditionally the above would have been considered the only way someone hear the Gospel of Christ in order from them hearer to have an opportunity to come too the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. But in the 21st century many churches and ministries have taken different approaches in what they call sharing the Gospel. I have heard it said, "Different methods, same message."

In light of the following Scripture, ^”For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the good news.” (Rom. 10:13-15 NET)

The above passage is clear in it's context that no matter what methods are being employed the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ has be verbally presented it the person is to call "on the name of the Lord." 

What is your view on this issue taking into consideration all the things churches and ministries do, and say the are  proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. The things we do and say are they truly sharing the message of salvation?

Your comments are most needed on this most important issue. 

The main purpose or thrust of this blog is to report and share thoughts on the perspective of the proclamation of the Gospel in the Global North and South. I have been able with my wife to have the opportunity to see how the Gospel is being proclaimed within and outside of America for over 30 years. This pass August 17, 2011 makes 10 years now that we have been blessed and honored to be ministering in the continent of Africa, and I thought what better way to celebrate this mile stone than to begin a blog on “The Gospel and the World.”

In the days in which we currently live, especially here in America we that say, "I am a minister". It has taken a whole new meaning depending if you are conservative, or liberal in your thinking. For the minsters of the 19th and 20th century are not the ones of the 21st century.

Now this is what the Apostle Paul says regarding the emphasis of minister's of the Gospel Of Christ.

“For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people. To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law. To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God’s law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law. To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some. I do all these things because of the gospel, so that I can be a participant in it. ( 1 Cor. 9:19-23 NET)

As we reflect on this passage of Scripture, the question we need to ask  our selves is. “I’m I participating in the spreading of the Gospel at this level?”

Please express your thoughts here for this is the purpose of this blog. To create an environment of shared ideas and concepts.