What is the What is the Gospel?Gospel?

Good News!Good News!

What makes the good news What makes the good news good news?good news?

Being rescued Being rescued from a ship wreckfrom a ship wreck

Biblical view of Biblical view of manman

He cannot save He cannot save himselfhimself

The rich young The rich young ruler (Matt 19:25-ruler (Matt 19:25-26)26)

Monkey brains or Monkey brains or steak?steak?

Are we the basis or foundation Are we the basis or foundation of God’s affection?of God’s affection?

Is it something within us that makes us feel Is it something within us that makes us feel unique and different that is the basis of unique and different that is the basis of God’s affection?God’s affection?

Illus: Six PackIllus: Six Pack

Abraham (Josh 24:2-3); Jacob (Gen 25:23); Abraham (Josh 24:2-3); Jacob (Gen 25:23); Paul (Acts 9:15)Paul (Acts 9:15)

The Content of the Gospel The Content of the Gospel MessageMessage

Jesus is Lord who died and rose again for Jesus is Lord who died and rose again for our salvation.our salvation.

KerygmaKerygma

Peter’s sermon in Acts 10:34-43Peter’s sermon in Acts 10:34-43

The Growing Body of The Growing Body of MaterialMaterial

Christians began to put together collections Christians began to put together collections of materials relating to Jesus to be of materials relating to Jesus to be distributed around the known world.distributed around the known world. List of prophecies were circulatedList of prophecies were circulated Eye witness accounts and careful Eye witness accounts and careful

investigationinvestigation

Gospel formGospel form

Justin Martyr calls the Gospels “Memoirs”Justin Martyr calls the Gospels “Memoirs”

What Genre are the Gospels?What Genre are the Gospels? BiographyBiography Each writer has a specific purposeEach writer has a specific purpose They present the core Gospel message that They present the core Gospel message that

brings people to faith.brings people to faith. There is a degree of Selectivity (Jn 20:30-31; There is a degree of Selectivity (Jn 20:30-31;

25)25)

Why were the Gospels Why were the Gospels written?written?

They combine the core gospel message with They combine the core gospel message with important material about Jesus’ life.important material about Jesus’ life.

They are called gospels because they tell They are called gospels because they tell the good news about Jesus.the good news about Jesus.

Ultimately: so that the word could spread Ultimately: so that the word could spread more rapidly and widely…more rapidly and widely… Sense of urgency because the Apostles were Sense of urgency because the Apostles were

dying. dying. Need for factual material to teach to new Need for factual material to teach to new

converts.converts.

Trustworthiness of the Trustworthiness of the GospelsGospels

It took place while those who had known It took place while those who had known Jesus were still alive and the information Jesus were still alive and the information could be traced back to the apostles.could be traced back to the apostles.

Three of the four are directly linked to Three of the four are directly linked to Apostles.Apostles.

Matthew and John were apostles, Mark Matthew and John were apostles, Mark probably depended on Peter.probably depended on Peter.

God has his hand in all of this (2 Tim 3:16).God has his hand in all of this (2 Tim 3:16).