Sermon Notes:
1. Jesus’ message to the world is encompassed in the word “gospel” which means good news! (1Corinthians 15:1-4)
The essence of the Gospel is:
2. Jesus plus nothing and nothing plus Jesus for salvation.
a. If you add something to what Jesus did on the cross then you are subtracting from what He accomplished on the cross.
3. Religion is salvation through moral effort.
4. The Gospel message is salvation by grace through faith in Jesus alone.
5. Religion focuses on what I do or don’t do.
6. The Gospel message focuses on what Jesus has done.
7. Religion produces pride or despair.
8. The Gospel message produces humility, gratefulness, and confidence.
Follow-up Questions from Sunday:
Quick Review:
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?
Digging Deeper:
1. Why do think it’s so important for us to understand what the Gospel is? What do you think are some of the greatest dangers to not understanding it?
2. As you Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, what are the main points of the Gospel that Paul had received and passed on to the church?
3. What does “Christ died for our sins” personally mean to you?
4. As you read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, list the things that God does in your life through Christ? How does this make you feel? How do you think these truths should affect how we live?
5. As you read Galatians 1:1-12, how would you describe the tone of the Apostle Paul in this letter? How would you describe the essence of what he is trying to say?
6. In verse 9, Paul says that people that add to the message of Jesus–“Jesus plus some work”–and preach another gospel, will be “accursed”. What do you think this means?
7. Why do you think people, other religions, and cults have such a hard time with the Gospel of Jesus?
8. Like a counterfeit bill, how do you think you would do in spotting a counterfeit gospel? How would Pastor Frank’s message on Sunday help you in doing this?
9. What benefits do you think this new series of comparing the Gospel of Jesus with other religious thoughts and religions will have on our Church?
Prayer:
Close your group with prayer asking God to help us truly understand the Gospel and that we handle it accurately in the world that we live in.
Taking it Home:
Read the epistle of Galatians this week.