This is Gospel Living

Sermon Notes

THIS IS GOSPEL LIVING: CONNECTING THE GOSPEL TO EVERYDAY LIFE

The gospel changes everything. This is not merely a catchy saying; it’s reality. When we repent of our sin by placing faith in Jesus, there’s not an area of our lives left unaffected. The gospel changes our eternal destination and our current situation. The gospel impacts our identity, shapes our worldview, strengthens our relationships, directs our work, focuses our finances, and much more. What does it look like when our ordinary, day-to-day lives are transformed by the gospel? How do we speak, think, and act differently in light of gospel truth? Join us on Sunday mornings as we dive deeper into these topics and connect the gospel to everyday life. This is gospel living.

Message 01

November 05, 2023 AM
Paul Gotthardt
(#1 in series)

This is Gospel Living: The Gospel and Identity

John 1:19-23

You never __ the gospel; you grow into the gospel.
The gospel is not just the good news that saves; it is the good news that sanctifies.
The gospel is not only what we need to be saved; the gospel is what we need to live as __ people.

Big Concept: You have to know who you __ to know who you __. God defines our identity.

Our identity is NOT determined by our physical __.
Our identity is NOT determined by our current __.
Our identity is NOT determined by our past __.
Our identity is NOT determined by our self-__.
Our identity is defined by __.

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ (one transformed by the gospel), here’s your true identity. You are…

The salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13)

The light of the world (Matt. 5:14)

A child of God (part of His family) (John 1:12; Rom. 8:16)

Part of the true vine (John 15:1, 5)

Christ’s friend (John 15:15)

Chosen and appointed by Christ to bear His fruit (John 15:16)

A personal witness of Christ (Acts 1:8)

A slave of righteousness (Rom. 6:18)

Enslaved to God (Rom. 6:22)

A joint heir with Christ (Rom. 8:17)

A temple of God (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19)

Joined to the Lord and one spirit with Him (1 Cor. 6:17)

A member of Christ’s body (1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 5:30)

A new creation (2 Cor. 5:17)

Reconciled to God and a minister of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-19)

A son of God and one in Christ (Gal. 3:26-28)

An heir of God (Gal. 4:6-7)

A saint (1 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:2)

God’s workmanship (Eph. 2:10)

A fellow citizen in His family (Eph. 2:19)

A prisoner of Christ (Eph. 3:1; 4:1)

Righteous and holy (Eph. 4:24)

A citizen of heaven, positionally seated in heaven right now (Eph. 2:6; Phil. 3:20)

Hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3)

An expression of the life of Christ (Col. 3:4)

Chosen of God, holy, and dearly loved (Col. 3:12)

Chosen and dearly loved by God (1 Thess. 1:4)

A son of light and not of darkness (1 Thess. 5:5)

A holy brother, partaker of a heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1)

A partaker of Christ (Heb. 3:14)

A living stone (1 Pet. 2:5)

A chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation (1 Pet. 2:9-10)

An alien and stranger to this world (1 Pet. 2:11)

An enemy of the devil (1 Pet. 5:8)

Born of God, and the evil one (the devil) can’t touch you (1 John 5:18)

A sheep of His pasture (Ps. 23; 100)

Message 02

November 12, 2023 AM
Paul Gotthardt
(#2 in series)

This is Gospel Living: The Gospel and Finances

Various Passages

What is a biblical understanding of the gospel?

The gospel is the good news of God’s design, sin’s intrusion, and Christ’s solution for human flourishing.

The gospel message emphasizes __ with God, sacrificial giving, __ through actions, repentance of sin, the necessity of __, and God’s path for human flourishing.

What is a biblical understanding of finances?

God owns __.
(Psalm 24:1; Haggai 2:8; 1 Chronicles 29:11; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
God blesses us with __ , resources, and the ability to make money.
(Deuteronomy 8:18; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12)
We are __ of what God has entrusted to us.
(1 Corinthians 4:2; Luke 16:11)

The first statement is about __.
(Who owns the things in my possession?)

The second statement is about __.
(How did I acquire the things in my possession?)

The third statement is about __.
(What am I to do with the things in my possession?)

Key Thought: The gospel challenges our __ and realigns our __. Each part has major stewardship implications.

Challenges our perspective of…

__
Contentment
Self-__
Home
__

Realigns our priorities from…

__ to generous
Temporal to eternal
Our __ to God’s mission

Message 03

December 03, 2023 AM
Paul Gotthardt
(#3 in series)

This is Gospel Living: The Gospel at Home

Ephesians 6:1-4

Important Lesson: Don’t tear up a __ until you know why it was there.

God gives two commands to children:

__ your parents. (v. 1)
__ your parents. (vv. 2-3)

God also gives two commands to parents:

Do not __ your children to anger. (v. 4a)
Bring them up in the __ and instruction of the Lord. (v. 4b)

Big Truth: Our homes should __ the truths of the gospel and be __ for gospel exploration and growth.

How can we practically live the gospel at home?

(This is NOT an exhaustive list.)

Read, teach, and memorize Scripture together. Teach that the Bible is God’s Word, it’s inspired, it’s inerrant, it’s infallible, it’s sufficient and complete.
Consider using a good catechism for discipleship structure (i.e., The New City Catechism).
Model the Christian life at home and model your home according to Scripture.
Pray around your kids, for your kids, and with your kids.
Teach the gospel often and early.
Teach about the nature, character, and attributes of God.
Teach and practice repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation at home.
Teach and show mercy, grace, and patience at home.
Speak of the reality of the gospel when people die.
Speak of the effects of the fall when people are sick.
Speak of God’s creation when you walk in nature.
Use the difficult moments of life to direct gospel conversations. Continually point back to God’s design, sin’s intrusion, and Christ’s solution for human flourishing.
Be consistent and biblical with discipline in the home.
Recognize that our home reveals and shapes our heart.
Apply these passages at home: 1 Corinthians 13:4-5; Ephesians 4:29; James 1:19-20.
Slow down for periods of introspection, evaluation, and reflection with God.
Stop excusing sin.
Live in community with other believers who are pursuing the same goals and desiring the same things.
Ask other gospel-centered believers what they are doing.

Message 04

December 17, 2023 AM
Paul Gotthardt
(#4 in series)

This is Gospel Living: The Gospel and Stress

Various Passages

Stress is a normal human reaction to real or perceived __ or __.

Anxiety (worry) is a feeling of __, dread, or uneasiness connected to the possibility of __ or misfortune.

Three ways that God uses stress at work to form us:

1) God uses problems and pressures at work to teach us __ on Him.

2) God reminds us through work problems that our __ is not in our productivity but in our __.

3) God reminds us through work problems to remember how the story of __ ends.

Practical ways that God uses stress for our good and His glory:

God uses stress to get our __.
God uses stress to help us rediscover our priorities.
God uses stress to develop __ with Him.
God uses stress to deepen our trust in Him.

What are some biblical steps for dealing with stress?

__ about everything. (Phil. 4:6)
Believe God. (John 14:1)
__ on God. (Isa. 26:3)
Meditate on things that are good. (Phil. 4:8)
__ ahead and do what can be done today. (Prov. 24:27)
Be grateful. (1 Thess. 5:18)

Reflection/Discussion/Application: How can we ask the right questions to help connect the gospel and stress?

Am I approaching stress in a biblical way?
Am I filling my mind with the right things?
Am I feeling overwhelmed because I’m trying to be self-sufficient?
Am I assaulting God’s character by claiming His greatness while acting like He’s not enough?
Am I guarding myself against the needs of others to be “less stressed”? How does that align with the gospel?
Are distorted beliefs contributing to my stress?
Are my prayers in proportion to my stress?
How can I focus more on God instead of the stress?
Is my stress connected to my lack of planning?
In this exact moment, what is true about myself, my value, my work, and my God?
Am I striving for faithfulness or perfection?
Where do I need to step back and remember the end of God’s redemptive story?
Am I using difficult moments to direct gospel conversations Continually point back to God’s design, sin’s intrusion, and Christ’s solution for human flourishing?
Am I living in community with other believers who are pursuing the same goals and desiring the same things?
Am I asking other gospel-centered believers what they are doing with stress?

Message 05

December 31, 2023 AM
Paul Gotthardt
(#5 in series)

This is Gospel Living: The Gospel and Rest

Mark 6:31

Big Truth: Generally speaking, exhaustion is not a badge of __; it’s the culmination of habitual __.

__ brings rest to our body.

Jesus brings rest for our __.

__ build rest in our schedules.

Identity gives rest to our quest for __.

God’s __/relationship provides rest for our mind.

Rest is not just found in the __ of work; rest is found in the __ of God.