The Gospel Is Preached - This is plain and simple, and it’s where the Gospel-driven church begins and ends. It’s the hill we die on. As the good news of Jesus proclaims, a few things happen. We recognize first of all that we are broken. After all, there is no good news without bad news. The good news is this: Jesus has come to save us. The bad news is this: we need saving. We, along with our world, our broken. Sin has invaded our lives, enslaving us to itself, and has taken us captive. There are addictions, lust issues, word issues, heart issues, and relationships to be healed and mended. As the great name of Jesus is made famous, it makes us realize the depth of our depravity more and more. This leads to the next “step” in the cycle. People Get Messed Up - This is what Tyler mainly talked about. This is when, once people realize the depth of their depravity and pride, they become messed up. They realize that they are sinners in need of a Savior. As this process happens, church gets “messy”. Counseling becomes intensive, discipleship becomes vital, and accountability becomes necessary. Leaders must be raised up in order to encounter, instruct, and encourage messed-up people. Communities form to hold one another accountable, and to further disciple people in order that they may eventually find the answers in Christ that they are looking for. People Look for Answers - As people become aware of their brokenness, they look for answers to satisfy the soul. They look for mercy, forgiveness, and restoration, all of which are found in Jesus. Through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God is made manifest in that the answers, all residing in Jesus (all of the promises are “Yes and Amen”, are preached. This happens through communities (Harmony’s Echo Groups), preaching and teaching (Sunday morning gathering and smaller teaching events), and accountability (diving deeper with one another as we live on mission together).
The cycle just repeats itself as people who have found Jesus relate the Gospel to people in their social circles, who relate the Good News to people in their social circles, etc. As the cycle goes through it’s many iterations, people are drawn to the Jesus who is lifted up, and therefore to the Church. But here’s the rub:
People find Jesus on different timelines. Some people get “stuck” in the mud of their brokenness instead of finding the refreshing fountain of the cleansing waters of Jesus. Therefore, church gets pretty messy, really quickly.
As leaders, we have to prepare in advance for this mess. We must “Gospel ourselves and others” to the point that it is instinct to rely on Jesus, no matter the brokenness placed in front of us. This is what Dr. Sam spoke about: counseling in the Gospel. Both we as leaders and those who follow our example should know the Gospel backwards and forwards in order that when the church gets messy, there are plenty of shepherd-janitor-servants who point to the Shepherd-Janitor-King, Jesus Christ.
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