The Whole Disciple Podcast

In this episode, Christy sits down with Pastor J.D. Greear to talk about what it means to prioritize the gospel above all, and what that looks like in real life.

Pastor J.D. shares his story of how he first became a follower of Christ as a young man. His story opened up an opportunity for us to discuss how your being saved always happens at an exact moment, but we don’t always know exactly when that moment is. But if we’re trusting him now, like sitting in a chair, then we know for sure that we are saved.

Why does The Summit Church prioritize the gospel above all? Pastor J.D. explains that it is because Jesus made reaching the lost the mission of his own life, and when he left earth, he gave us the identity of being his witnesses. So as we prioritize the gospel above all, we are walking in the paths that God laid out for us and emphasizing the things Jesus says are most important.

What does it look like for us to prioritize the gospel in our own lives? We prioritize the gospel by preaching the gospel to ourselves every day. Pastor J.D. walked us through the gospel prayer he wrote about in his book Gospel, that says, “In Christ there is nothing I can do to make you love me more, and there is nothing I have done that can make you love me any less. You are all I need for everlasting joy. As you’ve been to me, so I will be to others. As I pray, I’ll measure your power to save by the resurrection and your willingness to save by the cross.”

As we grow as disciples, we take intentional steps to remember the gospel, and as we do so, it forms us so that we actually become like Jesus Christ.

Resources

Gospel by J.D. Greear

Being a disciple is all about the gospel. Believing in the gospel of Jesus Christ is how we became disciples, continuing to believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ is how we grow as disciples, and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ is how we make disciples. “Gospel” means “Good News”, and at the Summit, we explain that good news as “Jesus in my place.” Jesus lived in my place. He died in my place, and in his resurrection he gives us his place of life forever.Jesus’s life is good news because our lives are a mess. God made all humans to live in a loving relationship with him. He loves us, and he made us to know, love and obey him above all else. But not one of us has chosen the life God made for us. So, Jesus came to live the perfectly life of obedience we didn’t live.Jesus’s death is good news because we had all received that bad news that we deserved the punishment of death. But God still loves us, so, not only did he send his Son, Jesus, to take on himself the punishment that we deserved. Then, Jesus came back to life! When Jesus died in our place, he didn’t stay dead, and in Jesus’s resurrection, he gives us his place of life forever. Life is a God thing. He is life and he gives life. So, Jesus’s place is the place of eternal life. And through his resurrection, he gives that life to usJesus offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe. Will you believe in Jesus today? Who will you tell the gospel to?

Resources https://vimeo.com/summitrdusermons/review/963185559/f630086145