“The Gospel” means The Good News. It’s good because it comes in a time of despair. Jesus is the the centerpiece of this news. In the face of tragedy—our hopeless separation from God, Jesus came looking for us to bring us back home. The Gospel is the message of hope for all of us who know the sorrow of our own sin. It brings healing, blessing, and the love of a good Father to all who respond to it. Philippians 2:6-11

Discipleship is a concept drawn from the New Testament that illustrates what it means to become a follower of Jesus. Those who respond to Jesus learn to think and live like Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 11:1 the Aposle Paul instructs his readers “follow me as I follow Christ.”. When we choose to follow Jesus, we are choosing to become more like him, even if it means being less like the world around us.

In this age, most people don’t live under the rule of a king or queen. But in the Bible, that’s a normal way of thinking. When we talk about the Kingdom of God, we are highlighting the blessing that Christians share when they begin a new life in Christ. When a person chooses to enter into the household of God, they are coming under the rule and the provision of the King. The Kingdom of God, like any kingdom, has order and values that reflect the character of the King. Luke 17:20

Salvation is one of the most common words used in all of Christianity. It speaks of hope, redemption, and God’s gracious provision. The salvation featured in the Bible is one that speaks of the wandering nature of humanity and the glorious return of the lost sons and daughters of the King. Those who are saved are not only rescued from their sin, they are found, brought home, and restored to the honor of the Father’s house. That is salvation’s hope. Isaiah 53

Fellowship is a word that means friendship, connection, and unity all at the same time. In Scripture, we see it featured well in the book of Acts when the first church organized. Fellowship is a union in purpose that transcends class, education, race, ethnicity, age, and gender. People of all backgrounds join together to share in the common purpose of knowing and honoring God. When the people of God unite together, that is fellowship. Acts 2:42-47

Devotion is an attitude that directs what we find most important. It’s reflected in our decisions, in our relationships, and in how we use our resources. Each follow of Christ must determine their own way of living out their devotion. There isn’t a formula or method to it, but rather it’s something that we must each decide for ourselves daily. The best part is that Christ first demonstrated his devotion to us as he surrendered his life to save ours. John 17

Though often used to describe a local network of individuals and families, for those who belong to God, community is much more. For believers, community is a description of what happens when people elect to “commune” together. They rally around a shared purpose and a shared identity in Christ. They work together to take care of one another as well as share in the responsibilities of the Gospel. 1 Corinthians 12

To be a steward is to take responsibility for someone else’s investment. It means that God has entrusted to each of us part of his purpose and it’s up to us to manage it on his behalf. This applies most naturally to our finances, but also in our relationships, careers, and personal ministry. When we accept the stewardship of God, we are accepting that what’s ours is actually His, and that he trusts us with what’s most important to him. Genesis 1:28

In the Bible, there is one overwhelming common version of love: sacrificial love. Jesus teaches us about this love in how he ministers, heals, and instructs the people he meets. Most of all, he proves this love in his death—a gesture that proves this amazing kind of love. When Jesus says “love one another”, it means to care for each other not based on our own valuation, but on his, a value that was paid with his life. John 13:34-35

Reconciliation is fancy word that just means to become friends again. Reconciliation between God and man was accomplished because Jesus came to bring us back to the Father. It highlights the importance God puts on relationship. It can be easy to think that God’s greatest interest is in our morality or our behavior, but it’s clear in the Bible that those things are born out of our relationship with God. Ephesians 4:32

When a person owes a debt they cannot pay, they are at the mercy of their lender. Yet if the debtor chooses to forgive the debt, the borrower is freed from the burden and it’s consequences. Likewise, when we commit an offense to God or another person we are, in a sense, creating an unpayable debt. When we approach the Father in humility, he is gracious to forgive us. And in doing so, we become capable of forgiving others. Matthew 18:21-35

A person who repents is a person who has chose a new side. They have turned away from from where they were going and who they were following and given themselves over to a whole new direction. Repentance isn’t a per-requisite to following Jesus, it is the action that confirms it. In the same way getting wet isn’t a condition for swimming, it’s just something that happens when we swim. Repentance is the decision to want what Jesus has most of all. Luke 5:27-32