An ABC of Faith

Gospel - We have a gospel to proclaim

I must admit that I am often confused about the use of the word Bible when perusing a bookshops shelves.  I have seen titles such as Lad’s Bible, Culinary Bible, The Gardener’s Bible, with each volume claiming  to be the last word on the titled subject. This is not so with what we have come to know as the Bible - the scriptures of the Old and New Testament that includes the gospels are not the the last word. 

The gospel is a living breathing continuous narrative found and displayed in the heart and life of the believer. Remember Paul’s words, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then he says, “whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27) In biblical literature the meaning of the term gospel is derived from the Anglo-Saxon godspell (“good story”). The classical Greek word euangelion means “a reward for bringing of good news” or the “good news” itself.

So the message of the gospel is not just a story telling narrative; it is a living unfolding, a telling that has an impact upon the reader or listener’s lives.

Brennan Manning, in his book “The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out” writes;-

“The Word we study has to be the Word we pray. My personal experience of the relentless tenderness of God came not from exegetes, theologians, and spiritual writers, but from sitting still in the presence of the living Word and beseeching Him to help me understand with my head and heart His written Word. Sheer scholarship alone cannot reveal to us the gospel of grace. We must never allow the authority of books, institutions, or leaders to replace the authority of *knowing* Jesus Christ personally and directly. When the religious views of others interpose between us and the primary experience of Jesus as the Christ, we become unconvicted and unpersuasive travel agents handing out brochures to places we have never visited.” 

A PRAYER

Almighty, ever-living God, by our baptism, we have been called to live as missionary disciples of your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that we, your people will fulfil our purpose by proclaiming the Good News and inviting all people to encounter the love and mercy of Jesus Christ. Deepen our trust in you, O Lord, and help us to remain steadfast in our commitment to Courageously Living the Gospel in our homes, neighbourhoods,  communities, and wherever you may lead us. We humbly ask for the courage to live as your disciples standing firm in our  faith, through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.