DEV 04FN Foundations of the Gospel

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= Session 4: Foundations of the Gospel =

''In this session, you will discover more about what the Bible has to say about the Gospel and what Christ’s death accomplished for us. ''

Heart of a Leader (40 min)

 * Worship together in the big group
 * Have participants get into groups of 3-4 people and discuss the following:
 * What are you learning and how are you abiding in Christ through word, prayer, obedience, PCS, relationships and fellowship?
 * What areas of your life is obeying God a challenge?
 * What unresolved conflict do you have?
 * What happened as you trusted God with your goals from our last meeting?

Vision Casting for the Heart
'Read Romans 12:3-8. After Paul exhorts the Romans to cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s working to renew their minds, he talks about one of the fundamental changes in the new mind: how we view ourselves. Don’t think of yourself like you used to think but do it with an honest evaluation. This is humbly accepting who we are in relation to God and to other people. We should not compare ourselves to others because it is God who gives. He gives a measure of faith to each one; He gives different gifts; He gives different roles. But whatever we have been given, we should use it by faith with all our heart. Don’t be surprised by diversity in the church! Let’s encourage each other to use our faith and our gifts cheerfully, trusting God with all our hearts.'

Celebration of Faithfulness (20 min)
NOTE: Celebrate Faithfulness in the large group so that all can benefit and be encouraged.


 * Give opportunity for participants to share what has happened since the last meeting. Ask them to relate it to goals from the last meeting.

Iron on Iron: Sharpening Myself and Others (45 min)
Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens another.”  


 * Have everyone return to their Iron on Iron small groups, draw their network of missional communities and churches then share and evaluate with their group.
 * What is going well?
 * What is not going well? What obstacles are you facing?
 * What are possible solutions from the other group members?
 * What do you need to do to add the missing characteristics into each group?
 * Where will you start a new group or church this month?


 * Have everyone set goals for improvement from their evaluation and share their goals with their small group. Then have them pray for one another.

New Lesson (45-60 min)
Relevant Topic: Why is it important if we know what has been revealed about being separated from God and needing a Savior?
 * Have participants get into new groups of 4-5 people (or they can continue in their Iron on Iron groups)
 * In the following sections, each group assign verses to each participant. Each participant will then read the passages below and tell what they learned.

Discovery Bible Study – The Gospel

Section 1: Our Problem

God’s wrath at sin: Romans 1:18-25; Col 3:5-6; Ephesians 2:3

Separation from God and need for a Savior: Romans 3:23; John 3:19-20; Ephesians 2:12

The Law exposes our guilt: Romans 3:20; Romans 7:7; Galatians 3:21-23

The penalty (wage) of sin: Romans 1:32; Romans 6:23


 * After they have all shared their assigned verses, have each person in the groups share:
 * What caught your attention? (or What did you like best?) Why?

'Conclusion: Every person is separated from God because of their sin, and deserving of punishment. Through our sinful nature, there is no way any person can fulfill the requirements of the law to be right with God (becoming righteous).'

Section 2: God’s Solution

Christ paid the penalty: Romans 5:7-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18

God provides the way: John 3:16-18; Romans 6:23

Not because of doing good things: Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7

Good works after Salvation: Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:14


 * After they have all shared their assigned verses, have each person in the groups share:
 * What caught your attention? (or What did you like best?) Why?
 * Why does salvation as a gift glorify God instead of man?
 * How is this different from the way of salvation taught in your previous religion?

'Conclusion: People must depend upon the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, instead of their own good works, to become righteous before God and be received by Him. Only Jesus perfectly fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law. Because of God’s mercy and love, Jesus died as a substitute and sacrifice for all people and was raised from the dead. Those who receive Christ as Lord are declared righteous because of Christ’s work on the cross. Good works are a fruitful result of our salvation.'

Section 3: The Gospel

The Gospel message: Luke 24:45-48; 1 Cor 15:1-8

No other message: Romans 1:16; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Thessalonians 1:8

Affirmation of the Gospel’s truth, appearing to more than 500: Romans 1:1-4; 1 Corinthians 15:6

Affirmation of the Gospel’s truth, prophecy fulfilled:


 * Genesis 3:15, (which was written around 1,500 BC)
 * Psalm 22:17, (which was written around 1,000 BC)
 * Isaiah 53:12, (which was written around 550 BC)
 * After they have all shared their assigned verses, have each person in the groups share:
 * What caught your attention? (or What did you like best?) Why?
 * Discuss how receiving and proclaiming the gospel has brought joy to each participant.

'Conclusion: The Gospel means “good news”. Therefore, the gospel is good news about Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins, and His resurrection. The Gospel is confirmed as true by Jesus’ fulfillment of prophecy and His resurrection from the dead that proved He is the Son of God. '

'Summary Lesson:  God has declared punishment for sin against all mankind. But because of His love and mercy, He Himself made a way for our sins to be forgiven through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. A person is justified (declared to be right) before God by believing the gospel, rather than by doing good works. A Gospel Definition – “Jesus died for our sins and was raised from the dead. If anyone believes the gospel and by repentance, surrenders himself to Christ as Lord, that person’s sins are forgiven.”  '

Preparing for Mission (20 mins)

 * Have everyone find a partner: practice how to share the Gospel and Evaluate ways to improve how they explain the Gospel.
 * Write “I will by when” statements. Include “Who will you teach this lesson to?”
 * Practice any additional skill that the leaders need in leading their groups or starting new ones

Sending the Laborers

 * Reinforce the overall vision: a church or faith community for every 1,000 people
 * Spend time in prayer:
 * committing everyone’s goals to the Lord.
 * for God to raise up a movement of churches.
 * for more laborers to come out of the harvest.