DNA – The Primacy of Gospel Proclamation

DNA – The Primacy of Gospel Proclamation

DNAThis is part three of a series exploring the essence of the DNA strands that define the nature, appearance, personality, motivation, and purpose for all those that identify with the community of faith known as NineSevenZero Church. This process of definition will insure that as we grow, as we send out people, as we replicate groups, as we reproduce fellowships, that each one will contain an exact imprint of the genetic material necessary for life, growth, and reproduction.

The primary DNA characteristic of NineSevenZero Church is the proclamation of the Gospel. The Apostle Paul addressing Timothy, the young man he left to pastor the church in Ephesus, gives compelling and emphatic instructions not only for him but also for the church at large and all followers of Christ – PREACH THE WORD!

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 2 Timothy 4:1–4 (ESV)

The Greek word “kerusso” means to publicly proclaim or to announce the world and is voiced as an imperative. Paul is saying, in effect, “This is your number one priority. Do it now and keep on doing it.” It is the method that Jesus, the apostles and the early church used to spread the Gospel message.

  • The proclamation of the Gospel is at the root of the Great Commission, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15 ESV)
  • The proclamation of the Gospel is the vehicle the Holy Spirit uses to draw those far from God to repentance. “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Rom 10:14 ESV)
  • The methodology of the Gospel is to reveal the good news through the preaching of the Word and the testimony of His people. “… preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Tim 4:2 ESV)
  • The proclamation of the Gospel is polarizing. It’s nature and message demands a decision but we are not responsible for their choice only to proclaim, “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Cor 1:18 ESV)
  • The proclamation of the Gospel is a testimony of the power of God not of the craft or wisdom of man. The Apostle Paul said of himself, “ my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Cor 2:4 ESV)
  • True acceptance and appropriation of the Gospel message creates a compelling obligation upon the believer to proclaim the Gospel’s message of life, forgiveness, and hope to the world around them. The Apostle Paul testifies to this call when he said, “For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Cor 9:16 ESV)
  • Our boldness and confidence in the message of the Gospel is expressed by the Apostle Paul  when he said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Rom 1:16 ESV)

The proclamation of the Gospel is the responsibility of every church, every pastor, and every believer. The passionate and intentional proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the central DNA characteristic of NineSevenZero Church.

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