The Jesus Gospel is the truth and the only one we need. Steve, along with guests Frank DiPietro and Frank Seamster, discusses the true Gospel versus the other gospels being preached today.
True or False?
Just as people look to another Jesus—a false, individually tailored version of Jesus—people preach and believe “another gospel.” Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:4 that this was a problem even in his day in the first century. Some of those who preach a false gospel sincerely want to help people, but they themselves don’t know the truth of the Gospel that is Jesus. We must be awake and aware to discern which is the Gospel and which is just another gospel being sold to make us feel better.
God said, “Love me with all your heart.” Once you do that, everything in your life will start to go right.
When you put yourself first and think God should put you first, you’ll run into problems.
Frank Seamster recognizes that some megachurches can be like Walmart Supercenters that shut down the mom-and-pop smaller local churches. Is what they have to offer better? Not necessarily. Walmart just cuts the prices. We must be careful of church becoming about “presents” for us—what we can get from God cheaply or even for free—rather than about God himself and His presence.
It’s Not About Us
Some churches are also chasing after what is relevant. We might get caught up in chase trends and copying each other. It all becomes about drawing in the crowds and getting bigger congregations. What about the Gospel?
Steve encourages other pastors to get on the mark and keep going. The Good News is Jesus Christ, and we cannot get distracted or even purposefully go about it a different way. The Gospel we preach, share, and focus on must not be about us and must be all about falling in love with the man Jesus. Talking about your feelings will not change and save lives, but the living Word of God will.
Frank DiPietro looks back at a time in history when America was at war and desperately needing God. 1861 saw the Civil War break out—at the same time that the Great Prayer Revival was already underway, which became the Third Great Awakening. In the midst of fighting, even the soldiers cried out to Jesus in prayer. Revival broke out in winter 1863 and spread through the Confederate Army and then through the Union Army. The power and presence of God was moving mightily through the nation even in the midst of great turmoil because of great desperation.
It’s time to lose ourselves now that we’ve found Jesus. The glory of God is coming in an awesome and mighty way!
3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
