Learn How to Speak the Language of the Gospel Easily and Effectively
Even if they want to, many Christians find it hard to talk to others about Jesus. Is it possible this difficulty is because we’re trying to speak a language we haven’t actually spent time practicing? Is it possible we have neglected to understand for ourselves how the good news of Jesus impacts every facet of our own lives?
To become fluent in a new language, you must immerse yourself in it and commit to practicing it, over and over again. You must use it everyday until you actually start to think about life through it. Becoming fluent in the gospel happens the same way—after believing it, we have to intentionally rehearse it (to ourselves and to others) and immerse ourselves in its truths. Only then will we start to see how everything in our lives, from the mundane to the magnificent, is transformed by the hope of the gospel.
Jeff is a pastor, speaker, author, and founder and visionary leader of Saturate and the Soma Family of Churches. He serves as a teaching pastor and Director of Missional Communities at Doxa Church in Bellevue, WA. He and Jayne, his wife of twenty-six years, have three children; Haylee, Caleb, and Maggie. Connect with Jeff at his website www.jeffvanderstelt.com or on Twitter @JeffVanderstelt.
What is gospel fluency and why is it key to growing up into Christlikeness and accomplishing His mission? In this video, you’ll read Ephesians 4:14–16 and hear examples of speaking the gospel into everyday situations.
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Reflect
Q: What ideas and philosophies “toss” you around? How about your friends and neighbors?
Q: What does speaking the truth in love look like for you, today?
Q: How would you need to grow in order to speak the truth in love to those around you so they can grow up in Christ?
All sinful behavior and fruit is the result of unbelief in Jesus (John 16:8-9). Our unbelief may result from: 1) Ignorance, 2) Lies we believe, or 3) Truths we know but don’t trust in. Hear concrete examples of what unbelief produces in our minds and actions, and how each aspect of the gospel addresses our differing unbeliefs.
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Reflect
Q: How are you an unbeliever?
Q: What does your life, attitudes, or sins say about what you believe or disbelieve about Jesus?
Q: Where does your unbelief come from?
Ignorance
Lies
Truths you know but don’t trust
It is out of the overflow of the heart that the mouth speaks. We talk most about what we love or what we see most at work in our lives. Where our treasure is, our heart is. We need to pay attention to what we treasure and meditate on. This lesson teaches what it looks like to take our thoughts captive and submit them to the truths of the gospel.
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Reflect
Q: What do you talk about most? What do your actions, thoughts, and words say about what you love most?
Q: How do your thoughts impact your actions and behaviors?
Q: What is the good news of Jesus you need to hear?
The fruit of our lives reveals the roots of our faith. Every behavior is rooted in our belief about who God is. Four questions can help us trace the fruit that is being produced in our lives to the roots of unbelief in our hearts. We will walk through a process that helps us replace the unbelief with the truth about God.
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Reflect
Q: What does repentance and faith look like as you apply the gospel to your behaviors and attitudes?
Q: What truths do you believe?
Q: Now that you’ve walked through these concepts yourself, how can you hear the heart of those around you and speak the truths of Jesus into their lives?
