Big Church (4) – Big Message

We are still in the middle of our series Big Church and I hope by now you have gotten to know the early
Church a little bit. The Church began not as an institution but as a movement to proclaim one simple
message – Jesus Christ is indeed the son of God and he died for our sins and was raised from the dead 3 days later. We have been talking about the early Christians preached the gospel message with boldness and that’s the main reason you and I can be called Christians today. If we are to continue the movement of the Church, we must be bold just like the early Christians in creating opportunities for others to hear the gospel.

Speaking of the gospel, have you noticed that the message of Christianity comes in all shapes and sizes? Some people emphasize our brokenness and our suffering. Others emphasize God’s goodness and mercy and endless blessings. Then others talk about the need for repentance or forgiveness… having faith… walking in obedience. While all of these aspects are part of the Christian gospel, what was the essential message that ignited a movement that continues today?

Moving Forward

The gospel of Jesus Christ is clear: Christ died for our sins; he was buried; he was raised; he appeared.
This is the foundational message behind the movement that continues today.

Discussion Questions

1. If you had fifteen seconds to explain the Christian message, what would you say? One minute? Five
minutes?

2. Read Acts 9:1-19. Saul (Paul) experiences a dramatic conversion. Did your relationship with God
spark in one climactic moment or was it a more gradual process?

3. Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-10. Paul clarifies the gospel message very concisely. Why do Christians often
add additional “requirements” to that gospel message?

4. Much of the Book of Acts chronicles Paul’s missionary travels in an attempt to spread the message of
Jesus Christ to unreached regions. Have you ever tried to share your faith with someone who had never
heard the message of Christianity before? Describe that experience.

5. How can you be more assertive in sharing the message of Christianity to others? e.g. knowing how to
tell your story? Knowing the gospel message?