​Each month this year our staff will choose a different aspect of discipleship to share as the focus for that given month. Discipleship is the process of growing to be more like Jesus, part of The Journey every Christian embarks upon when surrendering their life to Christ.
 
For February, our emphasis is the gospel! Isn’t this a great place to begin our monthly emphasis? Everyone’s journey of faith starts with an encounter with the gospel. The word “gospel” means “good news.” Paul defined the gospel as the event where “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3-4). Every Christian should recognize that the day they embraced the gospel was the best day of their life.
 
The gospel does more than merely provide us access to heaven when we die. Among other things, the gospel reconciles you with the holiness of the Father (2 Cor 5:18-19). The gospel provides peace in the face of looming death (1 Thess 4:14). The gospel defines our worldview (Col 2:8). The gospel unifies very diverse people (Gal 3:28). In the gospel, Christians find their message and purpose.
 
What kind of relationship do you have with the gospel? Has there been a time in your life when you embraced the gospel, Christ’s work, as your eternal remedy? Do you live trying to honor the testimony of how the gospel transforms a life? Do others see and hear that the gospel permeates your thoughts and actions?
 
This month, begin The Journey by trusting in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Or for those who are already redeemed by Jesus’ work, pray throughout this month that the gospel will be the lens for everything you think, act, and say. Jesus’s work, and our acceptance of it, really is good news!
 
(Written by Shawn Nichols, Senior Pastor)