Yesterday morning, Dr. Tim Keller continued his explanation of the gospel, but focused this time on a more outward perspective: The gospel for unbelievers.
His text was Luke 10.
Dr. Keller pointed out that there are four M’s of the gospel in this chapter: Gospel Mission, Gospel Message, Gospel Motivation, and Gospel Method.
Gospel Mission (Luke 10:1-8)
In Luke 9, Jesus send out his twelve disciples to proclaim the kingdom of God. In Luke 10, he sends out 72 (some manuscripts say 70) to do the same. Why 72?
Genesis 10 accounts for 72 nations. By first sending the twelve, and then appointing seventy-two, Christ was not just sending out his apostles; he was sending out all of humanity. The Gospel mission is a mission for all. If you know Christ, it is now your chief mission to make him known. Every Christian man and woman is a man and woman with a mission.
The Gospel turns every person who receives it into a person with a mission. And a full understanding of the Gospel transforms you into something like the woman at the well in John 4 who immediately ran into town to tell everyone about ‘the man who told her everything she has ever done.’ [sidebar: if you are looking for a great sermon series on the woman at the well, I highly suggest Dr. Curt Heffelfinger's, which can be found here, here, and here.]
‘Ok, ok…I get it. We have a mission. So what does that mean? Do I have to become a missionary now?”
Yes and no.
Yes, because you part of this mission and are called to help fulfill that mission.
And no, because not everyone is supposed to quit their job to become a ‘vocational missionary.’
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
- Ephesians 2:10
We are God’s unique workmanship. The original greek word for workmanship is POIEMA, which means handiwork or craftsmanship. In English, it becomes the word ‘Poem.’ We are each God’s unique work of art, created with differing gifts and talents and passions. For the gifted engineer who displays integrity, character, and Christ’s love to his Islamic and Hindu co-workers, that’s your mission. For the compassionate teacher who displays intentionality and Christ’s love to children who live in unloving homes, that’s your mission.
You don’t have to be a missionary, but you do need to have the mindset of a missionary in your place of influence. We have found the Fountain of living water. Let us not be so selfish to neglect to offer this never-ending source to those who store up broken cisterns which hold no water.
Gospel Message (Luke 10:9-12)
Sixty years ago, evangelism was an irritation to people. The word evangelism made some people cringe. Today, it is flat out offensive. Keller says that evangelism has become one of today’s secular sins. Even to the point that our society’s attitude says “Evangelism is bad for out culture.”
However, there is a problem with having a problem with evangelism. The problem comes from the origin of the word Gospel, which means ‘good news.’
The Gospel is good news, not good advice. News is an historic event that changes something. Advice is a suggestion that says, “Hey, this has worked for me. Try it out.”
When we turn the Gospel into advice, it can lead to a new believer into becoming extremely frustrated when it doesn’t “work” the way he hoped. However, when someone accepts the Gospel as what it is (good news), no matter what happens, the news doesn’t change.
Which is why in the end, every other religion will fail because they all say, “Here is our founder giving advice on how to find God.” Christianity says, “Here is God! He has come into the world to find us.”
Gospel Motivation (Luke 10:17-20)
The third M of the gospel in Luke 10 is motivation. Dr. Keller suggests that it is easy to get our motivation wrong, and that we should learn from the example of the 72 that Jesus sent out.
The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
-Luke 10:17-20
The seventy-two returned with joy. What were they joyful about? “Even the demons are subject TO US in your name!” How quickly we can turn the ability that Christ has given us into our ability that we possess.
Christ shows them the correct motivation to not rejoice in that, but to “rejoice that your name is written in heaven.”
Are you getting your significance through what God is empowering you to do? Your job is not about you. Ministry is not about you. Here is your significance: Your name is written (past tense) in heaven.
Live on a platform of knowing who you already are in Christ, and simply be a messenger.
With the correct motivation, lost souls turned to Christ are not scalps, they are children of God.
Gospel Method (Luke 10:25-37)
Keller’s last M of the gospel is Method. What is the correct method of presenting the gospel?
Be a good samaritan.
You will be a lousy messenger if you are a lousy neighbor. Don’t just try to meet the spiritual needs of your community while neglecting to meet their physical, social, or economic needs. God created a physical and spiritual world. He is redeeming the physical and spiritual. The Fall didn’t just alienate us from God, it also psychologically alienated us from ourselves (we know we are naked). It socially alienated us from each other. And lastly, we experience physical alienation…we die.
There are needs in the community far beyond simply spiritual. Obviously, that is the primary and most pressing need, but we need to see that God cares for all needs. After all, didn’t Joseph lead one of the most massive hunger relief programs of all-time? Is Exodus, Numbers, & Deuteronomy not full of laws that help create order to meet social needs?
Counsel. Serve. Give.
“Yeah, but I have earned this. They haven’t.” I think Jesus could say the same. But He didn’t.
“Yeah, but they don’t deserve it.” Again. Come on people. (Keller’s words)
“They’ll waste/misuse my gifts.” Jesus knew that there would be many who would use his grace as a license to sin. He died for us anyways.
Let’s be good neighbors. If the world sees us doing nothing except evangelizing, they are going to assume that we are only out to get more power. If we are actually making the community a better place, then they’ll like that we are around and maybe listen to what we have to say. Being great neighbors will give us a platform for the hearing of the gospel.