Called to share
the gospel
"Christ did
not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not
with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of
no effect. "
1 Corinthians
1:10
"Go into all
the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who
believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not
believe will be condemned. "
Mark 16:15-16
"Therefore
do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me
His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel
according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us
with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according
to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ
Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the
appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death
and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."
2 Timothy
1:8-10
"...praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being
watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for
all the saints -- and for me, that utterance may be given to me,
that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the
gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may
speak boldly, as I ought to speak."
Ephesians
6:18-20
"...always
be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for
the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good
conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who
revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is
better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than
for doing evil."
1 Peter
3:15-17
Trust God's power
and grace, not man's cleverness
"God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I
to the world."
Galatians
6:14
"...the
message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are saved it is the power of God."
1
Corinthians 1:18
"For I am
not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God
to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and
also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is
revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall
live by faith.'"
Romans
1:16-17
"For Christ
did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom
of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing, but to us who are saved it is the power of God. "
1 Corinthians
1:16-19
"But I make
known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me
is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor
was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus
Christ."
Galatians
1:11
"For I
determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ
and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in
much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with
persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the
Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom
of men but in the power of God."
1 Corinthians
2:2-5
"For our
gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and
in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind
of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers
of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much
affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became
examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. "
1
Thessalonians 1:5-7
Teach the whole
gospel
"I have not
shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore
take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the
Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of
God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that
after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not
sparing the flock."
Acts 20:28-29
"...you He
made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in
which you once walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who
now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all
once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh,
fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great
love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses,
made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been
saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together
in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to
come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His
kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have
been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is
the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good
works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
Ephesians 2:1-10
Shun any
marketing of the gospel
"...we were
bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much
conflict. For our exhortation did not come from error or
uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. But as we have been approved
by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as
pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts."
1
Thessalonians 2:2-4
"For if I
preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is
laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! For
if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will,
I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What is my reward
then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of
Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the
gospel."
1 Corinthians
9:16-18
"...as we
have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even
so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.
For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you
know, nor a cloak for covetousness -- God is witness. Nor did we
seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we
might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were
gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own
children. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well
pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also
our own lives, because you had become dear to us. For you
remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and
day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to
you the gospel of God."
1
Thessalonians 2:4-9
"But we have
renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness
nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation
of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in
the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled
to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has
blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the
glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and
ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God
who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in
our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of
God in the face of Jesus Christ."
2 Corinthians
4:2-6
"Now thanks
be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through
us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For
we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are saved
and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma
of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life
leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we
are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of
sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in
Christ."
2 Corinthians
2:14-17
Guard
against false gospels
"For if he
who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not
preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you
have not received, or a different gospel which you have not
accepted -- you may well put up with it!"
2 Corinthians
11:4
"I marvel
that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the
grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not
another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert
the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven,
preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to
you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say
again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you
have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men,
or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men,
I would not be a bondservant of Christ."
Galatians
1:6-10
"...false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth
to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they
might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield
submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might
continue with you."
Galatians
2:4-5
"But when I
saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the
gospel, I said to Peter before them all, 'If you, being a Jew,
live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you
compel Gentiles to live as Jews?"
Galatians
2:14-15
Preach the true
gospel to all
peoples
"Then I saw
another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth--to
every nation, tribe, tongue, and people..."
Revelation
14:6
"Paul, a
bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated
to the gospel of God which He promised before through His
prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ
our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the
flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power
according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from
the dead. Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for
obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among
whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;"
Romans 1:1-6
"After they
had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the
Spirit did not permit them. ... And a vision appeared to Paul in
the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him,
saying, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.' 'Now after he had
seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia,
concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to
them."
Acts 16:6-10
"For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant
to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a
Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as
under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to
those who are without law, as without law (not being without law
toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those
who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might
win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might
by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake,
that I may be partaker of it with you."
1 Corinthians
9:19-23
"How beautiful
are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!"
Romans 10:15
Responding to the
gospel with faith and obedience
"In Him you
also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of
your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were
sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of
our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased
possession, to the praise of His glory. "
Ephesians
1:13-14
"And you,
who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked
works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh
through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above
reproach in His sight -- if indeed you continue in the
faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the
hope of the gospel...."
Colossians
1:21-23
"...you He
made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you
once walked according to the course of this world, according to
the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in
the sons of disobedience.... But God, who is rich in mercy,
because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we
were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by
grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made
us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.... For
by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone
should boast....."
Ephesians
2:1-9
"For indeed
the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word
which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith
in those who heard it. "
Hebrews 4:2
"But they have
not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, 'Lord, who has believed
our report?' So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God. "
Romans
10:16-17
"Christ did not
send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom
of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no
effect."
1 Corinthians
1:17
"He said to
them, 'Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to
save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My
sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a
man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what
will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed
of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of
him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the
glory of His Father with the holy angels.'"
Mark 8:34-38
Suffering for the
gospel
"...that on
your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.
"
Philemon 13
"Jesus
answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who
has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or
wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who
shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time -- houses and
brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with
persecutions -- and in the age to come, eternal life."
Mark 10:29-30
"...to the
weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become
all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now
this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it
with you."
1 Corinthians
9:22-23
"For our
gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and
in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance...."
1
Thessalonians 1:5
"...the
things which happened to me have actually turned out for the
furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the
whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in
Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become
confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word
without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and
strife, and some also from good will: The former preach
Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add
affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing
that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then?
Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ
is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice."
Philippians
1:12-18
"And the gospel
must first be preached to all the nations. But when they arrest
you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate
what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak
that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit." Mark 13:10-11
"...they
will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be
hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be
offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And
because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow
cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this
gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a
witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."
Matthew
24:9-14
"But none of
these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so
that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I
received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the
grace of God."
Acts 20:24
Persevering in
the gospel
"...you, who
once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works,
yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through
death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in
His sight -- if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and
steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel
which you heard...."
Colossians
1:21-23
"...they returned
to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the
disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying,
'We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.'"
Acts 14:21-22
"...we...
endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. "
1 Corinthians
9:12
Fellowship of the
gospel
"I thank my
God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of
mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in
the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this
very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will
complete it until the day of Jesus Christ..."
Philippians
1:3-30
"I have you
in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense
and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of
grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all
with the affection of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your
love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all
discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent,
that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of
Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are
by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."
Philippians
1:7-11
"Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so
that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your
affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind
striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in
any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof
of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to
you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe
in Him, but also to suffer for His sake...."
Philippians
1:27-29
"So,
affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart
to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives,
because you had become dear to us. For you remember, brethren,
our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might
not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of
God. "
1
Thessalonians 2:8-10
