fbpx
  • Why Discipleship

    Why Discipleship

    "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
    - Jesus' words in Matthew 28:19-20

  • Partnerships

    Partnerships

    "And my God will liberally supply your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
    - Phillipians 4:19

  • Why Discipleship

    Back

    Why Discipleship

    "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
    - Jesus' words in Matthew 28:19-20

  • Partnerships

    Back

    Partnerships

    "And my God will liberally supply your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
    - Phillipians 4:19

  • Join the Mission

    Back

    Join the Mission

    With your help we are able to train leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples.

The Holy Gospels: A Starters Guide

Date: 22/07/22

Category: Devotional General

Tags: Discipleship Good News gospel

The word gospel literally means Good News.

In the New Testament, when the apostles write about the gospel, they often add ‘of Jesus Christ’.

In other words, the story of Jesus is good news, not bad news. This is important to keep in mind when ministering to others and also reading the Bible: the story of Jesus Christ is good news, not bad news.

Jesus came to save us from our sins (John 3:17).

The four Gospels are collectively the story of Jesus’ rescue mission. Below is a basic guide to help you get started reading this good news.

1 – The purpose of the Gospels

The purpose of the Gospels is to lay out how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies about the coming Messiah in the Old Testament. It is the central event of all creation. After Adam and Eve allowed sin to enter the world, Jesus came to Earth to set us free from that condemnation. The Gospels show how that happens.

2 – There Are Four Gospels

There are four Gospels in the Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Some other gospels have claimed to be discovered over the years, but the only accounts that have been proven to be true and accurate by respected biblical scholars are these four Gospels.

3 – Three of the Gospels are Synoptic

Matthew, Mark, and Luke are often called the Synoptic Gospels because they are similar in content and structure. John is different in that it reveals a lot more of what was going on spiritually when Jesus walked the Earth, specifically his deity.

4 – The Gospels Were Written for Different Reasons

Matthew was written to show that Jesus is the Messiah. Mark depicts Jesus as the Suffering Servant. Luke was written to show that Jesus is the Savior of all people, while John showed how Jesus is the Son of God. All of these focuses collectively give us a deeper understanding of who Jesus is, thus making them all important inclusions in the Bible.

5 – The Gospels Were Written at Different Times

The Gospels were written at different times. Matthew was written before the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, but Mark was written during the persecution of Christians. Luke was penned after the destruction of the temple, and John was written after the other gospels. However, despite these differences, all four gospels were written within the first century after Jesus’ birth.

6 – The Gospels Contain Different Material

Matthew has more material about Jesus’ childhood than the other Gospels. Mark has the most material about Jesus’ miracles. Luke has a lot of material about Jesus’ teachings, but John has more material about Jesus’ identity than the other gospels. Again, these differences collectively deepen our understanding of Jesus Christ.

7 – How to read the Gospels as a new believer

Many theologians recommend that a new Christian begin reading the Gospel of John. John’s writing flows well, is easy to understand, and helps you, as a new believer, understand who this Saviour is who has touched your heart.

8 – Gaining a full perspective of Jesus’ life

If you want to follow the order of Jesus’ life, it is best to read the first few chapters of Matthew and Luke together, since they tell of the birth and childhood of Jesus. After Luke 2, in which Jesus appears as a twelve-year-old boy, there is a long gap until he is about 30 years old. All four Gospels tell of his public ministry from 30 to 33 years, death, and resurrection (highlighting the core necessity of these events to his intentions for coming to Earth).

9 – The reach of Jesus’ ministry

Jesus only preached to the Jewish people. This is not because the Gospel was not meant for Gentiles. By contrast, Jesus actually did, on occasion, minister to Gentiles. The reason why he, in a public sense, only preached to Jews, is because God’s plan was to first bring the Good News to the traditional people of God, and then expand this invitation to all people of the world (as Jesus instructs his believers to do in the Great Commission).

10 – Where the story goes from there

Luke having great attention to detail, continued the story after Jesus’ resurrection in the Book of Acts, which follows the Book of John in the Bible. This book shows how the early church took Jesus’ instructions to them and spread the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Conclusion

One hiker can look at a mountain and see the forest. Another hiker can look at the same mountain on the other side and see the waterfall. A third hiker can see the dry, sandy part of the same mountain. Together, their different perspectives help us picture a 3D image of the mountain. In the same way, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John give us different perspectives of the same amazing Saviour. Together, their combined accounts help us have a well-rounded understanding of Jesus.

Are you Christian Missions opportunities? Then check out Global Disciples Canada.

We are a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near to reach least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet, Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time when many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Holy Gospel
Recent Posts
New Year Bible Verses: Empowering Words for a Fresh Start

Here are 10 Bible verses about the new year. Get excited about the plans that the Lord has for you over this coming year!

Worshipping Jesus: Embracing a Lifestyle of Adoration and Devotion to Our Saviour

Worshipping Jesus is a cornerstone of the Christian faith, inviting believers into a deep, personal relationship with their Lord and Saviour.

Missionary Discipleship: Spreading the Gospel and Transforming Lives in Least-Reached Communities

Missionary discipleship is a calling that extends beyond the walls of the church, inspiring believers to spread the message of God's love, redemption, and transformation to the far corners of the earth, particularly in least-reached communities.

How Personal Stories Fuel Evangelistic Outreach: The Power of Testimonies

Personal testimonies play a vital role in evangelistic outreach, offering a unique and genuine opportunity to connect with others and share the transformative power of faith.

Get God Stories Every Month. - blog page

Ordinary men and women are bringing the message of Jesus Christ to those who have never heard the name of Jesus. And they are experiencing extraordinary encounters.

Sign up now and receive a monthly reminder of how God is working in the least-reached areas across the world.

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Email*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Related Posts

View All Posts
Pursuing Intimacy with Jesus

Our God is a personal God who created us for Himself and is longing for intimate relationship with us.

Date: 30/07/22

Category: Devotional General

Tags: Discipleship Good News Intimacy with God Prayer Worship

Read More
Biblical Truth and Interpretation

Biblical interpretation is simply understanding what a passage of the Bible says in order to live it well.

Date: 04/07/22

Category: Devotional General

Tags: Biblical Truth Disciplemakers Discipleship Good News

Read More
The Reach Website Logo

Give monthly, reach the world.

Join our community of monthly donors bringing the hope of Jesus to least-reached people groups around the world.