The document outlines the "Big Picture" of the gospel and church. It explains that the gospel is the good news of what God has done through Jesus Christ to restore his rule over creation and bring reconciliation to all who repent and trust in Jesus. The church is defined as God's people saved by his power for his purposes, to serve as an outpost of Jesus' kingdom and make his invisible kingdom visible through grace and the Holy Spirit. The Big Picture shows that everything is about Jesus, from creation to salvation to the purpose of the church, which exists to proclaim the gospel to the world.

1. 2. The Big Picture - Gospel and Church
Knowing the Big Picture helps us to answer the question, “What does God say life is all about?”
It Also Helps Us to Answer Life’s Big Questions - Who? What? How?
1. Who am I?
2. What is my purpose?
3. How do I accomplish my purpose?
The Big Picture
Jesus
  
  
Gospel  Church  Mission
As we see it’s not about us, it’s about Jesus! Even Jesus said this!
It’s About Jesus!!!
1. Jesus created the universe
2. Jesus sustains all things
3. Jesus will inherit all things
4. Jesus will judge everyone
5. Jesus will be King over all
The Big Picture - The Gospel
Importance of the Gospel
Luke 4:43 (NLT)
But he replied, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because
that is why I was sent.”
Romans 1:16 (NIV)
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who
believes…
Definition of the Gospel
The gospel is the good news of what God has done through His Son Jesus Christ to restore His
reign and rule over all creation and bring reconciliation to all those who repent and place their trust
in Jesus.
Aspects of the Gospel
1. Understanding/Believing the gospel
2. Living the gospel
3. Proclaiming the gospel
4. Defending the gospel
Understanding the Gospel
1. Growing in knowledge and understanding of the gospel.
2. Able to write out the gospel.
3. Able to clearly explain the gospel to others.
You never leave the gospel to go onto other things. You only go deeper into it.
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2. Living the Gospel
1. Preach the gospel to yourself daily.
2. Live based on the truths of who you are in Christ.
3. Live a cruciform life.
4. Live a life of repentance and faith.
Proclaiming the Gospel
1. Holy Spirit – need for prayer
2. Gospel – know it well
3. Testimony – your story & life
Defending the Gospel (Questions you should be able to answer)
1. Why believe in God?
2. Why believe that the Bible is the Word of God?
3. Why does God allow evil and suffering?
4. Why does God send people to hell?
The Big Picture - The Church
What is the Church?
The church is not a building! Ekklesia is the Greek word from which we get our word "church" from. An
"ekklesia" is a gathering of people who have been called out for a purpose.
David Wells
We have turned to a God we can use rather than a God we must obey; we have turned to a God who will
fulfill our need rather than a God before whom we must surrender our rights to ourselves. He is a God for
us, for our satisfaction-- not because we have learned to think of him in this way through Christ but because
we have learned to think of him this way through the marketplace. Everything is for us, for our pleasure, for
our satisfaction, and we have come to assume that it must be so in the church as well.
Importance of the Church
Ephesians 3:10-11 (NLT)
God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the
unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried
out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Matthew 16:13-15 (NLT)
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say
that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and
others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I
am?”
Matthew 16:16-18 (NLT)
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed,
Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any
human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my
church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
1 Peter 2:4-5 (NIV)
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you
also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
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3. 1 Corinthians 12:7, 27 (NLT)
7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other… 27 All of you together are
Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
The Church
1. Bride of Christ
2. Body of Christ
3. Family of God
God as Trinity is our guide for our relationships with one another in the church.
The Church is a community of people who belong to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
The church is a community of imperfect people clinging to a perfect Christ who are being perfected
by grace. -- Jonathan Dodson
The Church is God’s people saved by God’s power for God’s purposes. -- Soma Communities
The purpose of the church is to serve as an outpost of Jesus’ kingdom that makes the invisible
kingdom visible by the grace of God and power of the Holy Spirit. -- Mark Driscoll
The Church shows the world what it looks like to live under the reign and rule of Jesus.
The church is a light, a city on a hill before a watching world.
The Big Picture
Jesus
  
  
Gospel  Church  Mission
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