American Gospel 2 #1
American Gospel • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 5 viewsNotes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
As we get ready for our Bible study this evening, we’re going to kick off the 2nd American Gospel film called American Gospel: Christ Crucified. Last year we took several weeks to go through the first film and it looked at how we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone not through our actions or works. This cuts against the “gospel” message that many people in our world currently believe as so many think that their works can save themselves. Over the next few weeks, we’ll explore this second film that focuses on what exactly Jesus Christ has done for us and why His death in our place is so significant. Before we get started, this is a question to get our brains thinking: What is at stake if we get Jesus wrong?
Our eternal destination and salvation!
Like we talked about on Sunday night, there are certain theological things that we can certainly disagree on and still worship together. You might think that the best Christian song ever is Amazing Grace and I might say that it’s In Christ Alone and we can still worship together in the same church and serve together! But, if one of us believes that we are saved through our hard work and or that Jesus wasn’t really the Son of God or that the Bible is wrong… well then we’re crossed the Rubicon - history nerds know what that means - and we’re past the point of no return. We must get the Gospel right and we must get Jesus right!
Tonight we’ll be in section 1 of this study and it focuses on “Progressive Christianity” as many people have drifted from what Scripture teaches and inserted their own feelings and views in place of God’s Word. As we do this, there are several people who are outspokenly against the authority of God’s Word and it would help to know their names going into tonight so you can differentiate them from those who affirm God’s Word. Bart Campolo, Tony Jones, John Williamson and Adam Narloch of the Deconstructionist Podcast, Rob Bell, and Brian McLaren. Let’s watch this opening section and then we’ll have some time to discuss.
Show Video
1. Bart Campolo explains his testimony as a transcendent, emotional experience involving music and a community of people, while on the other hand Russell Berger was alone reading his bible. Both considered these details important in describing how they came to faith. What makes each of their stories distinct, and are the differences important? Explain your answer.
47 If anyone hears my words and doesn’t keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
48 The one who rejects me and doesn’t receive my sayings has this as his judge: The word I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
49 For I have not spoken on my own, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a command to say everything I have said.
2. Take a moment to read 1 Corinthians 2:14-16, Matthew 13:18-23 and John 12:47- 49. Bart Campolo describes his departure from the Christianity of the Bible, while Russell has embraced it. Applying these verses to their testimonies, what is apparent about Bart’s? What is apparent about Russell’s in contrast to Bart’s?
Why are Progressive Christians so against certainty?
This is a line in the sand type situation. Are we with the World or with the Word. The Word is absolutely certain on some things!
3. With Bart Campolo’s testimony in mind, consider what scripture says about supernatural signs (See Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22). Jesus said that those who believe without seeing Him are blessed (John 20:29). In addition, faith is described as “the substance of things hoped for, the proof of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Like seeing, any “experience” is a stirring of the physical senses. If you must “see” or “experience” to believe that is not an expression of faith. Does the Bible promise experiences? Support your answer with Scripture.
“If there’s one sin in the progressive church it’s the sin of certainty.” Alisa Childers
“Beware of people who charge in with certainty and bible verses.” Rob Bell
“The distinctive feature of postmodernism was skepticism... postmodernism is the abandonment of certainty and knowledge.” Phil Johnson
Have you heard of Deconstruction before? What does that bring to mind?
“Deconstruction” is the heading most recently applied to the process of questioning, doubting, and ultimately rejecting aspects of Christian faith.
There are some positive things about questioning the things that we grew up hearing and we must weigh them with what Scripture teaches in Acts 17 - we test all things to God’s Word not just because that’s how things have always been done because sometimes, things have always been done in ways that are contrary to God’s Word. This can be a good thing… but more often than not it’s not - it’s a way to not submit to Scripture when it comes to difficult truths and instead insert a popular modern belief or feeling into Scripture.
We see people in the Bible had genuine doubts - and that’s a normal thing in many ways… but we must be sure to always look to Scripture to answer them and to make sure that what we believe lines up with Scripture unlike some of the people in this episode. Many people deconstruct into something that doesn’t even look like Biblical Christianity. This is where many Progressive Christians go and we must beware to make sure that in answering questions and being welcoming, respectful, and loving towards others, we don’t go against Scripture. Scripture must be our anchor and foundation.
How does 1 John 2:15 speak to Progressive Christianity?
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Often people in progressive Christianity love the world and those within the world more than they love God and the things of God. Loving God will result in loving God’s creation and the people of the world… but loving people first often leads to failing to love God the way that He demands to be loved and worshiped.
7. Consider what the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and consider what Jesus says in John 3:3. Is a citizen in God’s Kingdom free to identify themselves by anything that is listed in this 1 Corinthians verse? Read Philippians 3:17-20
17 Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us.
18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame; and they are focused on earthly things,
20 Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Are we to identify with the sinful things of this world, or with the things of God?
Jesus says that we must be born again - really good book on this subject by Dr. Alan Branch of MBTS called “Born this Way” and I highly recommend it. We’re all in need of repentance and being born again so that we don’t continue to live in unrepentant sin as Hebrews 10:26 says if we do this there is no forgiveness of sins… We can’t modify what it means to be a Christian in any way. You can’t say I’m a Gay Christian just as you can’t say I’m an American Christian or I’m a rich Christian. The reason why is basic grammar. When Adjectives modify Nouns and, in that sense, give the noun a more narrow definition… You can’t modify a Christian. You either are one or you are not. You can’t modify a born-again Christian no more than you can cease to be a human.
8. Russell Berger was fired from his job for believing what the bible said about homosexuality. Consider 2 Timothy 3:12. Are you prepared to face resistance for believing what the Bible says?
12 In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Are we prepared for this? Jesus assured us it will happen whenever we stand on God’s Word.
We see so many people watering down the Gospel in order to fit in, get clicks, stay relevant, or stay where they’ve always been in the squishy middle that isn’t looking so squishy anymore.
Michael Todd - most influential pastor with next generation and Gen-Z stuff recently said “I don’t Know” what the Bible says about homosexual marriages. Andy Stanley - LGBTQ people have an illness
“Jesus is Himself the gospel, the good news... in the old testament He is predicted, in the gospels He is revealed, in the acts He is preached, in the epistles He is explained, and in the book of Revelation He’s expected.” Alistair Begg
“Jesus bypassed the Temple and offered in His own person the forgiveness of sins.” Michael Horton
“Anytime anyone anywhere has been saved, it has been by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.” Steven Lawson
“When Christ made that call, He said ‘Follow Me.’ Paul makes the call the same way, he says, ‘We preach Christ and Him crucified.’” Don Green
“You can’t answer, ‘what is the gospel?’ Jesus was preaching the gospel before He died on the cross for sins!” Tony Jones
9. Isaiah 53:6 begins, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way...”, what is the message of this verse in contrast to the gospel (the good news)? It continues, “and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all”. Do you believe you have sin for which you must answer to God? Has your sin been “laid upon” Jesus?
10. You learned in the film that a true believer is someone who recognizes their spiritual need and who mourns over their sin. Does this describe you? If not, go before the Lord in prayer as the tax collector did in Luke 18:10-14 and ask for Jesus to help you. What key traits does the tax collector display? (see James 4:6)