The Gospel is a Story

I read an article in Christianity Today called The 8 Marks of a Robust Gospel. It's written by Scot McKnight.

Do we settle for a small, weak gospel? Do we miniaturize the gospel?

I may work my way through the 8 Marks discussed in this article, taking them on one at a time.

The robust gospel is a story.

There is a big picture to the Gospel. Jesus' entry into the world as a human wasn't the first mark on a blank slate. There is a big picture to the Bible. His incarnation is a response to a world of sin and brokenness. His presence brings hope in darkness. Light in sin.

The minister who lead communion this evening at the Gathering stood up and kind of squinted at us. He said, "It's very bright in here; we're not used to the light." He meant that the overhead lights were on and that they usually weren't, but what I heard is that the world is made brighter through Christ -- sometimes it seems so bright that we can't deal with the light.

Jesus came to a world of darkness and offers us hope. He leads us into the kingdom of God, knowing that we don't know the way and that we need his leadership.

Image: Santuary at St. John's United Methodist in Teays Valley