Gospel on the mind

Romans 12:2 ESV

Gospel renewal is when a person or community of believers find an in depth understanding of the gospel and the messages that comes with it. Instead of just knowing the gospel, they genuinely believe in it and base their lives upon it. Gospel renewal can stem from awareness, accountability, comprehending God’s word, personal or communal experiences, and more. Gospel renewal is an understanding of Christ and a commitment to his rules and restrictions; it is relying on the spirit of the lord rather than oneself. It also includes gaining a deeper focus on his word and message behind the writing. We can work out gospel renewal within ourselves by reading the word every day to know the genuinely know the bible, rather than just knowing religion. By doing this, an individual can form a deep and personal connection with God that pulls them closer to his kingdom and towards his will. Having a personal connection with God is so important because it allows you to hear from him and allow his voice to speak and guide you, through both challenges and successes. Reading the word everyday also helps an individual know how to deal with certain struggles, as well as why they have certain struggles or urges. “Renewal Comes Through the Gospel”, this article, found in the Liberty University’s library, written by Noah Shaw, emphasizes how important it is to acknowledge sin, comprehend God’s word, and live by it. You can work out gospel renewal within a community by simply abiding by Gods rules and living the word. “The Gospel-Centered Church”, by D.A Carson, also talks about the importance of a gospel centered church, because it creates a deep sense of community, and unites believers. The company an individual keeps around themselves will heavily impact who they are. Whis is why the community in which you surround yourself must have the same beliefs as you and not the opposite. For example, the bible declares lying to be a sin; so, a believer should take it upon themselves to live by that declaration, abide by it, and surround themselves with people who do the same. So, if that individual used to lie every day, they should make it their mission to be truthful every day. Even if they slip up, it does not condemn them; they just have to keep trying until it eventually becomes a habit. Jesus died on the cross so that we would be able to have slip ups or mistakes without it resulting in condemnation. The church should shape preaching in a way that helps the congregation understand the word, rather than pointing out blame, condemning, or shaming a person. This would result in a gospel renewal for the congregation and strengthen the community, as well as bring people closer to God. “Gospel Renewal (Church Renewal I)”, this book speaks about the different ways and practices gospel encourages community transformation. As well as “A Study of the Renewal of Worship through the restoration of the Public Nature of the Gospel: A case study of the Seed Church, Jubilee Together, and CRIS”, this also speaks on how gospel and worship renewal restores the trust of faith in society. Both articles can be found in Liberty University’s Jerry Falwell Library.