Overwhelmed by the Power of the Gospel
A note on the audio: This lesson's audio is a sermon recording in Korean. The notes below are in English, but pressing play will play Korean speech.
[Listen to the provided sermon audio recording and record your answers as you go.]
Romans 1:16-17
1. I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel
Paul said he was not ashamed of the gospel. Why did he say this? Because there was considerable resistance to it at the time.
1 Corinthians 1:22-23
The Jews wanted signs and miracles. They were hoping for a political messiah. The Greeks sought wisdom. The schools of the famous philosophers of the day were in fashion. But the gospel is the news of Jesus's death and resurrection. To the Jews, this sounded like an unlucky, offensive story. To the Greeks, it sounded like foolishness.
1 Corinthians 1:24
"Even if people dislike it, I will not be ashamed of the gospel, because when this cross and resurrection are preached, someone is saved through it." With this conviction, Paul preached nothing but the gospel of the cross and resurrection of Jesus.
Reflection Questions
Q. Do you carry this same overwhelming conviction about the cross and resurrection of Jesus? Like Paul, are you convinced that the message of the cross and resurrection is the wisdom and power of God? Further, have you experienced this power of the gospel flowing through you? If so, write it down.
2. The Saving Power Held Within the Gospel
Romans 1:16
The greatest power in the world is the saving power held within the gospel. We must experience this for ourselves. Only then do we come to proclaim it.
First, the Forgiveness of Sin (Listen from around the 20-minute mark of the sermon and summarize what you hear.)
Romans 3:23-24
Reflection Questions
Q. What does Scripture identify as humanity's most fundamental problem?
Q. What does Scripture mean by sin?
Q. What does the forgiveness of sin (redemption) mean? Listen to the sermon and summarize it in detail.
Second, Life (Listen from around the 25-minute mark of the sermon and summarize what you hear.)
Romans 5:18
Reflection Questions
Q. What kind of life is this?
John 4:13-14
Q. Have you ever drunk the water of this world and experienced a thirst that would not go away? What was it?
Q. Through the gospel, have you met Jesus and experienced the life that fills you? Write it down.
Looking Back
God has not placed this immense life anywhere else. He has placed it only within the gospel of the cross and resurrection of Jesus. That is why the gospel alone is the power of God that brings salvation. We have received salvation through this gospel. We must know the gospel's worth more deeply. We must know the gospel more deeply. This is the most important thing in the world.
Let's pray now. Pray earnestly for at least ten minutes.
"God, reveal this gospel to me more fully. Let me know the glory of the gospel, and let me experience its power still more. Let me be so gripped by this gospel that I cannot bear not to preach it! Above all, do not let this training pass by as just another course — let this truly be a time when the gospel is engraved deep within me!"