Intro | Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

The gospel calls us to care for the oppressed, to practice justice, and to serve as stewards over Creation.

The gospel is the "good news" that God is at work in Jesus Christ, reconciling the world to himself (2 Corinthians 5:18 , Colossians 1:20). "Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great" (1 Timothy 3:16, NRSV). The mystery of the gospel has been revealed to us by the Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth. The Holy Scriptures serve as the primary witness to the truth of the gospel, and the ongoing witness of the church proclaims the gospel in word and deed.

The gospel announces that human beings, as created in the image of God, and are designed for fellowship with their Creator, with one another, and with the world in caretaking and stewardship (Genesis 1:26-28). Because of our sinfulness we are alienated from God, one another, and the earth. Humanity, therefore, exists in a broken and fallen state, under the penalty of sin, which is death. All of Creation now groans under the curse of bondage and decay, awaiting the day of its freedom (Romans 8:19-22).

The good news is that God in his great love sent Jesus, his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish in sin but have eternal life (John 3:16). The gospel proclaims that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He freely laid down his life and was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He was buried and rose again on the third day. He ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of the Father, ever making intercession for us (Romans 8:34). On the Day of Pentecost, God poured out the Holy Spirit upon the church, empowering those who had received ...