What is the gospel?
The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ gave his life for us to redeem us from our sins and bring us into new life in him. We understand this to be the most important truth that a person can discover and experience. We read in the Bible about the gospel's importance:
15:1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
- 1 Corinthians 15:1–5 (ESV)
This means that our congregation treasures the gospel and values it above all. This good news is also the centre of all our efforts and ministries in the church. We desire everyone in our community to experience this good news as a daily reality.
So the gospel must remain central - in life, in thought, in relationships, and in practice.
In life, the gospel shapes our conduct and walk, showing us how to be more like Jesus.
In thought, the gospel renews our minds to set out thoughts on what God's desires are and on thinking how we may please him.
In relationships, the gospel draws us into the forgiveness of God so that we may express this same grace and love to others in our midst.
In practice, the gospel is held up as our message to a world that is lost and hopeless.
The gospel is the center of our life and minstry at TEFC. It is the truth by which we are saved and we hope that everyone in our community can have the gospel as a rooted and centred reality in their daily lives.