Plumbline #6: “The gospel is not just the diving board—it is the pool.”
Saturating your congregation in the gospel is the greatest catalyst to their engagement in mission. It is as we learn how far God went to save us and how much he gave up that passion to reach the lost around us is inflamed.
Where do we get the motivation to make uncomfortable changes, to give up our time, talent and treasure for Jesus? We can only gain this sort of passion by first gaining a vision of what Jesus did for us.
As a friend of mine says, “The fire to do in the Christian life comes from being soaked in the fuel of what has been done.” And the gospel creates not only passion, but also vision. The gospel shows us the lostness of our surrounding world and the willingness of God to reach it. His passion to save is measured by the cross and his willingness to do so is measured by the resurrection.
Most evangelicals see the gospel as merely the entry rite into Christianity, the diving board into the pool. But the gospel is both diving board and pool.
As we grow in awe and worship of who God is and what He’s done for us at the cross, we begin to serve God naturally. Fervency and effectiveness in mission are the byproducts of saturation in the gospel.
So above all else, preach the gospel!
Until people are saturated in the gospel, you can never create a true serving culture in your church. But when the gospel is deep in people’s hearts, they will burn for the mission— n their families, in their communities, in their country and around the world.
