This gospel is a familiar concept to Christians and many other who grew up
in the church, however to others, the word can seem quite foreign or
one that is filled with misconceptions. For some, gospel is only
familiar as a musical genre, complete with bad haircuts and an
ancient sound. Even many Christians also have some misconceptions
about the gospel. While there is general consenseous about what the
gospel is, the good news that Jesus Christ came to earth to redeem
sinners, many misunderstand its applications. It is common for
Christians to believe that the gospel is only for non-Christians,
only necessary for those who have not yet been justified by grace and
the gospel.
According
to Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York,
“The main problem, then, in the Christian life is that we have not
thought out the deep implications of the gospel, we have not “used”
the gospel in and on all parts of our life. Paul says that the gospel
only does its renewing work in us as we understand it in all its
truth. All of us, to some degree live around the truth of the gospel
but do not "get" it. So the key to continual and deeper
spiritual renewal and revival is the continual re-discovery of the
gospel. A stage of renewal is always the discovery of a new
implication or application of the gospel--seeing more of its truth.
This is true for either an individual or a church.”
The
gospel is how we grow (Galatians 3:1-3), and renewed (Col 1:6). Our
need for it does not stop when we become Christians. We do not move
on to a mix of hard work and obedience, which is warned against by
Paul in the passage from Galatians, to grow in our relationship with
Christ. Instead, we examine our lives to see that they are in line
with the gospel (Galatians 2:14) as Paul exhorted Peter for.
Grace
& Peace is a Bowling Green Presbyterian church that constantly
thinking, evaluating, and contextualizing the gospel. By doing so,
they are more thoughtful and winsome in life, less about religiously
conforming and more about hope and restoration. The hope is a new
heart which begins to change from the inside out. For the
skeptical person or the religious person, this environment gives
answers and direction to have their lives restored and rebuilt in
accordance with their creator. Grace & Peace a safe place
for the religious and irreligious to process the good news of
Christianity. For the Christian going through the motions, Grace &
Peace is a thoughtful, gracious place not bogged down by religious
duties, but freed from burden by a forgiving God.
Grace
& Peace is made up by a group of individuals who gather weekly to
have their lives restored by the gospel. They are knit together by a
message tailor-made for broken people — people who find it easier
to pretend than to be transformed. They welcome anyone – from the
religiously tired, who need a break from the spiritual treadmill, to
the unchurched, who need a safe place to process the gospel message.