Don't Lose the Gospel (Mark 2, John 11)
This sermon invites listeners to deeply consider the unchanging truth and necessity of the gospel in a world constantly in flux. It explores Jesus' core mission and how His grace brings about profound spiritual transformation.
This sermon urges listeners to keep the gospel central, reminding them that its timeless message of Jesus' purpose to save sinners remains powerful and necessary for transformation in a changing world.
Overview
The sermon begins by examining Mark 2:13-17, where Jesus declares His purpose to call sinners to repentance rather than the righteous. The preacher emphasizes that this gospel message, the 'good news,' is one of the most important messages we possess, yet it risks being lost or deemed irrelevant amidst shifting cultural landscapes.
Drawing on C.S. Lewis's concept of 'chronological snobbery,' the sermon asserts that the gospel is transcendent, not outdated. It then unpacks four truths about the gospel through the story of Lazarus in John 11. First, the gospel magnifies the glory of God revealed in Jesus, positioning Christ as the preeminent center of our stories, not ourselves.
Next, the sermon argues that the gospel confronts the reality of our spiritual death apart from Christ, revealing that we are dead in sin, not merely sick. Understanding this gravity of sin, the preacher states, provides the essential context for appreciating the beauty of the cross. It then announces our justification before God, an instantaneous miracle that changes our standing with Him through Jesus' sacrifice.
Finally, the sermon illustrates how the gospel ignites transformation by His grace, showing that we are unbound and transformed *after* Jesus calls us out of the grave. The message concludes with a fervent call for the gospel to remain ever on our lips, in our hearts, and central to every aspect of our lives, recognizing it as the greatest message ever lived.
Key points
- Jesus declares His purpose in Mark 2:17, stating He came to call sinners to repentance, not the righteous.
- The church must guard against 'chronological snobbery,' which wrongly dismisses the timeless gospel as irrelevant or out of date.
- The gospel magnifies the glory of God revealed in Jesus, emphasizing Christ's preeminence as the center of every story.
- It confronts the reality of our spiritual death apart from Christ, underscoring that we are dead in sin, not merely sick.
- The gospel announces our justification before God, an instantaneous change in our standing made possible by Jesus' sacrifice.
- Transformation by grace is ignited by the gospel; we are called out of the grave by Jesus, and then unbound by Him.
- The gospel is the greatest message ever lived and must remain ever-present in our lives and communities.
In Rick Warren's words
“I did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
“Light and erroneous views of sin will cause us to have light and erroneous views of the cross.”
“You can't remove your grave clothes. Only he can.”
Outline
- Introduction: Don't Lose the Gospel
- A. Jesus' Purpose: Calling Sinners to Repentance (Mark 2:13-17)
- B. The Danger of Losing the Gospel Amidst Cultural Shifts
- C. The Gospel's Transcendent Nature: Countering 'Chronological Snobbery'
- Four Truths of the Gospel (Illustrated by Lazarus's Story in John 11)
- I. The Gospel Magnifies the Glory of God Revealed in Jesus (John 11:1-4)
- A. Christ is Preeminent; We are Secondary Characters
- B. Our Stories are for God's Glory
- II. The Gospel Confronts the Reality of Our Death Apart from Christ (John 11:5-16)
- A. Apart from Christ, We Are Dead in Our Sin
- B. Understanding Sin's Gravity Reveals the Cross's Beauty
- III. The Gospel Announces Our Justification Before God (John 11:17-27)
- A. Martha's Grief and Jesus' Declaration: "I am the resurrection and the life."
- B. Justification: An Instantaneous, God-Given Change in Standing
- IV. The Gospel Ignites Transformation by His Grace (John 11:38-44)
- A. Jesus Deeply Moved, Calls Lazarus Out of the Tomb
- B. We are Unbound After Jesus Calls Us Out of the Grave
- C. Transformation is God's Ongoing Plan of Growth by Grace
- Conclusion: Do Not Lose the Gospel
Scripture references
13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.
14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alpheus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judea again.
8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
Insights
The gospel is not merely a message to be told, but a life to be truly lived.
God's glory rightfully belongs at the center of every human story.
Jesus sees our current situation and is deeply moved by our circumstances.
Questions & answers
What is the main point of this sermon?
The sermon's main point is to urge listeners not to lose sight of the gospel message, emphasizing its continuous necessity, power, and centrality in individual lives and the church, even as the world changes.
What does the preacher mean by 'chronological snobbery'?
Chronological snobbery, a term borrowed from C.S. Lewis, refers to the uncritical acceptance of the intellectual climate of one's own age and the assumption that anything old or 'out of date' is automatically discredited.
How does the story of Lazarus illustrate the gospel?
The story of Lazarus in John 11 illustrates the gospel by showing how it magnifies God's glory, confronts our spiritual death, announces our justification, and ignites transformation through Jesus' grace.
What is 'justification' as described in the sermon?
Justification is described as a miraculous, instantaneous change in a person's relationship or standing before God, which has been disturbed by sin but is made new through the sacrifice of Jesus.
What does 'unbind him and let him go' signify in the sermon's argument?
This phrase signifies that our transformation and freedom from the 'grave clothes' of sin happen *after* Jesus calls us out of spiritual death. It emphasizes that we don't need to clean ourselves up before coming to Him.
Flashcards
Turn your pastor's sermon into notes like this
Record at church or paste a YouTube link. Sermon Notes gives you summaries, scriptures, flashcards, and a daily devotional from your own sermons.
More from Rick Warren
Related on similar themes
Source
Unofficial AI summary for study purposes. Watch the full sermon on Saddleback Church. Sermon Insights is not affiliated with or endorsed by the pastor or church.