Not Ashamed of the Gospel

The sermon opens by recalling the foundation of the Church as Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:10-11), and emphasizes that the primary purpose of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel. The pastor explains that without the Gospel, no one can hear about redemption, no one can believe and be saved, and every other church activity—worship, equipping, and fellowship—loses its meaning. Proclaiming the Gospel is therefore the central priority for the congregation in the new year.

The heart of the sermon analyzes three key truths about the Gospel based on Romans 1:16-17. First, the Gospel is news about a historical event, not a moral teaching or a list of requirements to earn God's acceptance. Other religions say 'do this to be accepted by God,' but the Gospel announces what God has already done 2,000 years ago through the birth, atoning death, resurrection, and gift of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ. Second, the Gospel is what God has done for sinners, not what sinners do for God. Those who believe receive justification and reconciliation with God entirely by grace—like a person receiving a presidential pardon despite their crimes. Third, the Gospel is the power of God to save and transform lives, not human merit or self-effort.

The sermon uses the story of Martin Luther to illustrate the transforming power of the Gospel. Luther, a devout monk and doctor of theology, lived in terror of God's righteousness until he grasped the true meaning of 'the righteous shall live by faith.' When he understood it, he felt as though he had been born again and entered heaven. This correct understanding of the Gospel completely transformed Luther's life and sparked the Protestant Reformation, creating the division between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.

The pastor also shares Pastor Tim Keller's story about a woman named Joy to illustrate how the Gospel is received with tears of joy by the broken and marginalized, yet rejected by the morally proud as 'too easy.' In secular urban contexts, many reject it because the Gospel is too clear and simple in a world that prefers ambiguity. This demonstrates that the Gospel contradicts every system of thought and every culture—which is itself evidence of its unique power and divine origin.

The sermon closes with an encouragement for the congregation not to be ashamed or afraid when sharing the Gospel. The pastor reminds them that the task of the believer is simply to be a messenger of good news that happened long ago—not to compel anyone to believe. The power to bring a person to saving faith belongs to God through the Holy Spirit, and God's Word will not return to Him empty (Isaiah 55:11-12). The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 is cited as the foundation for the Church's evangelistic mission.