What is the Gospel?

The reason the disciples grew into apostles and men of God is because they received what Jesus had to say and attentively soaked it in! When he said those who hunger and thirst, he was not kidding! When he said to the religious folks of that day; “My word has no place in you” he was saying you won’t receive it, you won’t eat it, and you won’t partake of what I have to say! Listen I had to really slow myself down to learn how to “chew’ on the word of God like a cow chews on her cud! While I am doing this I begin to see all kinds of other things that the spirit of God wants to show me! When Jesus said “this is my body” “broken for you” did you hear the word broken? He said “my food” is to do the will of my Father! He talked about food a lot actually and even Ezekiel was told to ‘eat a book!” Why do children grow? Do they grow by just imitating their parents or do they grow because of other reasons? If we teach our child to clean the kitchen, wash the toilet, cook and pick up their room does that mean they are ready to go out and run a household and have families of their own? Filling up pews does not mean we are growing! And we don’t have (as a church) any business out there in the world with our fingers pointing at people screaming: “sinner!” I don’t think Paul could have been any more clear when he said we must look at what is going on WITH US and IN US and not be judging those who are outside! don't be so shocked by the unsaved sinning: sinners sin that's what they do! We need to eat, drink and soak in the things of the Lord, not just learn about it and use it as a ruler to smack people's hands with! We need to offer the Love of Jesus (which we have received) and keep on offering it! Those who make God sound like an angry Father mad at everyone are not preaching GOOD NEWS which is what the Gospel is and was designed to be! Are you preaching good news or scaring people have to death? What would Jesus do  and what did he do ? Let's be like that! -Laura Grace