5 Gospel ingredients that everyone needs today.

It’s not rocket science. Pastors can feel under pressure to produce some amazing strategic plan for their church. ‘This where we are going to be in 5 years!’ Many don’t make the long haul because they realise they can no longer pull rabbits out of hats and make their church better than the one round the corner, they fail the expectations of many, being a Messiah is impossible.

But it is simple. We make life complicated.

Not everyone is called to be a Pastor of a church. Not everyone is called to be a full-time Evangelist, Missionary and Church Planter travelling the world as an Apostle.

But all of us are called to the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ.

Today is the day for the gospel. Are you ready?

“For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, ⁵ because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.” (1 Thessalonians 4-5)

This is the testimony of the missionary team. We came with:-

• Words – Yes we need to show acts of kindness to align with our words but they absolutely did speak the gospel and that is still the requirement today. In our conversations they do need other things and here they are.
• Power – The word used is not that of the healing and other miracles but of course it doesn’t exclude them. But it is speaking with the confidence of belief, the person speaking is convinced, they are powerfully speaking. How?
• Holy Spirit – there is a person who if not there then all that we do falls to the ground. Our confidence is that because of His presence then any success is down to Him. Only He can change a person. And because of His presence then the 4^th ingredient naturally is there also.
• Deep conviction – This is not a theoretical presentation. This gospel has changed your life. The Holy Spirit is full in your life and you know His constant presence. You know the gospel will transform because it transforms you. But the above 4 ingredients are still not enough. The 5^th is needed.
• Testimony – “You know” are two words often used in this letter and elsewhere. The world does know how we live among them. Whether our words match our lives.