PASSAGE GUIDE | Gospel - Life change motivated by the same Gospel that redeemed us.
The gospel is a declaration of good news that transforms every part of life. It is not just an entry point into faith but the foundation and fuel for ongoing transformation. At the heart of this good news is the truth that, through Jesus, God has accomplished what humanity could never do on its own—defeating sin, death, and the enemy. Jesus lived the life we could not live, died the death we deserved, rose again in victory, and now reigns and prepares a place for those who trust in Him. The gospel is not advice or instruction; it is an announcement of a victorious reality that changes everything.
Many people struggle not with believing that God loves them, but with believing that He actually delights in them. Yet the gospel assures us that, in Christ, we are not only loved but seen, accepted, and delighted in. God is not a reluctant Father disappointed by our failures, but a joyful Father who embraces His children with mercy and grace. When we are united with Christ, we are fully clothed in His righteousness—no longer striving to earn approval but living from a place of secure acceptance. This leads not to complacency but to a life of gratitude, joy, and increasing obedience born from love.
The parable of the prodigal son beautifully illustrates this truth. It reveals that both the rebellious and the self-righteous need the gospel. The younger son, in his reckless living, and the older son, in his prideful performance, both misunderstand the heart of the Father. But the Father responds to each with love, pursuing and inviting them into restoration. The gospel exposes the depth of sin’s offense and its false promises, but it also displays God’s staggering kindness and His desire to restore what is broken. Repentance is not driven by guilt alone, but by the remembrance of God’s character and generosity.
The power of the gospel changes not just hearts but how we view all of life. Work becomes a means of revealing God’s creativity. Time is a gift to steward. Money is a tool to bless others. Our bodies are sacred vessels for God’s purposes. Marriage reflects the self-giving love of Christ, and children are image-bearers to be nurtured with grace. Obedience matters not because it earns God’s love, but because it deepens our experience of it. The gospel reshapes how we see everything, aligning our lives with God’s kingdom story.
Most of all, the gospel assures us that we are loved the same on our best and worst days. Obedience flows from joy, not fear. God is not distant or disinterested—He is near, actively transforming us by His Spirit with great joy. We have been saved from the penalty of sin, are being saved from its power, and will one day be saved from its presence. The goodness of the gospel should never stop overwhelming us, for in it we find our true story, our truest hope, and our deepest joy.
SCREENSHOTS
- When the Gospel transforms you, its goodness never stops overwhelming you.
- The gospel is the declaration that through Jesus, God has won the final victory over sin, death, hell, and the enemy.
- The gospel is good news for the pretenders and the performers, for the rebels and the rule followers because the gospel says to us all…Jesus loves you.
*We are a church located in Greenville, South Carolina. Our vision is to see God transform us into a community of grace, passionately pursuing life and mission with Jesus.
SUGGESTIONS FOR COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION
Remember, these are “suggested” questions. You do not have to go through every single one of them. You do not need to listen to both sermons at both campuses to participate in the discussion.
OPENING PRAYER
Open by thanking God for the Gospel. Thanking him for remaking our lives in light of the Gospel. Asking him to deepen our understanding and obedience to the Gospel.
READ THE TEXT
Read all of Luke 15:11-32
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What stood out to you from either the passage or the sermon?
- What is the gospel?
- What do you love about the gospel?
- How does understanding the gospel as a story of redemption reshape the way you read the Bible?
- How does understanding the gospel reshape how we view obedience?
- In what ways does the gospel free us from performing for God's love and acceptance?
- Do you find it easier to believe that God loves you or that He delights in you? Why?
- In the story of the prodigal son, do you more often identify with the rebellious younger brother or the self-righteous older brother? Why?
- What false promises has sin made in your life, and how has the gospel revealed their emptiness?
- How does the gospel change your view of things like work, time, money, and relationships?
- How might your life look different if you truly believed, every day, that you are deeply loved and fully accepted in Christ?
PRACTICE OPTIONS
Life in Community: Ask a close friend or spouse what you can better understand about the Gospel?
Life with Jesus: Read through one of the Gospel this week and reflect every time you see the word Gospel. Where and how it is used. Ask the Spirit to transform how you think and understand the Gospel.
Life on Mission: Look for one opportunity this week to serve one of your neighbors in a new and different way.
CLOSING PRAYER
Spend time in prayer thanking God for the Gospel as a group and individually.