The document contrasts the common conception of the gospel as getting into heaven after death through prayer and belief with Jesus' message of the kingdom of God. It argues that Jesus proclaimed the gospel as the good news of God's reign through unconditional, selfless love of God and others. True disciples surrender fully to this call to radical love and experience the kingdom of God on earth through living as Jesus lived.

1. What do I believe?

2. You are a sinner. You are going to hell. If you believe our message and say a prayer, you will go to heaven. It’s very easy, free, and convenient. Is the gospel about going to haven …. … like fire-insurance?

3. The contemporary gospel is primarily INFORMATION ON HOW TO GO TO HEAVEN AFTER YOU DIE with a large footnote about increasing your personal happiness and success through God. with a small footnote about character development with a smaller footnote about spiritual experience with a smaller footnote about social/global transformation.

4. What if we have become confused about what the gospel of Jesus Christ really is? What if there are two gospels being proclaimed within Christianity? What if we are proclaiming a gospel about Jesus, but not the gospel Jesus proclaimed?

5. Shouldn’t we let Jesus define the gospel? ?

6. The time has come, he said. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!Mark 1:15

7. Remember: Kingdoms were contemporary realities in Jesus’ day!

8. There was no problem with proclaiming a new religion - but proclaiming a new kingdomwould get you killed!

9. To proclaim a new kingdom meant a new supreme authority … and it meant a new way of life.

10. Jesus proclaimed a radically different framing story … Good news of the Kingdom of God. The Gospel / Good news - announcement of a new regime, administration, victory. Kingdom - reigning, relationships, values, laws, customs: the unified whole

11. The gospel of the kingdom of God … A God who forgives … A God who includes … A God who notices … A God who serves … A nonviolent God who reconciles … A God who heals … A God who transcends boundaries … A God who sides with the poor … A God who is present … A God bigger than organized religion …

12. It is clear that “kingdom of God” (or heaven) does NOT mean “heaven after you die,” because the Lord’s prayer teaches us to pray …

13. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

14. It does NOT teach us to pray … May we come to your kingdom when we die. May we all go to heaven where, unlike earth, your will is done.

15. Jesus doesn’t send us out to make “Christians” - but to make “disciples.” Therefore go and make [spiritually form] disciples [apprentices]of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

16. The gospel of the kingdom must produce disciples who learn a radical new way of life. As disciples, we learn to live the way of life that Jesus lived - life in the kingdom of God.

17. Two gospels … One of evacuation One of transformation

18. Gospel of saving individuals from hell, and abandoning earth to destruction. Gospel of saving earth from human sin, beginning with us. or:

19. Gospel of saving earth from human sin… What if “sin” isn’t a long list of culturally unacceptable behaviors…. What if “sin” is anything short of failing to love God/Others more than yourself?

20. Imagine what earth would be like if *everybody* loved each other & God more than themselves?

21. Would it be Heavenly?

22. What if Jesus gospel is not about toning down and repressing your God-given life force? What if He called us to something pure and true and good, something that connects us with God, with others, with the world? What if it is an simple as “love”?

23. The contemporary gospel is primarily INFORMATION ON HOW TO GO TO HEAVEN AFTER YOU DIE with a large footnote about increasing your personal happiness and success through God. with a small footnote about character development with a smaller footnote about spiritual experience with a smaller footnote about social/global transformation.

24. But Jesus Gospel was Love God / Others more than yourself to bring forth His Kingdom. Now! Be a disciple – surrender to radical love, like Jesus. Christ like selflessness and love requires radical faith. God’s Holy Spirit lives in you to help Repent for selfish acts and return to the joy of a union with Jesus which weakens the desire to do things contrary to His heart Even pray for suffering to be more like Christ Haven is waiting for you when you are dead.

25. Jesus Gospel is Love

26. But which “Love”? I love chocolate I love football I love my wife God loves me

28. Luke 6:32-36 (The Message) Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that. I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind. Jesus Love is… selfless

29. Unconditional selfless love can only happen if you fully surrender to God God wants all or nothing Nobody will be perfect This is not done out of “salvation by works” but by an awesome love of God ”A lukewarm Christian is an oxymoron; there's no such thing. To put it plainly, churchgoers who are `lukewarm' are not Christians. We will not see them in heaven.” – Francis Chan in Crazy Love

30. Is the path to salvation say a prayer repent and surrender to God’s commandments; let Him fill you.

31. Be filled with God’s Holy Spirit God will be in you!!

32. Salvation can’t be undone Once you let Him in and surrender Once you are His Once He saves you Nothing can undo what He does.

33. What about the building? The Greek word "ekklesia," is used 115 times in the New Testament, and in most bibles, it is always translated as "church”

34. Calling an ekkesia (church) a building is like calling your wife a condominium

35. NO WHERE IN THE BIBLE DOES IT SAY A SINGLE PERSON SHOULD LEAD A CHURCH

36. NOWHERE

37. It says the opposite… 1 Corinthians 14:26 (The Message) So here's what I want you to do. When you gather for worship, each one of you be prepared with something that will be useful for all: Sing a hymn, teach a lesson, tell a story, lead a prayer, provide an insight. If prayers are offered in tongues, two or three's the limit, and then only if someone is present who can interpret what you're saying. Otherwise, keep it between God and yourself. And no more than two or three speakers at a meeting, with the rest of you listening and taking it to heart. Take your turn, no one person taking over. Then each speaker gets a chance to say something special from God, and you all learn from each other. If you choose to speak, you're also responsible for how and when you speak. When we worship the right way, God doesn't stir us up into confusion; he brings us into harmony. This goes for all the churches—no exceptions.

38. They act like they're worshiping me, but they don't mean it. They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy. - Jesusregarding 1st century church leadersMatt 15 7-9

40. Summary Jesus message was to love God/others in the same unconditionally selfless way He loves us God’s Kingdom is experienced on earth when we fully surrender to Christ's commandments Engage other believers and grow in God by acknowledging God’s Holy Spirit lives in all believers.

41. I fail at it, every day.

42. But,I believe God loves me unconditionally.