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Promotes the Promise vv.1-3

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Mark is writing this in Roman, to a largely Gentile audience.  So the meaning of the gospel is not only a Christian meaning.  It would have meant good news or joyous news even to a secular society, but this Good News has eternal implications. 

Is 40:9  “Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”

Is 52:7  “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.”

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Proclaims the Truth vv.4-6

John is more concerned about proclaiming the truth then he is about what others think.

What keeps people from proclaiming the truth?

  1. Poor preparation. 1 Peter 3:15 “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”
  2. Pride. Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.”
  3. Paralyzed From Your Past. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
  4. Paused by Fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

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Points to Jesus vv.7-8

John never points to himself, but points to Christ!
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Pathway Preppers
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William Carey – Father of modern missions.  At a ministers’ meeting in 1787, Carey raised the question of whether it was the duty of all Christians to spread the Gospel throughout the world. John Collett Ryland is said to have retorted: “Young man, sit down; when God pleases to convert the heathen, he will do it without your aid and mine.”
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George Muller– a Christian evangelist and Director of the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, England, cared for 10,024 orphans in his life.  He was well known for providing an education to the children under his care, to the point where he was accused of raising the poor above their natural station in life. He also established 117 schools which offered Christian education to over 120,000 children, many of them being orphans.  He later did missionary travels at age 70 after the death of his first wife. He was noted as a man of prayer.  Early on he was a drunk, gambler, and thief.  God saved him after he became involved in a Bible study.

 

Shane Claiborne– Author, Christian advocate who lives on the streets with the homeless.  Claiborne is featured in the documentary The Ordinary Radicals.  “Most good things have been said far too many times and just need to be lived.”