The Gospel Project for Students Weekly Leader Training

The final judgment described in Revelation 19 demonstrates the holy love of God. Many today resist the idea of God as judge, but when they do so, they are left with a one-dimensional God—a sappy, sanitized deity whom they can easily manage. He nods and winks at our behavior, much like a kind elderly man... The post “All Things New”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 36, Session 4: The Redeemer Returns appeared first on The Gospel Project.

John wept at the thought of no one being able to open the scroll “or even to look in it” (Rev. 5:3). Imagine what must have gone through his mind in that moment. No one will be able to bring about the happy ending to this war-torn world of suffering. No one will be able... The post “All Things New”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 36, Session 3: The Redeemer Is Worshiped appeared first on The Gospel Project.

The letters to the seven churches are filled with insight into what constitutes a faithful Christian congregation. In the first four, we see several important emphases. In the letter to Ephesus, we're reminded of the need for a passionate, right relationship with God from which good works flow (and without which good works are dead).... The post “All Things New”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 36, Session 2: The Redeemer Calls His People Toward Renewal appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Revelation begins and ends with blessing. We see blessing in the beginning in verse 3, where the author blesses the one who “reads aloud the words of this prophecy.” And we see blessing at the end in Revelation 22:14: “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the... The post “All Things New”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 36, Session 1: The Redeemer Reveals His Glory appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Bible commentators often point out the similarities between Jude's and Peter's epistles. Like Jude, Peter often spoke about our common salvation. First Peter 1:3-5 points out that God has given us “new birth” into His family through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Amazingly, by the grace and power of God, our spiritual DNA... The post “All Things New”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 35, Session 5: Defending the Faith appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Understanding the depth and breadth of the gospel cannot happen until we have received Jesus Christ's death on the cross as payment for our sin. It is the result of a lifelong journey that starts with God's love and begins because of God's initiative. The apostle John was able to speak about God's love on... The post “All Things New”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 35, Session 4: Obeying from Love appeared first on The Gospel Project.

The Letter to Philemon is a short letter. Paul was succinct and direct in his brotherly exhortation to Philemon. Paul opened by identifying himself as a prisoner for Christ, and he identified Philemon as a fellow worker in the Lord, one who provided space in his home for the gathering of the church in his... The post “All Things New”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 35, Session 3: Living in Grace appeared first on The Gospel Project.

There's nothing more humbling than being on a boat in the middle of a large body of water. You come to realize the level of faith you have in that boat to keep you safe. It's convicting to grasp how often we can place our trust in something that is made by human hands and... The post “All Things New”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 35, Session 2: Clinging to the Promises of God appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Paul was able to give his defense before Festus. Paul's accusers knew they couldn't get what they wanted as long as the trial was in the Roman court system. This helps us reflect on Jesus' trials and how execution was granted by Pilate. Jesus' execution was not only because of the pressure applied by Jesus'... The post “All Things New”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 35, Session 1: Preaching in All Circumstances appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Paul expressed how much joy the Philippian believers' gospel partnership brought him and reminded them that their sovereign and faithful God would keep them to the end (1:3-6). He prayed that God would cause their love to increase so they would stay pure and blameless, full of the fruit of righteousness (vv. 9-11). That's what... The post “All Things New”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 34, Session 4: Pressing Toward the Goal appeared first on The Gospel Project.

After a brief greeting, Paul in Ephesians 1 praised God for all He accomplished through Christ for our redemption and restoration (vv. 3-4). Paul thanked God for the believer's maturity in faith in Christ. By His glorious grace, people chosen from before the foundation of the world have come together in praise of His glory... The post “All Things New”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 34, Session 3: Breaking Down Barriers appeared first on The Gospel Project.

God had a plan for Paul, and what God decrees will always come to pass (see Isa. 46:9-10; Eph. 1:10). As we see Acts 23, Roman soldiers protected Paul from harm and death, but God is the One who sends protection. He also is the One who reveals His plan in His time. Cutting through... The post “All Things New”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 34, Session 2: Continuing Through Opposition appeared first on The Gospel Project.

In this Acts 18 we see Paul beginning his third missionary journey. His heart was always toprovide encouragement to the disciples in every city he had visited previously. May wetoo consider how we can check in on the body of Christ. How can we encourage believers if they're struggling in their walk? How can we... The post “All Things New”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 34, Session 1: Persevering in the Mission appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Christ, our infinite God, is the only One who can quench that infinite longing in us to be known completely, be safe, and be made whole. His promise that He will come back for His people and we will be with Him always is not meant to function as a bandage but as a balm... The post “The Church United”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 33, Session 4: The Church Is United in Hope appeared first on The Gospel Project.

In Galatians 3:1-9, we see Christ crucified (v. 1), the Spirit received by faith (v. 2) and working miracles among the Galatians (v. 5), God the Father supplying the Spirit (v. 5), and Scripture foretelling God's justification of Gentiles by faith as He did Abraham (vv. 8-9). While it's clear that God the Father has... The post “The Church United”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 33, Session 3: The Church Is United in Faith appeared first on The Gospel Project.

As we share the gospel, we need to understand up front that some people will receive the message (Acts 17:1-4) while others will reject it (vv. 5-9). Regardless of the response, we learn from Paul how to continue sharing the gospel clearly, winsomely, and compellingly. Notice how Paul shared the gospel. He “reasoned with them... The post “The Church United”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 33, Session 2: The Church Is United in Love appeared first on The Gospel Project.

The salvation we enjoy first came to the Jews in Jerusalem and Judea. The Jews were expecting a Jewish Messiah to come and restore the kingdom to Israel on the promise of a new covenant: a new heart, forgiveness of sin, and the coming of the Holy Spirit. When they heard that Gentiles were also... The post “The Church United”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 33, Session 1: The Church Is United in the Essentials appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Paul and Timothy had a special relationship. Throughout his letters, Paul referred to Timothy with much affection. In 1 Timothy 1:2, he used the phrase “my dearly loved son.” In 1 Corinthians 4:17, Paul said to the church at Corinth that Timothy was his “dearly loved and faithful child in the Lord.” A sign of... The post “The Church United”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 32, Session 4: The Church Is United Under Godly Leaders appeared first on The Gospel Project.

It seems strange that Paul would thank God that he had not baptized people (vv. 14-15). Paul's point in making this statement was not to suggest that baptism is unimportant; rather, it was that people should not seek to identify with the person who baptized them because their only saving union is with Christ. Paul... The post “The Church United”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 32, Session 3: The Church Is United in the Gospel appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Having been sent out by the Holy Spirit, the missionaries Barnabas and Saul, with John as their helper, enjoyed smooth sailing and success in the early phase of their journey. However, in Paphos the missionaries encountered resistance in the person of Elymas. One must not mistake ease and large audiences as evidences of God's favor,... The post “The Church United”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 32, Session 2: The Church Is Sent to the World appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Reflect on the fact that James, a disciple of Jesus and brother of John, was executed at the hand of King Herod, while Peter, another disciple, would miraculously be set free. Did God display greater love to Peter than to James? Many believers find it easier to acknowledge God's sovereignty when His will aligns with... The post “The Church United”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 32, Session 1: The Church Is Sent to Trust God appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Neither angels nor an empty tomb were enough for Mary. She still assumed that Jesus' body had been stolen (vv. 2,13). Dead or alive, she wanted to be near her Savior but did not know where His body lay. Though she was slow to believe in the resurrection, her allegiance to Jesus was nevertheless steadfast.... The post “The Church United”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 31, Easter Session: From Despair to Joy appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Known as the “Hall of Faith,” Hebrews 11 reminds us of men and women throughout Old Testament history who walked with God in faith. In particular, the chapter speaks of their faith being evident in what these heroes did on the basis of what they believed. Their actions demonstrated their faith. Abraham is one of... The post “The Church United”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 31, Session 4: The Church Is Sent to Demonstrate Faith appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Some years ago, the television show Touched by an Angel was quite popular. The show featured an angel in human form who visited people and offered them hope, healing, and other blessings and lessons. Its popularity evidenced our craving for hope in a hurting world, but it also reflected our fascination with heavenly messengers. The... The post “The Church United”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 31, Session 3: The Church Is Sent to Proclaim Jesus appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Jesus promised that the world would hate us because it hated Him (John 15:18-20). Paul told Timothy that “all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). The early Christians in Jerusalem experienced this kind of suffering firsthand. After Stephen's martyrdom, most of the Christians left Jerusalem... The post “The Church United”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 31, Session 2: The Church Is Sent to Encourage New Believers appeared first on The Gospel Project.

After reading Acts 11, you may wonder why Luke would retell the same account of Peter at Cornelius's house from the previous chapter. Peter recounted his vision, and later the Gentiles' conversion and the coming of the Holy Spirit upon them, to the Jews in Jerusalem because they did not expect God to save the... The post “The Church United”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 31, Session 1: The Church Is Sent to All People appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Paul loved the Corinthian church. He had invested a year and a half in Corinth to preach and teach them the gospel. He labored like a father to provide for their spiritual needs so they would grow in faith and godliness. But then they turned on him. They chose to listen to some smooth-talkers who... The post “The Mission Begins”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 30, Session 4: Holding Fast to the Gospel of Jesus appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Jesus taught His disciples that where your treasure is, there is your heart also (Matt. 6:21). He said this in the Sermon on the Mount as He taught about how disciples should not worry but trust the Lord to provide for their needs. Rather than worry about food or clothing, seek first God's kingdom and... The post “The Mission Begins”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 30, Session 3: Experiencing New Identity in the Gospel of Jesus appeared first on The Gospel Project.

God can change you. I know what you're thinking: You don't know me. You have no idea how far from God I am. That may be true. I probably don't know you. What I do know is that no one is beyond the reach of our Lord. Your rebellion should one day fall exhausted at... The post “The Mission Begins”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 30, Session 2: Confronted by the Gospel of Jesus appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Imagine Philip's surprise at finding a seemingly random stranger on a desert road reading from a scroll of Isaiah about a prophecy of the coming Messiah. Yet God orchestrated this meeting and its particulars just as they are described in Acts 8:26-40. God has given His Word to this world, and He sends it out... The post “The Mission Begins”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 30, Session 1: Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Talk is cheap. There is a reason this maxim has stuck around. People can claim to be something a lot more easily than they can live out that claim. It's one thing to claim to be a good parent, loving spouse, or reliable employee, but it's another thing to act as any one of these... The post “The Mission Begins”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 29, Session 4: Living Out the Gospel of Jesus appeared first on The Gospel Project.

What parent would not want to move heaven and earth to rescue his or her children from slavery and death? If you and I would do this, imagine how much more God Himself would. Just as God heard the children of Israel crying because they were enslaved in Egypt, He heard our cries while we... The post “The Mission Begins”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 29, Session 3: Trusting in the Gospel of Jesus appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Stephen's sermon is a tour de force of biblical interpretation. In response to charges raised by the Jewish leaders against him, he explained his claim that Jesus fulfilled the purposes of the law and the temple, thus casting Jewish laws and customs in a different light. First, Stephen reminded them of God's promise to Abraham... The post “The Mission Begins”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 29, Session 2: Trusting in Christ in Life and Death appeared first on The Gospel Project.

It is easy to read the story about Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 and be afraid that God might strike you dead if you aren't generous enough. That's not what's going on here; this was a desire for the appearance of sacrificial giving and deceit to accomplish the look. God was not a passive... The post “The Mission Begins”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 29, Session 1: Living Generously appeared first on The Gospel Project.

When a man and woman mutually agree to date for the purpose of getting to know one another, for a season it could appear that the two are inseparable. Their days are probably filled with text messages, phone calls, and many dates in between—some planned, others spontaneous. Whether they like it or not, the two... The post “The Mission Begins”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 28, Session 4: Pursuing Godly Living appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Peter addressed his letter to a very specific audience: believers described as chosen people and also exiled people. In a world where those who are chosen, elected, and selected often reap the benefits of preferential treatment and due honor, it may seem odd that Peter associated being chosen with living as exiles. The word exile denotes that... The post “The Mission Begins”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 28, Session 3: Showing Christ in Times of Trials appeared first on The Gospel Project.

With the first portion of John's prologue speaking about the Word's eternal divinity (“the Word was with God, and the Word was God”) and cosmic activity (“all things were created through him”; “that life was the light of men”), why is the middle portion concerned with John the Baptist (vv. 6-9)? The Old Testament pointed... The post “The Mission Begins”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 28, Christmas Session: The Word Became Flesh appeared first on The Gospel Project.

In Acts 3, the man who was lame was passed by over and over again for years. Perhaps every so often, someone would stop and hand him a few coins. Maybe someone would even pray for him as they passed by while going into the temple. However, his life was riddled with constant helplessness and... The post “The Mission Begins”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 28, Session 2: Empowered by the Holy Spirit appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Sometimes Christians argue over the role of the Holy Spirit, particularly in elements of Christian worship such as speaking in tongues. Interestingly, this “debate” was going on immediately after the Holy Spirit was poured out on the first Christians. Some onlookers even accused them of being drunk! While we cannot examine the various views of... The post “The Mission Begins”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 28, Session 1: Transformed by the Holy Spirit appeared first on The Gospel Project.

To be an eyewitness of the resurrected Jesus would have been a surreal experience. What are you supposed to do, after all, when you're hanging out with someone who was no longer dead but now alive and glorified? You might try to stick your finger through the holes where the nails went through. Or maybe... The post “Jesus the Savior”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 27, Session 4: Jesus Commissions His Disciples appeared first on The Gospel Project.

One look at the risen Savior and the disposition of the disciples changed immediately. Knowing the truth of the resurrection and trusting Jesus to fulfill all of His promises results in peace and joy. These characteristics should be the marks of a Christian who fully understands the depths from which they have been saved and... The post “Jesus the Savior”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 27, Session 3: Jesus Prepares His Disciples appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Jesus' death and resurrection shouldn't have been a surprise to the two disciples. He met their discouragement and confusion with Scripture, revealing that it all points to Him. Jesus could have shown Himself to them and removed their doubt and questioning, but instead, He revealed the truth found in God's Word about the kind of... The post “Jesus the Savior”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 27, Session 2: Jesus Encounters Two Disciples appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Jesus approached the weeping Mary, and rather than announcing His resurrection with fanfare, He instead kindly asked her why she was crying and then revealed who He was by calling her name. She was the first to see the risen Lord, but many would follow. More than five hundred people in total would see our... The post “Jesus the Savior”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 27, Session 1: Jesus Is Resurrected appeared first on The Gospel Project.

Mark highlighted the mocking of Jesus more than any other Gospel writer. Jesus was mocked by soldiers. He was mocked by passersby. He was mocked by the two thieves occupying crosses next to Him. Ironically, we still find truths in their mocking. For example, they mocked Him for saying the temple would be destroyed and... The post “Jesus the Savior”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 26, Session 5: Jesus Is Crucified appeared first on The Gospel Project.

The contrast of Jesus' disposition in Mark 14 and the rest of Mark's Gospel is jarring. Up to this point, Jesus has shown a remarkable sense of controlled confidence. In fact, His calm dignity stirred up awe and amazement among those He encountered. Even when predicting His own death, there wasn't the slightest hint of... The post “Jesus the Savior”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 26, Session 4: Jesus Is Arrested appeared first on The Gospel Project.

The providence and the planning behind the first Lord's Supper is given to us in this passage. We see that the Lord orchestrated the very room where they would observe the Passover. He planned the meeting between a man carrying water and Peter and John and even instructed the very words that would be spoken... The post “Jesus the Savior”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 26, Session 3: Jesus Shares the Lord's Supper appeared first on The Gospel Project.

The Sadducees tried to set a theological trap, but Jesus revealed that the basis of their misguided question about marriage in the resurrection was flawed. Marriage is something that will not continue in the new heavens and new earth. At first glance, this might rub happily married readers the wrong way. Is Jesus minimizing the... The post “Jesus the Savior”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 26, Session 2: Jesus Is Questioned appeared first on The Gospel Project.

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt, He fulfilled a prophecy by the prophet Zechariah five hundred years earlier (Zech. 9:9). Jesus was able to direct the disciples to the exact location and moment where they could secure the colt for Him to ride. Jesus is the Messiah who was foretold. He received worship... The post “Jesus the Savior”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 26, Session 1: Jesus Enters Jerusalem appeared first on The Gospel Project.

The Lord specializes in “hopeless” causes. When Jesus got to Lazarus' grave, there was already a stench. The Lord, it seemed, was four days late. Lazarus was dead. He was deader than dead. In the hands of anyone else, this case would have been hopeless, impossible. But our God is the God of the “impossible.”... The post “Jesus the Savior”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 25, Session 4: Jesus Raises Lazarus appeared first on The Gospel Project.

One oddly encouraging thing about the Gospels is seeing just how confused Jesus' disciples were. When Jesus was being literal, they took Him metaphorically. When He was being metaphorical, they took Him literally. They always seemed to be a few steps behind. Even after the miracle in John 6 when He fed the five thousand,... The post “Jesus the Savior”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 25, Session 3: Jesus Teaches Difficult Truths appeared first on The Gospel Project.

What Jesus proposed in this passage—no, in fact, commanded—is a fundamentally and wholly different way of looking at outsiders and the unsaved than we are accustomed to and inclined toward. Think of the daily outrage about “the culture” featured in evangelical social media feeds. We are offended, shocked, and often driven to attack by what should... The post “Jesus the Savior”: Weekly Leader Training—Unit 25, Session 2: Jesus Tells the Parable of the Sons appeared first on The Gospel Project.