What in the world does it mean to be gospel-centered? What does it look like to have a gospel life?

A Gospel Life will have these 5 M's as it's lens that it sees and does everything through. These become a way of thinking, living, responding and reacting to life. You'll find that there is a gospel wakefulness that oozes in everything. Gospel growth can occur by applying this lens to our lives. Not because this lens is the key, but gospel centered thinking and responding is what we need.

I have found this to be a helpful lens for:

My own encouragement
Encouraging Others
Preaching
Preaching to myself
Biblical Counseling

Applying the Gospel

1. Message
What is the Gospel truth that needs to be remembered? (ex: new creation, no condemnation, filled with Spirit etc…)

2. Model
What did Jesus do? How did He respond? What does the person and work of Jesus model for me? (Philippians 2:5)

3. Motivation
Why did Jesus do what He did? For the Glory of God! Why should I do ____? For the glory of God, my neighbor and my good. We are motived from the gospel, because of what Jesus has done for us. We obey because we are loved, not to be loved.

4. Means
How did Jesus do what He did? By the power of the Holy Spirit! How will I do _____ Answer: “For I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me, for the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” Galatians 2:20.

5. Mission
Calling others to the Gospel (Col. 1:28). Incarnating the Gospel (John 20:21).

It's our Life

A missional life is: Living and taking the MESSAGE of Jesus to the world, in the MODEL (missional) He's provided, for God's glory and people's joy (MOTIVATION), by the power of the Spirit (MEANS).

A gospel life is: Recalling the MESSAGE of Jesus, living the MODEL (servant, humble, etc…) He's provided, for God's glory and people's joy (MOTIVATION), by the power of the Spirit (means).

This is our life.