The king jesus gospel review

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY

Book Review of Sharing Jesus Without Fear

Submitted to Dr. Jon Bishop,

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of

EVAN 525 – B05

Contemporary Evangelism

by

Ken Richardson

March 4, 2020

Abstract

In his book, The King Jesus Gospel, Scot McKnight throws down the proverbial gauntlet in challenging what many American Christians consider the gospel; or he at least takes aim at our understanding of it. McKnight asserts that we have reduced the gospel well below its full meaning thus limiting its power and effectiveness in the lives of believers. That reduction has taken place in our presentation of a gospel that focuses mainly on man’s sin issue and God’s response to it with the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. In doing so, the book makes it clear that we have left out the fact that while Jesus saves us from sin, He also is the promised Messiah that fulfills Old Testament longing and prophecy. From here, McKnight begins to lay out the support of his assertions by examining how the gospel was communicated by Paul, Jesus, Peter, and the Gospels themselves. His research shows that the gospel is much more robust than just a good story to help sinners avoid hell. What he reveals is that Jesus is not only Savior but He is Lord as well. McKnight’s conclusion is that once the gospel is correctly presented, the problems of converts not being desirous of discipleship will be solved; recognition of Jesus as Lord and Messiah will cause converts to Christianity to truly follow Christ by submitting their lives to His will and way. McKnight’s goal is to create a more accurate gospel culture that not only saves sinners but changes lives as well.

Concrete Responses

I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior at the age of twelve. I remembered that that was the confession I made in the pool that day. I heard it repeated many times over throughout my interactions at various churches. After being called and affirmed to preach, I followed a similar pattern of words in my appeal for people to accept Christ. Somewhere in time I shifted from emphasis on just accepting Jesus to avoid a well earned trip to hell to focusing on His lordship over the life of believers as well. I most likely made this shift after seeing many people confess Jesus as savior but becoming frustrated when they wouldn’t attend church or make any lifestyle changes. It was not until I read McKnight’s book that a connection was made that at least attempted to explain why this was such a huge problem. The King Jesus Gospel opened my understanding that a partial gospel should never be expected to bring to fruition its fullest potential in the life of believers. It is like the school buses I remember riding to school that had a device that governed and limited its speed to no faster than 40 miles per hour. The power was always there except it was being held back. In the same way, we have been limiting the real power of the gospel to transform lives by focusing only on the salvation and persuasion portion of it. If the gospel’s potential is to be realized in our lives and churches, it must be told in its fullness. We must include the connection of Jesus Christ with the story of God and man from creation to Israel to His return.

Reflection

Scot McKnight made a great assertion and followed with the proofs through scripture to support his notion that we have not done a great job with sharing the whole story of the gospel. I was immediately convicted as a pastor both personally and as a leader of people. As a result I repented. That is a great strength of his book as he allows the Bible to support his case. I could not refute the fact that Israel should be included in the gospel; especially after examining the gospel according to Paul, Peter, the four Gospels, and Jesus. The one issue I have with The King Jesus Gospel is in relation to its claim that a lack of a proper gospel has led to a lack of converts wanting and willing to be discipled. It was never clear to me how sharing the gospel in its fulness, as opposed to focusing only on a salvation slant, would lead to an improved and increased love for discipleship. I would love to have seen proofs made for that case that were as strong as his case for creating a real gospel culture. I could easily connect to a watered down gospel as being a problem, but I never made the connection to discipleship. How would it change a converts desire? When has this model been activated in places where it was not before? What were the results in comparison to the former model? I know that there is in the New Testament an attachment of an effective gospel and disciple-making, however, I am not fully convinced that this is all that it would take to shift our current decline in discipling. More appropriately, I do not think McKnight fully answers these questions in his book.

Action

In spite of my questions surrounding the connection between McKnight’s presentation of the gospel and its effect on discipleship, I do see a need to shift my own gospel presentation. The book has convinced me that McKnight’s gospel is that also of Jesus, Peter, Paul, and the Gospel writers. And if it was good enough for them then it is definitely good enough for me. I will first start with cultivating the real gospel within my own understanding by reading through the scriptures that relate to this and examining the offers of this book again and again if necessary. I hope to begin to use a condensed version in sharing this gospel through evangelism, outreach events, and Sunday sermons as soon as possible. I will also commit to being able to adequately discuss its portions in greater detail for those moments that allow for greater explanation and/or dialogue. From there, I will introduce this revelation to the leaders under my pastoral leadership so that they are thoroughly equipped to share the fullness of the gospel as well. Since I teach classes on evangelism and gospel presentations, I will include not only this approach in sharing the gospel but will be sure to add the four supports as outlined by McKnight. It is my prayer that even without seeing this proved out in The King Jesus Gospel, we will see this gospel impact discipleship in our church and an increased shift in lifestyle changes for the glory of God. After all, if a reduced gospel has worked with a little power, I can only imagine what a full gospel can do in all of its splendor!

Bibliography

McKnight, Scot. The King Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011.