We leak.  We forget.  We lose focus. Regularly preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to yourself is a good way to stop being robbed of joy by the pressures and weeds of everyday life.  Preach it strong; repeat if many times every day.   The good news is meant to inspire gratitude, obedience, worship, and praise!

The guidelines for A. Knapp Gospel Messages are

1. The message must be Berean-worthy.  Those noble men in Acts 17.11 would examine the Scriptures to see if the new information were so.  Like Paul’s gospel presentations, these messages need to fit with the Bible, both Old and New Testaments.
2. Each gospel message should clearly tie to Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
3. Each message should be short-ish, between 250-350 words.

How might a quick gospel presentations be used?

–          I fit them into my daily devotions.  I start with the Lord’s Prayer or some other recognition of the Lord’s magnificence, which should and sometimes does lead to confession of sin. One of my best ways of accepting the forgiveness offered for confession is then to preach the gospel to myself, which naturally leads to lifting up a several friends and relatives who have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

–          The phrase “elevator pitch” is a marketing concept for covering the basics of your product in about the time it takes for an average elevator ride.  Marketers say to always be prepared, think about how to convey excitement, keep the material fresh, adjust the message to the listener – good advice for anyone who needs to be wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove.

–          Use the gospel  when visiting the sick, elderly or hurting while doing elder-type work

–          Be alert during conversations.  Phrases or thoughts will remind you of a “story” about the gospel. 

–          Memorize some passages, creeds, catechism questions and answers, hymns, or gospel messages to mull over in your heart and mind, especially when your smart phone has no signal. 

To see more gospel messages from a variety of authors, check out the University Reformed Church Lenten Booklet.