I have been looking forward to this session for a long time. About four years ago as we developed the scope and sequence for this cycle of The Gospel Project, this session stood out because it gives teachers the opportunity to walk through the gospel using Romans—sort of a Romans Road session. Yes, we talk about the gospel in every session, but this one is exciting because the entire session is about the gospel explicitly. That over 1 million kids will hear the gospel using this session is amazing!
Now, here’s the danger: some of us can be so familiar with the gospel that we might lapse into autopilot this week. Let’s do all we can to prevent that. To help, I want to draw our attention to the heart of Paul’s letter to the Romans—two verses that many see as the letter’s thesis—and break it down to remind ourselves of the beauty of the gospel we have the privilege of sharing this week, and every week.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith. (Romans 1:16-17 CSB)
I am not ashamed of the gospel…
Why would someone be ashamed of the gospel? If you think about it, the gospel is a strange message to the world. It is the message of God providing the solution for sin by sending His own Son to be born as a baby, grow up to be a Jewish carpenter, then die on the cross and raise from the dead. Life through death is a hard one for the world to grasp. This isn’t surprising—Paul talked about how the wisdom of God is foolishness to the world in 1 Corinthians.
What about us? Are we ever ashamed of the gospel? Ever ashamed of our faith? Ever reticent to share your faith in Christ? Surely all of us have done this at some point to some degree. But in times when we are tempted to drift toward shame, we need to remember what comes next.
…because it is the power of God for salvation…
The gospel is the power of God for salvation, not a power of God. That definite article makes a world of difference. The gospel is not one of many ways to be saved from sin. It is the only way to be saved. And it is powerful. We don’t trust in Jesus and hope we are saved. We trust in the gospel and know we are saved because it never returns void. It is always effective—100 percent of the time.
Think about that. Think about the power of the message we have been entrusted and privileged to bear. When we remember the gospel’s power, shame takes flight.
…to everyone who believers, first to the Jew and also for the Greek…
The message keeps getting better, doesn’t it? Not only is there no ground for shame of the gospel because it is powerful for salvation, but this power is available for everyone. It doesn’t matter where you are from, what your ethnicity or nationality is, what your income is, what your IQ is, or anything else. Salvation is available through the gospel’s power to anyone and everyone who trusts in Jesus.
It is important that we remember this as we share it with kids. Yes, there is a developmental level that needs to be reached for a child to trust in Jesus, but a child who has reached that level—whenever it is—can be saved. We are not engaging in an academic exercise this week. May our prayers be that kids hear the gospel, and if they haven’t already, trust in Jesus to be saved.
…For in it the righteousness of God is revealed
For Paul it all comes down to this. Why should we not be ashamed of the gospel? Why does the gospel have power to save? Because in the gospel we find God’s righteousness. What did he mean?
First, Paul likely had in mind that the gospel is according to God’s righteous character. God did not save people by just ignoring sin. That would be unrighteous and unjust. Instead, God’s plan of redemption is righteous because the punishment of sin was paid indeed—by His Son.
Second, Paul also likely had in mind that the gospel is the means by which we can become righteous. When we trust in Christ, we are forgiven and declared righteous all at once, being credited with Jesus’ righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Now that’s nothing to be ashamed of, is it?
By faith we are united to the Messiah in his condemnation on the cross, and we are also united to his justification at his resurrection … We are incorporated into the righteousness of Jesus Christ so that his vindication and his obedient act that were the basis for it are counted as ours. Justification also has vertical and horizontal elements in declaring the sinner to be right with God and also in bringing Gentiles into the family of Abraham.” — Michael Bird
Michael F. Bird, Evangelical Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013), 568.
Listen to the Weekly Leader Training for Preschool & Kids
Every week, members of The Gospel Project for Kids team offer guidance to help you as you prepare to teach every session to preschoolers and kids.
Podcast (kidsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download
This training is available on Ministry Grid, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and other podcast platforms.
Listen to the Weekly Leader Training for Preschool & Kids
Every week, members of The Gospel Project for Kids team offer guidance to help you as you prepare to teach every session to preschoolers and kids.
Podcast (kidsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download
This training is available on Ministry Grid, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and other podcast platforms.