Introduction

Four ministries of the church: Reconciliation, Word, Lord, Saints. The one work of the church in the world: the furtherance of the gospel!

1. WHAT THE GOSPEL IS  
1. The Definition of the Gospel (1Corinthians 15:1-4 [1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; [2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. [3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
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2. The Gospel of the Grace of God (Acts 20:24But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
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2. WHAT THE GOSPEL DOES 
1. The Power of Salvation (Romans 1:14-16 [14] I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. [15] So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. [16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
   See All...; 1Corinthians 1:17-18 [17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. [18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
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2. The Power of Sanctification (Romans 1:9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
   See All...; Philippians 1:27
   See All...; Galatians 2:20I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
   See All...; Romans 6:1-8 [1] What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? [2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? [3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: [6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. [7] For he that is dead is freed from sin. [8] Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
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3. The Scope of the Gospel (Philippians 1:5Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days which ye will not believe, though it be told you.
   See All..., 7, 12, 17, 27) 
4. The Centrality of the Gospel (Romans 1:1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
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3. WHO THE GOSPEL REACHES 
1. To Those Who Have Not the Knowledge of God (1Corinthians 15:34Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
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1. The source of eternal life (John 17:3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
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2. Through the knowledge of Jesus Christ (John 14:6-9 [6] Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. [7] If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. [8] Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. [9] Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
   See All...; 2Corinthians 4:6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
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2. To Those Whose Eyes are Blinded (2Corinthians 4:3-4 [3] But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: [4] In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
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1.  To those who are lost (2Corinthians 4:3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
   See All...; Mark 8:36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
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2. To those who have been blinded (2Corinthians 4:4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
   See All...; 2Timothy 2:25-26 [25] In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; [26] And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
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3. In the Regions Beyond (2Corinthians 10:14-16 [14] For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: [15] Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, [16] To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.
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1. We are to reach our area (Acts 5:42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
   See All...; Acts 20:20And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
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2. We are to reach to the regions beyond (Acts 1:8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
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4. Among All Nations (Romans 1:5By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
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1. Go ye therefore (Matthew 28:19-20 [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
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2. Thou must prophesy again (Revelation 10:11And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
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1. Peoples – about 12,000 ethnic groups around the world
2. Nations – 235 by one count
3. Tongues – about 7,000 separate languages 
5. Where Christ is Not Named (Romans 15:20Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
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1. About 60% of the languages in the world have no portion of scripture in them; only about 5% of the languages have the entire Bible
2. According to one count, 66 nations severely restrict religious belief
3. Probably 15-25% of the world’s population have never heard the gospel of Christ in any form; most have not had a clear presentation of the gospel message.
4. Most missionaries go where other missionaries are already working. More missionaries need to go where no one is taking the gospel witness. 
6. To the Uttermost Part of the Earth (Acts 1:8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
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1. We are to go to all parts of the earth
2. Each church is responsible for reaching the world for Christ; that is, every local church is to be headquarters for world missions
3. One of the surest signs of spiritual death in the church is the cry to take care of our own before going to the world
7. To Every Creature Under Heaven (Colossians 1:23If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
   See All...; Mark 16:15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
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4. WHAT THE GOSPEL REQUIRES 
1. Those Who Preach the Gospel (Romans 10:14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
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2. Those Who Send the Preachers (Romans 10:15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
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3. Those Who Labor in the Gospel (Philippians 2:22
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Conclusion

You Can Only Kill Me – “Jesse Boardman Hartwell worked for many years as a Baptist missionary in China from 1860 until his death in 1912. “One of the first fruits of Mr. Hartwell’s early ministry was a young man of the Tsung Family Village. So persistent was he in presenting the claims of Christianity to his unbelieving relatives and friends, that his clansmen felt disgraced at harboring so outspoken a follower of the foreign devils. He was untrue to the ancestors whom he no longer worshipped, and to his nation, for he was paying tribute to a foreign God. They took him to a cliff overhanging the sea and told him that unless he gave up the Jesus religion he would be thrown over and drowned. With a smile he said, ‘You can kill me but you can’t harm me. You will only be sending me home to my Father’s house.’ They decided to let him live a while longer since he was so happy despite their direst threats. He lived to a blessed old age and saw a handsome church building in his own village and many members of his family active in the service of the Lord.” –from Up From Zero in North China by Anna Seward Pruitt (p. 27-28).