Previously, we considered the marvel of the gospel of Jesus Christ and how it influences the Kingsman. Let’s see how it impacts how the marvel is conveyed within and beyond the church.
Conveying the marvel within the church
The church must be a community where the marvel is celebrated, not assumed. Here’s how that happens.
We preach and teach the full counsel of God. Not a truncated Gospel that addresses surface needs, but the cosmic scope of redemption – God’s holiness, our depravity, Christ’s atonement, the Spirit’s regeneration, the promise of glorification. Each truth deepens our sense of marvel.
We cultivate worship that reflects wonder. Our gatherings should ring with the joy of the redeemed. This doesn’t require manufactured emotion, but it does demand that our songs, prayers, and testimonies consistently point to the magnificence of what God has accomplished.
We practice regular remembrance. The Lord’s Supper exists to keep the Gospel central. As often as we eat the bread and drink the cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26). This rhythm prevents familiarity from stealing the Gospel’s power.
We share testimonies of transformation. Nothing conveys the marvel like hearing how it changes real lives. Create spaces for believers to share stories – not just dramatic conversions, but ongoing accounts of how the Gospel speaks into daily struggles and growth.
We address sin honestly but grace more loudly. The church must name and confront sin, but proclaim grace even more vigorously. When believers fall, the marvel means we offer both accountability and restoration. Our response to failure reveals whether we truly believe what we proclaim.
Conveying the marvel beyond the church
The world desperately needs to encounter the marvel, and that requires wisdom and courage from disciples.
We live lives that prompt questions. When our lives reflect joy in suffering, generosity in scarcity, faithfulness in relationships, and hope in uncertainty, people notice. These qualities create opportunities to explain the Gospel, sustaining us.
We master storytelling. Jesus used parables constantly. When sharing with unbelievers, we don’t always start with systematic theology. Sometimes the most effective approach is telling the story – creation, fall, redemption, restoration. Help people see themselves in the story and discover where Christ meets them.
We demonstrate the Gospel’s power in community. Outsiders should look at Christian communities and see something countercultural: genuine love across boundaries, care for the vulnerable, forgiveness in action, joy transcending circumstances. As Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).
We speak with conviction and humility. We proclaim truth while acknowledging our ongoing need for grace. This combination – confidence in the message alongside humility about ourselves – makes us winsome witnesses. We’re not superior, just fellow beggars telling others where to find bread.
We pray. Ultimately, conviction and regeneration are works of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8; Titus 3:5). Our most important task is prayer – asking God to open blind eyes, soften hard hearts, and grant Gospel opportunities. We plant and water, but God causes the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).
Keeping the marvel fresh
The greatest danger for long-time believers isn’t rejecting the Gospel but becoming too familiar with it. The marvel fades through repetition unless we intentionally cultivate wonder.
Return regularly to Scripture with fresh eyes. Study the Gospel accounts slowly. Meditate on the cross, reflecting on what happened there and why it was necessary. Read Paul, Peter, and John with attention to their evident joy and gratitude.
Engage with believers from different backgrounds who may emphasise aspects you’ve undervalued. Listen to testimonies from places where following Christ costs everything – their perspective restores the Gospel’s preciousness. Study church history to see how the marvel has sustained believers through persecution and cultural upheaval across two millennia.
The Gospel isn’t just the entry point to Christian life; it’s the whole of Christian life. We never move beyond it. We move deeper into it, discovering new layers and fresh reasons for wonder. As we grow in grace and knowledge, the marvel should increase, not diminish.
Charles Wesley captured it: “Amazing love! How can it be, that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?”
This question – posed not as doubt but as wonder – should echo through every believer’s heart and overflow into every corner of the church and world. The marvel of the Gospel reveals a love so profound, a grace so undeserved, and a hope so certain that it demands our whole lives in grateful response.
For His Name’s Sake
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
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