Pray For Your Church: 31 Day Challenge—Day Twenty-Seven

Day 27: That we would not be ashamed of the gospel

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17 ESV)

Surely a church wouldn’t be ashamed of the gospel…right?!?!? Yet, every time we depend upon something other than the gospel for the conversion of sinners we are subtly ashamed of the gospel. When we uncritically pursue relevance because we think that this will some how adorn the gospel we are communicating what we actually believe about the gospel—that it alone is not powerful enough to save. Likewise when we only share portions of the gospel to “hook them” and then try to slip the harder stuff in the backdoor we are betraying our lack of confidence in God’s ability to use His gospel to convert sinners. Let us not be ashamed of the gospel but boldly believe and live as if it truly is the power of God to save sinners.

Father, you are strong. You saved me when I was far from you and my heart was darkened and dead. There was nothing within me that would have found you appealing and yet through the power of your gospel you wooed me. You took my heart of stone and made it a heart of flesh. You did what you said you would do in Your Word. Help us to believe that you will do the same through us as we share your gospel. Keep our churches from being ashamed of the gospel—give us a holy confidence in Your ability to accomplish Your purposes.