The Gospel Tool

The Visual Gospel Web Image (5 x 2.5 in)

Welcome to The Gospel Tool website! Most Christians desire to be faithful to Jesus’ command to “make disciples,” (Matthew 28: 19-20) yet few have been taught how. This material is intended to help mature and multiply disciples of Jesus Christ across the globe. If you’re a new believer or are just exploring Jesus, welcome! This site has resources and tools to help all believers, new to mature, grow. We’re glad you’re here!

While there are many ingredients involved in successful disciple making and growing as a disciple, the following five are absolute essentials:

Obedience to Jesus Christ
Sensitivity to and welcome of the Holy Spirit’s work
Scripture study
A growing prayer life
Christian community

With these essentials as a foundation, the Gospel Tool and Bible Study emphasizes the good news of the Kingdom of God, deepens biblical literacy, and nurtures a vibrant and growing relationship with God, while preparing each participant to disciple others. Below are links to navigate this page:

Visual Gospel

The Visual Gospel is a tool that is useful for our own discipleship, and for sharing the Gospel with others. It gives an easy way to share the gospel in its fullness from creation to Christ’s return. If you are a new believer or exploring faith in Jesus, this is a great place to start!

Gospel Tool

The Gospel Tool and accompanying Bible Study is a 40 unit discipleship tool, intended to mature and multiply disciples, it can be used in small groups, triads or 1:1. Some samples and resources are downloadable.

Resources

There are several downloadable resources that accompany the Gospel Tool, such as:

Self Assessment Tool
Discipler’s Training Packet
Sermon Planning Guide
Promotional Materials (including sample pack)

The Visual Gospel

The Visual Gospel is a resource to help us recall seven key elements of the good news of the Kingdom. It is a tool that is useful for our own discipleship and for sharing the Gospel with others. Click on each symbol below to read more about each key point and see the related scripture(s) for each.

The King Creates Rebellion A Messiah Promised King Jesus Saves Empowered New Creation The King Returns

All is Well

As Creator of all that exists, God designed the earth and humanity to flourish under his watchful, fatherly care. God is the sovereign King of all kings, and His eternal Kingdom is marked by power, purity, faithful love, mercy, and justice.

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning— the sixth day” (Genesis 1:31).

Chaos, Destruction, and Death in the Kingdom

Humanity does not normally experience the goodness of God’s Kingdom because our sin has separated us from God. This leaves us in bondage to sin and evil, and it results in brokenness and death. Apart from God, we are ever bent toward evil and are unable to save ourselves; we are desperately stuck in our misery.

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—” (Romans 5:12).

The King Sets Out to Rescue

Yet God, in His love, initiated our redemption; He promised a Messiah-King who would restore all things.

“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3).

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

The Greatest Act of Love

Jesus is the promised Messiah. He embodies God’s intention for humanity to live a righteous life full of love, peace, holiness, and joyful service to God the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus brings healing and forgiveness to all who receive him. Jesus is also the Deliverer who saves: King Jesus’ death atones for humanity’s sin, and His resurrection begins a new creation. He delivers us from evil.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17).

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:5-6).

Jesus Gives His Spirit for Kingdom Mission

Jesus commands His followers to be empowered witnesses who share the good news of God’s Kingdom of forgiveness and restoration, and to make disciples in every nation and people group.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

The King Brings Transformation

As we believe in and obediently follow Jesus, we receive and begin to live a new life of grateful service as God’s beloved children.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

God Sets All Things Right

Jesus promises that after we have fulfilled our mission, he will return to judge the living and the dead, cleanse the earth of evil, and usher all believers into a restored creation where all is fully set right.

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true’” (Revelation 21:5).

The Gospel Tool

The Gospel Tool The Gospel Tool Bible Study Discussion Guides Recorded Sermons

This overview of the gospel, which reads like a story, describes the biblical narrative of God and his Kingdom in 40 short units.

Click on the picture to view or download the Gospel Tool.

These 40 lessons, designed to be done independently, include scripture study and other spiritual disciplines to nurture one’s relationship with and obedience to Jesus Christ.

Here is a sample of Lessons 17 & 18.

Good News
Go and Make Disciples!
God is Loving Creator
God Gives Purpose
Sin Destroys Shalom
Separated from God
The Fallout of Sin
Under the Influence of Satan
Totally Stuck in Sin
Promise of Restoration
God Begins to Restore
Called Out of Slavery to Worship
Bent Toward Sin
Patient, Persistent Calls to Repent
A Messiah is Coming
Immanuel: God with Us
Jesus: Anointed for Ministry
Like Father, Like Son
Jesus Calls People to Follow Him
Jesus Dies in Our Place to Save and Free Us

Jesus: First Fruits of New Creation
Secure in God’s Love through Faith
Proclaiming God’s Kingdom
The Holy Spirit Grows the Church
Unity in Diversity through Christ
Forgiveness: Received and Extended
Believers Embody the King’s Character
Believers Love God’s Word
Prayer is a Rich Conversation with God
Prayer is a Believer’s Work
Kingdom Justice is Love in Action
The Church Represents the Kingdom of God on Earth
Spiritual Gifts Build Up the Church
We Grow Up into Christ Despite Pressures
Called and Enabled to Persevere
The Lawless One Revealed
The Gospel Reaching the Nations Ushers in Jesus’ Return
Jesus Judges
Believers Are Evaluated and Rewarded
The Kingdom Comes in its Fullness

Designed with learning retention activities, prayer for the lost, and “building bridges” time for practicing starting spiritual conversations and sharing the gospel. Each discussion reviews two of the weekly lessons.

Here is a sample of Discussion Guide for Lessons 17 & 18.

Recorded audio of the Gospel Tool Sermon Series at Gold Avenue Church are available to listen to here:

Resources

Facilitators Handbook Intro to The Gospel Tool for Ministry Leaders How to Pray for Gospel Tool Groups Self-Assessment Tool for Participants Promotional Materials

The content in this handbook will empower you to lead your Gospel Tool Group as you study the Gospel Tool Bible Study curriculum together. It will give a clear sense of what is required to lead the by-weekly Discussion Groups,

and also how to support group members in their growth throughout this discipleship journey.

View or download the entire handbook or the individual components below:

The Gospel Tool Facilitator Handbook

0. Table of Contents

1. Beginning a Year of Discipleship

2. Gospel Tool Group Culture

3. Self-Assessment Resource

4. Discipleship Group Covenant

5. Group Conversation Helps

6. Care Support

We’re glad you are considering the use of the Gospel Tool as a means to grow disciples who make disciples in your church. You can view or download the following materials that will help to tell the story of why the Gospel Tool may be your new discipleship pathway.

The Gospel Tool Introduction

1. Growing Disciples to Advance the Kingdom of God

2. Gospel Tool Sermon Series Texts

3. What to Do After Completing The Gospel Tool

This guide will help you, the church’s Prayer Team, to intercede most effectively for those on the Gospel Tool journey. The Gospel Tool Group Facilitators will provide you with the names of each participant in their group so that you can pray for them by name. Click the link below to view or download the guide.

How to Pray for GT-Groups

While growth isn’t always linear, disciples are meant to grow to maturity in Christ. The tool is used to intentionally evaluate progress in six important areas of growing into a deep and abiding relationship with the Lord.

Click on the picture to view or download the Participant Self-Assessment Tool.

Here you may download resources that are helpful in spreading the word about the Gospel Tool. (coming soon)

Sample Packet Containing the Gospel Tool, Sample Bible Study Lessons and Study Guide
Binder curriculum cover
Short video promo
Wording for a printed announcement describing the study

Donate

The Visual Gospel and Gospel Tool materials are joyfully offered free of cost, with the hope of equipping the church to embody, proclaim and advance the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. We rely on God’s generosity to fund this work, so each donation, large and small, is gratefully received and goes directly toward carrying on this work. All gifts toward this work are tax deductible, and each donor will receive an end of the year statement of gifts. Select Kingdom Congregations from the first dropdown menu. Thank you, in advance, for helping to advance the gospel through your support of this ministry!

Give Today

Please contact us if you’d like to know more about using the Gospel Tool for you or your church. You can also ask questions here:

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