The Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ

I would like everyone in the world to hear a simple presentation of the message of the gospel. I made an attempt at that in Gospel in a Nutshell, but I’m sure that there are much better resources out there. I had the idea back in 2005 when I created a website for my fellowship, but there are lots of sites that use the term now. I’m not saying that they got the idea from me 😀. I don’t even know why we use the term “nutshell“. Maybe I should change my one to “The Gospel Put Simply”. I thought I was being concise, but it’s not really very concise and maybe not very simple either. 😀

Before Jesus departed, he instructed his disciples to preach the gospel to the whole world.

Matthew 28:19–20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”

Acts 1:8
“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.”

He wasn’t asking them to start wars or “take over the world” in a political sense. In later centuries, when Christianity got mingled with politics, some attempted that sort of thing from time to time. But I don’t believe that Jesus would endorse any of that. Becoming a Christian is a voluntary act. There’s some degree of uncertainty on how many people will become true believers. Some verses suggest few; others suggest many.

Luke 18:8
“However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Matthew 7:13–14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Revelation 7:9-10
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language , standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”…”

I think what is being emphasized is the need for personal faith rather than just following whatever happens to be fashionable at the current time. And however bleak things look on earth, in the future, we’ll see heaven filled with people from every nation, tribe, people and language.

To be fair, I think everyone should have the opportunity to hear the message of other religions too. In Europe at the time of the reformation and before, you risked being executed if you said anything that was deemed heretical, and after the reformation, people were murdered for their faith by nominal “Christians”. I say nominal because a true believer wouldn’t persecute someone.

Thankfully, nowadays, we have freedom of religion in much of the world. Some of my children’s closest friends at school were Muslims. The school was largely Roman Catholic, but all were welcomed, including my own kids who were evangelical Christians. But it’s not like that everywhere. And perhaps in some cases, governments restrict evangelistic activities out of concern for its citizens. For example, if people in the region are prone to attack or murder people in religious conflicts, maybe governments feel that it’s in everyone’s interest that people stick with their own religion. And you can get dubious “Christian” groups that exploit poor people by demanding money and making extravagant promises.

But my hope is that even in regions where activities are restricted, governments wouldn’t penalize people for looking at religious material on the web or having a Bible on their phone or whatever.

When I was young, I was interested in other religions. I sometimes borrowed books from the library. Now it’s much easier with the web. Or, I sometimes read For Dummies books, which give good outlines of what other religions believe. Sometimes these are free to listen to on Audible too.

It’s even easier again with artificial intelligence (AI) such as Microsoft Copilot. A few weeks ago, out of curiosity, I asked it “How do I begin a relationship with Jesus Christ”. People might find fault with what it said, but I thought that it was broadly correct and serves as a good starting point. Missionary work can be problematic in some countries. Even here in Ireland, we are often suspicious of new religious groups. You even get evangelical groups that I’d advise people to steer clear of. But the good thing about the Web is that you can discover things for yourself without “joining” anything. It’s true that Christians can benefit from fellowship with others, but that isn’t always feasible. For example, the Ethiopian who came to Christ in the Acts 8 might not have found a church to go to when he got back to Ethiopia. Or maybe he started one.

Anyway, here’s how Microsoft Copilot answered my question:

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How do I begin a relationship with Jesus Christ?

To begin a relationship with Jesus Christ, start by opening your heart to Him, acknowledging your need for His grace, and choosing to trust and follow Him. This journey is deeply personal and begins with faith, prayer, and a desire to know Him more intimately.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you begin:

🌟 1. Recognize Your Need for Jesus

• Understand that everyone has sinned and falls short of God’s perfect standard.
• Realize that Jesus offers forgiveness, healing, and eternal life through His death and resurrection.

🙏 2. Talk to God in Prayer

• Begin with a simple, honest prayer. You don’t need fancy words—just speak from your heart.
• Example: “Jesus, I want to know You. I believe You died for me and rose again. Please forgive me and come into my life. I want to follow You.”

📖 3. Read the Bible

• Start with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) to learn about Jesus’ life and teachings.
• The Bible is how God speaks to us—make it a daily habit.

🕊️ 4. Accept His Grace

• A relationship with Jesus isn’t earned by good deeds; it’s received by faith.
• Let go of guilt and shame—Jesus offers unconditional love and a fresh start.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 5. Connect with Other Believers

• Join a local church or faith community where you can grow, ask questions, and be encouraged.
• Fellowship helps you stay grounded and supported in your journey.

💬 6. Keep the Conversation Going

• Prayer is ongoing—talk to Jesus throughout your day.
• Share your thoughts, fears, hopes, and joys with Him. He cares deeply for you.

Starting a relationship with Jesus is like opening a door to peace, purpose, and transformation. It’s not about religion—it’s about knowing Him personally and walking with Him daily. If you’re ready, He’s already waiting with open arms.

Would you like help finding a local church or Bible study group in Limerick to get started?

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Funnily enough, the list of churches that it gave me for Limerick weren’t exclusively evangelical. But I suppose a person is free to research and explore them and decide for themselves which one to go to. And you can always leave and go to another one if you find that it’s not your thing.