Gospel Hope
Being a discipleship leader is one of the greatest joys in ministry… but let’s be honest - it can also be deeply frustrating.
People don’t show up. They say they’re in, then ghost you. They say they want Jesus, but really, they just want a little spiritual boost without the relationship with Jesus. And over time, if we’re not careful, our hearts harden.
They become “that guy who never commits” or “that woman who always has an excuse.”
And when that happens - when people become one-dimensional in our minds - something dangerous takes root. We stop seeing them with gospel hope. We stop seeing them as Christ sees them.
"But we preach Christ crucified...For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” - 1 Corinthians 1:26–31
Paul writes to a church that’s all over the place. Immature. Divisive. Sinful. If anyone had the right to write them off, it was Paul. But what does he do?
He reminds them of Christ crucified.
He reminds them of their calling.
He reminds them that God chose what is weak, low, and foolish—not to mock it, but to redeem it.
Paul saw them in Christ. That’s gospel hope.
People don’t show up. They say they’re in, then ghost you. They say they want Jesus, but really, they just want a little spiritual boost without the relationship with Jesus. And over time, if we’re not careful, our hearts harden.
They become “that guy who never commits” or “that woman who always has an excuse.”
And when that happens - when people become one-dimensional in our minds - something dangerous takes root. We stop seeing them with gospel hope. We stop seeing them as Christ sees them.
"But we preach Christ crucified...For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” - 1 Corinthians 1:26–31
Paul writes to a church that’s all over the place. Immature. Divisive. Sinful. If anyone had the right to write them off, it was Paul. But what does he do?
He reminds them of Christ crucified.
He reminds them of their calling.
He reminds them that God chose what is weak, low, and foolish—not to mock it, but to redeem it.
Paul saw them in Christ. That’s gospel hope.
Seeing People As Christ Sees Them
Gospel hope is seeing hope in people who the world might give up on…
Gospel hope is seeing people as Christ sees them…
It’s not naïve optimism.
It’s not pretending they’re not frustrating.
It’s not turning a blind eye to immaturity.
It’s looking through their sin and flakiness and pride, and seeing who Jesus died for them to become something MORE than that! It’s holding on to the possibility of redemption - even when they’ve let you down again.
Gospel hope is seeing people as Christ sees them…
It’s not naïve optimism.
It’s not pretending they’re not frustrating.
It’s not turning a blind eye to immaturity.
It’s looking through their sin and flakiness and pride, and seeing who Jesus died for them to become something MORE than that! It’s holding on to the possibility of redemption - even when they’ve let you down again.
The Dangers of Caricatures
Tim Keller talks about how we can hold onto the small stuff like;
He says; “We often think forgiveness is for the serious offences. But bitterness builds far more often through the little things. That’s what makes it so dangerous.”
It builds quietly. Silently. And then it shapes how we see someone and we begin to caricature them.
Not too long ago, my mum got a picture of our family caricatured. I don't know why she did it because It’s hideous! Oversized foreheads, noses and ears dominate the picture. And yet, this is what we do with people….
Keller continues : “If a cartoonist wants to make someone look ludicrous, she can create a caricature. She can take something about a person’s face that’s unusual or a bit unattractive and exaggerate it, making it prominent so that the person looks foolish. That’s exactly what your heart does… You think of them one-dimensionally… If somebody has lied to you, you tell yourself, “She lied because she is just a liar!” But if you ever are caught in a lie, and someone asks why you lied, you say, “Well, yes, but it’s complicated. I didn’t mean . . .”. Yes, you did lie, but you are basically a good person. So while you continue to think of yourself as a three-dimensional, complex human being, you start to think of the person who lied to you as a one-dimensional villain.”
That’s when we know we’ve lost gospel hope.
- The person who no-shows again.
- The one who criticises from the sidelines.
- The one who consumes but doesn’t give.
- The one who never takes the next step in faith, no matter how many times you’ve offered.
He says; “We often think forgiveness is for the serious offences. But bitterness builds far more often through the little things. That’s what makes it so dangerous.”
It builds quietly. Silently. And then it shapes how we see someone and we begin to caricature them.
Not too long ago, my mum got a picture of our family caricatured. I don't know why she did it because It’s hideous! Oversized foreheads, noses and ears dominate the picture. And yet, this is what we do with people….
Keller continues : “If a cartoonist wants to make someone look ludicrous, she can create a caricature. She can take something about a person’s face that’s unusual or a bit unattractive and exaggerate it, making it prominent so that the person looks foolish. That’s exactly what your heart does… You think of them one-dimensionally… If somebody has lied to you, you tell yourself, “She lied because she is just a liar!” But if you ever are caught in a lie, and someone asks why you lied, you say, “Well, yes, but it’s complicated. I didn’t mean . . .”. Yes, you did lie, but you are basically a good person. So while you continue to think of yourself as a three-dimensional, complex human being, you start to think of the person who lied to you as a one-dimensional villain.”
That’s when we know we’ve lost gospel hope.
Where Is Your Gospel?
Paul’s rebuke to the Corinthians is also for us: Where is your gospel? If Christ is at the centre of your discipleship, then gospel hope must be too.
Because Jesus had gospel hope for you - when your sin crucified him.
Because Jesus looked at Peter’s denial and still called him “the rock.”
Because Jesus doesn’t caricature you - he redeems you.
So who are we to hold people in a box when Christ went to the cross to break them out of it?
Because Jesus had gospel hope for you - when your sin crucified him.
Because Jesus looked at Peter’s denial and still called him “the rock.”
Because Jesus doesn’t caricature you - he redeems you.
So who are we to hold people in a box when Christ went to the cross to break them out of it?
Leading with Gospel Hope
So here’s the call:
And let’s start praying - not just “God, redeem them,” but “Jesus, redeem me. Help me to love as you love. Help me to see them as you see them.”
That’s gospel hope. And that’s how we lead as disciples who follow Jesus—with others.
- Let’s repent where we’ve held bitterness.
- Let’s confess where we’ve reduced someone to a label.
- Let’s ask the Spirit to help us see our people not as they are, but as they could be in Christ.
And let’s start praying - not just “God, redeem them,” but “Jesus, redeem me. Help me to love as you love. Help me to see them as you see them.”
That’s gospel hope. And that’s how we lead as disciples who follow Jesus—with others.