Just finished Gospel Fluency (Crossway Books) by Jeff Vanderstelt for the 4th time! Gospel fluency is a beautiful metaphor. Fluency is a byproduct of learning a language, speaking it, being spoken to in it, and living immersed in the culture where it is primary. Simply put, those who speak, practice, and become immersed in a gospel-centered community will likely become gospel fluent.
Gospel fluency cannot be attained without full immersion. Gospel fluency means that the gospel has become a way of life. I get the sense that Pastor Jeff believes that part of the problem today with gospel illiteracy is a result of the pre-packaged “sinners prayer” from the 80s/90s. The “where-would-you-go-if-you-died-today” pitch inadvertently attracted the self-serving desires of the flesh.
If I’m looking out for #1 then I’ll be attracted to that gospel, which is no gospel at all. It might be safe to assume that the majority of today’s church grew up inundated with some version of a self-serving gospel. I am refreshed at the call to renewed thinking that goes beyond cliches.
Jeff emphasizes that “Jesus didn’t die just to remove our sins from us, but also to destroy the power of sin over us.” The implication here is freedom in daily living; freedom from every idol that tries to make something matter more that doesn’t matter most. Jesus strategic objective of restoring identity rooted in the image of God obliterates the power of sin in our lives. That is the foundation for gospel fluency; namely, clarity on the implications of the gospel. There is hope.
I see more and more people saying yes to God. They are surrendering and their curiosity of the gospel is leading them to dive into spiritual community where true connection and intimacy happens. I see the gospel making a comeback! Now, I see the dominant theme as life transformation. And it’s not the 1989 “Lordship Salvation” pitch that sought to scare people into heaven. It’s a genuine, come and die to yourself and be set free type of gospel. It’s the true gospel of Jesus Christ that says, why settle for anything less than what Christ created you for, which is completely free from you, your neighbor and your spouse!
Golden Nuggets/Notes from Audible
Gospel fluency cannot be attained without full immersion. Gospel fluency means that the gospel has become a way of life. I get the sense that Pastor Jeff believes that part of the problem today with gospel illiteracy is a result of the pre-packaged “sinners prayer” from the 80s/90s. The “where-would-you-go-if-you-died-today” pitch inadvertently attracted the self-serving desires of the flesh.
If I’m looking out for #1 then I’ll be attracted to that gospel, which is no gospel at all. It might be safe to assume that the majority of today’s church grew up inundated with some version of a self-serving gospel. I am refreshed at the call to renewed thinking that goes beyond cliches.
Jeff emphasizes that “Jesus didn’t die just to remove our sins from us, but also to destroy the power of sin over us.” The implication here is freedom in daily living; freedom from every idol that tries to make something matter more that doesn’t matter most. Jesus strategic objective of restoring identity rooted in the image of God obliterates the power of sin in our lives. That is the foundation for gospel fluency; namely, clarity on the implications of the gospel. There is hope.
I see more and more people saying yes to God. They are surrendering and their curiosity of the gospel is leading them to dive into spiritual community where true connection and intimacy happens. I see the gospel making a comeback! Now, I see the dominant theme as life transformation. And it’s not the 1989 “Lordship Salvation” pitch that sought to scare people into heaven. It’s a genuine, come and die to yourself and be set free type of gospel. It’s the true gospel of Jesus Christ that says, why settle for anything less than what Christ created you for, which is completely free from you, your neighbor and your spouse!
Golden Nuggets/Notes from Audible
"The gospel doesn’t just bring about forgiveness of sins and save us from hell. The gospel of Jesus Christ empowers us to live a whole new life today by the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead."
“The only way you can grow in gospel fluency is to learn how to speak the gospel into all of life.”
"Temptations come in all forms, but every one of them is an empty promise leading to an unfulfilled longing."
"Standing firm in the gospel means we continue to put faith in him for our past, our present, and our future."
Section 2 / 00:06:02 - Sanctification means becoming like Jesus...and...becoming like Jesus requires believing in him more and more in every part of your life.
Section 3 / 00:18:13 - Too often when giving people answers to their questions or solutions to their problems we give them something other than Jesus.
Section 4 / 00:44:42 - Fluency is a byproduct of immersion.
Section 6 / 01:25:06 - the THREE Phases of Salvation!
Section 6 / 01:22:17 - best response to "I've been saved since I was 10." Q: Saved from what?
Section 7 / 02:09:11 - 1. God is great; so we do not have to control. 2. God is glorious; so we do not have to fear. 3. God is good; so we do not need to look elsewhere. 4. God is gracious; so we do not have to prove ourselves.
Section 7 / 01:51:46 - I've observed this plenty of times in my parenting. yes!!!!!
Section 7 / 01:53:51 - Instead of shaming Adam and Eve after they had sinned, God asked them where they were, why they were hiding, and who told them they were hiding.
Section 7 / 02:00:31 - Confession is an affirmation of growth in the gospel.
Section 8 / 02:14:29 - “I have come to believe that the main reason people don’t talk about Jesus is not that they lack training. I am convinced it is that they lack love.”
Section 8 / 02:22:52 - The Holy Spirit is the best at bragging about Jesus.
Section 9 / 02:34:38 - The world is everything that stands against the rule and reign of God.
Section 10 / 03:02:15 - “The roots of our faith produce the fruit of our life.”
Section 10 / 03:05:23 - The fruit to root illustration!
Section 10 / 03:10:11 - Confess the sin beneath the sin. Confess the root, not just the fruit.
Section 11 / 03:28:22 - pray throughout the meal!
Section 12 / 03:44:44 - gospel thankfulness: we are better than we deserve.
Section 13 / 04:14:50 - universally true: everyone has a savior...
Section 14 / 04:32:23 - Francis Schaffer's approach to counseling: 99% listen 1% talk.
Section 14 / 04:39:06 - The Holy Spirit goes ahead of us and prepares conversations ready for us.
Section 14 / 04:43:02 - The idol of power/needing to be right/needing to be heard.
Section 15 / 04:57:51 - Reflecting the character of God in the community!!!!!! Genius.
Section 15 / 05:11:34 - The ministry of advocation!!!! 
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