Humanity Lost without the Gospel

 II. Humanity Lost without the Gospel

God's Power for Salvation. For I am not ashamed of the Gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: for Jew first, and then Greek. For in it is revealed the righteousness of God from faith to faith, as it is written, "The one who is righteous by faith will live.""  (NABRE, Romans 1: 16-17)

GOSPEL: The "good news" of God's mercy and love revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. It is this Gospel, or good news that the Apostles, and the Church following them, are to proclaim to the entire world. The Gospel is handed on in the apostolic tradition of the Church as the source of all-saving truth and moral discipline. The four Gospels are the books written by the evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, which have for their central object Jesus Christ, God's incarnate Son: his life, teachings, Passion and glorification, and his Church's beginnings under the Spirit's guidance. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, glossary, page 881.) 

For lesson planning and actual teaching, simpler is often better. Use good sources, make concepts and terms (definitions) clear, and make sure it sticks. You can't go wrong with Paul's letters in your catechesis, because in many ways we are doing what Paul was. Certainly the four Gospels are the center of our biblical excursions in Sunday School, and in my parish we also go over the entire Gospel of Matthew in 7th Grade. Matthew is important for proving that Jesus IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS. We have to propose and teach faith, and not assume that it is present in abundance in our students! So do not leave out Acts or the Letters in your teaching, as they deal with some of the things we still do today! I think that the above quote from Romans is one of the best biblical quotes EVER, because it is something everyone can understand and identify with. This is a good quote to give students and have them explain, or define, after some collaboration time. I could write and talk all day about this passage, because it speaks to me. Make it come alive for your students! 

The definition of "Gospel" comes from my favorite classroom reference source, the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Some students will think that they know what "Gospel" means, and they usually have parts of it down pat. But this is a word that has gigantic implications and is of enormous importance, especially in light of what Paul is telling the Romans about them: the Gospel contains salvation for whoever believes! Make sure to emphasize that "Good News" is a great way to think of the Gospels, because really what they contain is good news for anyone who believes in what it contains. Note also that Paul combines them together in one term, in the singular: Gospel. As a unit, they give us the story of our savior Jesus Christ, combining to give us different views and impressions, but all centered on Christ. As a group, they are good news indeed for us! "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that shall be for all the people." (NABRE, Luke 2:10) That good news the Angel spoke of IS Christ! Do not be ashamed of the Gospel, and do not be afraid of the good news. If indeed "Humanity is lost without the Gospel" the only way NOT to be lost is with the Gospel. Keep the good news of Christ at the center of all catechesis and you will be on the right track.