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Gospel Today

Gospel Today

著者： Caleb Suko
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What does the Gospel of Jesus Christ look like in our lives today and how can we effectively share it with others?Copyright 2026 Gospel Today キリスト教 スピリチュアリティ 聖職・福音主義
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  • Ukraine Through the Eyes of a First-Time Visitor

    Ukraine Through the Eyes of a First-Time Visitor
    2026/09/03
    God Is Building His Church in the Midst of WarFor many people, Ukraine is known primarily through the images and stories that come out of the war: destroyed buildings, missile strikes, soldiers at the front, and families who have lost loved ones. But spending time in Ukraine reveals something that is harder to see from a distance. People are still living their lives, churches are still gathering, communities are being served, and Christians are continuing to share the hope of the Gospel.Recently, Gospel Today had the opportunity to sit down with Graham Marshall, who was visiting Ukraine for the first time. Graham and his wife, Sharon, have been connected to ministry in Ukraine for more than 30 years, dating back to their involvement with Ukrainian churches and ministry leaders in the 90s. After eight days in the country, Graham shared some of the things that surprised him and how the visit changed his perspective on life and ministry during wartime.Seeing Ukraine for the First TimeGraham knew before coming that Ukraine was at war, and some of his family members wondered whether it was the right time to visit. For Graham and Sharon, however, there was a confidence that if God was leading them to come, there was a purpose in being there.One of the things that surprised him was how little military presence he saw in everyday life. He expected to see more soldiers and more obvious signs of the war. Of course, there were reminders of the destruction, particularly during their trip to Mykolaiv, where they saw places that had been damaged by missiles. He also noticed that there were relatively few men on the streets, as many are serving at the front. But what stood out even more was that ordinary life continues.Life Continues During WarGraham was struck by the fact that people were still paying attention to things that might seem unimportant during wartime. In parks and public spaces, flowers were being planted. People were reading books and spending time together. At a prayer meeting, he met a woman who had spent time composing poetry.These things may seem small, but they revealed something significant about the Ukrainian people. There is still a desire to build, create, and prepare for a future beyond the war. People are not simply focused on surviving the present, they are looking forward to the day when the fighting will end and Ukraine can once again be a place of peace and beauty.After more than four years of war, Ukrainians have also had to learn how to continue with everyday life. The constant urgency and fear that marked the beginning of the full-scale invasion cannot be maintained forever. People still have to work, read, spend time with others, and carry on with daily responsibilities.That does not mean the war has become less painful or that people have forgotten what has happened. Instead, it demonstrates the resilience of a people who continue to value life and look toward the future.Remembering Those Who Have Been LostAt the same time, the reality of war is impossible to separate from everyday life. Graham described sensing a quietness among many Ukrainians, comparing it to the atmosphere of a memorial service. During a walk through the city, he came across a memorial with dozens of Ukrainian flags representing people who had been killed. Behind each flag was a person with a family and a story: fathers, husbands, grandfathers, and sons.For Ukrainians, the war is not something happening somewhere far away. It has affected families, churches, and communities personally. The loss is visible throughout the country, even as people continue with their daily lives.The Church Is Serving Its CommunityOn the other hand, a big encouragement for the Marshalls was what they saw in Ukrainian churches. During his visit, he had the opportunity to visit several churches and meet with pastors in the Mykolaiv region, as well as churches in Odesa. His impression was that the churches were healthy. In several places, churches were expanding their facilities, and unbelievers were coming through their doors looking for hope and answers.For pastors and ministry leaders, the circumstances have created opportunities to preach the Gospel and serve people who are searching for something they cannot find elsewhere. Rather than simply waiting for the war to end, these churches are actively reaching their communities and looking for ways to bring glory to God in the middle of difficult circumstances.One example was a humanitarian aid distribution that Graham attended. Around 300 people came to receive bread from the church. However what made the ministry particularly meaningful was that this was not a temporary response. The church had been providing this assistance for four years. That kind of sustained service demonstrates the role the church can play during a crisis. The church is meeting practical needs while building relationships with people in the community and creating opportunities to point them toward Christ.God Is...
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    13 分
  • Lessons from the Nazi Church

    Lessons from the Nazi Church
    2026/09/03
    Likely, you would not tell anyone that you love Hitler or that you think he did a lot of good for the Church. However, that’s exactly how many Christians felt in the 1930’s in Nazi Germany. They were unashamed of their support for Hitler and vocal in their support of him. Looking back on how things turned out, this seems hard to imagine, yet millions of Christians were deceived and gladly followed the Führer down the path of one of the most murderous regimes in recent history. millions of Christians were deceivedUnderstanding how the church in Germany was led astray by the political ambitions of Hitler and the Nazi Party serves as a helpful warning and corrective for our churches today. One of the most profound books in helping Christians obtain a proper perspective between politics and their faith is Erwin Lutzer’s book, “Hitler’s Cross, How the Cross Was Used To promote the Nazi Agenda”In this podcast, I want to highlight a few powerful quotes from the book and think through Lutzer’s analysis of the Church in Nazi Germany and what that means for us today. First, we must admit that we are often blind to the way our own political realities impact our faith and our gospel mission. That is why it is helpful to study history and see how the church responded, whether good or bad to different situations. History quickly shows us whether or not these responses were in line with God’s Word. Furthermore, since we are not in that immediate context and not wooed by any particular candidate or political party of that time and place, it can be easier for us to spot the, sometimes subtle, breaking from Biblical truth in order to align with a political movement. Here we must be careful, our tendency is to judge quickly and harshly, and yet fail to bring the application forward to our present time. In this Luzter helps us to see how we may be following some of the same misguided steps as the church in Nazi Germany nearly 100 years ago. Erwin Lutzer sets the scene with the following statement:From my study I have concluded that the church in Germany appeared to be too preoccupied with the problems of the nation to see what was happening before its eyes. The religion of blood and soil had replaced the religion of humility and prayer. Though burdened with unemployment and the physical hardship of its dejected people, the church, for the most part, still refused to repent and turn wholly to God. Hitler’s Cross, Kindle Location: 1,123The church overlooked the fact that the fight against Nazism was essentially not political but spiritual. The church mistook the temporal benefits of the swastika for the spiritual benefits of the cross of Christ. Wanting to believe that Hitler was the answer, it forgot what the really important questions were. Hitler’s Cross, Kindle Location: 1,586The church mistook the temporal benefits of the swastika for the spiritual benefits of the cross of ChristWhy is this important? Throughout history, there has often been the temptation to confuse the promise of temporary “salvation” with political success, personal prosperity, and governmental greatness. This confusion has led the church down the road of military conquest instead of preaching the gospel. Don’t get me wrong, often these political movements are couched in Christian language and even promote some Biblical morals. What starts as a way to “bring back the Bible or conservative values into a nation, ends with a government that violently stamps out individual liberties in the name of God. Worse, it results in a church who trades the greatness of eternal salvation for the relative greatness of their temporal government. The Church loses interest in sharing the gospel and, honestly, would be ineffective even if they tried. All because their affections are not placed on their eternal hope in Christ but rather on their temporal desire for a king, president, or other ruler. This is at its root a gospel issue. How can the church remain faithful in times of political turmoil? How can she keep the gospel message at the front and filter out predominant political pressures to align with a certain group? The answer to that question is in fact, quite simple. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:19-21The treasure principle is central here. If you and I are quietly treasuring the temporal things of this life over the eternal treasures of the gospel we will be very likely to walk down the road of political Christianity. The problem is that often the treasures of the heart are quietly protected by the comforts of this life. As long as there’s money in the bank and food on the table, as long as we can get in and out of our Sunday ...
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    35 分
  • Resolved to Learn from Suffering

    Resolved to Learn from Suffering
    2026/07/24
    Finding Joy in Suffering: What James Teaches the Modern ChurchConsider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. - James 1:2-3Few passages of Scripture challenge modern Christians as much as these opening words from James. The idea of finding joy in suffering seems almost impossible in a culture that spends enormous amounts of time and energy trying to avoid pain. We naturally seek comfort, security, and relief. Yet James begins his letter by confronting believers with a truth that feels uncomfortable but deeply necessary: trials are not outside of God’s purposes.James does not write to people who are experiencing an easy season of life. He writes to believers who have been scattered and pressured because of their faith. Their circumstances were difficult, uncertain, and painful. But instead of offering them a message of escape, James gives them a new way of seeing their suffering.The Christian life is not a promise that hardship will disappear. It is a promise that God is present in the middle of hardship and is able to use it for our growth.A Culture That Runs from PainOne of the defining characteristics of modern society is the pursuit of comfort. From entertainment and technology to self-improvement and convenience, much of life is built around reducing discomfort and avoiding suffering.While there is nothing wrong with seeking relief from pain, this mindset can shape the way we view God and the Christian life. Many believers have unknowingly adopted the idea that following Jesus should result in a smoother, easier life. When suffering comes, they are left confused, discouraged, or questioning whether God is truly good.But Scripture presents a very different picture. Throughout the Bible, suffering is not portrayed as evidence of God’s absence. Often, it becomes the very place where God reveals His presence most clearly. The Lord does not waste the trials His people endure. He uses them to deepen faith, produce endurance, and make believers more like Christ.Without a biblical understanding of suffering, the church becomes vulnerable to shallow faith. A faith built only around comfort will struggle when life becomes difficult. But a faith rooted in the character of God can remain steady even in seasons of uncertainty.Two Ways of Understanding the Christian LifeThroughout church history, faithful believers have understood that suffering plays an important role in spiritual maturity.Jonathan Edwards, the influential 18th-century pastor and theologian, intentionally prepared himself for hardship. In his personal resolutions, he reflected often on eternity, God’s sovereignty, and the purpose of trials. He determined that when difficulties came, he would seek to understand what God was teaching him and how those moments could produce greater faithfulness.Edwards understood that the goal of Christianity was not simply a comfortable life, but a transformed life. This perspective stands in contrast to messages that present Christianity primarily as a path to earthly success, prosperity, or personal fulfillment. Such teachings are attractive because they appeal to our natural desire to avoid suffering. But they leave believers unprepared for the realities that Scripture repeatedly describes.Jesus never promised His followers a life without difficulty. Instead, He promised to remain with them through every difficulty.James’s Message to Suffering BelieversJames wrote to believers who knew suffering firsthand. The early Christians had experienced persecution and displacement. They were not facing temporary inconveniences but genuine hardship because of their commitment to Christ.Yet James does not begin by explaining how they can escape their circumstances. He begins by showing them how to understand them.Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds. - James 1:2James is not saying that pain itself is enjoyable. He is not asking believers to pretend that suffering does not hurt. Instead, he points them toward the greater reality behind their circumstances. Trials have a purpose; they test faith, expose dependence on God, produce endurance, and through that endurance God matures His people.Joy That Exists in the Middle of SufferingThe joy James describes is not based on changing circumstances. It is rooted in knowing that God is working even when life feels uncertain.Peter describes this same reality:In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. - 1 Peter 1:6Notice the connection between grief and rejoicing. Scripture does not deny the reality of suffering. Christians can experience deep sorrow while still having confidence in God’s goodness. This is possible because Christian joy is not simply an emotion produced by favorable circumstances. It is a confidence that comes from seeing ...
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    36 分
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