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Gleanings From The Word

Category: Scripture Index

  • Spread of the Gospel

    I was contemplating the spread of the gospel this morning when I saw a dandelion puffball. I thought it made for a great illustration.

    We see dandelions everywhere, but they aren’t a native plant. They were brought from Europe as a kitchen garden plant. They grow well even in poor soils, and thanks to those seed heads, they propagate well.

    You can eat the leaves, stems and petals. They can be used for making wind and in many natural, herbal remedies.

    When the wind catches the puffball seeds, they will be blown near and far to start new dandelions.

    That’s a great metaphor for the role of witnessing in the spread of the gospel.

    We don’t have to be experts, or great theologians, or have defined roles in the church to tell others about Jesus. We simply have to be witnesses to how we have seen him at work.

    The Bible repeatedly calls believers to be witnesses to what God has done. It’s a key component to the spread of the gospel.

    But He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the end of the earth. Acts 1:7-8

    and you will bear witness also, because you have been with Me from the beginning John 15:27

    We share our testimony, and the Holy Spirit uses that to change another life. The process replicates over and over again.

    Do you have friends and family who need Jesus? Tell them about what Jesus has done. Let them see your changed life.

    While there have been occasions of mass conversion, the spread of the gospel is typically one-on-one, through word of mouth. It’s friend-to-friend, neighbor-to-neighbor work.

    Tell others. You don’t need to be an expert or have all the answers. You can always find answers if needed. You start by telling your story, by being a witness.

    May you be bold.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Newborns

    Summary

    The gospel spreads the way dandelion seeds do — not by experts or institutions, but by ordinary people sharing what they’ve witnessed, carried near and far by the Spirit.

    Takeaways

    • Dandelions thrive and propagate anywhere, just as the gospel spreads through ordinary believers in everyday circumstances.
    • Scripture calls all believers to be witnesses, not theologians — your story is enough to start.
    • The typical pattern of gospel growth is personal and relational: one life, one conversation at a time.

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  • Upon This Rock

    Upion this rock - large rock small stone

    In Matthew 16 is a well-known but controversially understood verse. Jesus asks the disciples who they think He is and gets various replies. Upon hearing Peter’s reply, Jesus says, “…and upon this rock I will build My church.”

    He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. Matthew 16:16-18

    The New Testament was written in Koine Greek, the common, less formal Greek language.  There are nuances that don’t transfer over to English. There is an important word play here that doesn’t come across well in our language.

    Jesus calls Peter petros, a word meaning a very small stone. The word we translate as ‘rock’ is petra, meaning a massive, immovable bedrock. 

    This same word, petra, is used elsewhere in the bible to describe absolute stability. The wise man builds his house on petra (Matthew 7:24). The solid petra is where Jesus tomb was carved (Matthew 27:60).

    The idea that Jesus the Christ is the rock is further reinforced in Scripture. In 1 Corinthians 10:4, Paul identifies the imagery with Christ, stating, “…that Rock was Christ.” Similarly, throughout the Old Testament, “Rock” is a title reserved for God, not a human leader (see Psalm 18:2)

    When Jesus is saying “upon this rock…” What is he saying?

    By moving from the image of a “small stone” to that of “solid bedrock,” we are gently drawn into a deeper understanding. When Jesus said, “upon this rock,” He pointed beyond the strength of any one man to something far more enduring—the truth that had just been revealed: that He is the Messiah.

    Peter was chosen, shaped, and given a meaningful role, yet even he stood upon that same foundation. The strength of the Church does not rise from human ability, but from the unshakable reality of who Christ is.

    And so the Church stands—firm, steady, and secure—because it is built upon this rock: the living truth of Jesus Himself.

    Hold fast to the petra, the living bedrock of Jesus.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

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    Spread of the Gospel

     Summary

    In Matthew 16, Jesus contrasts Peter (a small stone) with the “rock” (petra), pointing not to Peter himself but to the foundational truth that Jesus is the Messiah. The Church is built on this unshakable reality—Christ Himself—not on human strength.

    Three takeaways:

    The “rock” refers to the revealed truth of Jesus’ identity, not merely Peter as a person.

    Scripture consistently uses “rock” (petra) as a symbol of divine stability, often pointing to God or Christ.

    The Church’s foundation is secure because it rests on who Jesus is, not on human leaders.

    The Gospel – the best news you will ever hear
    Every Member Is Necessary — 1 Corinthians 12