Living Out the Gospel - Owen's Testimony
In this message, Owen shares from 1 Timothy on what it means to live out the gospel—to align every part of our lives with the truth of Jesus Christ. Through Scripture and personal testimony, he invites us to look honestly at whether our actions reflect the faith we proclaim.
What Living Out the Gospel Means
Paul’s letter to Timothy was written because some church leaders in Ephesus had begun distorting the gospel—turning faith into ritual and leading others astray. Owen explains that to “live out the gospel” is to let the good news of Jesus transform both our inner life and outward behaviour.
“To live out the gospel is to line our every thought, action and purpose completely and consistently with this truth.”
It’s not just believing about Jesus, but living like Jesus—having an inward reality of faith that produces outward fruit. The fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control—become visible evidence that we are connected to the true vine.
From Self-Righteousness to Surrender
Before meeting Jesus, Owen shared that he followed many philosophies and religions, trying to be “a good person.” But he eventually realized his love was conditional and self-centered, and that even by his own standards, he couldn’t live consistently good.
“It is impossible to live out a good life without even knowing what is actually good.”
When he met Jesus, he discovered someone who truly lived what He taught—embodying the gospel in life, death, and resurrection. This challenged Owen’s earlier view of Christianity, which he had judged based on the hypocrisy of Christians rather than the message of Christ. Like the leaders in Ephesus, when believers stray from Jesus, they present a false gospel to the world.
True transformation, he learned, comes not from effort but from abiding in Jesus. When a branch is connected to the vine, life flows naturally, and the fruit shows who we’re attached to.
Character Over Ability
Owen shared an analogy from a job interview:
“The interviewer said, ‘I’m not that interested in your abilities; I can train skills. I want to know your character.’”
In the same way, God cares more about character than ability. Leadership in the kingdom is not about skill or title, but about Christlike character formed by the Spirit.
Although Owen initially hesitated to speak about leadership, thinking it didn’t apply to him, he realized that every believer influences someone. By definition, to follow Jesus is to lead others toward Him. We are all called to be lights in the world—visible examples of God’s grace at work.
Living out the gospel, however, is hardest with those closest to us. Owen admitted it’s easier to be kind to a stranger than to love family members daily through repeated conflicts. Yet that’s where the gospel must shine most clearly. Jesus’ love on the cross—seeing all our sin yet choosing to love—becomes the model for how we love others in our homes, friendships, and communities.
As he grew in faith, Owen saw God use his transformed life to bring healing within his family. They became curious about his faith not through persuasive words, but through the fruit they saw—the quiet evidence of the Holy Spirit’s power.
True Godliness and Living Together Wholeheartedly
Pride, Owen warned, can easily creep in when we start influencing others. Early in his faith, he often shared out of zeal but also out of pride—wanting control rather than trusting God. Paul reminds us that true leadership relies not on persuasive speech but on the Spirit’s power, “so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom.”
Just as Paul instructed Timothy, our lives should have a good reputation among outsiders—not to gain approval, but to represent the gospel well. Owen illustrated this humorously:
“When I see Jason Lee’s biceps, I’m going to ask him what kind of exercises he does. When people see a rich guy with a Lamborghini, they’ll ask him for financial advice. What will people ask you about?”
Our character should make others curious about the source of our peace, joy, and patience—and through that, point them to Jesus.
He closed by reminding the church that our vision isn’t just to “live out the gospel,” but to do it together wholeheartedly. Each of us is a light, but together we form a city of lights—a church that shines with the love of Christ so that others might see Him and call this place home.
“When we abide in Christ, our lives will bear His fruit.
The influence you have on others will start to look like the influence Jesus has on you.”
