TEXT:  Mark 1:1;  Phil. 4:15-16

INTRODUCTION:

A.      BOTH PASSAGES SPEAK OF THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL.

B.      WE WANT TO EXAMINE THE VARIOUS BEGINNINGS OF THE GOSPEL.

I.      THE GOSPEL'S BEGINNING OR ORIGIN( Eph. 3:8-11 ).

A.      WHERE DID IT BEGIN? ( John 8:28;  9:4;  12:49;  17:4 ).

B.      WHEN DID IT ORIGINATE?( 1 Pet. 1:18-20 ).

II.     THE GOSPEL'S PROPHETIC BEGINNINGS.

A.      FIRST PROPHETIC MENTION( Gen. 3:15 ).

          1.       Victory( 1 John 3:8;  Eph. 4:8;  1 Cor. 15:55-57 ).

          2.       We must believe( 1 John 5:4-5 ).

B.      PROMISED TO ABRAHAM( Gen. 12:1-3;  Gal. 3:8 ).

C.      OBJECT OF OT PROPHECY( Acts 3:18, 24-26 ).

D.      GIVEN FOR OUR BENEFIT( 1 Pet. 1:10-12 ).

III.    HISTORICAL BEGINNING( Mark 1:1 ).

A.      THE FULLNESS OF TIME( Gal. 4:4;  Eph. 1:10 ).

B.      HIS LIFE AND TEACHINGS ARE IMPORTANT( 2 Pet. 1:3 ).

C.      EMPHASIS ON HIS DEATH BURIAL AND RESURRECTION( 1 Cor. 15:1-4 ).

IV.   BEGINNING OF THE PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE.

A.      BEGINNING AT PENTECOST AND JERUSALEM.

          1.       Tarry in the city( Luke 24:45-49;  Acts 1:8 ).

          2.       Power came in( Acts 2:1-4 ).

B.      A KINGDOM ESTABLISHED( Mark 9:1;  Acts 1:6-8 ).

C.      THE RESULT OF THAT PROCLAMATION( Acts 17:6;  Col. 1:6 ).

V.    LOCAL BEGINNINGS( Phil. 4:15 ).

A.      "OF THE GOSPEL"  IMPLIES PREACHING IS THE BEGINNING AND       FOUNDATION OF ANY WORK( Luke 8:11;  1 Cor. 1:21-24;  3:10-11 ).

B.      HEARING AND LEARNING IS THE BASIS UPON WHICH ALL COME TO        GOD( John 6:44-45;  Rom. 10:13-15 ).

VI.   CONCLUSION:  PERSONAL BEGINNINGS.

A.      EACH MUST MAKE A DECISION( Rev. 22:17;  3:20 ).

B.      RESPONSE UNIFORM IN ACTS( Acts 2:41;  8:12 ).

C.      MUST NOT END AT THE BEGINNING( Heb. 3:14;  10:32-39 ).

D.      BUT IT MUST BEGIN( 2 Cor. 5:18--6:2 )