Making Heaven Crowded
The good news
What is the Gospel?
The message at the center of everything Making Heaven Crowded does, explained without jargon.
The short answer
Good news about what Jesus has done
“Gospel” means good news. In the New Testament it is the news that Jesus Christ died for sins, was buried, and rose on the third day, and that forgiveness and a relationship with God are now offered through him.
That is a message about something that has already happened, which is what makes it news instead of advice. Making Heaven Crowded’s mission is built on it: to make Heaven crowded by faithfully proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and equipping disciples to take the Gospel into the world.
In four parts
The message, one step at a time
- The problem. Romans 3:23 says that everyone has sinned and falls short of the glory of God. The Bible treats this as true of every person equally, so the Gospel is not addressed to a special category of people.
- What Christ did. In 1 Corinthians 15:3–4, Paul says the most important thing he passed on was that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and was raised on the third day.
- How it is received. Ephesians 2:8–9 describes salvation as a gift, received by faith and not earned by works, so that no one can boast.
- The response. Romans 10:9 describes the response as confessing that Jesus is Lord and believing that God raised him from the dead.
Christians use different words and emphases when they explain this, but those four ideas are the core. The full passages are short and worth reading for yourself; links are in the Sources section below.
What it is not
Not a program, and not a transaction
The Gospel is not a set of self-improvement steps, and it is not something a person pays for with good behavior. That is also why the ministry is careful about how its service and its message relate. Handing someone food or water is an act of love that stands on its own. It is never a condition, and the ministry does not teach that serving others earns anyone’s salvation. The Bible on serving the poor page explains how the two fit together.
It is also not something that has to be argued into someone. Making Heaven Crowded’s volunteers treat a “no” as a normal outcome, not a failure, and leave the door open with an email address and phone number instead of pressing for a decision on the spot.
In practice
How it gets shared on the street
The ministry points to Matthew 28:18–20, the Great Commission, as its reason for sharing the Gospel at all. This is the Great Commission. We are called to go and make disciples of ALL the nations. In a typical conversation the explanation is kept simple: Jesus Christ died and rose again, and that changes how a person can be forgiven and known by God. The step-by-step version is in how to share the Gospel.
Where it happens is described under street evangelism in Tampa and Gainesville, and the verse behind the approach to people is covered in 1 Corinthians 9:19–23 explained. Anyone who wants to be able to explain the Gospel confidently can start with SENT Sessions, and the name behind the whole effort is explained in what Making Heaven Crowded means.
Questions
The Gospel, answered plainly
- What does the word Gospel mean?
- Gospel means good news. In the New Testament it refers to the message about Jesus Christ: that he died for sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day, and that forgiveness and a relationship with God are offered through him. It is announced as news about something done, not advice about something to do.
- What is the Gospel in one sentence?
- Jesus Christ died and rose again, and that changes how a person can be forgiven and known by God. That is the sentence Making Heaven Crowded volunteers use when someone asks what they are talking about. Everything else in a conversation, such as questions, stories, and prayer, is built around those words.
- Is the Gospel something a person earns?
- No. Ephesians 2:8-9 describes salvation as a gift received by faith, not as a result of works. Making Heaven Crowded does not teach that serving others earns anyone's salvation. Serving people is how the ministry shows love and opens conversations, and it is separate from how the Gospel says a person is saved.
- Why does Making Heaven Crowded share the Gospel?
- Its stated mission is to make Heaven crowded by faithfully proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and equipping disciples to take it into the world. The ministry points to the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, where Jesus tells his followers to go and make disciples of all nations, as the reason for that work.
- Do you have to believe it to get help from MHC volunteers?
- No. Food and bottled water are handed over before any conversation begins, and they are not conditional on listening or agreeing. Volunteers share the Gospel when someone is willing to hear it, and they stop when someone is not. Respect ends the conversation, not a better argument, and nobody is pressured.
- How can I learn more or ask a question?
- Read the guide to how Making Heaven Crowded shares the Gospel in conversation, send a prayer request, or contact the team directly. You can also join an outreach and see it in practice. The email address and phone number are at the bottom of this page.
Sources
Read the passages on Bible Gateway: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Romans 3:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9.
Ask a question, or come and see
You are welcome to send a question, share a prayer request, or join an outreach.
Questions? Email Makingheavencrowdedtampa@gmail.com or call (941) 718-2867.