One aspect of every Christian's identity in the gospel is that we are made to be missionaries, priests, and ambassadors of Christ's kingdom. Indwelled by the Holy Spirit, we carry God's presence into our homes, neighborhoods, and workplaces. Because Jesus has made us a kingdom of priests through his work in the gospel, each of us ministers to people from all walks of life as we declare and demonstrate the good news of Christ's life, death, and resurrection.

The Church, as the body of Christ, is unified in diversity because of the Gospel. Comprised of people from all socio-economic, cultural, racial, political, and ecumenical backgrounds, the people of God should unite around the gospel rather than divide and compete over non-gospel issues. This is only possible through Gospel Driven love and service towards one another and a recognition that you need the Church and the Church needs you. (1 Corinthians 12-13). 

Much of American evangelicalism approaches the Church through an event-focused, individualistic lens, but this often does not align with the Bible’s description of the Church’s nature and purpose. The purpose of Christ’s work in the Gospel was not merely to save isolated individuals for personal relationships with Him, but to purify for Himself a people (Titus 2:14).

The Gospel gives us a corporate identity as the Church—ambassadors and a local expression of the Kingdom of God on earth. To take a gospel-driven approach to the Church, we must embrace that the Church is who we are, not something we do.

As a result of Christ’s accomplished work in his death and resurrection, all believers are transferred into the Kingdom of God. Our core identity is found in our status as those who have been called out and commissioned as citizens and priests of Christ’s Kingdom living as exiles in the kingdoms of man. Christ's accomplishments define our very being and identity which defines our works, values, priorities, and ethics as citizens submitted to His Kingship in His Kingdom.

It is common for Christians to drift from a gospel-driven perspective by an overemphasis on either grace or truth. An overemphasis on grace will lead people into a sort of Christianized hedonism while an overemphasis on truth will lead people into legalism. While people in either camp tend to criticize people on the other side, Jesus stands in the middle calling all back to repentance and faith in his accomplished work.

Within American evangelicalism there is a tendency for Christians to view their faith through a lens of their own performance rather than to view their faith through a lens of the gospel. We can look at our church attendance, Bible-reading, prayer life, or personal piety as a barometer for our closeness with God.

But this is categorically anti-gospel. To live a performance-driven life is to have "conduct that is not in step with the truth of the gospel" (Gal 2:14). It is to think that we began our walk by faith in the work of Jesus but now are being "perfected by the flesh" (Gal 3:1-3). What we must strive for instead is a Gospel-driven life.

The Bible gives a very clear answer to the age-old question of, “Are humans inherently good or evil?”  The uncomfortably bad news is that apart from union with Christ, there are no good people. Comparing ourselves to others is an effective form of self-validation but it is not reflective of the real situation. 

Hearing that we are dead in our trespasses and sins and that no one is good certainly is bad news but in order to really understand and appreciate the good news of the gospel we must first understand and believe the bad news. 

In this 8 week class, Brandon will cover how the Gospel message and results define every aspect of the Christian’s life, faith, and identity. Whether you’ve been a Christian for 20 days, 20 weeks, or 20 years this class is for you because the Gospel is not the ABCs of the Christian faith but the A-Z of the Christian faith. 

Revelation 17 describes a terrifying, oppressive, and dangerous Great Prostitute called Babylon.  Who is this prostitute? And how should the people of God live in her presence? Revelation is clear about one thing: we should not be impressed.

The seven bowl plagues present the most complete and intense depictions of God's judgment on evil yet. Yet the most explicit message of warning is addressed to the people of God. The rallying call is for the Church to maintain their faithfulness and allegiance to Christ and His Kingdom over, above, and even against all other allegiances. Otherwise some may find themselves ashamed at the return of Christ. 

Chapter 14 contains some of the clearest and starkest warnings of God's judgment so far in Revelation. Lines are being drawn in the sand and allegiances are being challenged. Christ demands absolute fidelity. To whom will you swear your allegiance? To the beast or to the Lamb? 

Following the visions of Satan attacking the people of God through the beasts, Revelation 14:1-5 gives a hopeful and encouraging vision of the spiritual status of the Church while we endure the attacks of Satan on earth. The reality of our secure spiritual status should fill us with boldness and confidence to declare and demonstrate the Gospel and our absolute Kingdom fidelity. 

The second beast of Revelation 13 deceives people into worshiping the first beast. The 1st century Christians of Asia Minor were confronted with the imperial cult trying to get them to worship Rome and her emperors. In this episode, Brandon makes a case for seeing the second beast behind the civic religion and patriotism of America. Revelation again presents you with a question: "Who has your allegiance?"

In Revelation 13 Satan calls up and empowers a horrific beast to wage war on the people of God. For the original audience of Revelation this beast was recognized as the satanic power behind the Roman empire. The beast is still alive and active today behind America but the call for believers is the same: endure in faithfulness to the Gospel and the Kingdom no matter the earthly consequences. 

Revelation 12 describes the heavenly reality behind the earthly life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Satan was defeated and cast out of Heaven and the people of God were sent into the wilderness. The Church is again described as suffering and under attack but preserved and nourished by God spiritually. This passage provides inspirational hope and confidence for the people of God to face the attacks of the dragon with faithfulness and boldness.

The vision of the two witnesses in Revelation 11 reveals the commission of the Church on earth until Jesus returns. The Church is to follow Christ down the path of witnessing to the Gospel and the Kingdom and self-sacrificially embracing suffering and potentially death from the world. But heavenly glory, vindication, and validation awaits the Church and it is only through the faithful and suffering witness of the Church that God's mission will be completed: the repentance of the rebellious.  

How can the people of God be sealed and protected while also be suffering and trampled? In this episode and next week's episode Brandon will cover the trumpet interlude of Revelation 10 and 11 which reveals the commission of the Church on earth until Christ returns. The Church must embrace a mission and identity that is both sweet and bitter. 

Brandon covers chapters 8 and 9 of Revelation where we learn about destructive hailstorms, water turning to blood, heavenly bodies being destroyed, and demonic locusts and horses being unleashed upon the earth. Is all of this intended to be as terrifying as it sounds? Can all of this actually reveal something about God's affection and patience towards humanity? 

Revelation 7 presents a hopeful interlude at the climax of the opening of the seven seals. John's vision of the 144,000 sealed by God and the great multitude before His throne gives hope and confidence to the people of God suffering on earth. 

But also when seen as a response to the 6th seal it led the original audience to consider who they wanted to align themselves with, Rome or the Kingdom? 21st Century American Christians would do well to consider the same challenge. Do you belong to Christ and HIs Kingdom or to America? Who are you? And whose are you? 

In this episode, Brandon covers Revelation 6 where Christ the reigning lamb begins opening the seven seals and reveals what must take place during the final age on earth before judgment day and the New Heavens and the New Earth can come. Brandon explains how the original audience would have understood these seals and what hope Revelation offers the people of God facing intense suffering. 

In Revelation 5 John received some good news: The lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered! But when he looks for this lion he finds a slain lamb. In this episode Brandon discusses how the victory of Christ as the slain lamb determines how the Church in 21st century USA will achieve victory and conquer as she confronts the values and principles of American society.  

This vision of God's throne room in Revelation 4 offers great comfort and encouragement to suffering Christians. But what about those who are comfortable on earth? How does Revelation 4 confront the powerful? Brandon explores how Revelation 4 would have been received by the original audiences and how 21st Century American Christians also may be comforted or confronted by God's unmatched power and authority. 

The rapture is a popular perspective on Jesus' return within American church culture. What is the doctrine of the rapture? What Biblical evidence exists for the rapture?  Brandon examines the history of the rapture, the passages of scripture used as evidence for the doctrine, and the effects it has had on the church in the United States.

The churches in the cities of Smyrna, Philadelphia, Sardis, and Laodicea can be separated into two camps: the faithful and the compromised. Brandon Lynn discusses Christ's words to these churches and what they mean for Christians living in the USA in the 21st Century. Will we be found faithful? Or will we be found compromised?

Brandon looks at Christ's messages in Revelation 2 to the churches in Ephesus, Pergamum, and Thyatira. These churches 2,000 years ago dealt with a similar challenge that Christians today face: How do we balance the need to stand by truth while also displaying love?

In Revelation 1:9-20, John the apostle describes his glorious vision of the resurrected and reigning Christ. In this episode, Brandon discusses that passage and how the vision of Jesus serves both to comfort the hurting and to confront the comfortable. 

Brandon Lynn discusses Revelation 1:1-8 with a focus on God's people being identified as a Kingdom and priests. 

In this episode, Brandon Lynn explores the genres of literature Revelation employs as well as the historical context of Revelation and how these issues impact the ways we read and interpret the book. 

What's up with the end times talk? In this episode, Brandon Lynn explores a couple questions: What are the end times? How do the New Testament authors describe the end times? And how should the people of God live in light of how those authors viewed the end times?

Brandon Lynn explains his motivation behind starting Those Who Conquer.