Gospel Y Chart

There are three infographics depicting The Gospel Y Chart:

1. Graphic One
2. Graphic Two (Main One)
3. Graphic Three

The Gospel Y Chart is a discipleship tool designed to help believers evaluate motivations, thought patterns, and behaviors through a biblical lens. It illustrates the contrast between a gospel-motivated life and one driven by the flesh, showing how thought life (Ephesians 4:23) leads either to true right living (Ephesians 4:24) or the old way of living (Ephesians 4:22).

At the heart of the chart is 2 Corinthians 5:17, which declares that a believer in Christ is a new creation. This foundational truth shapes how one understands identity, motivation, and worship structure. The key takeaway from the Gospel Y Chart is that right actions flow from a transformed heart and mind. If one’s motivation is rooted in the gospel, they will move toward Christlike habits and true right living, even though it is hard. However, if their motivation remains in the flesh, they will default to the easier path of their old patterns.

Case Study: Biff and Mable

Biff’s Worship Structure and Motivation
Biff’s struggle with anger toward Mable is not just a behavioral issue; it is a worship issue. According to the Gospel Y Chart, every person has a worship structure—either motivated by the gospel or by the flesh. Biff’s anger and frustration reveal that his worship is not fully centered on God, but rather on himself and his desire for acceptance. He is performing for Mable’s approval rather than resting in God’s acceptance.

• Motivated by the Flesh: Biff is working for acceptance rather than living from the acceptance he already has in Christ. This performative mindset leads him to demand reciprocation from Mable, and when she does not respect him, he reacts with anger rather than Christlike service.
• Fear of Man: Biff’s need for validation places his identity in what others think, especially his wife. Instead of being satisfied in Christ, he is enslaved to Mable’s opinion.
• Old Way of Living (Ephesians 4:22): Biff’s frustration and attempts to control Mable stem from an unrenewed thought life. He measures his worth by her response, rather than by Christ’s love.

Mable’s Worship Structure
Mable’s bitterness and disrespect toward Biff indicate her own struggle with sin, which she is responsible for before God. However, the focus of this analysis is on Biff’s response, since he cannot control Mable’s actions but is accountable for his own worship and motivations.

Applying the Gospel Y Chart to Biff

For Biff to move toward true right living (Ephesians 4:24), he must renew his thought life (Ephesians 4:23) and reshape his motivations around the gospel.

1. Renewing His Thought Life (Ephesians 4:23)—Biff must replace his performative mindset with a gospel-centered identity:
   1. Embrace God’s Acceptance: Biff is already fully accepted in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). His worth is not dependent on Mable’s respect but on Christ’s finished work.
   2. Transform Fear of Man into Fear of God: Rather than living for Mable’s validation, he must seek to worship God alone. Proverbs 29:25 warns that the fear of man is a snare, but trusting in the Lord brings security.
   3. Change His Worship Structure: If Biff truly worshiped God above all, he would not react angrily when Mable disrespects him. Instead, he would respond with grace and long-suffering, as Christ does with His people.
2. Choosing the Hard Path of True Right Living (Ephesians 4:24)—Living in gospel identity is hard because it means dying to self and serving others without demanding reciprocation. Biff must:
   1. Love Mable Without Strings Attached: Though Mable should respect Biff, her failure does not justify his anger. Christ loved us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8), and Biff is called to the same selfless love.
   2. Put Off the Old Way of Living: Instead of focusing on what Mable is not doing for him, he must repent of his anger and take responsibility for his own heart before God.
   3. Put On Gospel-Motivated Habits: Biff must cultivate habits of patience, grace, and leadership rooted in Christ rather than a demand for control.

Practical Steps: Blocks and Fans

The Gospel Y Chart emphasizes creating blocks to hinder sin and fanning the flame of righteousness. Biff must intentionally build habits that support gospel-centered living.

1. Blocks (Impediments to the Old Way of Living):
   1. Confessing his sin of anger to God and possibly a trusted mentor.
   2. Guarding against self-pity and resentment by daily meditating on his identity in Christ.
   3. Choosing not to react immediately when Mable disrespects him, but instead praying before responding.
2. Fans (Encouragement Toward True Right Living):
   1. Immersing himself in Scripture to renew his mind daily (Romans 12:2).
   2. Surrounding himself with godly men who hold him accountable for Christlike leadership in his marriage.
   3. Viewing his marriage as an opportunity to serve Christ, rather than as a platform for personal validation.

Conclusion

Biff’s anger problem is ultimately a worship issue. The Gospel Y Chart shows that his actions stem from an unrenewed thought life, which is motivated by the fear of man rather than the pleasure of God. If Biff truly embraced his identity in Christ, he would no longer need Mable’s respect to feel secure. Instead, he would be free to love her selflessly, just as Christ loves the church.

Though Mable should respect Biff, his freedom in Christ does not depend on her reciprocation. If he rests in God’s pleasure, he can respond with grace instead of anger, choosing the hard but right path of Christlike love.

Find all our graphics here.

Peace,
Rick