Core 52 Week 27 - Really Good News Series

If you'd like to hear the audio of the sermon, please visit my podcast at: https://www.buzzsprout.com/697261/4459412

Intro:

• SGN - John Krasinski (The Office, Jack Ryan)

o Why no news show dedicated to good news?

o Invited Twitter followers to share good news stories with him. Started YT channel called SGN.

o Millions of views. People are hungry for good news.

• Stories like: (Images)

o Man filling nurses’ gas tanks in Detroit.

o Roush family - drive-thru chat for lonely people.

o Sundance the grocery delivering dog.

• He finishes each episode with, “Remember, no matter how tough things get, there’s always good in the world.”

• everyone needs some good news.

• But most good news is temporary. The reaction fades.

• What is out there that we can hold on to for all time?

• Bible calls that good news “the gospel.”

What Does “Gospel” Mean?

• Q: what is the gospel?

• A: Literally, “good news.” It is the summary of the Christian message. It should be at the core of what we communicate.

• Paul reminds us of this core message at the beginning of his extended explanation of the good news called Romans.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

• It is also a biography of sorts. The story of the life and death of Jesus Christ.

o 4 unique versions of his life and work called gospels.

• However, it was originally not a religious term but political.

o Euangelion was news about important events in the Roman Empire. Sent out via messenger (evangelists) so that people could celebrate and rally around their leader.

• Christians appropriated this term for the same reason. We want to celebrate and honor our leader, our King.

• Mark is (probably) the first to utilize the term this way in his gospel narrative.

Mark 1:1 This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

• Messiah - Jewish term

• Son of God - Roman term

• In the actual books of the Bible called “gospels,” the word “gospel” appears 23x.

• Over 100x in the rest of the NT.

• It’s not just Jesus’ story but it is also the proclamation of salvation.

The Good News in Our Lives

• Recall our mission from last week:

Matthew 28:18–20 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

• the good news about Jesus is the heart of the mission.

• It’s a message that, to follow Jesus means we accept him as king and savior. Our sins are forgiven individually but we are also made a part of a kingdom.

• Let’s hear from Paul. Someone who hated everything about Jesus and his people but finally got the message, the good news, and became one of the gospels greatest advocates:

1 Corinthians 2:2 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

1 Corinthians 9:16 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!

• Our task is to go out with this good news and help people decide that accepting the news and responding in faith.

Acts 20:24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

The Good News Is For Everyone

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.

• Part of the good news (especially now) is that all of the artificial barriers between races, genders, ages, finances have been removed.

Galatians 3:28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

• That kind of good news requires a response:

Romans 6:22–23 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Good News Is Your Story