To Preach Good News (6:30)
Notes
Transcript
Luke 4:43 (ESV)
He said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”
Pray...
Intro:
Intro:
A new word was added to the dictionary back in 2020, during COVID.
Doomscrolling
One author describes it as...
“When you binge on news or social media content about troubling things -- like a tragedy, crisis, or disaster”
-- it’s called doomscrolling or doomsurfing
The article goes on to say...
Research suggests that "Doomscrolling can send your mind racing and lead to burnout. It can also make you feel uncertain, anxious, or distressed. And those feelings can steal your sleep, appetite, motivation, or desire to do things you usually enjoy”
Bad News is far more enticing to read about than good news.
That’s kind of twisted,
if you think about it.
So the words of the song, “Joy to the World”...
are a breath of fresh air for us.
"Joy to the World”
"Joy to the World”
“The Lord is come”
Luke 4:43 (ESV)
He said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”
Preach/Proclaim
Declare/Announce
Good News
"I was sent for this purpose"
Jesus came into this world in order to give us good news.
To let us know that good news has arrived
Good news is possible in this dark and hollow place.
“to preach good news”
One word in the Greek...
“eu” and “angelizo”
“eu” - good
“angeliozo” - message/announcement
“eulogy”
“eu” - good
“logy” - word
A word about the declaration of a positive result.
It’s also the word from which we get “evangelism”.
Which actually makes it a far easier thing.
Rather than telling someone a whole bunch of truth statements...
you are telling them Good News.
the best news you could actually declare.
ILL.
The term becomes a technical one for “news of victory.”
A whole ritual surrounds the coming of the messenger who bears this news,
Good fortune is contained in the words;
As a result... the reward for the messenger.
Draping his spear with greenery and crowning his head.
Sacrifices are also offered when the news comes.
Good News...
“news of victory”
And don’t we need it.
People that are almost addicted to bad news (doomscrolling)...
we need to hear some good news.
But even when we hear good news,
we don’t believe it’s real,
or that it can be trusted.
So we need to hear Good News that we can trust.
And when we hear it...
“Joy to the World”
“Rejoice”
Good News of Great Joy
But it is...
“good news of the kingdom of God”
Rule
Reign
Sovereignty over all things
God’s sovereign rule over history.
The promises God made through the prophets are already being fulfilled.
The arrival and actual presence of the kingdom of God.
He ushered it in and will bring it to completion.
But it may be hard to see
Luke 17:20–21 (ESV)
“The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
The great reversal taking place in the world,
Wrongs become right.
Sickness is healed
The blind see.
The last become first and the first become last.
The proud are brought low...
and the humble are exalted.
All this brought about by a king coming.
"Let earth receive her King”
"Let earth receive her King”
“good news of the kingdom of God”
Kingdom implies a King.
Kittel -
Jesus “is not just bringing a new teaching but bringing himself as the content of his message” (Gerhard Kittel)
From Joy to the World
“Let earth receive her king”
“The Savior reigns;”
“He rules the world with truth and grace,”
His Kingdom is a kingdom of grace.
Not good people who dress themselves up...
The grace of God comes to those who know their shortcomings.
The grace of God comes to those who know that they have lived as if their are king.
The grace of God
ILL. On June 19, 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA basketball team),
were in the NBA Finals, trailing in the series 3 games to 1.
Highly unlikely that they would win.
Their superstar LeBron James,
played out of his mind and they won three games in a row,
to became pro basketball’s new champs.
After the seventh and final game,
the team’s head coach Tyronn Lue praised LeBron James,
"Great things happen to great people."
But the Gospel of Jesus...
the Good News of Jesus and his kingdom...
Great things happen for those who do not deserve it.
Who humble themselves before him.
"Let every heart prepare Him room.”
"Let every heart prepare Him room.”
Not good enough that Jesus is king.
How do you relate to him as king?
Our world says...
and our own heart naturally says...
“I am better off if I rule my own life.”
"Nobody is going to tell me what to do."
But the Good News is about a king and his kingdom.
A king to rule over you.
A king to give your life to...
and your life for.
The Good News is not YOU ruling your own life.
It is a king who knows what you need.
We all need a king...
and it is not ourselves.
Repent… turn from, turn to.
Believe in Jesus Christ for salvation.
Surrender to him as Lord.
And you will begin to enjoy the Good News of Christmas
So to "repent" is not simply asking for forgiveness.
"The Gospel of the Kingdom"
Repent...
"to yield to God's rule or reign" (Doriani)
Jesus
“I was sent for this purpose...”
“to preach good news of the kingdom of God”
Do you know the good news this Christmas?
Close in Prayer
Close in Prayer
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Jesus is the light of the world.
He breaks into darkness to usher in his kingdom.
GOOD NEWS.
Dim the Lights...
Candlelight service
As we sing Silent Night,
we will dim the lights and allow light to break through the darkness.
Tips:
Don’t tip your candle.
Allow other people to tip unlit candles into yours.
Please attempt to not drip wax.
It does not come out of chairs and carpet easily.
Lighting of the Candles
“Silent Night”
Benediction:
Benediction:
