THE GOOD NEWS WK1

THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS!

The Messenger of Good News: Sharing Christ's Story

Summary: This sermon reflects on the role of John the Baptist as a messenger of good news and highlights our calling as Christians to share the story of Jesus—who He is, what He has done, and the promise of His return.

Application: Teens often face uncertainty and societal pressures; this sermon encourages them to embrace their identity as bearers of the good news. By understanding their role as messengers of Christ, they can engage their peers in conversations about faith, hope, and salvation amidst their challenges.

Teaching: The core teaching emphasizes the importance of sharing the gospel message actively and intentionally, relating to others' struggles, and finding courage in the promise of Christ's return as motivation for evangelism.

How this passage could point to Christ: This theme connects to the overarching narrative of Scripture where Jesus is not only the promised Messiah who came and fulfilled the law but also the returning King who brings hope and restoration to all creation.

Big Idea: We are called to actively share the good news of Jesus Christ, rooted in our understanding of His past actions, transformative power, and future promise.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, consider studying John the Baptist's role in the context of advent and eschatology. Explore commentaries on the Gospel of John or Mark that discuss John the Baptist's message and its significance. Utilizing your Logos library can help you dive into exegetical insights regarding the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah, enhancing your understanding of the urgency of sharing this good news.

Mark16:15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

1. God is CLOSE

Every other religion is about Man reaching up to God. Christianity is about God reaching down to us.

Romans 5:6–8 “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.”

God didn’t wait on us, he sent Jesus so that he could be CLOSE to us!

Emmanuel: GOD WITH US Matthew 1:23 ““Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.””

2. God is full of Grace and Truth

Romans 3:23–25 “since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed;”

God is full of both GRACE and TRUTH.

This world is full of FALSE GRACE. Grace that doesn’t empower us, rather grace that enables us.

We cannot claim anything on our own, it is God’s GRACE THAT EMPOWERS US!

We do not live under the law, but under GRACE

John 8:1–10 “while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no…”

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast.”

3. God’s love is powerful

It is his love that changes us from the inside out.

John 3:16–17 ““For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

His love conquered DEATH HELL AND THE GRAVE

His love made a way for us

1 John 4:16–19 “So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us.”

4. Jesus is coming back for you and me

John 14:1–3 ““Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.”

This is where you and I enter into the story! God has always moved through his PEOPLE. The Israelites, the disciples, His church, and now he wants to move THROUGH YOU!

Tie everything together with John the baptist and US carrying the good news on! Jesus is coming back, the story isn’t over, we have to keep going!!!

 John's role was to prepare the way for Jesus = Our role is to prepare the way for Jesus in the world around us. To bring him everywhere we go!

We have to prepare the way!

How do we fit into the story?

Mark 1:1-8

1 This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.[a] It began 2 just as the prophet Isaiah had written:

“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,     and he will prepare your way.[b] 3 He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!     Clear the road for him!’[c]”

4 This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. 5 All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. 6 His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey.

7 John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with[d] water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”

John's message was characterized by an eschatological expectation, warning of impending judgment and the need for spiritual readiness

Matthew 25:31–32 ““When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,”

Romans 10:14–15 “But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!””

My story of Josh giving me the word, USHER…

When Judgement day comes upon Jesus’ return it is not about WHAT YOU KNOW, it will be all about WHO YOU KNOW and WHO knows you!

We have to PASS IT ON!

ALTER CALL

Maybe you feel disqualified because of your sin.