What Is So Good About the Good News

Gospel

Wherever Jesus has been proclaimed, we see lives change for the good, nations change for the better, thieves become honest, alcoholics become sober, hateful individuals become channels of love, unjust persons embrace justice. - Josh McDowell

Gospel

That’s the Gospel right? - Preaching - Proclaiming , but is that all?

The word Gospel simply means - good news - greek - evanggelion

We have 4 books called the Gospel - each with a unique audience and purposes

Matthew - written to Jews - Jesus is Messiah

Mark - written to Roman Christians - Jesus is the Son of God - reassurance in trials

Luke - written to Gentiles - Jesus was a man

John - written to Jews and Gentiles - Jesus is God

For the next few weeks our focus will be on Mark

Mark’s audience were Roman Christians - basically been disenfranchised, persecuted, Nero blaming them for issues, they lost their voice, their rights, sound familiar

Today I want to circle back to the Gospel - it is just good news

It coulld be any news that is good

So I want to ask today...

What is so Good abiout the Good News..

Turn to Mark 1

Let’s pray

What Is So Good About the Good News

God has a Plan: Be at Peace

Mark 1:1–3 CSB

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight!

God has a Plan: Be at Peace

God told us before it happened He was sending someone - hundreds of years before

Messiah was promised - fulfilled - John had come - Jesus followed

Think about the timing - Roman had conquered the known world - built roads to everywhere

How would this message spread - it was perfect timing for it all to happen

God has and will always have a plan - That is Sovereignty -

We do not have to understand how or why or when - Just who

Isaiah 55:8–9 CSB

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God Offers Forgiveness -Be Repentant

Mark 1:4–8 CSB

John came baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “One who is more powerful than I am is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

God Offers Forgiveness -Be Repentant

Repent - just mean to be sorry - I think that’s what we think often - Just tell God you sorry

It means - change of heart/mind - changes conduct

Put it simply it is doing and being the opposite - 180 turn

We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive. - C.S. Lewis

It is not just saying your sorry - it is not doing it anymore

We do not deserve this - yet God offers it

God Uses Ordinary People in Extraordinary Ways: Be ready

Mark 1:16–20 CSB

As he passed alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. “Follow me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat putting their nets in order. Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

God Uses Ordinary People in Extraordinary Ways: Be ready

“God can’t use me” syndrome

These men were passed up by everyone that mattered - sent to learn their father’s trade

These were ordinary men who said yes

They blew it - and yet came back and changed the world

“The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as ‘Christians’ will become disciples – students, apprentices, practitioners – of Jesus Christ, steadily learning from him how to live the life of the Kingdom of the Heavens into every corner  of human existence.” ~ Dallas Willard

God Uses Ordinary People in Extraordinary Ways: Be ready

What’s So Good About the Good News

It is not good it is Great

It is the only message that brings hope and change

It invites me to be apart of this story

It is amazing and overwhelming

I will not believe that thou hast tasted of the honey of the gospel if thou can eat it all to thyself. - Charles Spurgeon

The Gospel, if it is really believed, removes neediness - the need to be constantly respected, appreciated, and well regarded; the need to have everything in your life go well; the need to have power over others. All of these great, deep needs continue to control you only because the concept of the glorious God delighting in you with all His being is just that - a concept and nothing more. Our hearts don't believe it, so they operate in default mode. Paul is saying that if you want to really change, you must let the Gospel teach you - that is to train, discipline, coach you - over a period of time. You must let the Gospel argue with you. You must let the Gospel sink down deeply into your heart, until it changes your motivation and views and attitudes. - Tim Keller

What’s So Good About the Good News

If it is so good what has changed in you?

Let’s Pray