All too often we feel the buzz of a smartphone and see our news feed light up the screen—another shooting, another natural disaster, another crisis. We also see the lavish lifestyles of so many people on social media chasing another adventure, another lover, another outfit. Then we go to the coffee shops and sit with our friends. We use buzzwords like shame, trauma, and abuse. We self-medicate with sex, fame, and food. We look for rescuing from our books, our celebrities, and our vacations. The whirring chaos of false security and empty promises takes its toll, and we keep hitting refresh waiting for tweets and grams to tell us something good. We need something to cut through the noise, something to refresh the soul, something to bring hope to a world marked by despair. We need good news.
We Need Good News
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the bones.
Watch Session One: Created for this
A Big Enough Gospel
Complain about Uber Eats forgetting your Mexican Coke or dressing on the side, and you know to brace yourself for the snarky “first world problems” rebuttal from a frenemy. While your missing tahini-garlic dressing should not register as a big problem on a human level, these interactions leave us wondering if our problems matter in the face of global epidemics we see on our news feeds. Does it matter that I am heartbroken about my singleness when babies go to bed hungry? Does it matter that I struggle with depression and anxiety when refugees wander this planet looking for a home? Does it matter that I am addicted to my smartphone when women and children endure sex trafficking in staggering numbers? What if God is compassionate and big enough to care for every person hurting? What if God’s gospel is big enough to comfort the lonely, set the captives free, minister to us in our despair, and mobilize a generation to push back against the evil we see in our world? Is the gospel big enough for all of this?
the gospel everyday
The gospel of God—the good news that the kingdom of God has been inaugurated by Jesus— means good news for the world. Rather than thinking of the gospel as a one-time event in the life of the believer, we recognize that the gospel is a worldwide proclamation that Jesus has come to deliver us from our sin, comfort us, strengthen us, and mobilize the cavalry to go into the world “gospel-ing” it through word and deed. The gospel bears witness that we live in a kingdom, we belong to a king, and we have faith, hope and love at our disposal for every moment—big or small.
Daily Question
How can the gospel—the good news of the kingdom of God—be a way for you to bring hope, joy, and peace in your own life and in the lives of others?
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No matter what "this world" brings us, those who believe and have accepted the Gospel as Truth know there is more. They know the "everlasting life" yet to come with Christs return. I pray the life I live now in Christ, is seen by others and they seek the same.
To know, and have the ability to share this key of Freedom and Forgiveness is amazing! The gospel is the key, to unlocking those shackles of slavery to sin and death. I am empowered through Christ to share this key to as many as possible! We should be shouting from the rooftop about this! Keeping the gospel to ourselves is selfish. There are too many people that are hurting and broken, just longing to find something that can rescue them and pull them out of their misery. We, as Christians, have the answer so many are searching for! Let’s rise up, share the gospel and help people find the solution to their death problem!
YES! Amen!!
In this season of my life, in particular, the gospel has given me a peace. I can bring my thoughts to Christ. I can stand my thoughts to the truth of the gospel This in turn helps me navigate with other in my life.
By sharing the Love of Christ and the The Way of the Kingdom of God with everyone you interact with in your day to day life, walking in Christ’s footsteps.
It does so by being able to share the most wonderful news possible, that a Savior came to this imperfect world in all of His perfection for me and for them, and that despite our human failures and flaws, He loves us and wants to have a relationship with us. He doesn’t see the inequities we are plagued with when we give Him full control of our lives, and that is some serious hope, joy and peace for any one to hear!
The Gospel is the only true hope we can hold fast to, especially when our circumstances are up in the air. For us here in Daegu, South Korea, on Tuesday last week this country went from 40 something confirmed #covid19 cases to now, Tuesday one week later, over 800 confirmed #coronavirus cases. Now I know that China is experiencing waay more than that and yet I know that God cars for each country, each confirmed case, every person whether it is this virus or something (or someone else) on our heart and mind- the GOSPEL OF JESUS is GOOD news because He came and paid the price as a perfect sacrifice for you and for me as we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. Jesus made a way, WHILE we were still sinners to save us. The wages for sin is death but the FREE GIFT of God is Christ Jesus our Lord. Anyone can accept this FREE GIFT that has already been given. Anyone can recognize what Jesus has done, realize that He willingly took MY PLACE (our place), and we can desire a life to follow Him verses our own selves. We can desire and accept that. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him can have eternal life. How can you can hope, joy, and peace despite the circumstances that we now (or later) face that are beyond our scope of control? Faith and trust in God who is above all these things and has the power (unlike us) to do something about it! This is the message that I share in this time of hurting and anxiety that many in my community are facing. It is a prime time to share this Truth and I pray that I do this well. That we all who follow Christ would share this news accurately and completely with others. Thank you for reminding us and making these materials available to us.
If you like, you can read or watch more about this here https://sejanashines.com/category/travel/korea/.
❤️?
The gospel can be a light that shines in the darkness of a stressful day at work with my colleagues. The gospel can be a song of redemption to my family that has remained broken for decades under the weight of sin. The gospel can be a north star for my friends that are struggling to find a sense of purpose & direction for their lives. The gospel is the anchor of my trust, keeping me grounded in my spirit no matter what life brings around me.
Where two or more are gathered right? I feel like that is a way that we can bring a sense of peace to this world. Just yesterday, a friend reached out to pray for a girl that was struggling. She did not know we were doing this. On my friends planning period and on my lunch break we stopped what we were doing and we prayed and worshipped over the girl. Tears streamed down my face and the emotions were overwhelming. Just because you are not physically beside eachother does not mean you are not gathered together in His name. It does not mean that you cannot feel the joy and hope and peace that only He can give you. Finding ways like that to experience His presence by covering others and yourself in His words will bring a sense of peace that only He can give.
The Gospel is freedom. We experience true freedom from ourselves when we accept the Gospel for what it is; a promise of salvation. Watching someone live free is a rarity in today’s day and age. The Gospel gives us clarity as to what our path should be and also the bigger picture that we should be living for. Giving people full view of what it means to live for something that is eternal and completely outside oneself ultimately allows people to see a truly free person. This lifestyle gives people joy, peace, and love like no other.
Being rooted in salvation!!! Not tossed by the waves of uncertainty and circumstances of this fallen world. I have had to align my feelings vs the truth (the Word of God)-standing firm on His promises for my life because he loves me and has given me NEW life. Sharing your testimony and how God has transformed your life, how walking in obedience and fruit that has been beared from it as well as living by example. This is the most powerful way you can point others to Christ. You’d be surprised who is watching…For God has overcome this world!
The Gospel is a way for me to spread hope, joy, and peace at work. I feel that I was placed in the elementary school that I am in for a reason and I strive everyday to be the light that shines in the darkness for my colleagues and students who may not know Christ.