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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I am reading the Bible in a ninety day challenge. I was thinking about Moses and how God denied him the promised land because he disobeyed him with the water and rock and staff incident. Moses was so totally immersed in God that God talked to him in person frequently. Moses was one special humble man. Moses, however, being human, became angry and prideful. So God punished him. I get peace and joy because through Christ I have a place automatically with God. I can slip up and still be saved…in all that that entails. I am so glad that Christ became man to save humanity…me.
The gospel empowers me to live a life like Jesus lived. It speaks truth and love into dark situations. Our world is full of sin and in need of good news. The gospel is the answer!
The gospel allows us to enter into rest. Despite the ups and downs that still go on in our world, the gospel is a reminder that Jesus defeated death and that He holds the ultimate power. I can rest in knowing He is with me every step of this life, and He will restore the brokenness of our fallen world.
The good news can be a way to help me understand that the daily struggles I face are covered by the blood of Christ Jesus. In the freedom of pursuing God I am healed in ways I have not yet comprehended, so to live in that provides a life full of assurance knowing that what ever trouble I go through while seeking and knowing God in this life will all be worth it in eternal life with the Father. Living like this and understand this helps me to have compassion with others, and want to share the news with them because if they see it happening in my life it could heal and help them in their life. God makes us whole, and he will heal us and save us from ourselves He is coming for us we just have to be ready. That’s the great news that this is not our last home, and we can live unto Him knowing he has our best interest!
The good news is that the very best is yet to come! No more tears or pain awaits. So reminding myself each morning of that promise helps me not only tackle my own issues and struggles, but liberates me to love others better. Admittedly that second part is harder than the first – loving others. I appreciate today’s reading – I needed the reminder. The conviction. Confession – I struggle with empathy for my friends who come to me with major complaints over what I deem minor struggles. I know their struggles are real… the tahini dressing missing – but they are nothing compared to… sex trafficking victims. My job isn’t to assess and judge and fix – JUST LOVE! Empathy, patience, kindness and a listening ear. God I pray now that you forgive me. I pray that throughout this day I walk in the acknowledgement and gratitude that you love me in that ways I find difficult to show love to others. You show me perfect love every moment – even giving your life for me on the cross. And you did this for every one I am in contact with today too. So let me approach each person today with that in the forefront of my heart and mind.
It all depends on Him-on Jesus-not me or anyone I meet to save ourselves or the world. Jesus already did everything necessary for our forgiveness and acceptance. We each have to choose to accept the most amazing grace gift and let others know they, too, have a grave gift waiting for them. So many times I get discouraged when I start looking at my own performance and all the ways I don’t measure up to my own or the world’s standards much less God’s standards. Only when I recognize that’s what I’m doing and remind my heart that I can rest knowing Jesus covers all my scars, failures, mistakes, intentional and unintentional sins past and future do I have hope and peace. It’s a daily-even moment by moment-challenge to lay it down and let Jesus be in control but He knows that I struggle and He meets me even there in my own self-created battles of my mind. He is Hope and Joy and Peace-there is no better news for each of us than that the solution to all our fears, failures and futures is not something we must do. Jesus did it already and we just need to accept His amazing gift.
The gospel brings me hope, joy, and peace because I know it’s all….this life, suffering, dreams, confusion, and happiness , not for nothing. God had a plan for the world and my life before time began. I know his heart grieves and is broken by the sin and heartbreak of this world, but I also know he will redeem it all. Everything is temporary except for Him. That gives me peace, hope, and joy. I can share that with others by telling them about the hope I have in Jesus and praying for them.
I have battled anxiety and depression my whole life. The more I open myself to the Gospel and internalize its message the more peace and wholeness I have found. As that has happened the more I have been able to share the love God -through the sacrifice of Christ- has been able to shower on us. That has encouraged me to serve others and comfort people with the comfort I have been given. Alleluia!
The gospel reminds me that there truly is a battle of good and evil, and it is here to save us all. We give thanks to God for sending His son Jesus into the world, to live out His short life to save us all. All of us the Bible says and we need to live in the truths of the gospel because this is where our people are, and this is where Jesus wants us to bring our brothers and sisters.
I get caught up in worldly things, such as anxiety, depression, frustration, stress, things that everyday people deal with. I need to be reminded of the gospel daily through the Bible and prayer and allow the good news to be reflected on my life. I’m hoping through this study I will be reminded of God’s love for me and that I will show others His love through my actions, attitude, and demeanor.