Good News Weekly Message

More than any other holiday, Christmas is predictable: the food, the lights, the music, even the date. If we imagined an unpredictable Christmas, we’d assume everything went wrong. But an unpredictable Christmas is exactly what God wants us to have. The gifts he delivers are so great that, no matter what we’re anticipating, we can count on being surprised. This week we our congregation’s children proclaim the unpredictable love God has for us. He didn’t need someone to love. We certainly don’t deserve his love. And yet, God loved us enough to give us the greatest gift he has: his Son! As a result, something completely unpredictable happens to us: we gain the right to be called children of God!

More than any other holiday, Christmas is predictable: the food, the lights, the music, even the date. If we imagined an unpredictable Christmas, we’d assume everything went wrong. But an unpredictable Christmas is exactly what God wants us to have. The gifts he delivers are so great that, no matter what we’re anticipating, we can count on being surprised. This week we see how God’s plan for productivity is the exact opposite of what we would expect. The productivity God desires comes from less work, not more. It comes through repentance, not resolve. Though the plan seems unusual and perhaps even likely to work, Jesus’ birth provides the perfect proof that God works life through what appears most dead.

More than any other holiday, Christmas is predictable: the food, the lights, the music, even the date. If we imagined an unpredictable Christmas, we’d assume everything went wrong. But an unpredictable Christmas is exactly what God wants us to have. The gifts he delivers are so great that, no matter what we’re anticipating, we can count on being surprised. This week we see how the gifts God wants to give us are not just offered on one day or at specific times of year. Rather, his greatest presents are a direct result of his constant presence among us. As we begin a new Church Year, we celebrate the willingness of our God to come to us humbly so that we are drawn to him in faith rather than driven away in fear.

No one likes to wait. That includes waiting for this world to become what we know deep down it should be. You can find plenty of good advice about what you can do to make the world a better place, but our best hope for the future is the good news about everything Jesus will one day undo. This week we wrap up this series by seeing what Jesus means when he says he wants us to wait and watch for his return. It doesn’t mean we stop everything else we’re doing and stand with our necks craned to the sky. Rather, as we go about our daily lives and tasks, we cling to Jesus’ promises about everything he will undo. Those promises not only transform every aspect of how we live, they keep us ready at all times for his return.

No one likes to wait. That includes waiting for this world to become what we know deep down it should be. You can find plenty of good advice about what you can do to make the world a better place, but our best hope for the future is the good news about everything Jesus will one day undo. This week we hear that God will undo injustice. Our world is full of judgment about what is just and what is unjust. There is no shortage of attempts to right perceived wrongs. We have something much better to look forward to, however. Jesus, the righteous judge will return and right every wrong. We can patiently wait for that return, even as we endure injustice.

No one likes to wait. That includes waiting for this world to become what we know deep down it should be. You can find plenty of good advice about what you can do to make the world a better place, but our best hope for the future is the good news about everything Jesus will one day undo. This week we hear that God will undo the curse of sin. The common conception is that heaven is a mystical, spiritual place where we will float around on clouds and play harps for all eternity. Jesus wants us to see something far better. He will prepare for us a new heavens and a new earth, a place where we can experience the very real and physical joys he created us to experience. Not only that, but those joys will last for all eternity.

No one likes to wait. That includes waiting for this world to become what we know deep down it should be. You can find plenty of good advice about what you can do to make the world a better place, but our best hope for the future is the good news about everything Jesus will one day undo. This week we hear that God will undo the contradiction between who we are and how we appear before the world. Our status as saints hidden beneath a life that is still very sinful. Not only that, but strive to live in a way that is faithful to God’s Word we will often meet scorn and even persecution from the world. On the last day, however, that contradiction will be undone. The people of God will be revealed as the beautifully-dressed bride of Christ. Never again will they be apart from him. Never again will they appear to be anything other than what they are.

No one likes to have their time wasted. Unfortunately, that's often what happens when it comes to the Christian faith. The things that get all the attention are nothing but distractions from what matters most. Thankfully, Jesus and his Word are always helping us navigate the noise to get to the heart of the good news. This week we examine what is at the heart of truth. It’s common today for people to think that truth only restricts and confines us. We’re led to believe that true freedom comes when we break free from imposed definitions of truth and do what we want. In contrast, Jesus teaches us that the truth gives freedom. It sets us free from sin, guilt, and death. Not only that, but we know exactly where to find the truth. It’s found in Jesus’ words. It’s found in Scripture alone.

No one likes to have their time wasted. Unfortunately, that's often what happens when it comes to the Christian faith. The things that get all the attention are nothing but distractions from what matters most. Thankfully, Jesus and his Word are always helping us navigate the noise to get to the heart of the good news. After seeing that grace is at the heart of God, this week we examine what is in the heart of us. There really are just two options. Either we assume that by our own efforts we can be the people God created us to be and prove ourselves worth of his blessings. Or we can admit defeat, acknowledge our sinfulness, and give up. Though this sounds like a path full of despair, it just the opposite. As we admit what is impossible for us, we also confidently cling to what not just possible but accomplished fact in Christ. We are saved through faith in him alone.

No one likes to have their time wasted. Unfortunately, that's often what happen when it comes to the Christian faith. The things that get all the attention are nothing but distractions from what matters most. Thankfully, Jesus and his Word are always helping us navigate the noise to get to the heart of the good news. This week we see that the heart of God is his attitude of grace toward us. God’s grace means that he does not wait for us to find him. Rather, he sent his Son to seek and to save us. A God who seeks out the very sinners who rebel against him is one we would never imagine on our own. However, rather than our self invented attempts to make our way back to God, God reminds us that we are saved by grace alone.

No one likes to have their time wasted. Unfortunately, that's often what happens when it comes to the Christian faith. The things that get all the attention are nothing but distractions from what matters most. Thankfully, Jesus and his Word are always helping us navigate the noise to get to the heart of the good news. This week we see that the heart of the matter is to whom or to what we give glory. Wherever we turn for the good things we need in life (both physical and spiritual) is in effect what we worship. If we turn to false gods, whatever they may be, we will always be disappointed. If we turn to the true God, we will be eternally and unimaginably satisfied. As a result, the goal of all Christian teaching is to get us to do that very thing, to give glory to God alone.

It’s possible to stay neutral about opinions and suggestions. But any claim on reality is destined to divide. It’s no wonder that’s the case with Jesus. Because he came to bring good news, not give good advice, it's impossible to stay neutral about him. This week we conclude this series with a powerful reminder of which side of the line Jesus draws we are on. The battle between those on opposite sides of this line is actually more serious than we see and often think. Powerful spiritual forces are constantly at war for the souls of mankind. However, in Christ that battle has already been won. Through his Word and through the ministry of his angels, he keeps his people safe from Satan and his army of demons.

It’s possible to stay neutral about opinions and suggestions. But any claim on reality is destined to divide. It’s no wonder that’s the case with Jesus. Because he came to bring good news, not give good advice, it's impossible to stay neutral about him. This week we hear Jesus divide service to God from service to money. Money is a wonderful gift from God. Money serves a wonderful purpose in our lives and can be used as a means to many wonderful ends. But money is not the end. Money cannot serve as our master—at least not well. If we foolishly try to serve us, it will always disappoint. In contrast, using money to serve our service to God will lead to eternal joy.

It’s possible to stay neutral about opinions and suggestions. But any claim on reality is destined to divide. It’s no wonder that’s the case with Jesus. Because he came to bring good news, not give good advice, it's impossible to stay neutral about him. This week we hear Jesus divide what comes first in our lives from everything else. Jesus wants us to realize that he alone can satisfy the needs of our soul. As a result, no matter what it might cost us to have him first in our lives, following Jesus is always worth it.

It’s possible to stay neutral about opinions and suggestions. But any claim on reality is destined to divide. It’s no wonder that’s the case with Jesus. Because he came to bring good news, not give good advice, it's impossible to stay neutral about him. This week we hear Jesus tell us that all who humble themselves will be exalted while those who exalt themselves will be humbled. By nature we sense that we were made for great things. And we are right. The important question is how we will try to reach those heights. If we rely on our own efforts, we’ll end up flat on the ground. If we entrust our exaltation to Jesus, we will never be let down.

It’s possible to stay neutral about opinions and suggestions. But any claim on reality is destined to divide. It’s no wonder that’s the case with Jesus. Because he came to bring good news, not give good advice, it's impossible to stay neutral about him. This week we hear Jesus tell us to make every effort to enter through the door that leads to eternal life. On the one hand, that door is narrow. Many will be left out. On the other hand, the door is open to all. Through Jesus’ life and death, there is no need for us to prove our worth to get through the door. As we put all our trust in Jesus—and endure the struggle that comes with it—we can be confident that we have a place in our Father’s house at his table.

It’s possible to stay neutral about opinions and suggestions. But any claim on reality is destined to divide. It’s no wonder that’s the case with Jesus. Because he came to bring good news, not give good advice, it's impossible to stay neutral about him. This week we hear Jesus tell us that following him will inevitably divide us from things near and dear to our hearts. However, when the very thing that divides us from what our hearts want unites us to what our hearts need. When we see what kind of division Jesus brings, we’ll know which side we want to be on.

Does it feel as though your life is full of unnecessary clutter? If so, you’re not alone. While you can find plenty of good advice about how to declutter your closet and your calendar, the best way to live a life focused on the essentials is to hear good news. Because of Jesus, we know where we are going. And once we know where we’re going, we’ll know what we need. This week Jesus helps us set clear priorities. With so much going on and so much demanding our attention, it’s vital that we know what’s most important. Jesus makes it clear. He tells us to seek first his kingdom. Far from that meaning a life where we’re stuck with less, it actually gives us more. As we seek first Jesus’ kingdom, Jesus promises to provide us with all we need for our bodily lives.

Does it feel as though your life is full of unnecessary clutter? If so, you’re not alone. While you can find plenty of good advice about how to declutter your closet and your calendar, the best way to live a life focused on the essentials is to hear good news. Because of Jesus, we know where we are going. And once we know where we’re going, we’ll know what we need. This week we see where true security comes from. While earthly possessions are a great blessing from God, they cannot provide us with the sense of security our soul craves. Therefore, we can—and should—enjoy earthly possessions for what they are and find true security where it can only be found: in Christ.

Does it feel as though your life is full of unnecessary clutter? If so, you’re not alone. While you can find plenty of good advice about how to declutter your closet and your calendar, the best way to live a life focused on the essentials is to hear good news. Because of Jesus, we know where we are going. And once we know where we’re going, we’ll know what we need. This week we see that prayer is an essential—and natural—response in our relationship with God. When we know what our Father in heaven is like, how he works, and what he promises, we naturally hold onto those realities in prayer. When a child sees his father do something impressive, he naturally requests, “Daddy, do it again.” Prayer is just as natural response to the great things our God has done.