Good News Weekly Message

The advice is often given to live each day as if it’s your last. But what if we looked at it from the opposite perspective and lived every day as if we’ll live forever? This week we’ll see how our lives are impacted by judgment. It’s so easy to be influenced by other voices, including the voice in our own head. Without fail, those voices make us feel unworthy. However, Jesus wants us to listen to his voice, the voice that tells us that through faith in him we already stand not guilty before God. His voice tells us that when the day of judgment comes, what is already true about us invisibly will be made public. It makes all the difference in the world if we live every day under his judgment, listening to his voice.

The advice is often given to live each day as if it’s your last. But what if we looked at it from the opposite perspective and lived every day as if we’ll live forever? This week we’ll see how and why this is the case. Yes, we will all die. Our life on earth will come to an end and death will take away everything we’ve done and everything we love. But Jesus is the resurrection and the life. All who believe in him will live even though they die. It would make all the difference in the world if you could live every day as if you’ll live forever. And here’s the best part: because of Jesus, you will.

Many companies and organizations have an "FAQ" (Frequently Asked Questions) page on their website. It's the place where people who are interested can find out what a company is really all about. In the same way, there are certain questions get to the heart of who we really are as a church and why we are here. This week we consider a question of eternity. What does the future hold? If God really is who he says he is, where and how should we expect him to be at work in our world? In contrast to expectations of obvious power, influence, and majesty at work, God tells us that his glory is hidden. Just as it was hidden in Jesus’ cross so also it is hidden in the work of the gospel. Wherever the gospel is preached—and it will be preached to all nations—its effect can be seen: glory to God alone.

Many companies and organizations have an "FAQ" (Frequently Asked Questions) page on their website. It's the place where people who are interested can find out what a company is really all about. In the same way, there are certain questions get to the heart of who we really are as a church and why we are here. This week we consider a question of exclusivity. What does one need to do to deserve good things from God? What needs to be done in order to prompt his blessing? Jesus made it very clear throughout his ministry that the answer is: nothing. In fact, left to ourselves, all we would deserve from God is wrath and punishment. So how can we expect anything good from him? Grace alone.

Many companies and organizations have an "FAQ" (Frequently Asked Questions) page on their website. It's the place where people who are interested can find out what a company is really all about. In the same way, there are certain questions get to the heart of who we really are as a church and why we are here. This week we consider the question of morality. How good do I have to be in order for God to be pleased with me and let me into heaven? All religious systems invented by human minds come up with their list of requirements. However, whatever the requirements might be, they inevitably lead to uncertainty and fear. Only Christianity’s answer to that question can lead to total confidence: We are saved through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

The outcome of a contest often comes down to who wants it more. As a result, nothing makes our spiritual enemy happier than when we take matters of faith and eternity lightly. While we think it’s all fun and games, he’s playing for keeps. Thankfully we have a God who takes this battle just as seriously and who is far stronger than our foe. This week we see how our enemy the devil has been dealt a fatal blow. By Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, he has lost all ability to accuse us before God’s throne. While he still tries to fool us with his lies - and will never give up trying - Jesus’ blood and God’s testimony about him allows us to see right through those lies. Satan has fallen! The salvation of our God has come!

The outcome of a contest often comes down to who wants it more. As a result, nothing makes our spiritual enemy happier than when we take matters of faith and eternity lightly. While we think it’s all fun and games, he’s playing for keeps. Thankfully we have a God who takes this battle just as seriously and who is far stronger than our foe. This week we see how the two sides in this battle have completely different battle plans. We are often told to strive to get ahead, to look out for #1, to do all we can to climb to the top. Jesus calls this kind of selfish ambition demonic. In contrast, his plan for defeating our enemy - and his desire for us - is one of self-denial and sacrifice.

The outcome of a contest often comes down to who wants it more. As a result, nothing makes our spiritual enemy happier than when we take matters of faith and eternity lightly. While we think it’s all fun and games, he’s playing for keeps. Thankfully we have a God who takes this battle just as seriously and who is far stronger than our foe. This week we see how our victory in this war is not dependent on us but on Jesus, our champion. Left to ourselves we would be powerless against the forces of evil. However, clothed in Christ’s strength, we can withstand the devil’s best attacks.

The outcome of a contest often comes down to who wants it more. As a result, nothing makes our spiritual enemy happier than when we take matters of faith and eternity lightly. While we think it’s all fun and games, he’s playing for keeps. Thankfully we have a God who takes this battle just as seriously and who is far stronger than our foe. This week we see how this war between our God and our enemy has left battle scars. We experience the effects of sin in all kinds of different ways. At times we might wish that these scars would be eliminated. However, our comfort is found in the fact that Jesus came to bear these wounds for us. He took on not only our sin but also its effects. Because he did, we look forward to the day when our scars will be no more.

The outcome of a contest often comes down to who wants it more. As a result, nothing makes our spiritual enemy happier than when we take matters of faith and eternity lightly. While we think it’s all fun and games, he’s playing for keeps. Thankfully we have a God who takes this battle just as seriously and who is far stronger than our foe. This week we see how the enemy often disguises his work behind what appears to be good. The devil is perfectly happy to have a world full of outwardly good people who have nothing to do with Christ and his forgiveness. We need to be reminded that the battle between good and evil - and our personal struggle in that battle - are much more than surface deep.

The outcome of a contest often comes down to who wants it more. As a result, nothing makes our spiritual enemy happier than when we take matters of faith and eternity lightly. While we think it’s all fun and games, he’s playing for keeps. Thankfully we have a God who takes this battle just as seriously and who is far stronger than our foe. This week we see how the enemy brings this spiritual battle right to our front doorstep. He knows that the place where he can have the most influence is right in our home. Thankfully, God’s influence in our homes is even more powerful than our enemies. Through his Word he keeps our hearts devoted to him.

Have you ever felt as though your life is nothing special? Does it seem as though nothing you do is all that important? God sees it differently. Just as a skilled potter can take a formless lump of clay and turn it into a beautiful vase, so also God accomplishes extraordinary things in our world using ordinary people like us. This week we focus on how we are called to love like Christ. At his very heart, God is a God who forgives. He extends mercy. He repays evil with good. As people who have been on the receiving end of this love, in fact whose very essence as Christians was formed by this love, we naturally do the same for others.

Have you ever felt as though your life is nothing special? Does it seem as though nothing you do is all that important? God sees it differently. Just as a skilled potter can take a formless lump of clay and turn it into a beautiful vase, so also God accomplishes extraordinary things in our world using ordinary people like us. This week we focus on how we have been clothed with Christ. When the Holy Spirit brought us to faith, a wonderful change happened. Our old self – completely corrupt – was cast off and a new self – created in the image of God - was put on. The Christian life is a constant renewal of the wonderful change that God has wrought in us.

Have you ever felt as though your life is nothing special? Does it seem as though nothing you do is all that important? God sees it differently. Just as a skilled potter can take a formless lump of clay and turn it into a beautiful vase, so also God accomplishes extraordinary things in our world using ordinary people like us. This week we focus on how we have been equipped by Christ. When Christ ascended into heaven, he unleashed all of his good gifts on his church for its health and flourishing. Each part of the church contributes in its own unique way and, as it does, the body of Christ is built up.

Have you ever felt as though your life is nothing special? Does it seem as though nothing you do is all that important? God sees it differently. Just as a skilled potter can take a formless lump of clay and turn it into a beautiful vase, so also God accomplishes extraordinary things in our world using ordinary people like us. This week we focus on how we have been united in Christ. Our world offers us two options when it comes to unity: uniformity or division. Either we must be identical or we are enemies. However, through Christ, the impossible happens. All of human diversity is brought into one family, the body of Christ.

Have you ever felt as though your life is nothing special? Does it seem as though nothing you do is all that important? God sees it differently. Just as a skilled potter can take a formless lump of clay and turn it into a beautiful vase, so also God accomplishes extraordinary things in our world using ordinary people like us. This week we focus on how we have been chosen in Christ. Nothing about us made us good candidates for the great things God wants to accomplish in our world. And yet, in Christ, we have been washed clean of all imperfection. We have been given the Holy Spirit as a seal of his possession. By his grace alone we are the people through whom he carries out his plans and purposes.

Every road has markers. Those markers serve to ensure that you’re on the right course. Five years down the road into our journey as a church, it’s a good opportunity to check the markers Jesus ha s set down for us in order to make sure we’re still on track. Today we’re asking the question: How do we measure? Like any organization, a church wants to know whether or not its efforts have been successful. However, the church needs to be careful how it determines that. Jesus’ words - and his own example - prove that the church’s work will not always be visibly or outwardly successful. Rather than getting discouraged or distracted, Jesus helps us stay faithful to the task at hand: to preach the good news.

Every road has markers. Those markers serve to ensure that you’re on the right course. Five years down the road into our journey as a church, it’s a good opportunity to check the markers Jesus ha s set down for us in order to make sure we’re still on track. Today we’re asking the question: Why does this matter. Whether it’s starting a brand new church or simply showing up at church on a Sunday, our faith takes time. It sometimes requires sacrifice. It isn’t always convenient. But why is it always worth it? Not because a church makes us better people or creates a better community for us to live in. No, the reason this matters is because church offers the only solution to our biggest problem. That problem is death. That solution is Jesus.

This year’s soccer camp theme was “Our God Is Strong to Save!” The theme comes from Isaiah 52:10, where we are told, “The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God” Each day the campers learned a Bible lesson that demonstrated that God is strong to save. Today we wrap up our week by focusing on that verse from Isaiah 52. We’re glad to have campers and their families with us today to celebrate the conclusion of this wonderful week!

The teachings of the Christian faith come "from the top down." But not because they are oppressively imposed on us. Rather, they tell us things about God that are too good to be made up, things that we would never believe unless God himself revealed them to us by his Spirit. This week we listen as the Holy Spirit teaches us about how Christ’s kingdom on earth grows. Usually a kingdom advances and is secured through things like worldly wealth, political force, or military might. However, Christ’s kingdom grows through what seems to be powerless and ineffective - through his Word. Though the Word of God often seems small, like a seed it has the power to produce explosive results.