Good News Weekly Message

The ways of God sometimes confuse more than they comfort. At times we are painfully aware that Christ’s kingdom “is not of this world.” Thankfully, the Lord unlocks the secrets of his heavenly kingdom using simple, down-to-earth terms. He not only reveals the way his kingdom operates, he also convinces us of its beauty and wisdom. This week we taste the kingdom’s providence. Jesus miraculously provides food for a massive crowd of people. However, even in this extraordinary act, Jesus involves the ordinary. He starts with a boy’s food and employs his disciples as its distributors. In Jesus’ heavenly kingdom, his providence for his creation involves the open hearts and willing hands of his creatures.

The ways of God sometimes confuse more than they comfort. At times we are painfully aware that Christ’s kingdom “is not of this world.” Thankfully, the Lord unlocks the secrets of his heavenly kingdom using simple, down-to-earth terms. He not only reveals the way his kingdom operates, he also convinces us of its beauty and wisdom. This week we grasp the kingdom’s worth. Jesus brings up the well-known topic of treasure to teach us that his kingdom is worth more than anything we value in this world. Indeed, those who know God have access to a value system of such infinite worth that their relationship to this world is fundamentally changed for the better. Jesus is our priceless treasure.

The ways of God sometimes confuse more than they comfort. At times we are painfully aware that Christ’s kingdom “is not of this world.” Thankfully, the Lord unlocks the secrets of his heavenly kingdom using simple, down-to-earth terms. He not only reveals the way his kingdom operates, he also convinces us of its beauty and wisdom. This week we hear of the kingdom’s foe. In his heavenly kingdom, Jesus “plays defense” in a truly surprising way. His ultimate act of judgment and outpouring of his wrath against evil is to remove his loving restraint of it. However, in so doing, evil shows itself for what it is and seals its own fate.

The ways of God sometimes confuse more than they comfort. At times we are painfully aware that Christ’s kingdom “is not of this world.” Thankfully, the Lord unlocks the secrets of his heavenly kingdom using simple, down-to-earth terms. He not only reveals the way his kingdom operates, he also convinces us of its beauty and wisdom. This week we realize the kingdom’s power. Jesus uses a commonly understood agricultural metaphor to point to the power of God to bring people into his kingdom: The message of the kingdom is like seed scattered on the ground. While different circumstances lead to different reactions, where there is growth it is given by God’s power for our enduring benefit.

The ways of God sometimes confuse more than they comfort. At times we are painfully aware that Christ’s kingdom “is not of this world.” Thankfully, the Lord unlocks the secrets of his heavenly kingdom using simple, down-to-earth terms. He not only reveals the way his kingdom operates, he also convinces us of its beauty and wisdom. This week we meet the keeper of the key. The Son of God makes what would be too much for even the wise and the learned to comprehend accessible even to children. The all-powerful glory of God becomes accessible and approachable in Jesus Christ, the one who knows the Father and makes him known to all.

Plenty of people have witnessed the church at its worst. Because churches are made up of sinful people, every church has its ugly moments - including ours. That’s why it’s so important for churches to remember Christ’s design for them - a design whose beauty is in its simplicity, a design that keeps the body of Christ working at its best. Today we see that the devil tempts Christ’s church, in its love for people, to simply tell people what they want to hear. While such people-pleasing might lead a church to be popular, it isn’t giving people what they most. Christ’s church is at its best when it heralds the Bible’s message of sin and grace.

Plenty of people have witnessed the church at its worst. Because churches are made up of sinful people, every church has its ugly moments - including ours. That’s why it’s so important for churches to remember Christ’s design for them - a design whose beauty is in its simplicity, a design that keeps the body of Christ working at its best. Today we see that Christ’s church on has one heart. In today’s culture wars it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we are fighting for a society or set of ideals. Instead, Christ’s church is working at its best when it remembers its greatest love is for people and their eternal salvations.

Plenty of people have witnessed the church at its worst. Because churches are made up of sinful people, every church has its ugly moments - including ours. That’s why it’s so important for churches to remember Christ’s design for them - a design whose beauty is in its simplicity, a design that keeps the body of Christ working at its best. Today we see that Christ’s church on earth will often undergo attack from the world around it. The Church doesn’t do itself any favors when it tries to serve as its own defense. It inevitably leads to self-righteousness. Thankfully, we don’t need to serve as our own defense because the Lord Almighty is with us. Because of Christ’s work, we can be confident that God is on our side. He is our sure and constant defense.

Plenty of people have witnessed the church at its worst. Because churches are made up of sinful people, every church has its ugly moments - including ours. That’s why it’s so important for churches to remember Christ’s design for them - a design whose beauty is in its simplicity, a design that keeps the body of Christ working at its best. Today we see that Christ’s church on earth will often experience struggle and hardship. Sometimes that struggle and hardship hits very close to home. However, we keep our eyes fixed on one prize—the heavenly reward God wants for us and for all people, a reward that makes any earthly trouble seem puny by comparison. The church is at its best when its eyes are on God’s eternal prize.

Plenty of people have witnessed the church at its worst. Because churches are made up of sinful people, every church has its ugly moments - including ours. That’s why it’s so important for churches to remember Christ’s design for them - a design whose beauty is in its simplicity, a design that keeps the body of Christ working at its best. Today we see that Christ has given his church one mission with one means, a mission and means that reflect the nature of the one true God. God sends his church out into the world so that all people would again enjoy the fellowship enjoyed between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Plenty of people have witnessed the church at its worst. Because churches are made up of sinful people, every church has its ugly moments - including ours. That’s why it’s so important for churches to remember Christ’s design for them - a design whose beauty is in its simplicity, a deign that keeps the body of Christ working at its best. Today we see that Christ has poured out on his Church one Spirit to work one faith. On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit’s work in the church began. From that day until the last day, the Holy Spirit points every member of the Church to Christ’s saving work for it.

Any event of significant seismic magnitude sends waves of energy that can be felt hundreds of miles from the epicenter. The resurrection of Jesus is an event of such cosmic magnitude that its effects are felt in every corner of life. This week we see that Easter establishes the central might for our mission. Forty days after Jesus rose, he removed his visible presence from among us. Far from this being a sad event or hindering his work on earth, this event triggered the final age of our earth’s history, the one in which Christ would rule from the throne of heaven and the Holy Spirit would be poured out abundantly for the growth of Christ’s Church on earth. Easter makes the Christ’s ascension the central might for our mission!

Any event of significant seismic magnitude sends waves of energy that can be felt hundreds of miles from the epicenter. The resurrection of Jesus is an event of such cosmic magnitude that its effects are felt in every corner of life. This week we see that Easter establishes the central truth of our testimony. Human wisdom assumes that Christian evangelism is personal testimony—stories of how life is better with Jesus than without. But Christianity offers a testimony unlike any other—Christians point to a truth that transcends their own wisdom, experience, and understanding. Easter makes the life of Christ the central truth of our testimony!

Any event of significant seismic magnitude sends waves of energy that can be felt hundreds of miles from the epicenter. The resurrection of Jesus is an event of such cosmic magnitude that its effects are felt in every corner of life. This week we see that Easter establishes the central foundation of salvation. Human wisdom assumes that all paths lead to the same goal—follow your own path and you’ll get to your own goal. But Christianity is a way unlike any other—Jesus says he is the only way to truth and life. Easter makes Jesus the central foundation of salvation!

Any event of significant seismic magnitude sends waves of energy that can be felt hundreds of miles from the epicenter. The resurrection of Jesus is an event of such cosmic magnitude that its effects are felt in every corner of life. This week we see that Easter establishes the central reason for religion. Human wisdom assumes that the purpose of religious practice is to reach up to deity. But Christianity is a religious practice unlike any other—the preaching of Scripture, the administration of Baptism, and the reception of the Lord’s Supper are God’s way of reaching us. Easter makes the means of grace the central reason for religion!

Any event of significant seismic magnitude sends waves of energy that can be felt hundreds of miles from the epicenter. The resurrection of Jesus is an event of such cosmic magnitude that its effects are felt in every corner of life. This week we see that Easter establishes the central proof of purchase. Human wisdom assumes that the benefits of religious faith is subjective experience—if you feel something in your heart it must be true. But Christianity is a religious experience unlike any other—believers receive objective assurance that our salvation is true whether we feel it or not. Easter makes the gift of God the central proof of purchase!

Any event of significant seismic magnitude sends waves of energy that can be felt hundreds of miles from the epicenter. The resurrection of Jesus is an event of such cosmic magnitude that its effects are felt in every corner of life. This week we see that Easter establishes the central feature of faith. Human wisdom assumes that religious claims cannot be verified as truth—faith is best kept for private reflection and not public proclamation. But Christianity is a religious claim unlike any other—faith in Christ is faith founded on fact established by eyewitness testimony of public events. Easter makes genuine truth the central feature of faith!

Any event of significant seismic magnitude sends waves of energy that can be felt hundreds of miles from the epicenter. The resurrection of Jesus is an event of such cosmic magnitude that its effects are felt in every corner of life. This week we see that everything starts with Easter, or ends without it. Christianity makes a claim unlike any other—either a particular man named Jesus was raised from the dead or his life (and ours) ultimately means nothing. Easter is the central historical event that establishes a central religious truth. Without this truth everything ends, but with this truth everything is just beginning!

No matter what the mess we might make in our lives, God doesn't wait to see if we're worth it before offering a helping hand. Instead, he reaches right into the mess with his grace and forgiveness. Good Friday is the Church’s solemn remembrance that our Savior’s intervention was accomplished by him and him alone. No help was there. No help was needed. No imitation is required. His substitution for us means the work is finished!

No matter what the mess we might make in our lives, God doesn't wait to see if we're worth it before offering a helping hand. Instead, he reaches right into the mess with his grace and forgiveness. On Maundy Thursday we celebrate the fact that Jesus brought an end to the old and ushered in the new. The old covenant was a two-sided agreement between God and his people. His blessing depended on their obedience. Jesus established the new covenant in which forgiveness and salvation are offered freely. Tonight we celebrate the new covenant—and the new meal that delivers it to us!