Good News Weekly Message

With a world of information at your fingertips, it’s often impossible to know what you can trust. But whether we’re searching for security in this life or certainty for the life to come, one trusted source has all the answers. Jesus’ words supply what we’re searching for most. This week we see how Jesus’ words are a trusted source in our search for wholeness. While it is sometimes helpful to divide our selves and our well-being into various categories—mental, physical, spiritual, emotional, etc.— it is also vital to remember that we are whole persons. We were created as whole persons, sin has put our whole persons under its curse, and Jesus came to be a Savior of whole persons. In Jesus, our well-being is restored in all its fullness.

With a world of information at your fingertips, it’s often impossible to know what you can trust. But whether we’re searching for security in this life or certainty for the life to come, one trusted source has all the answers. Jesus’ words supply what we’re searching for most. This week we see how Jesus’ words are a trusted source in our search for righteousness. Whether it’s a right status before God or just wanting to be seen as a “good person” in the eyes of others, we all want righteousness. Our natural tendency is to search God’s law for the steps we must follow to attain it. Jesus, however, helps us see that searching the law for righteousness will always be futile. The righteousness we seek cannot come from anything we do but must come through faith in Christ’s perfect work for us.

With a world of information at your fingertips, it’s often impossible to know what you can trust. But whether we’re searching for security in this life or certainty for the life to come, one trusted source has all the answers. Jesus’ words supply what we’re searching for most. This week we see how Jesus doesn’t so much have all the answers as he is the Answer. His words are not simply a collection of wise things he said or bits of information. His words are the way he makes himself available to us. If we make his words our constant companion as we navigate life, we make him our constant companion.

Every election season, candidates for office hope the perfect campaign slogan will win people’s votes. One leader, however, offers far more than slogans and is looking for far more than our vote. Jesus promises us that in him we find everything we need for this life and eternal life. He calls us to trust and follow him as our Savior and King. This week, Jesus campaigns for a crown by saying, “This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” With these words, Jesus reveals that the way he satisfies our hunger is not by giving us instruction or inspiration. It isn’t by winning earthly power, fame, or wealth and then sharing it with us. Instead, he came to win us life by offering himself to death. In the very same way, he promises us a life that doesn’t avoid the grave but that overcomes the grave.

Every election season, candidates for office hope the perfect campaign slogan will win people’s votes. One leader, however, offers far more than slogans and is looking for far more than our vote. Jesus promises us that in him we find everything we need for this life and eternal life. He calls us to trust and follow him as our Savior and King. This week, Jesus campaigns for a crown by saying, “I am the bread of life.” With this bold declaration about himself, Jesus indicated that he came to do more than satisfy our temporary, earthly appetites. He came to provide life to the full and life for eternity. The deepest hungers of our souls can only be satisfied in him.

Every election season, candidates for office hope the perfect campaign slogan will win people’s votes. One leader, however, offers far more than slogans and is looking for far more than our vote. Jesus promises us that in him we find everything we need for this life and eternal life. He calls us to trust and follow him as our Savior and King. This week, Jesus campaigns for a crown by saying, “Don’t be afraid.” One of the primary jobs of elected officials is to ensure the safety of its citizens. It’s only natural that we expect the same of Jesus, our King. He ensures our safety, however, not by guaranteeing that all danger and evil will be kept away. Rather, he promises that no matter what we might go through, he is with us. He gives us eyes of faith to focus on his presence rather than our circumstances.

Every election season, candidates for office hope the perfect campaign slogan will win people’s votes. One leader, however, offers far more than slogans and is looking for far more than our vote. Jesus promises us that in him we find everything we need for this life and eternal life. He calls us to trust and follow him as our Savior and King. This week, Jesus campaigns for a crown by saying, “You give them something to eat.” It’s common for people to look to their leaders to provide for them. It’s common for leaders to be all-too-eager to make promises to do just that. However, Jesus promises to bless us through others so that we can be a blessing to others. He feeds us all, but he makes use the eyes to see human need and the hands to supply for it.

Every election season, candidates for office hope the perfect campaign slogan will win people’s votes. One leader, however, offers far more than slogans and is looking for far more than our vote. Jesus promises us that in him we find everything we need for this life and eternal life. He calls us to trust and follow him as our Savior and King. This week, Jesus campaigns for a crown by saying, “Come with me.” By nature, we want to be under the rule of no one but ourselves. Jesus, however, sees this desired state of independence as being like a sheep without a shepherd. Thankfully, he not only identifies our need but meets it. He not only tells us we need a shepherd but provides them for his people.

This year’s soccer camp theme was “The Thrill of Victory.” The theme comes from Psalm 149:4: “The LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. Just as there are many things that would cause a player, a coach, a team, or a fan the experience of thrill in a soccer game, the Bible tells us what brings thrill to God’s heart. He rejoices when his people are saved. We are his prize. We are his trophy.

Many of our assumptions about the way life is and how the world works need to be cross-examined and corrected. Once his work on earth was complete, Jesus sent his Holy Spirit to do just that—to be his expert witness to expose our false assumptions and set the record straight. This week the Holy Spirit helps us see that offense is actually offense. Wherever the gospel is shared, there will be some who take offense at it. Far from indicating failure, however, that rejection only results in the further spread of the gospel elsewhere. As the devil mounts his strongest resistance to the gospel’s growth, his best efforts only serve to advance Christ’s kingdom.

Many of our assumptions about the way life is and how the world works need to be cross-examined and corrected. Once his work on earth was complete, Jesus sent his Holy Spirit to do just that—to be his expert witness to expose our false assumptions and set the record straight. This week the Holy Spirit helps us see that, in Jesus, death is actually sleep. Our senses and experience tell us that death is final. As a result, we assume our best answer for it is prevention. But Jesus demonstrates that he holds the power over death. As a result, death becomes sleep in him. Instead of death being final, it is only temporary. Whenever our own eyes close for the last time, we rest in the confidence of a glorious resurrection.

Many of our assumptions about the way life is and how the world works need to be cross-examined and corrected. Once his work on earth was complete, Jesus sent his Holy Spirit to do just that—to be his expert witness to expose our false assumptions and set the record straight. This week the Holy Spirit helps us see that when God looks unconcerned, he’s actually in control. Though life is full of storms that far exceed our control and easily become sources of fear, nothing is beyond God’s control. His power is so great that he will often appear unconcerned. In reality, his calm control over every storm of life gives us the ability to calmly cling to his promises in faith.

Many of our assumptions about the way life is and how the world works need to be cross-examined and corrected. Once his work on earth was complete, Jesus sent his Holy Spirit to do just that—to be his expert witness to expose our false assumptions and set the record straight. This week the Holy Spirit corrects our assumptions about what power looks like. The Bible frequently compares the message about Jesus—the gospel—to a seed. Though it looks small, it has the power to bring about tremendous growth and change. As we use the gospel in our own lives and share it with others, we may not always be able to detect what it is doing. We can be confident, however, that it possesses God’s power.

Many of our assumptions about the way life is and how the world works need to be cross-examined and corrected. Once his work on earth was complete, Jesus sent his Holy Spirit to do just that—to be his expert witness to expose our false assumptions and set the record straight. This week we see that the Holy Spirit corrects our assumptions about our allies and our enemies. When the devil tempts us to doubt God and pursue our desires, he appears to be our friend. When we listen to his temptations, we appear to be his friend. But Jesus has destroyed the work of the devil and rescued us from him. All who trust his word are members of his family.

Many of our assumptions about the way life is and how the world works need to be cross-examined and corrected. Once his work on earth was complete, Jesus sent his Holy Spirit to do just that—to be his expert witness to expose our false assumptions and set the record straight. This week we see that what looks like lawlessness is actually liberty. Humans are helplessly prone to use the law of God—intended for our good—as a way of proving our worth before him. Nevertheless, Jesus came to set us free from the law’s impossible demands. Liberated by his perfect work on our behalf, we can enjoy perfect rest that can only be found in him.

Many of our assumptions about the way life is and how the world works need to be cross-examined and corrected. Once his work on earth was complete, Jesus sent his Holy Spirit to do just that—to be his expert witness to expose our false assumptions and set the record straight. This week we see that the assumptions in need of correction are ones we have about ourselves. When sinners encounter their triune God, who is the very essence of holiness, we rightly realize that we are unclean. Nevertheless, this same triune God works to convince us that we have been cleansed. The Father has sent his Son to make atonement for our sin and his Spirit speaks to our hearts to convince use we are God’s children.

Many of our assumptions about the way life is and how the world works need to be cross-examined and corrected. Once his work on earth was complete, Jesus sent his Holy Spirit to do just that—to be his expert witness to expose our false assumptions and set the record straight. This week we focus on that important role the Holy Spirit plays as we celebrate the Day of Pentecost. Though Jesus’ visible departure from this earth might seem like a source of grief, it actually serves for our good. Jesus’ completed work on our behalf is the sum and substance of the Holy Spirit’s testimony through his Word during earth’s last days.

How can you possibly be prepared for anything life might throw your way? The things that can knock us down and drag us under can come at any moment and from any direction. Nevertheless, it’s possible to withstand anything so long as you have one thing: Easter. This week we see that just Easter is able to help us withstand truthless love. With his selfless life and sacrificial death, Christ set the pattern for the way we love one another. We are not free to define love in whatever way we want. Christ defines it for us. His command is to love each other as he has loved us.

How can you possibly be prepared for anything life might throw your way? The things that can knock us down and drag us under can come at any moment and from any direction. Nevertheless, it’s possible to withstand anything so long as you have one thing: Easter. This week we see that just Easter is able to help us withstand stagnation. Forty days after Jesus rose from the dead, he ascended into heaven and was enthroned at God’s right hand. Jesus’ ascension proves that his life, death, and resurrection were just the beginning of his saving activity on earth. Now he extends his gracious, saving rule through his people as they share the gospel. While we wait for Jesus to return, his power is at work in and through us.

How can you possibly be prepared for anything life might throw your way? The things that can knock us down and drag us under can come at any moment and from any direction. Nevertheless, it’s possible to withstand anything so long as you have one thing: Easter. This week we see that just Easter is able to help us withstand truthless love. Christ’s resurrection is not simply something we acknowledge and confess. It’s a living and life-giving power that dwells within us. Like branches connected to a healthy vine, those who are connected to the living Christ through faith will naturally produce fruit in their lives. Their love toward others and obedience to Christ’s commands show the truth of Easter in action.