Good News Weekly Message

We live in an age of abundance. So many have so much more than what even fits in their cupboards, closets, and garages. And yet, still so many feel so unfulfilled so much of the time. It's evidence that we were born with a deeper hunger, one that only Jesus, the Bread of Life, can satisfy. This week we see how Jesus’ presence in our lives is a constant source of peace. Though the storms we see raging all around us might be cause for fear, the calming voice of the one who is able to walk on water leads us to not be afraid.

We live in an age of abundance. So many have so much more than what even fits in their cupboards, closets, and garages. And yet, still so many feel so unfulfilled so much of the time. It's evidence that we were born with a deeper hunger, one that only Jesus, the Bread of Life, can satisfy. This week we see how Jesus has the power to multiply. We have a tendency to focus on the limitations of what God has given us. It’s good to see Jesus’ power to take even the smallest things and multiply them to do incredible good. As we show love and share love with the world, we can be confident that Jesus still has and exercises that great power.

We live in an age of abundance. So many have so much more than what even fits in their cupboards, closets, and garages. And yet, still so many feel so unfulfilled so much of the time. It's evidence that we were born with a deeper hunger, one that only Jesus, the Bread of Life, can satisfy. This week we are reminded of the beautiful biblical picture of our relationship with Jesus. He is our shepherd. We are his sheep. One of the implications of this picture is that we can go to Jesus with every need. In fact, he knows those needs even better than we do and promises to provide them.

2016 marks the 240th anniversary of our nation (July 4) and the 3rd anniversary of our church (July 13). What is the current state of affairs in each? What is the relationship between the two. On the two weekends closest to these important anniversaries, we will be exploring what the Bible says about what the church should expect as it caries out its work in society. As we’d expect to be the case, the instruction God gives us and the promises that he makes us as he sends us out to do this work are nothing but good news!

2016 marks the 240th anniversary of our nation (July 4) and the 3rd anniversary of our church (July 13). What is the current state of affairs in each? What is the relationship between the two. On the two weekends closest to these important anniversaries, we will be exploring what the Bible says about what the church should expect as it caries out its work in society. As we’d expect to be the case, the instruction God gives us and the promises that he makes us as he sends us out to do this work are nothing but good news!

In life, storms are inevitable and unavoidable. The only question is: What will you hold onto when they hit? Jesus provided exactly what we need by sending his Holy Spirit into the world on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit who points us to Jesus’ work for us and his promises to us. Today we conclude our series as Jesus demonstrates his power over literal storms. He calms the wind and the waves using nothing but his Word. If the Son of God possesses that kind of power—and demonstrates his concern for us with his death on the cross—we can set aside fear and confidently put our trust in him.

In life, storms are inevitable and unavoidable. The only question is: What will you hold onto when they hit? Jesus provided exactly what we need by sending his Holy Spirit into the world on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit who points us to Jesus’ work for us and his promises to us. Today we see that God has placed his power in our hands by giving us his Word. As we struggle to see God’s influence in the world, we trust God’s promise that as we share his Word, hearts are changed for this life and for eternity.

In life, storms are inevitable and unavoidable. The only question is: What will you hold onto when they hit? Jesus provided exactly what we need by sending his Holy Spirit into the world on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit who points us to Jesus’ work for us and his promises to us. Today we see that God often uses that which seems most difficult to work that which is most beneficial. As we struggle against sin and practice self-denial, God brings us closer to him and keeps us wholly dependent on him.

In life, storms are inevitable and unavoidable. The only question is: What will you hold onto when they hit? Jesus provided exactly what we need by sending his Holy Spirit into the world on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit who points us to Jesus’ work for us and his promises to us. Today we are reminded that we belong to a family whose Father is stronger than even our most powerful enemy. Since the beginning the devil has been trying to drag us away from God and down to hell with him. But God responded to the evil worked by the devil by sending his Son to crush the devil’s head for us.

In life, storms are inevitable and unavoidable. The only question is: What will you hold onto when they hit? Jesus provided exactly what we need by sending his Holy Spirit into the world on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit who points us to Jesus’ work for us and his promises to us. Today we are reminded that rest takes a lot of work. In Jesus’ day, the religious leaders had taken a command that was all about having a day of rest and they had made it really difficult to keep. In the same way, it’s easy to assume that our relationship with God depends on the good work we must do for him. It’s much more difficult to put all of our trust in the completed work of Christ. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit accomplishes that work of faith in us as we gather to hear and learn his Word.

In life, storms are inevitable and unavoidable. The only question is: What will you hold onto when they hit? Jesus provided exactly what we need by sending his Holy Spirit into the world on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit who points us to Jesus’ work for us and his promises to us. Today we ponder the mystery of the Trinity. God reveals himself as three persons yet one God. All three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, play a vital role in our salvation. The same God who from eternity has enjoyed a perfect relationship within himself also has done all that is required for us to have a perfect relationship with him.

In life, storms are inevitable and unavoidable. The only question is: What will you hold onto when they hit? Most of what passes for religion and even Christianity today does little to provide the certainty and security we need. Too often we're pointed to our own strength and resolve to get us through. In contrast, Jesus provided exactly what we need by sending his Holy Spirit into the world on the day of Pentecost. As he promised, the Spirit's work is nothing more than to continually point us to Jesus. Jesus' work for us and his promises to us give us something solid to hold onto that is stronger than any storm.

The results of sin plague every facet of our existence. That’s why we need to remember that the day Jesus rose from the dead is the day the end began for everything bad in our world. Today we see that love is built on the truth. In this day and age the word “love” simply means “strong feelings for something you like.” But the Scriptures describe love as built on the foundation of ultimate, unchanging truth—the existence of God and his work of salvation for you. Truthless love cannot endure because it has no foundation other than social convention. Truthful love lasts forever and never disappoints.

The results of sin plague every facet of our existence. That’s why we need to remember that the day Jesus rose from the dead is the day the end began for everything bad in our world. Today we see that truth is empowered by love. In this day and age Christians have a reputation for lashing out instead of reaching out. To be sure, there is much to lament in the world around us, but the answer is not loveless truth shouted at the world. Strident slogans cannot accomplish what genuine love can and will. Christians imitate the example of Christ and his apostles as we demonstrate the truth in love.

The results of sin plague every facet of our existence. That’s why we need to remember that the day Jesus rose from the dead is the day the end began for everything bad in our world. Today we see that, even though Christ has withdrawn his visible presence on earth, he has not left his Church alone or unattended. It’s very easy for Christians to feel like helpless victims in a world that is by its very nature hostile to Christianity. And yet, today we are reminded that, because Jesus rose from the dead, those who have faith in him are victors—not victims—over the evil that exists in our world.

The results of sin plague every facet of our existence. That’s why we need to remember that the day Jesus rose from the dead is the day the end began for everything bad in our world. Today we are reminded just how many voices are vying for our spiritual attention. We might think that this makes it impossible for Christ’s flock to know which way to turn. However, since Jesus’ work as our Good Shepherd is so clearly defined and so easily discernible, the members of Christ’s flock can confidently evaluate the messages they hear and follow the one that echoes the voice of the Good Shepherd.

The results of sin plague every facet of our existence. That’s why we need to remember that the day Jesus rose from the dead is the day the end began for everything bad in our world. Today we see that faith is anything but blind. In this day and age the topic of faith is considered to be private dreams and pious wishes. But the Scriptures describe faith as “confidence” and “assurance,” and that confidence and assurance come from the eyewitness testimony of the apostles and their companions. The evidence they saw overcame all their skepticism. Their testimony is the basis for our confidence in what we have not yet seen.

The results of sin plague every facet of our existence, sometimes so much so that life often seems hopeless. That’s why we need to remember that sin’s curse has been dealt a fatal blow. The day Jesus rose from the dead is the day the end began for everything bad in our world. Our Easter celebration begins as we remember that the greatest enemy of all—death—was conquered by life. Though the form of death remains, it has been robbed of its true essence and power, its ability to separate us from our God and from our loved ones. Jesus lives! Death is dead!

So often the impression is given that our relationship with God is mainly about all the ways in which we need to change and that salvation is dependent upon self-improvement. Thankfully, God has provided a substitute for self-improvement. Rather than change, he offers an exchange: our sin, guilt, and death for his holiness, innocence, and life. Today the exchange God made reaches its culmination as we remember Jesus’ death on the cross. Salvation by self-improvement would lead to endless frustration and futile exhaustion. However, the salvation won by Jesus is a one-and-done accomplished fact.

So often the impression is given that our relationship with God is mainly about all the ways in which we need to change and that salvation is dependent upon self-improvement. Thankfully, God has provided a substitute for self-improvement. Rather than change, he offers an exchange: our sin, guilt, and death for his holiness, innocence, and life. On Holy Thursday, we remember the exchange Jesus made with regards to the most important meal his people gathered for. He replaced a meal that was merely a symbol pointing ahead to his work with a meal that delivered the real thing: his body and blood, the price he paid for our salvation.