pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: good news


by Leave a comment

Even Then

John the Baptist preached repentence in preparation for the coming of Jesus.  John spoke the truth and ended up in prison, soon to be killed.  Jesus too went forth proclaiming the good news in spite of the opposition He faced.  Peter, Paul, Luke, and many others did the same in spite of Jewish and Roman persecution.  The New Testament is full of examples of proclaimers of the good news.

We too are called to proclaim the good news.  Just look – we have lots of fine examples to follow.  But these folks are the ‘greats’ of our faith.  They are not little old you and me.  By golly, there were all called by God and/or spent time with Jesus.  Wait – that’s us too.  We are called by God, empowered by Jesus through the presence of the Holy Spirit, tasked with spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.

Sharing my faith is just fine on Sunday morning or in my small group.  At Youth group?  No problem!  Here in the early morning at my kitchen table?  You bet!  But what about with the man down on his luck that stops me on the sidewalk?  And how about when two groups at church are disagreeing over some issue or choice?  Even when a fellow believer seems to be a bit wayward?  Yes, in all cases we are called to be sharers of the good news and to live our lives following Jesus’ example.  He IS with us in those times when we are uncomfortable and in those times when we need to share a hard word.  May we receive His power this day to do His will in our world.

Scripture reference: Mark 1: 14-15


by Leave a comment

God with Us

In the Christmas season we gain the sense that Christ is always with us.  To celebrate His birth reminds us that He is born anew in us again and again.  His eternity also assures us that this earth is not all that there is.  Our true hope lies eternal in the heavenly realms.

Yet we cannot live in the Christmasy, eternal realm.  In this season we may be blessed to be in that realm for moments here and there, but we now inhabit this earth.  We live day by day here preparing for our eternal life with God.  As we live toward that we are also called to bring the good news to those bound to this earthly realm.  We are called to share the Christ who redeems and who heals all that is broken in our world and in our fellow men.

We are blessed by that sense of “God with us” at Christmas so that we can go forth to share that with our world.  We are called to go forth and share that little slice of heaven that draws people toward God and a relationship with Jesus Christ.  May we help people to meet our hope and redeemer each and every day.

Scripture reference: Isaiah 52: 7-10


by Leave a comment

Season to Share

I have friends who will record a ball game and do everything they can to avoid hearing the final score.  They do not want to know the outcome so that they can watch the game as if were “live” and enjoy all the ups and downs as the game unfolds.  On course, they do fast forward through the commercials!

In our faith, we know the end story.  We know how all of this will end.  Whether the second coming occurs during our lifetimes or not, once we begin to walk in relationship with Christ, we know where we will spend our eternity.  However, this is not a ‘free pass’ to fast forward to the end.

This knowledge frees us from all worry about death and allows us to live each day with hope, confidence, and a great story to share.  In this season where we look forward to celebrating Jesus Christ’s birth, we must also be keenly aware of the opportunities God gives us to include others on the journey.  Advent is a great season to share the good news.  CHRISTmas is on everyone’s mind.  Today and each day, may we make the most of our chances to bring Christ’s light into people’s lives.

Scripture reference: 2 Peter 3: 8-15a


by Leave a comment

Pleasing the Owner

In the parable of the tenants (Matthew 21) the bad tenants reject those sent by the owner.  At first they reject the servants and then they reject the heir, the owner’s son.  Some they beat and abuse, others they kill.  They kill the son for his inheritance, thinking then they will own the vineyard.

On the hidden level the scribes and Pharisees are the bad tenants.  They have ignored and beaten and even killed some of the prophets that God has sent.  They now are choosing to reject the heir, God’s own son.  They will even go so far as to kill the heir because he threatens what they have.  They rejected the cornerstone.

Jesus is still the firm foundation upon which we are called to build the church and to build our own faith.  Although much of the time we ‘get it’, sometimes we don’t.  Our churches can creep into country club territory, where the walls become the vineyard walls. We don’t like anyone that is not ‘us’ to come inside.  We just want to exist for each other and to be comfortable in our exclusive, private Sunday worship.  But I fear that if this is the norm, the stone will fall and crush us too.

Jesus calls us to leave our walls and share the fruit of the vine with others.  We are to share Christ’s good news with others and to invite others inside the walls, into the community of faith.  As we share our fruit, the gifts and talents that each of us have, the kingdom grows.  The walls are spread wider as more are welcomed into the kingdom of God.  Then the owner is pleased because we are learning to act like the heir, His Son.

Scripture reference: Matthew 21: 33-46


by Leave a comment

Learning to Live “Yes”

In Matthew 21 Jesus tells of two sons who are asked to go out to work in their father’s field.  One son says no but ends up going out and working in the field.  The other son says yes but does not go.  Jesus asks the scribes and Pharisees who did the father’s will.  They reply that the one who went is the one who did the will of their father.  It is the one who did the will of his father in the end.

Sometimes we struggle with what God is asking us to do or we hesitate to move in the direction that we can feel He is leading us.  At first we say ‘no’ or we question or we may even try to ignore God, but usually if it is His plan then the nudges, the hints spoken by others, and so on get us moving in His direction.  Often, once we are on the journey or in the midst of ministry, we wonder why we did not say yes right away.

Jesus often ate with sinners, healed people out in the streets, taught out in the open fields.  He broke the ‘rule’ that God is only found in the temple.  Sometimes we like to hold fast that rule too, to say that we will minister to those who need Jesus once they come to church.  But in reality those who need Jesus are not inside our churches.  As we hear and heed God’s call to make disciples, we too must say ‘yes’ and venture forth to seek out the lost.  We too find them in the streets, out at the games, in the restaurants and bars, and so on.  May we come to seek the lost as Jesus did, going to where He went to find those in need of the Good News.

Scripture reference: Matthew 21: 28-32


by Leave a comment

Ready to Go??

Romans 10 poses two great questions for us to consider: “How can they call on the one they have not believed in?  How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?”  And one of my own: how many people do I know who have not truly heard the good news of Jesus Christ?

In his call for sharers of the Word, Paul tells us that blessed are the feet of those who go to share the story.  In the Great Commission, it is the first thing Jesus said is required of us: go!  Only after we go can we share and teach.  Are you feeling the urge to be a sharer of the Word?

Jesus shows us what love is: He suffered and died on a cross for us while we were still enemies, while we were still separated from Him because of our sins.  He suffered in order to fully love us.  Isn’t that a story worth sharing with others?  Are the bottoms of your feet feeling itchy to get going?

Scripture reference: Romans 10: 5-15


by Leave a comment

Walking Boldly into the World

The period between the resurrection and the ascension was forty days.  This bridge between the three years that Jesus spent with the disciples and the ministry that was to come was so valuable to them.  They went from being sad, fearful, dejected, alone right after the crucifixion to feeling one of complete joy when the encountered the living Christ.  When the living Messiah ascended into heaven to be with God, their joy was made complete.

The risen Christ had taught them much in the time He walked the earth with them.  We are also blessed to be able to know His teachings and to learn to be like Christ through our study and reading of the scriptures.  As the risen Christ, He shows them (and us) the true meanings of the resurrection – that He has conquered sin and death AND that He can now send the Holy Spirit – to be with us all, every one of us, all the time.  This gift greatly expands His disciples and followers ability to minister to others.  It does the same for us.  The the presence of the Holy Spirit we are each empowered to proclaim the good news, to call for repentance, and to declare divine forgiveness for ourselves and for others.  Like the disciples, may we too walk boldly into the world, filled with the Holy Spirit, ministering in Jesus’ name.


by Leave a comment

Sharing the News

Stephen was the first of many to die for his faith in Jesus Christ.  Many more have died in the name of Jesus over the centuries.  Some will die today, some will die tomorrow, and so on.  It even happens on a rare occasion here in America. There are Christians out there willing to die for their faith today.

Relatively speaking, we live in a country where it is pretty safe to share our faith.  Certainly in the public arena the worst things we face are rejection, scorn, and maybe a helping of ridicule.  In some work environments the subject of faith is ‘taboo’ and to talk about our faith may risk our job.  In some settings we may find ourselves ostracized or unwelcome anymore because we chose to speak about our faith.

Yet despite the relative safety we generally don’t like sharing our faith.  Maybe we will share our faith in just the right setting with just the right person at just the right moment.  There are definitely these times and it is joyful to God when we take these opportunities.  But most of us are not an “anytime, anyplace, anyone” type of person when it comes to sharing our faith.  It is my prayer that my mighty God and amazing Savior fill me with the power of the Holy Spirit and empower me to share my faith with any and all that I meet to the end of my days.  Will you make this your prayer too?


by Leave a comment

To the Galilees!!!

When do you think, if ever, Mary and Mary Magdalene asked the question, “How will we move the stone?”  Clearly they have emotionally moved at least a little past the immediate shock of Jesus’ crucifixion.  They were cognizant enough to observe the Sabbath – or was it just so deeply engrained in them that they just naturally did this?  They were thinking clearly enough to gather up the requisite spices to prepare the body for burial after it had been stored in the tomb.

Matthew reports that an earthquake moved the stone.  Surely they would have felt it, but maybe not have known its purpose.  An angel (or two if you are reading Matthew) tells them not to be afraid and proclaims that Jesus is risen.  He is risen indeed!!  As they turn to go they encounter Jesus.  They clasp his feet and worship him.  He repeats the instructions to go and tell the others.  His words are to also to us – go into the Galilees of our world and share the good news:  He is Risen!!