MINISTRY MATTERSMessengers of Good News

Introduction• Ministry Matters Series• “Good News” Series Starting Mid-August• Focus will be on bringing guests—evangelism • Purpose is to invigorate our outreach and mission focus• More information to come on all this

• Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15).

• John 8:12 – Jesus: “I am the light of the world.”• Matt. 5:14 – Jesus to disciples: “You are the light of the

world.”• Matt 5:16 – Jesus to us: “let your light shine before

men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

• God wants us to be light by being and sharing his good news—“You will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Good News and Light• Gospel = “good news”• Light = shows the way; reveals; brightens world• Evangelism = “heralding the good news”• Good news

• Every human is separated from God due to sin• God loves us and extend incredible mercy to us• Christ died for each person’s sins • Salvation is by faith in Christ• Jesus is Lord and will ultimately fix everything

• 2 Cor. 4:4 – The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

• 2 Tim. 1:8-10 – 8But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

A Dilemma• United States has been bombarded with “gospel

messages” for the centuries, mostly good, many not so good.

• Far too many living lives giving lip-service to good news but living lives that say something far less.

• There’s a “numbness” to the gospel.• Elsewhere in the world there exists variously ignorance of

the Christian message, unbelief toward our message, and cynicism toward the Christian gospel.

What are we to do?• Probably Paul’s statement in Phil. 1:27 best summarizes

it: “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

• I want to talk about what this looks like today.• The whole Bible is about this and there’s so very much

that could be said and so many scriptures that speak to this subject.

Messengers of Good News

1. Being Good News With Our Lives

2. Speaking Good News With Our Lips

3. Preaching Good News With Our Mission and Message

1. Being Good News With Our Lives• Matt. 5:14-16 – 14 “You are the light of the world. A city on

a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

• Eph. 2:8-10 – 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

• 1 Pet. 2:12 – Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

• Titus 2 – 9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

Francis of Assisi

“Preach the gospel wherever you go and when necessary, use words.”

Jesus did more showing and living of the gospel than he did speaking it.

Someone once said, “I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day.”

People often won’t believe what you say, but they can’t deny what you ultimately do.

Living out good news• Be generous• Be active in serving• Be loving and caring• Be kind and merciful• Be friendly/be a friend• Help the poor• Help the weak• Notice people

• Care—show concern• Take time for others• Be consistent• Live positive lives• Be in world, not worldly• Be a peacemaker• Be a believer• Be Spirit-filled

2. Speaking Good News With Our Words

• Phil. 2:14-16 – Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.

• Col. 4:6 – Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

• Eph. 4:29 – Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

• James 3:9-10 – With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.

Think before you speak:1. Is it the truth?2. Is it godly—something that will please God?3. Is it going to build up those that listen?4. Is negative grumbling and complaining or is it positive

and thankful?5. Is it peaceable?6. Would I say it with Jesus physically standing there?7. Is it humble or arrogant?8. Does it make the gospel attractive?

3. Preaching Good News With Our Mission and Message• Mark 16:15 – Jesus: Go into all the world and preach the

good news to all creation. • Matt 28:19-20 – 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all

nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age

• Acts 8:4 – Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

• Acts 20 – 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

• Philemon 1:6 – I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.

On a Mission• We have to be active in sharing our faith.• We need to preach the word wherever we go (and when

necessary, use words).• We need to be very intentional and mission-driven.• We need to work together (Phil. 1:27 – “contending as

one man for the faith of the gospel”).- • Share – show – tell – teach – disciple – send out –

fellowship

Conclusion

1. Be it!

2. Say it!

3. Share it!