Jesus – The Gospel

Sharing my testimony at our annual Barn Party

The word “Gospel” in the Greek means”good news.” “In classical literature the word designated the reward given for good tidings. It also indicated the message itself, originally the announcement of victory, but later applied to other messages bringing joy. That it is found more than 75 times in the NT indicates a distinctly Christian connotation. The gospel is the good news that God in Jesus Christ has fulfilled his promises to Israel, and that a way of salvation has been opened to all.” (New Bible Dictionary)

What good news have you heard lately and how motivated were you to share it with others? Do you feel the same about the good news of salvation found in Christ? Why or why not?

Rom 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” NIV84

 

Who Was Jesus?

Who was Jesus? I like what Philip Yancy says in the book he wrote titled, The Jesus I Never Knew (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995), p 13. “The more I studied Jesus, the more difficult it became to pigeon-hole him. He said little about the Roman occupation, the main topic of conversation among his countrymen, and yet he took up a whip to drive petty profiteers from the Jewish temple. He urged obedience to the Mosaic law while acquiring the reputation as a lawbreaker. He could be stabbed by sympathy for a stranger, yet turn on his best friend with the flinty rebuke, ‘Get behind me Satan!’ He had uncompromising views on rich men and loose women, yet both types enjoyed his company.”

“One day miracles seemed to flow out of Jesus; the next day his power was blocked by people’s lack of faith. One day he talked in detail of the Second Coming; another, he knew neither the day nor hour. He fled from arrest at one point and marched inexorably toward it at another. He spoke eloquently about peacemaking, then told his disciples to procure swords. His extravagant claims about himself kept him at the center of controversy, but when he did something truly miraculous he tended to hush it up. As Walter Wink has said, if Jesus had never lived, we would not have been able to invent him.”

How about you? Who is Jesus to you?

 

Get Honest

In Psalm 51:6 it says, “But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.” NLT Someone once asked, “Where do you begin in becoming like Christ?” The answer is, in the beginning, and the beginning is to get honest with God about where you are at. Really at. You can’t fool God, He knows anyway, so why try? Just get honest with God. A good place to begin is in Psalm 51. Take some time this week where you can get away by yourself and read through this passage several times. As you do, listen and get honest with God. Confession is really just another word for being honest. Be honest with God. Tell God your sin, your struggles, your doubts, your failures. This is the beginning.

Using this blog. Share your thoughts. Comment on others’ thoughts. Not the gory details, save that for God, but things God is teaching you. Revelations you may have about your encounters with Him. Read others’ thoughts. The Christian life is to be lived in community so this a group activity.

 

Children Are Priceless

Recently Kurt (my son) and I returned from India and another country in Asia. We experienced new sights, sounds, foods, and people. The people that touched our hearts the most were the children. Children who still had a degree of innocence about them and to whom opportunity still waits. We also were touched by the children who didn’t have as much innocence and perceived less future opportunity due to growing up in tough circumstances. Jesus loved children and was always welcoming to them. He especially cared for those who had less; the poor and disadvantaged. The video we have here tells about Alpha Children Ministry. A place where some children in India can find hope and opportunity once again. We would ask you to pray about joining us in helping the children of India. Become a sponsor and help provide opportunity for one the least of these. For more information check out our web site: www.alphacm.org

“Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matt 25:37-40 NIV