WHAT DOES IT REALLY TAKE TO BE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS?
Simple obedience? The word “obey” is one of the least used and understood words in American culture today. It seems antiquated, irrelevant and
YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU DO
You’ve just been introduced to someone for the first time. There are a couple of niceties exchanged and then without fail, almost
WHY YOU WILL WANT TO BE PHYSICALLY FIT
There are so many challenges you face every day, that if you don’t get in shape and toughen up, you will not
THE FOUR FOUNDATIONS OF A MAN’S LIFE
There are four areas of Life that every man faces every day. And the way they are handled will bring either joy
LEARN GOD’S TAKE ON MONEY
The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer, fewer than 500 verses on faith, and more than 2,000 verses about money!In fact, 15
GOD’S POWER TO LOVE YOUR SPOUSE
If you are a married man or plan on getting married you will expect to be happily married to the woman you
DEFINING SUCCESS FOR YOURSELF
"Show Me The Money!" That line out of the Tom Cruise movie, Jerry Maguire, pretty much tells the story for most American men.
8 STEPS TO A HAPPY MARRIAGE
Knowing what it takes to consistently love your wife in such a way that it guarantees that you will have a happy
7 STEPS TO CREATING INTIMACY WITH GOD
God made you. God loves you. God has a purpose for your life. The classic definition from the Westminster Catechism sums up our
WHO’S GOT YOUR BACK?
I’m a guy who, probably like you, prefers action movies. My favorites almost always seem to be battles of war based on
HOW TO HANDLE BULLIES!
There isn’t a single human on earth who at some point doesn’t have to deal with a bully. Define bully any way
MAYBE FOLLOWING JESUS ISN’T SUCH A GOOD IDEA?
“They left everything and followed him.” Lk 5:11After meeting Jesus the apostles made a radical decision that would change their lives forever. But
WHY IS THE “GOSPEL” CALLED GOOD NEWS?
Our men’s Bible study was looking to get a better grip on the meaning of the “Gospel. ”So we asked, “What exactly is
TAKING THINGS FOR GRANTED?
On occasion I’m able to walk the beach and catch a sunrise. The beauty and magnificence of God’s artwork can take anyone’s
HOW COME YOUR FAITH ISN’T GETTING YOU WHAT YOU WANT?
Okay so maybe you have been standing firm in your faith believing God for something you truly believe is His will. Could be
YOU CAN’T STOP GOD’S BLESSINGS!
Does it ever seem to you that sometimes God’s blessings are unstoppable?Unstoppable for others that is! Why does God do that? You peer
WHY IS THE “GOSPEL” CALLED GOOD NEWS?
Our men’s Bible study was looking to get a better grip on the meaning of the “Gospel.”
So we asked, “What exactly is the Gospel, and why is it called the ‘GOOD NEWS?”
As we dug in, it occured to me that you can't really answer that until you first know, what the BAD news is.
The bad news is you are a sinner. A sinner is someone who breaks God's laws. His laws are the commandments summed up by these two:
"Love the Lord your God with your whole heart, mind, strength and soul. And love others as you love yourself."
And Jesus commanded us to "Love one another as I have loved you."
But each of us has failed to do that and are guilty of disobeying God's laws. The result is our lives are full of every kind of selfish and ungodly thoughts, words and actions.
The BAD news is that God judges sinners and the sentence is separation from Him and eternal imprisonment in hell.
But the GOOD news is that because of God's mercy and His love for you, He came into our world through Jesus to make things right for you. He stood in for you, and took on the punishment for your sin through his death and resurrection.
The result is your sins have been forgiven and he gave you a new birth and a new life through his Holy Spirit. And if you believe this, then He gives you confidence that you can have eternal life in heaven.
To put it all more simply, I like the way my grandson summed it up for me after we had this discussion above: "Unfortunately you are a sinner. Fortunately God has taken care of it!"
And of course there are hundreds of Scriptures that talk of the Gospel but here are two powerful and succinct Bible verses to grab onto:
“The good news is the power of God at work saving everyone who believes. It tells us how God makes us right in his sight through faith in Jesus Christ.” - Rom 1:16
“Through Jesus whom God raised from the dead, there is forgiveness for sins and everyone who believes in him is declared right with God.” - Acts 13:38
For the person who wants to know God more intimately and fully experience His love, it can only come by accepting the truth of the bad news and thanking God for His GOOD news!