PREACHING THE GOOD NEWS

1. Growing up I remember my parents telling me to be quiet so they could watch the evening news.

2. They first started out with the local news and then watched world news on one of the major networks.

3. Their habits have changed because of programs like CNN and FOX news.

4. Those who have access to these or similar channels can get news 24 hours a day.

BEFORE CNN, THOSE IN THE FIRST CENTURY OFTEN RECEIVED THEIR NEWS THROUGH A MESSENGER.

a) A lot of the breaking news in ancient times related to military battles.

b) Good news and bad news was dispatched through messengers.

c) The Greeks—who spoke the language found in the New Testament, had several special words.

d) One of these words described “good news from the battlefield.”

e) This particular term proclaimed a military victory.

2) As time passed this term began to be used in different ways.

3) Eventually this term became part of the Christian vocabulary.

4) One of the places where we find it used by a New Testament writer is Acts 8:4.

5) Luke tells about Christians who were persecuted so badly they had to flee from their homes.

6) As these men and women had to go to new areas, they “preached” the word.

7) This is the word that used to describe proclaiming the good news of a military victory.

8) Here it describes carrying the gospel message to others and it is in the present tense.

a) Tonight I want to put before us some key places in the New Testament which have this same word.

b) A study of this single term tells us quite about the first Christians as well as God’s will for today.

9) An appropriate place to begin is with another small but important fact.

10) The word we are looking at occurs more than 50 times in the New Testament.

11) This tells us that God considers this term and what it involves to be pretty important.

12) Because our word occurs in so many places, a lot of references will be cited fairly rapidly.

a) The first time this word occurs in the New Testament is Mt. 11:5.

b) John the Baptist was in prison and he had some questions about Jesus.

c) The Lord sent a response to John through some messengers.

d) Part of this message said “good tidings” were “preached” (same word) to the poor.

e) This is an important reference.

13) Those who are poor often feel like they do not have very much.

14) After all, if someone is broke what can they point to and say, “This is mine”?

15) Jesus said even the poor can have quite a bit.

16) They have access to the greatest treasure man has ever known.

17) The good news is so good angels have been involved with it.

a) The term used by Luke in Acts 8:4 next occurs in Lk. 1:19.

b) An angel said to a father who had no children, “I bring you good tidings.”

c) An angel said he was proclaiming a good message.

d) There are a lot of people today who want a message from heaven.

e) They are looking for a sign, angel, or something similar from God.

f) By using this word God said a sign has already been given.

g) Angels have helped present certain truths regarding man’s redemption.

18) Lk. 2 contains the third time our word occurs in the New Testament.

19) Shepherds were in a field. An angel appeared to these men and said he had a message.

20) His good news was for “all people.”

21) From Mt. 11:5 we know that God’s good news is for the poor.

22) Lk. 2:10 adds that the entire world is supposed to hear the good news.

a) In the first four books of the Bible this word occurs in a noticeable pattern.

b) It is never used in Mark or John.

c) Matthew only uses it only one place (Mt. 11:5, the reference that was cited).

d) Luke uses it about ten times in his account of the Lord’s life.

23) In the gospels this word says good news has come to the earth and it needs to be preached to all.

24) Luke does record some instances of Jesus preaching the good news in places like Lk. 9:6.

25) Where this term really begins to take on added meaning is the book of Acts.

26) It seems Luke laid the foundation for this word in his gospel and expounded upon it in Acts.

27) When we look at Acts this term is first found in the 5^th chapter.

a) In Acts 5:42 Luke wrote that Christians “ceased not” to “preach Jesus.”

b) Under ordinary circumstances this term might not grab our attention.

c) Towards the end of Acts 5 Luke spoke about the apostles being persecuted.

28) These men were “beaten” (verse 40).

29) Physical punishment was administered but preaching the good news continued (verse 42).

30) God used this term to tell us that the good news is too good to keep quiet.

31) People may try to keep it quiet by threats, persecution, or something else.

32) No matter what happens, the story must be told and told again no matter what the circumstances.

33) Attention has already been given to where the next place this term occurs (Acts 8:4).

34) Christians were forced to leave their homes but this did not stop them from telling the good news.

35) When these Christians had to flee their homes we know about one of the things they did.

36) This information is found in Acts 8:12, a verse that will be read.

a) One of the first century preachers was Philip.

b) Philip made his way to Samaria and he began to preach (same word).

c) Here is what his teaching included – verse 12: READ.

d) This word says Christians spoke about the “kingdom of God.”

e) Here as in many other places in the New Testament this refers to the church.

f) One cannot preach Christ without the church.

g) Neither can one teach about the church without teaching Christ.

h) Thus, this evangelist both spoke of the Lord and His kingdom.

i) He also taught the people about baptism (12b).

j) When people “believed” (12a), they obeyed (12b).

37) In view of this verse we might say the word we are looking at involves two distinct matters:

38) It tell us there are things to be taught, matters to be believed, and commands to be obeyed.

39) All three areas are good news.

40) The good news is for any size group.

41) In many instances this word is applied to large groups of people.

42) There is also an instance of where it applies to a one-on-one situation.

43) Acts 8:35 uses this term to say Philip taught a Euneuch (preached); a one-on-one teaching session.

44) Skipping Acts 9 and looking at Acts 10, this same term is found in Acts 10:36.

45) Here the scriptures associate preaching good tidings with peace.

a) Christians have a message. It is a message of peace.

b) We are not always portrayed in this way by the national media, but this is the truth.

c) We have been entrusted with information that leads to peace.

d) Peace between God and man as well as more harmoniums relationships in life.

46) When we consider this use of the term a point can be made about this time of year.

47) Christmas is coming. Many look at December and think of the Lord and peace.

48) Front yards have signs of peace and love.

49) I enjoy the pretty cards, greenery, lighted trees, and everything else this season offers.

50) Yet, there are some additional matters to keep before us.

51) There is a substantial body of evidence that compels us to believe Jesus was not born in December.

52) Furthermore, neither Jesus nor any inspired writer tells us to celebrate the Lord’s birth.

53) We should not therefore entrapped by the actions of the religious world.

a) That is, the end of the calendar year is not the season of peace.

b) If we are a child of God, the season for peace is year around.

c) Peace is no more prominent in December than in the month of April.

d) We know this because the word for proclaiming is directly associated with peace in Acts 10.

54) Let’s move along to the next passage which comes from Rom. 10:15.

55) Here Paul used figurative language.

56) He said those who present the message of God have “beautiful feet.”

57) That is, those who carry God’s message to others are involved with and in a wonderful work.

58) We are helping people in the way they need it most.

59) Once we present this material to individuals they have some responsibilities.

60) This is also seen by studying the term found in Acts 8:4.

61) Another place Paul used this word is 1 Cor. 15:1-2.

a) Earlier in Acts we saw how those who heard the gospel needed to believe it.

b) There was also the need to be obedient to what the gospel commands.

c) Paul spoke of similar matters when he wrote to the Corinthians.

d) Here is what he said in the first two verses of 1 Cor. 15 — READ 15:1-2.

62) Those who are not familiar with the gospel need to “receive” (hear and obey it).

63) Once these steps are taken Christians must “stand.”

64) We remain firm with the gospel of God.

65) We refuse to add to God’s word or take from it.

66) The reason for this insistence is found in the second verse of 1 Cor. 15.

67) Holding fast to the gospel is directly related to our salvation.

68) If we cling to God’s message and only His message we will be saved.

69) If not, we will be lost.

a) This point is so important Paul said a little more about when writing to another group of Christians.

b) The term being discussed is found several times in Gal. 1.

c) It occurs in Gal. 1:8 where Paul spoke about an “angel from heaven.”

d) He imagined a heavenly angel coming and preaching (same word) another gospel.

70) Paul said, “Don’t believe any message like that.”

71) Why not, Paul? 1 Cor. 15:2 – We will lose our salvation.

72) We must hold to the gospel of God and nothing else.

73) If we abandon or alter the message of peace, we will forfeit our spiritual rights.

74) Gal. 1:9 refers to a “man” preaching (same word) another kind of message.

75) In cases such as this Paul said to still reject this kind of teaching.

76) The gospel needs to be proclaimed, all the time, just as God gave it.

77) This is true both as we assemble and as we deal with others in our personal lives.

78) We wish everyone would accept our heaven sent message.

79) Unfortunately the term we are looking at says this will not always be the case.

80) For my final two references I want to read from Heb. 4.

a) Heb. 4:2 is unusual because it applies this term to the Old Testament.

b) Even under the Old Testament there was a message of “good news.”

c) God had a great message but there was resistance to it.

d) Here is how the Hebrew writer used this term Heb. 4:2 – READ.

81) The greatest offer in the world is without value if people do not take advantage of it.

82) This time of year a lot of shoppers have access to rebates.

83) Buy an item and it is free, or a certain sum of money will be returned after mailing in a rebate.

84) What if we buy the item but fail to file the rebate?

85) No matter how good the offer is, we lose the benefit.

86) A further statement of this matter is in Heb. 4:6 – READ where our word again occurs.

87) There is a great message but it does not good if people will not obey it.

88) We have the most important message the world will ever hear.

89) It is our job to try and take it to as many people as possible before we die.

90) Those who hear have a duty to accept and obey it.

91) If we have obeyed this message it is our job to take it to others.

92) If we have not obeyed, now is the time to do that.