Christmas Message 2017

"You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you can look up into the Father's face and tell him you have received his Christmas gift."  - John R. Rice

Christmas 2017! Once again, we find ourselves in the holiest of seasons, celebrating the birth of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is also means time spent with our family and friends. And, while the real significance of this time sometimes gets overwhelmed by shopping, gifts, parties, and other activities, let's not forget what the birth of Christ meant to the world.

John 3:16-17 (KJV) tells us, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

This was not an act of pity on God's part. Neither was it an act of charity. God did this because He loved us. It was a pure and simple act of love. As parents, we love our children unconditionally. God, as our Father is no different. He loves us despite our rebellion, flaws, and iniquity.

Through this unselfish act of love, He sent us His Only Begotten Son to save us from our sinful nature. He provided us with a chance that would otherwise be unattainable. There is no possible way to calculate the value of this gift. How can one put a price on real love?

Somewhere underneath all of the commercial hype, flashing multi-colored lights, and presents in vibrant gift wrap, the true meaning of Christmas may still be found. You won't find it under a brightly lit tree, or online. It is in your heart; and that is love. The same love that sent Jesus to earth on that long ago night.



It has been tradition here for us to gone on hiatus during this time. This is to allow our ministry staff and writers to celebrate the season with their loved ones. While we are away, our archived messages are always available to you. We will return on Monday, January 8, 2018.

Thank you for allowing us to share our love of Jesus Christ with you throughout this past year. We are looking forward to doing the same in 2018! On behalf of everyone here at The Coffeehouse Bible Ministry, I wish you, our friends, both old and new, a blessed and safe Christmas and New Year!  ~Eve

Prayer: Thank you Lord, for the gift of Your love. May I always be a glowing example of that love to others, amen.

May God bless all of you!

The Coffeehouse Bible Ministry

...A Price on Christmas?

"How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, His precepts!" - Assorted Authors

One of the most common complaints heard at Christmas time is that the holiday is too expensive. But, is it really? I suppose the answer to this question depends on who you are, and how you look at it. We should check out the very first Christmas before making a decision.

Was it too expensive? Let's see...it cost Mary and Joseph their comfortable home to travel to Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-7). Oh, and we can't forget the angel-directed exile to Egypt to save baby Jesus from a sure death at the hands of Herod (Matthew 2:13).

How about the parents in Bethlehem whose babies were massacred by the wicked Herod (Matthew 2:16)? The shepherds left their flocks behind in order to travel to Bethlehem, so that they might see the newborn Messiah as announced to them by the angel of the Lord (Luke 2:8-20).

How about God? What did Christmas cost Him? It cost Him everything. He gave up His only begotten Son (John 3:16)! What did Christmas cost Jesus? It cost him a life of sacrifice and service, and a vicious, cruel death that is unequaled in history (Matthew 27:32-56).

Therefore, is Christmas too expensive? It is if if doesn't mean hope. Those who know the Christ of Christmas will never be without hope. It is costly if we don't receive and experience God's gift of love (Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:10).

It's costly if we don't experience the forgiveness of sins. We'd totally miss the true meaning of Christmas if we forgot Jesus' purpose for coming into the world; that was too seek and save the lost (Luke 9:10). It's also expensive if we do not fill our hearts with joy, and let it radiate outward.

We can't forget the cost of not demonstrating peace and goodwill to others. After all, Christmas is a time for peace and goodwill. If we have received God's goodwill, then we will show goodwill toward God and others (Luke 2:14).

Christmas is too costly if we don't share the Good News (Luke 2:11). It is a privilege to share our knowledge of God with those who do not know Him. Make Christmas worthwhile by sharing the Good News.

And finally, Christmas is too expensive if we don't exercise faith. God's faith in man is revealed by the gift of his Son Jesus. Can we doubt that God cares for sinners? Toss aside any uncertainty by reacting with faith in the Lord Jesus always.

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6; John 1:14; Jeremiah 29:11; Luke 1:46-47; Zechariah 9:9

Prayer: Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!  -1 Corinthians 9:15

May God bless you always!

Layne

Let God's Word Provide You With Guidance

"Though the Bible was written over sixteen centuries by at least forty authors, it has one central theme--salvation through faith in Christ." - Max Lucado

Every now and then, we find ourselves in need of some comforting thoughts; supplemented by a healthy dose of encouragement. Honestly, even the most tempered soul can sometimes get rattled and desire some solace.

What can one do? We can share our concerns with family, friends, our pastor, or seek the help of a trained professional. But, one of the best, and freely available, resources we have at our disposal is the Bible. Surprisingly, it is often overlooked or discarded altogether.

Between its covers can found comfort when we need it, wisdom and guidance when we seek it, and the encouragement that everything is going to be alright in the end. You know, there are many other sources you could turn to, but none will serve you better than the Word of God.

Let me demonstrate this using Romans 10:13. What better subject than that of salvation! Many put more thought into their order at Starbuck's™ than they do in their salvation. Since all of us are born into sin, this should be a great concern.

Mercifully, God has spoken to us about this subject (of our being saved) in clear and plain language.The significance of salvation is staggering. The word alone hints at misery, suffering, danger, risk of punishment and death.

More importantly, it implies deliverance or liberation from these things as seen in Exodus 14:13; Psalm 106: 8-10; and Isaiah 63:8, 9; 1 Samuel 11:13; and 1 Chronicles 11:14. All is not lost, after all. There is hope.

In a spiritual sense, as indicated in the New Testament, salvation means deliverance from the eternal condemnation of sin. This deliverance, our deliverance, is the result of the incarnation, sufferings, and death of Jesus Christ. It is the salvation of our immortal soul.

Today, I have touched on only one example of the encouragement we can find in the Bible. But, no matter what problem(s) are bearing down on you right now, or at any time, you can always find a wealth of heavenly enlightenment within its pages.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16; Romans 15:4; Isaiah 40:8; Psalm 119:105; John 5:39

Prayer: Dear Lord, I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. -Psalm 119:11

May God bless you!

Inga

The Joy of Jesus!

"The Lord gives his people perpetual joy when they walk in obedience to him."  - Dwight L. Moody

During this time of the year, we see the word "joy" used often in many different formats. And who would disagree that the word evokes feelings of happiness, rejoicing, and inner warmth? In addition to these examples, we find "joy" used a lot in the Bible.

In fact, it is used over 100 times in the Old Testament and about 60 or so times in the New Testament. Its wide usage alone leads one to believe that it has to be an important word. Therefore, I think it's one of those words that should definitely be examined a little more closely.

For sure, we could pick any number of instances where "joy" comes up in scripture, but to save time and space, I will direct you to one verse in particular, Hebrews 12:2 (NASB). Let's zero in on the part that says, "...who for the joy set before Him..." 

Using this as our starting point, we can ask the question, "What is this joy that was set before Jesus?" While there are many illustrations we could point to, I will suggest a few of the better known.

To begin, Jesus speaks of it in the joy of father who receives his penitent son back into his heart and home in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32). Then, there's the joy of a shepherd who finds the lost sheep he had been looking for in The Parable of the Lost Sheep ((Luke 15:3–7).

Another case may be found in the Parable of the Lost Coin ( Luke 15:8–10), where a woman looks for a lost coin, finds it, and rejoices. What is the common denominator regarding the joy of Jesus, in all of these examples? It can be condensed to just four words: the joy of love.

And not just any ol' variety of love, either. It is that exceptional and wonderful kind of love which inspires us to call grace. We can also say that it is the strongest, most beautiful, and heavenly type of love. And, while we're at it, let's call it the joy of holiness and of absolute goodness.

As you can see, there's a lot more to the word "joy" than what we see on a Christmas card. We could all do a lot worse than to make Christ's joy our goal, not only during the Christmas season, but all year long. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! -Philippians 4:4 (NIV)

Scripture: Romans 12:12; James 1:2; Philippians 4:4; Galatians 5:22; Psalm 118:24

Prayer: Dear Jesus, it makes me feel so wonderful to release the joy inside that I receive from You. I pray that my happy heart will not only lift my spirits, but that I can share this same joy with everyone I meet, amen.

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

What About the Gospel? (Part 3)

"The Gospel is not good advice to be obeyed, it is good news to be believed."  - Harry Ironside

If you have followed along on the previous installments, you should now have a workable understanding of what the gospel is. We saw that it is good news from God to man; the good news of spiritual good, forgiveness, and salvation.

But we must not be satisfied with only this knowledge. For as impressive as this might be, our view cannot be thought of as complete without considering whose gospel it is, as well. So let's begin our discussion of this topic here.

As we shall see, the gospel is not an impersonal or theoretical gospel. Neither is it the gospel of man, nor an infinite and distant God. It is the gospel of both God and man. It is specifically described in the text of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

But, in order to allow for a more meaningful conversation about this, we must first set the table, so to speak. To begin with, I'm not aware of anything in the Scriptures that is so consistently disrespected and more incompletely understood than the names and titles of the Savior.

And, even if we do acknowledge the honor and greatness of him, it is only in the general sense. In other words, with no clear concept regarding the importance of the terms we use. Indeed, this habit is quite deeply-rooted and hurtful.

I am sure we'd agree that it wouldn't hurt to occasionally remember the primary importance attached to all names. And that divine names are especially so! The names of the Redeemer were designed to be descriptive and expressive, and not ordinary, formal, and meaningless.

We find that every name is significant of a great truth or relevant feature pertaining to the person or duty of Christ, including the method of redemption. I felt it vital to my message that we clarify the points noted above. I hope that you will find it beneficial as we move forward, too.

In closing, I invite you to join me next time as we continue with our dialogue on the gospel. Until then, I wish you all a blessed week!

Scripture: Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9-11; John 14:6; John 8:58;  Jeremiah 10:6

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Your Son has taught us that life is eternal and love cannot die. May we always keep this in our hearts and actions, amen.

May the Lord bless!

Shawna

What Is Our Being in Christ?

"Being in Christ, it is safe to forget the past; it is possible to be sure of the future; it is possible to be diligent in the present."  - Alexander MacLaren

Christ came into the world to tend to the most troubling problems that disturb human hearts. He came to make known the way of love for everyone. In Colossians 3:11, the apostle Paul is speaking to believers regarding their position in, and relationship to, Jesus Christ.

Paul occupies himself with the painful problems that worry, upset, and divide people, by first and foremost emphasizing our relationship to God from His point of view. He points out that we died to sin through Christ (Colossians 2:20), and that we have been raised with Christ to a new life (Colossians 3:1).

Moreover, he asserts that when our Lord appears in his glory, we too, will appear with him (Colossians 3:4). In light of these great spiritual realities, Paul encourages us to cooperate with our Lord as we seek to live out our unity with him.

Thus, the apostle Paul furnishes spiritual encouragement in the form of some noteworthy commands. First, we are encouraged to focus the aim of our life on Christ (Colossians 3:1). The apostle had defined his purpose of his existence in terms of relating himself to Jesus Christ and letting Christ live in him (Philippians 1:21).

Next. we're encouraged to focus our mind on Christ (Colossians 3:2). Our affections, disposition, and our will, or for that matter, our entire personality is to be affected by our desire to let Jesus Christ have his way with us.

Finally, we are encouraged to focus our hope on Christ (Colossians 3:4). After all, our great hope for the future and beyond time is to be united with the Christ, and with the people of God, throughout eternity. Therefore, Paul encourages us to remove hindrances to Christian fellowship (Colossians 3: 5-17).

In closing, Christ came and died for our sins, conquering death and the grave, so that eternal life might be an actuality for you and I. He came to dwell inside each of us when we trusted him as Savior. And, he wants to help us live the heavenly life, even as we continue with our physical life here on earth.

However, in order for Christ to help us with our present, painful problems, we must acknowledge and respond to him regularly. For it was faith in Christ that established us in a loving relationship with him, and it is listening to and obeying him that will inevitably bring satisfaction and joy to our hearts.

Scripture: Colossians 2:9; John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; Romans 15:17; 2 Corinthians 5:21

Prayer: Holy Father, I thank you for our great salvation; past, present, and future. I also thank you for Christ as our redeemer, teacher, guide, and friend, amen.

Have a blessed day!

Layne

Video - Rebekah Gregory: Prepared Through Adversity

In this video clip, Boston Marathon bombing survivor, Rebekah Gregory, talks a little about a lifetime of adversity and the work God was doing throughout it all. There isn't one person out there who hasn't struggled through adversity of one type or another. A message that resonates with us all.  ~Eve

To Grasp the Scriptures Requires Faith

"Understanding is the reward of faith."  - Saint Augustine

From the beginning, Our Lord intended for the Scriptures to have a special purpose. They were by no means put together in haste, or without a goal in mind. God doesn't work that way. They were as much a part of His great design as the rest of creation.

Yes, it would have been possible for Jesus to teach his disciples without them. No doubt they could have been instructed on everything they needed to know about Him, His duty, His Divine commission, sufferings and death, His resurrection, and the glory to come; all of this, by his direct inspiration.

Instead, he chose to guide them to the living prophecies that were given to their fathers by God. And guess what he used as his source of reference? You might find this surprising, but many people have never read the Scriptures at all. 

On the other hand, many others have read (and do read) the Scriptures but fail to comprehend any of it. Their meaning is locked away from them like some hidden, buried treasure. The most common, underlying problem is not with the Scriptures. It is with the way they are read.

We cannot approach the Scriptures as we would just any other book. We must ask ourselves whether we read the Scriptures, not only on a regular basis, but with belief or faith. Or, are we merely reading according to what the verse of the day is? If this is all the effort you can put into it, then don't expect to get much out of it.

Before we even start to read we must pray to God for understanding and guidance. Without instruction from the Spirit of Christ, how in the world are we going to receive it? Only the Lord can provide these things. It is our responsibility to search the Scriptures. We cannot simply sit back and wait. We need to get our hands a little dirty.

Only a fixed, firm belief will lead us to read the Scriptures with a heartfelt and purposeful effort. We cannot deny that without His guidance none of this will happen. We will not take hold of their full benefit. It is imperative that the Scriptures be read with earnestness and intensity.

Lastly, we must open our hearts to God, and demonstrate our need for His Grace. He will never force his way in. It is always our decision to let Him in, or not. Therefore, let God know you are ready and willing for his direction by reading the Scriptures with a devoted, submissive, and eager spirit.

Scripture: Mark 4:11-12; John 16:13; 2 Timothy 3:16; John 14:26; Hebrews 4:12 

Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray for the understanding and guidance that only Your Word can provide. Help me apply Your instruction to every part of my life, amen

May God richly bless you!

Claudette

What's In a Name..?

"Don't ever think that there are many ways to the Divine. Jesus is the one qualified mediator, the only qualified sacrifice, and the only qualified savior."  - Erwin Lutzer

Just about every historic person in the Bible has a name that is appropriate for them. For instance, Moses, Abraham, Joseph, Solomon, David, Samson, Job, Esther, Ruth, Mary and Joseph, John the Baptist, Paul, and so on. Even the name of Jesus is descriptive of the person and work of Christ.

Matthew 1: 20-21 gives us a good starting point for our discussion. This is where the Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream (Matthew 1:20). "Jesus" can be interpreted as "to save," which is the same as "Savior."

This sets him apart from you and I in more ways than we will ever really know. You see, Jesus is Divine, that is, he is holy or heavenly. And if this wasn't enough, He saves us, at least those who believe in him, for our sins. This is accomplished not by any laws or decrees, or by mere words, but by Jesus himself.

Let's linger here for a moment. In regards to our salvation, Jesus saves us from sin. Which is a really good thing since we can't do anything about it on our own. He does this by granting believers forgiveness, and not just any old forgiveness, but full, free, immediate, and irreversible forgiveness.

We are all born contaminated with sin. Only Jesus can save us from this pollution of sin. And while it's true that holiness is progressive, the Christian cannot and does not like sin. Nor can she live in sin as the choice and habit of her life. Our salvation will not reach its full completion here on earth, but in heaven.

Matthew 1:21 tells us that, "he shall save his people." Who are His people in this verse? We can infer from this that they must have been knee deep in sin, too. They were in need of saving just as badly as we are. Consequently, none of us needs to lose hope.

John 3:16 (KJV) assures us that, "Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish." The key word being "Whosoever" or "whoever." That means that all are extended this offer, if they have faith in Him. Only one question remains. Does "Whosoever believeth;" include you?

Scripture: John 1:14; Colossians 2:9; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Galatians 3:28

Prayer: God our Father, may all of life’s experiences lead us to grow as people who always put love into everything we do, amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

What About the Gospel? (Part 2)

"The Gospel is not good advice to be obeyed, it is good news to be believed."  - Harry Ironside

Continuing last week's discussion, we have discovered that the primary idea of the gospel is glad tidings or good news from God. Now, let's build a little more on this simple definition of the gospel.

Good news, glad tidings, from heaven, would be wonderful if they related only to our natural wants and needs. For example, to hear God proclaiming peace over war, abundance over poverty, and health over sickness, would undoubtedly be cause for celebration.

But, these, no matter how free and deserved of our undying gratitude, can never meet our chief needs; they can never satisfy the soul. Its cravings are for spiritual well-being; its worst afflictions are the deep awareness of guilt; remorse of conscience, and an anxious expectation of judgment. These can all be pacified for a while, but not forever.

No good news is good news in the highest sense, unless it can gratify these requirements; supplies these wants, and corrects these wrongs. Without this, good news, even that which is sent by God from heaven, would be no more than some half-forgotten news about some personal or social triumph that once set your heart on fire.

We have all experienced this, and as such, no good news is good news to your rational judgment and immortal soul. But, certainly it is good news in relation to your sins and salvation, your future and your eternity.

If the veil could be removed from every heart, we would see that many of us who appear preoccupied with earthly and secular intellect, are in reality longing for good news of a very different kind. And what might this be?

It is the glad tidings of forgiveness, reconciliation, and safety for the joyful news that God is not their enemy, and hell is not their lot. That they are personally entitled to a portion of that perpetual inheritance; that secure possession which lies beyond the developments, worries, and upheavals of this present life.

It is important that we hear such news sooner or later, or be dejected and miserable. And this, incredibly, inspirative message; the good news or glad tidings, can be heard immediately in the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Join me next week as we continue our discussion on the Gospel. Until then, have a wonderful week and may God bless you!

Scripture: John 17:17; Revelation 21:5; 1 Corinthians 2:14; John 14:6; Psalm 12:6

Prayer: We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near. - Psalm 75:1

May the Lord bless!

Shawna

Video - Dr. Robert Jeffress: Myths About Heaven

Pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress, the author of "A Place Called Heaven," addresses a few of the common misconceptions about heaven. This is video briefly touches on a topic that interests many of us. I think it is definitely well worth a listen!  ~Eve

Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled

"We're not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be."  - C.S. Lewis

As we draw closer to the end of another year, we sometimes find ourselves dragging; our feet a little heavier than were early on. Life happens, and the ups and downs can potentially sap our energy, and leave us feeling battered.

The beginning of any journey is brimming with excitement, energy, and optimism. But then the initial enthusiasm soon settles into a routine, and depending on the situation, may be followed by worry, anxiety, doubt, frustration, and eventually indifference (2 Peter 1:19).

All told, when we set out on a new path, or direction, we strongly believe that we will be guided along by the hand of God. We also firmly feel that His presence will carry us through any trials or adversity that we might encounter (Isaiah 41:10).

Then, we run into some difficulties; our expectations are not quite what we thought they would be; one door after another is slammed shut on us. What next? Around this time doubt, apprehension, and uneasiness soon creeps in. We may start to question whether God really is with us.

It is during these times that we have to keep it together. One can ill afford to encourage mistrust to enter now. To even entertain the thought that God has deserted you is rash (Proverbs 3:5). It should come as no surprise when in the end you discover that the total opposite is true (Psalm 138:8).

Scripture: Jude 1:22; James 1:6; Luke 24:38; Hebrews 11:6; Jeremiah 33:3

Prayer: Dear Lord, life can be a rough road to travel at times; may you always provide me with the needed strength and perseverance to press on, amen.

May God's Word guide your life,

Marcie

The Creative Decree of God

"Thou hast created us for Thyself, and our heart is not quiet until it rests in Thee."  - Augustine

The natural sense of Genesis 1:1 is that the universe originally owed both its form and substance to the creative dictate of God. Our Bible opens with the statement that everything owes its existence to the will of God. The Bible explanation of the creation is the only one which seriously respects the rights and existence of a God.

Pantheism, or the view that God is everything and everyone and that everyone and everything is God, buries Him in moral filth. The atheistic materialism or disinterest denies Him outright. The other belief that the universe and God are both eternal in effect creates two Gods.

The Bible doctrine of creation not only protects the supremacy, personality, sanctity, and reality of God; but it also shines a bright light on His nature and character. It illustrates the endless resources of God's self-existent life. He did not need to look for or gather what was needed for creation. He called it into being out of nothing.

Take the gift of life, for instance. This is a gift which in itself just boggles the mind. Modern science boasts of its strides in solving the riddle of life. But, it really solves nothing; it merely copies or makes modifications to life using the template that God originated.

God is free to majestically create as He pleases. There was no outward pressure put on Him to do so. In fact, if He didn't make something it was because He chose not to. No created being could add (that's you and I) could add to or lessen the bliss of God.

He didn't need to have us. He would have been perfectly fine. Still, the Divine love determined to call a whole creation into being on which its perfectness and beauty, even its misery and shame, that that same love might lovingly bestow its affection on it.

Do we have all the answers to creation? Of course not, and we may never have. We must always be mindful that we are only the creatures of creation, and not the Creator. And that makes all the difference in the world.

Scripture: Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 4:11; Colossians 1:16; John 1:1-3; Romans 1:20

Prayer: Holy Father, open us up to your Spirit that lives within us, so that we may live fully each day of our lives, amen

May God richly bless you!

Claudette

They Fell Short...

"God will not go forth with that man who marches in his own strength."  - Charles Spurgeon

Most of us are familiar with the term "stumbling block." You might even be experiencing a "stumbling block" of sorts in your life right now. A stumbling block is something that gets in our way of either doing something, or going somewhere in our lives; it's a hindrance or obstacle.

The nation Israel ran into a similar problem concerning faith. They had the privilege of having God to themselves for a long time. But this changed when the Gentiles were included, too. Was this because God, in his fickleness, decided it so? No way!

It was because of a fatal flaw, or stumbling block in the Hebrew people. The big stumbling block for the Jews was Jesus Christ. They tripped over the law of faith and rejected their Messiah (Romans 9:30-33).

Israel expected the Messiah to be an awesome, earthly prince. But when Jesus appeared on the scene, his poverty, roughness, and state of suffering threw them off. Thus, they fell a little short of righteousness and salvation; even losing their privileges as the people of God.

Meanwhile the Gentiles demonstrated faith in Him, and as a result they secured a justifying righteousness. They embraced Christ, believed in Him, and acknowledged the Gospel, achieving quickly what the Jews had been vainly running around in circles for all this time.

What can we learn from this? For starters, no matter how sincere we may chase after salvation, we will never acquire it in a self-righteous way. Also, whatever our situation in regards to salvation is, prior to, it is obtained the instant we believe in Christ.

And finally, no matter how this way of salvation is put down or misrepresented, the fact that it raises so much accusation and slander is a testimony to its truth. Stumbling blocks come in many different types; some can even affect our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:14; 1 John 3:7; 1 John 5:18; 1 Peter 2:24; Proverbs 21:3

Prayer: Dear Lord, open our hearts to be influenced for good, and inspire us to touch the hearts of others, amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

What About the Gospel? (Part 1)

"The Gospel is not good advice to be obeyed, it is good news to be believed."  - Harry Ironside

Anyone who is a believer in Christ (and even someone who isn't) has more than likely heard mention of: the gospel. It's a pretty common topic, and one that is certainly fundamental to the Christian, yet many have trouble understanding it.

Therefore, I will make an attempt to cut through some of the confusion, and hopefully make it a little easier to grasp. In order to accomplish this for you, I feel it would be more effective to begin with some preliminary information this week.

Now, we need a good starting point to set us on our way. An excellent reference verse from Scripture for our discussion is Mark 1:1 (KJV), "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God."

If we read this verse carefully, we notice that there are actually two topics here: a) the gospel; and b) the beginning of the gospel. To add to our conversation, let's ask two questions of each. The gospel: What is it? and Whose is it? The beginning of the gospel: Where did it begin? and Where does it begin?

What is the gospel? The word "gospel," both in Greek and English, originally means: good news or glad tidings. That is, good news from God to man --- good news of spiritual good, forgiveness, and salvation. 

All of us are familiar with the feeling we get when we receive good news from family or friends.The gospel is similar, but on a totally different level. The gospel is good news from God to man (you and I). 

It comes to us by special delivery from heaven to earth; from the infinitely blessed and infinitely holy to the lowest depths of deplorable, human hopelessness, and sin. It is a voice from heaven that breaks through the silence or the dissonance of our natural condition.

I hope that I have presented some solid information here today. There is still much more for us to cover. We shall continue our talk next time. Until then, have a wonderful week, and may God bless you.

Scripture: Romans 1:16; John 5:39-40; Ephesians 1:13-14; Isaiah 53:6; John 14:6

Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray that I may live in such a way that I value all that is good in my life, and never take anyone or anything for granted, amen

May the Lord bless!

Shawna