Top Stories on Thursday

• COVID-19 Deaths breaking records daily.
• Taylor Swift dropping (releasing) surprise album.
• Stimulus talks dragging on.
• Nascar Champ Jimmie Johnson launches Charlie Meatball Productions
• Vaccine distribution could be dragged down by competing values.
• Who is at fault for Wentz being benched?
• Two terrifying days inside a California wildfire.
• Why your ego might be hurting your golf game…
• Wolf tests positive for COVID-19
• Queen Elizabeth makes accidental post on Twitter.
• Lancaster County releases another $7M in help to local businesses.
• Lancaster County boy continues to help feed hungry families.

Good news doesn’t primarily sell in the media realm, but it is essential in the personal realm.

• We bask in our gripe sessions with others, but we do not seek answers from such a group, just commiseration.
• When we recognize our need for help, we seek those who provide hope with direction—by the way they live and the content of what they speak.
• Good news in such a context becomes life altering. 

What was the news at Christ’s birth. Luke 2:1-7

• Jerusalem had been conquered by Roman General Pompey in 63 BC.
• Roman Empire is within its first 30 years with Augustus Caesar being the first Emperor.
• Israel was then placed under the authority of a “client king”—Herod the Great who largely allowed the freedom of worship. However, the worship was becoming a blend of beliefs from Jews and Gentiles leading to widespread polytheism.
• Motivated by self-promotion Herod rebuilt the temple and Jerusalem. Prideful motivation was setting the table for the humble king who would save the world on that mount (Moriah- the Lord will provide).
• The Jewish people were growing weary under the oppressive Roman and Herodic taxation, the dwindling of their identity, the distortion of their faith, and the prolonged waiting for the messiah.
• The news was relentlessly not good. They longed for deliverance.
• On top of all of this, a census was being taken that forces unwanted travel, likely so that a new tax can be levied.

Silence is broken.  Luke 2:8-14

• The birth of this child is good news for ALL PEOPLE! (10)
• A sign given that will identify this newborn will be that can be found in a humble, yet unique place.
• Glory will go to YAHWEH.
• Peace will come to those who experience God’s favor.

Why is his birth good news for all people?  Romans 10:9-15

• This is about deliverance for now and into eternity for all who confess the resurrected Jesus as their Lord. (9)
• This is declared outwardly from an inward transformation. (10)
• ANYONE/EVERYONE can do this (11-13)—Jew, Gentile, Male, Female, Slave, or Free.
  
  Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ.”
  
  
• Cannot call on the Lord unless you believe, but you cannot believe unless you know about it. (14)
• Someone must tell the good news for the good news to be received, which means those who know must go. (14b-15a)
• Those who go become beautiful in the eyes of the receiver and of God, because THE good news has been shared. (15)

Experiencing the good news is for all who call upon Jesus. 

1. Must see your need for being saved—Admission of guilt.
2. Must believe that Jesus is the only means by where life can be found now and into eternity—Believe in Jesus.
3. Must commit to his Lordship—Commit.

Admit

Believe

Commit

Pray

Song

Benediction:

Luke 2:10 “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

Discussion Guide:

1. What is the best news you ever received? What made it unique to other news you have received.
2. How would you share with someone who does not know the scriptures to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ as good news for them?
3. Read Romans 10:9-15. Why does this text give importance to missions globally where the gospel is not known?  How does this answer the question about whether or not the name of Jesus is necessary to know in order to find salvation?
4. Consider sharing with someone in your household the “ABC’s” (Admit, Believe, Commit) of the gospel as a means of practice in sharing the gospel.