Mission Minded: Good News Overcomes Bad News!
Daily Devotions based the Sermon from January 24, 2021
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: A Mission-Minded Person Is Excited about Their Message!
“I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?”
Ever been asked this?
Which do you tend to want first?
Subconsciously when someone presents this to me, I am HOPING the good news overshadows the bad news.
Don’t we all?
We want good news to be better and more often than any bad news we may here.
We want news like, “I was laid off…but I got hired for my dream job the next week.” Or “I got COVID, but I had no symptoms.”
We want good news to overcome bad news.
That’s what the good news Jesus brings does…every time. With Jesus it is always good news!
Mark 1:14 starts this way, “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.”
John the Baptist being put into prison was not going to end well. John had confronted Herod, the tetrarch of Galilee for divorcing his wife and taking his brother’s wife as his own. John would eventually be beheaded. It was not good news.
But the good news Jesus proclaimed overcame the bad news of John’s imprisonment. John was in prison, but he knew he had carried out the purpose God had given him – point people to Jesus – and he had confidence Jesus was the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” including his own. John was safe in the good news.
So Jesus doesn’t get stuck on the bad news, he continues “proclaiming the good news of God.”
As long as sin is in the world, bad news will come our way. We will experience evil. We will cry over loss. We will have disappointments and plans that fall apart.
But the good news Jesus proclaims will always overcome the bad news.
Jesus could approach us and ask, “I have bad news and good news. Which do you want first?”
There is both. Jesus said to his disciples the night before he went to the cross (bad news?): “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
No matter what the news of the day, the news that you are loved, forgiven, child of God will always be better than the bad news. The good news of Jesus ALWAYS overcomes bad news.
Apply: What is the bad news you are living with today? How does the fact you are a loved, forgiven child of God change your perspective on that news?
PRAYER: Jesus, thank you for the good news you give us each day. We know there is bad news in the world, help us to remember you have overcome the world! AMEN.
Passage and Prayer for the Ministry of Cross & Crown
Tuesday – January 26 – Titus 3:5-8 “He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”
PRAYER: God, help us remember where we’ve come from. You saved us not because of the righteous things we have done, but because of Your mercy and grace. Thank you for the power and renewal we receive through Your Holy Spirit. Fill us with joy, peace and hope, confident of the promises You have made to us through Christ.
Mission Minded: Good News Communicates God’s Eternal Plan for You!
Daily Devotions based the Sermon from January 24, 2021
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: A Mission-Minded Person Is Excited about Their Message!
What’s the news today?
Was that the first thing you looked at or watched this morning?
The daily news feed tends to set the tone for our day or discussions. Many wake up and check the news on their phones while others turn into their station of choice to get the morning news.
Most of the news is negative, creates fear, drives uncertainty, or pits one group of people against another. Then we let the news feed drive our day…or at least a bit of it. Subconsciously we allow the news to affect our day.
Even if it has no direct impact on our day by people that we don’t even know or certainly don’t know us.
Wouldn’t it be nice to rise above the daily news cycle and grind of the endless negative reporting and have a different narrative to fill our minds and hearts today…every day?
That’s what makes the news Jesus gives us so good.
It doesn’t depend on today’s news narrative, but rather is the culmination of God’s loving plan for you and communicates God’s heart for you!
What is the good news narrative God wants our hearts to be filled with each day? The prophet Isaiah put it this way…
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
If you heard on the morning news that someone was doing the following…
- Preaching good news…
- Binding up the brokenhearted…
- Proclaiming freedom…
- Proclaiming the Lord’s favor
- Comforting those who mourn…
- Providing for those who grieve…
- Bestowing a crown of beauty…
- Giving a garment of praise…
…and it wasn’t based on a government program or empty campaign promise, but based in the power of the Almighty God and the faithfulness to his promises…wouldn’t that peak your interest?
I’d be all ears!
In Luke 2:10 Jesus was reading this passage in the synagogue in Nazareth and proclaimed, ““Today this scripture (Isaiah 61) is fulfilled in your hearing.”
The good news report that Jesus wants you to hear every morning, even though it won’t be on the major networks or your social media feed is this, “I love you my child. I lived, died and rose again for you! You are forgiven and I promise that whatever the news today brings, the news that matters for you today is that you are a dearly loved child of mine. Enjoy living in that confidence and enjoy sharing this good news to people you know…as you can see, the world needs good news!”
Apply: Take a few minutes to reflect on this question, “What makes the news Jesus brings so good for me today?”
Prayer: Lord, thank you for having good news that isn’t dependent on what happens today, but on what you accomplished many years ago through your Son Jesus. Thank you for giving that good news to me today…
Prayers for the Mission and Ministry of Cross & Crown
Sunday – January 24 – Psalm 16:11 “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”
PRAYER: -You, God, are the provider of all things. In You we find joy and fulfillment. We seek You and Your presence, personally, and for this church. May we walk the path of life by Your guidance.
Monday – January 25 – Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
PRAYER: Lord, we thank You that Your light shines through Your children. We pray that You would first shine in us, to fill us with Your holiness and expose anything that needs to be removed. Then we pray that You would shine through us and let our lives be a reflection of Your amazing grace and love.
Mission Minded…Clear Calling…Invite Others!
Daily Devotions based the Sermon from January 17, 2021
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: A Mission-Minded Person Is Clear in Their Calling!
Over the last couple of weeks a thought has been percolating in my mind.
The thought is from a podcast discussing a book called The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek. The discussion was focused on the difference between a finite game and infinite game. A finite game has a set of boundaries and rules and an ending point. The goal: Play the game and win the game by the rules that are set. An infinite game doesn’t always have clear rules and has no end. The goal: Stay in the game and when you are done playing, pass it off to those that will continue and play even better.
Jesus has calls us to an infinite game: making disciples. The “game” didn’t stop when he ascended into heaven. Rather he spent the three plus years with his disciples training and equipping them to continue the “game” of spreading the gospel and making disciples. The movement didn’t stop with Jesus because those he called, understood they were called to carry on his mission of making disciples.
Matthew 28:18-20 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
How did they do? They took the Gospel message to the Mediterranean world as far west as Spain and as far east as India. The twelve that Jesus sent had 1000’s more disciples when they all went to heaven. The “game” continued…and continues.
God has called each of us to this infinite game of finding the spiritually lost, sharing the Gospel, and discipling them to follow Jesus as well.
But maybe we have forgotten. Maybe we see the game is winning when we just get to church or watch church. Maybe the win is being part of a small group or Bible study group. Maybe the win is 10 minutes of personal devotional time. These are all wins. But we’re forgetting the larger game.
The win isn’t just you ending up in heaven…A win for sure…the win is a) God using you and the power of the Gospel to bring others to heaven with you and b) you being part of passing the “game” off to another generation so they can do it even better and expand God’s kingdom even more.
Consider these two questions.
- Who has God put around you or in your life that he is calling you to invite them to follow Jesus? Start noticing today the people God allows you to connect with. Perhaps these people are the reason God has called you to follow him…to invite them to follow Jesus as well.
- Consider the church you attend. Is the “win” in your mind preserving what is familiar and comfortable for you? Or are you working to carry out the calling of Jesus and do all you can to pass it off to the next generation so they can make an even bigger impact for Jesus than you have?
You have been called for a purpose…to play the “infinite game” of making disciples in this generation, so the “game” continues and disciples are made until the day Jesus returns!
Apply: Spend some time today reflecting on the above questions. Are you playing a finite or infinite game with the calling Jesus has given to you?
Prayer: Jesus thank you for finding me, calling me to follow, and entrusting me to find others and invite them to follow. Help me do better the task for which you have called me! AMEN!
Passage and Prayer for the Ministry of Cross & Crown
Friday – James 1:5 “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”
Prayer: Guide us in all of our prayers, preparations, conversation and implementations. We trust You are the builder of our house; we are simply Your workers. Thank you for all you are doing in our midst. Open our eyes to see your heart for this place.
Saturday – Psalm 100:4-5 3 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.”
Prayer: God, help us remember that You have been faithful in all past generations and You will continue to be faithful in our generation. We give You thanks and praise for all You have done! We offer our lives as living sacrifices to serve You and Your people.
Mission Minded: Clear on Your Calling…Called to Follow Part 2
Daily Devotions based the Sermon from January 17, 2021
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: A Mission-Minded Person Is Clear in Their Calling!
Life can get hard.
Life as a Christian can get hard.
Fortunately, in America, the burden we bear as followers of Jesus has been fairly minimal compared to faithful Christians who have been willing to give up their life instead of giving up Jesus.
Yet, we can fall under the weight of even light persecution.
Threatened with losing our job, we hide our Christianity. Challenged to accept a lifestyle not God-pleasing, we look the other way. Told our child has the opportunity to get a full college sports scholarship, we neglect worship and gathering with other Christians.
God forgive us.
God empower us and enable us to be your faithful followers and be willing to “take up our cross and follow you!”
Luke 14:27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
I remember a devotional series from the now sainted Professor Daniel Deutschlander given while I was at Northwestern College (now part of Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN) entitled, “The life of the Christian is the life of the cross, not of the couch.”
The analogy for college students was appropriate as enjoying late nights and as many hours as possible sleeping or watching TV on the couch was a daily temptation. He knew and was ready to point out the sinful nature has a propensity to take the easy way…not the hard way.
The same with our faith life. Our tendency will be to endure the least persecution possible while convincing ourselves our faith is still strong and Jesus is still our number one commitment.
Satan is lying to us.
God forgive us.
God empower us to live the difficult, but yet joyful reality of being a follower of Jesus…willing to truly forsake all else to live the calling you have given to us…a follower of Jesus. Jesus was upfront with the 12 disciples and with us. Following him is what is most important in life, but also most difficult in life. Yet, Jesus is faithful. For what he calls us to do…follow him, he also equips us to do.
Enjoy taking up your cross and following Jesus…no matter how hard or heavy it may feel!
Apply: Identify the situations in life where you are tempted to lower the importance of your faith in order to avoid standing strong as a follower of Jesus. Ask the Spirit of God to give you boldness and courage to always take up you cross and follow him.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me when I lay aside the cross you invited me to carry. Empower me to carry the cross you give and faithfully follow you! AMEN.
Passage and Prayer for the Ministry of Cross & Crown
- Thursday – Luke 10:2 “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
PRAYER: Lord, guide us as we pray for the ministry of this church. We ask that you would raise up and send out workers into the harvest field. Help us to equip them to be prepared and empowered to serve and to bless. May we not miss the harvest you have placed right in front of us.
A Prayer on Inauguration Day
Daily Devotions based the Sermon from January 17, 2021
Full Sunday message: CONTEMPORARY or TRADITIONAL
THIS WEEK: A Mission-Minded Person Is Clear in Their Calling!
Lord God, through the Apostle Paul, you urge us that
“requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
So today we come to you first to thank you for President Trump and Vice-President Pence and their families and the years of their administration. For some it may be hard to give thanks…for others it may be easier. However, Lord, whether we agree with the policies or not or were pleased with his style or not, we recognize that you allowed another four years where we could worship you freely, proclaim the Gospel without threat of imprisonment, and live relative peaceful and quiet lives. No President has been or is perfect. But we thank you for a country and constitution that allows us the freedom to worship and share you freely and an administration that saw that freedom as something to be protected. We do ask for you to protect and watch over President Trump and Vice-President Pence and their families. Stop any evil that may be plotted against them. Allow them to transition from the rigors of government life to settings where they also may live peaceful and quiet lives. We thank you for their service to our country.
Today we also thank you for President-elect Biden and Vice President Harris. Again, for some it may be hard to give thanks…for others it may be easier. Lord, as they take office today, we ask that they would lead in such a way that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. We ask you to protect them from harm, use them to be a catalyst for peace in our divided country, and to lead them to respect and understand their authority comes ultimately from you. Lead them to honor our constitution, follow our laws, lead with a selfless heart, and seek wisdom to guide our country. We thank you for their willingness to serve our country.
We also pray for all those who have been entrusted with authority, those who govern locally, in our state government and in our national government. Let all seek ears to listen, hearts to seek good, and hands to serve those whom they govern.
We pray for ourselves and all the citizens of this country. Lead us to seek peace and not violence. Help us to listen to understand. Let us unite for good and discourage violence and evil. Where we disagree, lead us to seek understanding. Where we agree, use it for good. But Lord most of all as your people, help us to realize once again that the power to change a country is not in Presidents or legislatures, but through the power of the Gospel. Renew your people in this country in the vision and purpose for which you have us here: Preach the Gospel and reach people for Jesus. This is the work of your Church, not our government. Lead us to live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Father it is your desire that we offer these prayers so we might have a climate and culture where we can be part of doing your will, seeking your heart, that desires all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Let the years ahead be one where the power of the Gospel changes hearts and the influence of your church for the eternal salvation of souls is recharged and reawakened.
So Father we ask that you would empower us as your people to speak the truth boldly and lovingly, not fearing those that desire to cancel your truth but having confidence in the calling you have given us to make disciples of all nations, starting right here in our country and our community.
All this we ask in the name of your Son who is the King of kings and Lord of Lords, AMEN.
Passage and Prayer for the Ministry of Cross & Crown:
Wednesday – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we give You thanks for all You have done for us and for the opportunities before us. Help us develop a deep sense of gratitude for your mercy, for your presence, for your love and for your plan.