With all the many things that we read in the news and all the troubling things happening around us
In 1 Corinthians 15 the Apostle Paul reminds the reader of the Good News and that they had chosen to welcome it.
On Sundays, you may find me at the main entrance to our church building greeting people as they arrive. I love seeing my church family and anticipate meeting someone for the first time.
Recently, upon greeting a first-time guest I asked them how they knew about our church. They said that a couple of people had told them that we were a welcoming church. That was good news! I shared this during one of our staff meetings and relayed that I said, “Oh really? Who told you that?” My intonation communicated surprise. We all had a laugh.
I am not surprised that my congregation is welcoming but I was pleasantly surprised by her joyful response. And it confirmed something that I wish to communicate to you.
In order for the Good News of Jesus Christ to be good news, we must first welcome it.
As a preacher, I am quick to tell the audience what we need to do with the gospel. Believe it. Share it. We will get to that, later. But first
Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it…
1 Corinthians 15:1 (NLT)
To welcome the Good News means you open the door to it. You set a place at your table for it. You leave the light on. You make the bed. You are ready to host it cause you have been looking for it.
Like the story of Zacchaeus, you climb up a tree to see it. And then the Good News says, “I’m coming to your house today (Luke 19).”
Will you welcome the Good News into your house today? Will you welcome the Good News into your life?
Jesus is outside the door to your life and he is knocking. Let him inside. Sit with him. Eat with him. You will not be the same.
I believe that the guests who experienced Littleton as a friendly welcoming church and spread that experience to a friend, meet people who had welcomed Jesus into their lives.
Jesus followers are the most hospitable people. The best hosts host the Good News.
The Good News reminds and invites. Paul reminds the Corinth church that they welcomed the Good News of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. They allowed the resurrected Jesus to change their lives.
They’ve been granted forgiveness.
What have you allowed Jesus to do with you?
Have you once welcomed Christ but have now shut the door to him? Are you not answering his calls? Are you ghosting him?
Maybe you’ve never been open to him. You have not been able to see his light. Even now God can open your eyes to the light of the gospel so that you may see and receive him.
The god of this age has blinded the minds of
2 Corinthians 4:4,6 (NIV)unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
Before you do anything else today choose to welcome the Good News and allow Jesus to bring salvation to your house.
Can you use some Good News in your life? Does this blog serve as a reminder or an invitation?
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Jovan preaches for the Littleton Church of Christ near Denver, Colorado. Visit here to listen to sermons preached at the Littleton Church.