MORE GOOD NEWS
Congratulations on choosing to follow Jesus! It is the greatest decision you will ever make. There is one God in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Father God knows you completely and loves you perfectly.
Jesus is the Messiah and the Savior of the world. Jesus demonstrated His love on the cross and His power through the resurrection. You are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. Grace is an undeserved gift.
We receive, not achieve, the forgiveness of sins. Jesus accomplished redemption for us. It is not through our good works, so that no one can boast. Jesus is faithful, and you can trust His leadership daily as Lord of your life.
When you decided to put your trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit now dwells in you to comfort and empower you. You are in God’s family, and He will never leave you nor forsake you. Enjoy your relationship with God!
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
1 John 5:11-13
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
WHAT’S NEXT?
GREAT THINGS TO COME
WHAT IS THE GOOD NEWS?
The Gospel means the good news of Jesus Christ. There are two parts of the Gospel: Jesus died for your sins, and He rose from the grave.
The first part is the crucifixion. Jesus is fully God and fully human. Jesus left heaven and came to earth to seek and save the lost. All of us have sinned, which is an archery term that means to miss the mark. We have all fallen short of God’s commands and glory.
The wages of sin are death and separation from our holy God. While we were yet sinners, Jesus demonstrated His love through His sacrificial death. He had no sin and yet took the penalty of sin for us. He died in our place so that we could live.
The second part is the resurrection. Jesus has overcome and defeated death. The tomb is empty. We worship a living Savior who is no longer dead. He is our living hope. Jesus appeared to over 500 witnesses and transformed lives because He is the resurrection and the life. Death is not the end of the story.
Facts lead to faith, and the historical evidence is compelling. Jesus ascended into heaven and is now at the right hand of Father God.
Jesus will return physically and visibly, then reign forever as King of kings and Lord of lords.
God’s plan of salvation is unstoppable, and every day, more people put their trust in Jesus. There will be people from every nation, tongue, and tribe in heaven. We will be with God and bring Him glory forever.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
YOUR NEW JOURNEY WITH JESUS
The gospel is the good news, but there are more new things that God wants to do in your life. Let’s walk through more good news as the blessings continue. Now that you have begun a relationship with Jesus, it’s time to grow in your faith and take your next steps.
A relationship with God includes listening, trust, growth, joy, and peace. We are not self-sufficient. Every day is a gift from God.
We need Jesus and rely on Jesus for the breath in our lungs and a beating heart. We need the wisdom of Jesus as we make decisions. We need Jesus’ perspective as we navigate life. We need the mercy of Jesus when we drift into sin. We abide with Jesus throughout the entire week. To abide includes reliance, honor, obedience, closeness, and faith.
When we abide with Jesus, we bear much fruit. It is always a good decision to abide. No branch can bear fruit unless it is connected to the vine. Spiritually, we can’t abound unless we abide. You are no longer doing life alone, because Jesus is with you always. You are a lifelong learner.
Our goal is to live and love like Jesus. Walk with Jesus in truth. Do not conform to the patterns of the world; instead, become like Jesus. You can always choose to glorify Jesus, the One who saved you from your sins and gave you eternal life. We are made to know and worship Jesus daily and eternally.
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
NEW IDENTITY
Your identity is who you are on the deepest level. Some people seek to find their identity in their work.
Who you are, however, is different than what you do. A performance-based identity is a cruel trap. It leads to a rollercoaster ride of pride and shame, being inflated and deflated. Careers and job performance were never meant to define us.
There are some people who try to find their identity in their possessions, money, appearance, friends, and popularity. None of those aspects of life is our true identity. If you can lose something in life, then you should not put your identity there.
We need an anchor for our souls. Our biological families can be a great blessing, but they are not our ultimate identity.
The Bible says we are new creations when we put our trust in Jesus. There is an identity shift. Our true identity is that we are the sons and daughters of God. This is a grace-based identity, not earned or achieved by us.
We are loved and secure because nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus. Jesus keeps His promises. Ultimately, we are who God says we are, not merely what our feelings tell us, and God is faithful at all times.
We belong to Jesus and are forgiven, accepted, and highly valued as His forever family.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
NEW COMMUNICATION
Every healthy relationship includes listening and speaking. God communicates to us through His Word, the Bible.
The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to new truth and illuminates what we read. The Holy Spirit teaches and guides us, daily communicating with our hearts and minds. The Holy Spirit helps us when we pray.
We learn to thank and praise God. We begin to confess our sins when we make bad decisions. We ask God for help and for His protection and provision. We pray for other people and situations locally and globally.
We give Jesus our burdens and worries, and He grants us His peace and comfort. God is close to us when we grieve and restores us in profound ways. Your relationship with Jesus is your most important relationship.
You are wonderfully made in God’s image. Your Maker is with you always, and Jesus is your Good Shepherd.
We are like sheep who listen to His voice. Begin to cultivate the habit of praying to God and opening your heart to Jesus.
God answers prayer. Jesus transforms us through prayer. Prayer aligns us with God’s Word. You have peace with God, and the peace of God fills you when you pray and obey.
Communicate with God daily and draw near to Him in all places.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
NEW RELATIONSHIPS
God will bring people into your life who will help you grow in your relationship with Jesus. They will pray with you, strengthen you, and build you up instead of tearing you down.
Finding a solid church family is a blessing. Church is about the people, not the building. A healthy church is a place where the Bible is faithfully taught, people walk in the love and truth of Jesus, authentic community is experienced, people use their gifts to serve, and outreach happens locally and globally.
Begin the week by seeking God and praising God in a community of faith. Worship is our response to Jesus and His greatness and continues throughout the week. We need each other; isolation is not from God.
We need accountability to step out of the darkness and walk in the light of the Lord. Families are designed by God to be centered on Jesus, united, and full of His joy and support.
The family of God is diverse. We are called the body of Christ and this includes people from all nations and generations. Jesus calls us to love, serve, encourage, and pray for one another.
Pray for wisdom and clarity as you make new friendships and enjoy a community of people who are following Jesus together.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
NEW GROWTH
We need food for our stomachs and the Word of God for our souls. The Bible is your daily spiritual nourishment.
You can buy a physical copy or read it on your phone. You can also listen to it. You will learn more about who Jesus is and what He has said and done.
The goal of the Bible is to know God and be a doer of His Word.
The Bible is living and active; it is different than any other book. It is God-breathed, fully reliable, authoritative, benevolent, and our truth source.
God’s Word renews our minds. We can meditate and even memorize different Bible verses. Take time to meet with God during the day as you go deeper in the Scripture.
You can join a Bible study group and grow together. God wants to fill us with His Spirit and Word. Cultivate the habit of seeking God through Scripture. The Bible is one of God’s greatest gifts to us.
It is eternal and a love letter from God to us. Many people start with a book like the gospel of John and read a chapter a day.
To help get you started reading the Bible, you can begin with the Gospel of John series we have here on this website.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
NEW PURPOSE
God gives new direction and passion. Following Jesus is full of purpose.
The Bible says that we are running the good race for the glory of God. You have spiritual gifts and natural talents. Your words have an incredible impact. You are now an ambassador of Jesus.
God even says that you are a minister who will lead people to Jesus. There are no limits to what God can do as you live a life of generosity and grace. God blesses you so that you can bless other people.
Take initiative, relationship risks, and enjoy courageous conversations. God delivers you from fear, and the Holy Spirit empowers you to do all God has called you to do.
It’s time for a fresh vision and fire. Ask God each day what His plans are and trust Jesus. There is no greater goal than to be faithful to God. Don’t waste your life with distractions.
Find other friends who have a shared purpose. It’s about collaboration, not competition. Make the most of your opportunities.
Love your neighbor where you live, work, learn, and play. Lives will be transformed in Jesus’ name.
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
NEW STORY
You have a powerful story of how Jesus changed your life. This includes that Jesus saved you, sustained you, and strengthened you during different seasons.
You can share about what Jesus has done both in you and through you. Jesus has helped set you free from sin and provided a way out in times of temptation.
How has God answered prayer and encouraged you? How has God protected you and renewed you? How has God led you and provided for you? Your testimony will inspire people. God has been too good for us to be silent.
God is going to use your story to encourage and empower others. Listen to other people’s journeys and ask questions to draw them out. As you share your story, people will see Jesus in a new and fresh way.
Make sure He gets the glory for your transformation. You can connect with friends, relatives, acquaintances, neighbors, and co-workers.
The gospel is for everyone. People don’t believe in Jesus until someone tells them that He died for our sins and is risen.
Your story will lead people to Jesus and the goodness of our Savior. Be faithful to share your story and trust God with the results. The world needs to hear that Jesus loves them.
God has chosen you to represent Him where you live, work, learn, and play. God is creating new stories every day because His love endures forever.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
INDESTRUCTIBLE HOPE
28 Days of Hope is a journey together, as we rediscover and recommit to God's indestructible hope in transformative ways.
As you begin this journey, you'll experience a sense of excitement about what God is going to do.
If you have a desire to grow in your faith, strengthen your relationships, gain wisdom, cultivate new habits, experience more peace, and live daily with purpose and passion, then you are in the right place.
