Why the Good News Story?
Why another Bible study? What makes The Good News Story different?
We believe that the Gospel of Jesus transforms us: all that we do flows from the new identity Jesus gives us! This is not just a program; this is about our ongoing journey as followers of Jesus. Our ultimate goal for The Good News Story is for hearts to be transformed as we learn to truly know and love Jesus. It is more than intellectual content or application points.
Foundationally, we have designed this material in the belief that:
The heart is central.
God is not only concerned with what we do, but why we do it. Our heart motivation should be worship. Without a heart centred on Jesus as our first love, everything in our life will be off-kilter.
Love of God does not happen through self-effort. It comes from knowing and believing the Gospel. We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). The truth of the Gospel awakens our hearts to the grace, wonder, beauty, goodness, joy, and love of God. Out of this flows love for others. This is a gracious work of the Spirit.
We never get past the Gospel.
The Gospel is not just for non-Christians: it is also the ongoing need of believers. The good news of Jesus and his amazing grace not only bring us into the Kingdom, it is also how we continue to grow. The Gospel is the air we breathe, and need to breathe again and again.
The Bible is a revelation of God – as seen in Jesus.
The Spirit opens our eyes and hearts to the wonder of God’s redemptive story, revealing to us who God is and what he has done for us in Jesus. This moves us to know, love, and treasure Jesus more and more. This is the transformation promised to us as we “behold the glory of the Lord”. That is what The Good News Story is designed to do.
In our fellowship of churches, we use the Good News story with all ages: from teaching children to training leaders. We have seen non-churched individuals with no Bible knowledge grow into leaders, teachers, and pastors in our church family through the ongoing revelation of God.
Knowing The Good News Story leads us to evangelize out of an overflow of our love of Jesus. Because we love him, we are compelled to share what we are learning about him with others!
As you now journey through The Good News Story, may you come to know, in an ever-increasing measure, the God of love and grace in whom is joy and life that knows no end!
~ Murray McLellan ~