Living as Good News People (Acts 3:1-10)
This sermon delves into the call for believers to embody and share good news in a world often overwhelmed by negativity. It provides practical guidance on how to live out this mission in everyday interactions.
This sermon calls believers to be "good news people" in a world of bad news, demonstrating God's kingdom and salvation by having eyes to see opportunities, speaking life-giving words, and offering practical help to those around them.
Overview
The sermon begins by acknowledging that we live in a world saturated with bad news and asserts that followers of Jesus are called to be "good news people." The Greek word "euangelion," meaning to proclaim good news, describes Jesus' ministry and is a commission for believers to spread the life-giving message of God's kingdom and salvation wherever they go.
The preacher outlines three common challenges to living this way: seeing daily opportunities, avoiding making evangelism "weird," and not appearing judgmental. He then turns to Acts 3:1-10, presenting Peter and John's encounter with a lame man as a practical example of how early believers embodied good news in their ordinary lives.
The example highlights three key characteristics of those who bring good news: a heart filled with hope, enabling them to see opportunities; speaking life-giving words that bring healing; and having helpful hands, willing to serve and reach out. Peter, who had himself been pulled out of the water by Jesus, demonstrates this by not only speaking healing but physically helping the man stand.
The sermon concludes by emphasizing that God rescues us from darkness and brings us into His kingdom not just to leave us there, but to involve us in His mission of bringing redemption to others. It challenges listeners to shift their focus from self to God's purpose, encouraging them to pray for open eyes and for God to use their lives to make a difference.
Key points
- The world is filled with bad news, and followers of Jesus are called to be "good news people."
- The Greek word "euangelion" (good news) is used 76 times to describe Jesus' ministry and is a call for believers.
- Jesus' Great Commission (Mark 16:15) sends disciples into the world to proclaim the gospel of salvation and the kingdom of God.
- Opportunity for impact is more about a shift in perspective than a change in placement; God wants to use us where we live, work, and play.
- Three practical characteristics of "good news people" are demonstrated in Acts 3:1-10: a heart filled with hope, speaking life-giving words, and having helpful hands.
- It is important to pray for God to open doors for our message (Colossians 4:3) and to embody the good news through both our lives and our words.
- God saves us not just for ourselves, but so we can live for Him and be part of His plan to bring redemption and restoration to others (2 Corinthians 5:14).
In Rick Warren's words
“Opportunity for impact is more about perspective than it is placement.”
“You cannot give somebody something that you don't have.”
“It's not about being transactional with people with good news. You have to embody the good news with your eyes open, but with your words bringing life wherever you go.”
Outline
- I. Introduction to the "Live Sent" Series and Core Message
- II. The Challenge: Living in a World of Bad News
- III. The Call: Becoming "Good News People"
- A. The Greek Word "Euangelion" (Proclaim Good News)
- B. Good News of the Kingdom (Matthew 24:14)
- C. Good News of Salvation (Mark 16:15, Colossians 1:13)
- IV. Three Questions When Living Sent
- A. How do we see opportunities?
- B. How do we not make it weird?
- C. How do we not come across as judgmental?
- V. Practical Example: Peter and John at the Temple Gate (Acts 3:1-10)
- A. Character Trait 1: A Heart Filled with Hope (Seeing Opportunities)
- 1. Doing day-to-day activity
- 2. Opportunity is about perspective, not placement
- 3. Our mission field is where we live, work, and play
- 4. The challenge of busyness and being head-down
- B. Character Trait 2: Speaking Life-Giving Words (Bringing Healing)
- 1. Peter says, "What I do have I give to you, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."
- 2. The power of the tongue to speak life or death
- 3. Using words to point people to Jesus, sowing seeds
- 4. Prayer for open doors (Colossians 4:3)
- 5. Preach the gospel with your life AND use words
- C. Character Trait 3: Helping Hands (Being Helpful)
- 1. Peter reached out his hand to help the man
- 2. The message of Jesus is a message of service
- 3. Peter's own experience of Jesus reaching down to help him
- VI. Living for More: A Life Beyond Selfishness
- A. Transferred from darkness to light (Colossians 1:13-14)
- B. Christ's love compels us to live for Him (2 Corinthians 5:14)
- C. The invitation to live for God and not for ourselves
Scripture references
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
Insights
Our hurried pace often blinds us to God's daily invitations.
Seeing opportunities for impact shifts more from placement to perspective.
Life-giving words carry the potential to nurture deep spiritual growth.
Questions & answers
What does the Greek word "euangelion" mean in the context of this sermon?
In the sermon, "euangelion" means to proclaim good news. It is presented as the core term describing Jesus' ministry and the mission of his followers to share life-giving truth.
What is the Great Commission, as described in the sermon?
The Great Commission is Jesus' command to his disciples to "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel or the good news to the whole creation." It is a rally cry to live life on mission, sent by Jesus with his good news based on his authority.
What three challenges do people face when trying to bring good news?
The sermon identifies three challenges: how to see opportunities right in front of us, how to avoid making sharing faith feel awkward or "weird," and how to communicate without sounding judgmental.
How does the sermon define a Christian's "mission field"?
A Christian's mission field is defined as where they live, where they work, and where they play. It encompasses all the ordinary activities and relationships in their daily life.
What three character traits of "good news people" are illustrated by Peter and John in Acts 3?
The three traits are: a heart filled with hope that sees opportunities, the ability to speak life-giving words, and helpful hands that reach out to serve others practically.
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