Our series for the month of July is Bad News - Good News.
Everyone has probably received news this week that could be put into one of these categories.
The topic this month deals with both forms of news, bad and good.

We are looking at something called the gospel. It is used 95-100 times in the New Testament and comes from a Greek word that means "good news."
The apostle Paul wrote of this "good news" or gospel in Romans 1:16-17.

The good news is truly good because it brings hope to a bad news world.
Paul talks more about this in both Romans 1:18-32 and Colossians 1:21.

Many of us have heard the word gospel but it's true meaning may not be known or is fuzzy at best.
In Hebrew the equivalent word is besorah. The one who proclaims or reports it is a mevaser. Think John the Baptist.
This person is not just an ordinary messenger but is a person specifically tasked with bringing important news, which is usually extremely good. This is much like our idea of a herald who makes an official proclamation.

You may be familiar with the term marathon, which is a race covering 26.2 miles. History records that in 490 B.C. a solider, Pheidippides, covered the distance from a battlefield near Marathon, Greece to Athens in order to bring the news of a Greek victory over the Persians. At the end of the historical run, he collapsed and died from the exertions of fulfilling his duty.

An example of this type of herald in the Old Testament can be found in Isaiah 52:7.
When the apostle Paul used the term gospel in Romans 1:16-17 he was using similar imagery as in Isaiah.
God has won the battle and the war. He has come to rescue humanity! This is good news for those in a world of bad news. Freedom is possible!

After Paul came to faith in Christ, he was willing to re-prioritize his life so that the message of the gospel became the focus for which he lived and was willing to die for.
Looking again at Romans 1:16, we see at least 5 truths that should challenge us to better understand the content of the gospel and to be obedient to God in telling others.

1. The gospel is a COURAGEOUS message.
"I am not ashamed of the gospel..."
2 Timothy 3:12
2 Timothy 1:12

2. The gospel is a CREDIBLE message.
"...because it is the power of God..."
Romans 1:18-21
Definition of credible: "worthy of belief or confidence; trustworthy"

3. The gospel is a CAPTIVATING message.
"...that brings salvation..."

4. The gospel is a COMPREHENSIVE message.
"...to everyone, first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."
1 Timothy 2:3-6
Definition of Comprehensive: "to include and integrate all people and groups; encompassing everyone concerned."

5. The gospel is a CONVICTING message.
"...who believes..."
John 3:36
Definition of Convicting: "to prove or declare guilty of an offense"

During the rest of this month, we'll look at the key elements of the gospel message and learn some skills as to how to talk to others about this incredible good news. In doing so, we honor God and help those who are living in a bad news world.