Good News for the Whole World

“And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” 

Mark 16:15

    This Sunday we begin a new sermon series on the gospel called, “Good News for a Troubled World.”

Our focus will be to learn how the gospel, the Good News of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, applies to every aspect of our lives and walk with God.

I remember an experience I had outside the city of Ensenada, Mexico, on the Baja Penensula. We were helping a godly missionary named Sister Anna, who had a bold vision to reach her region for Christ. One day she planned for our team to share the gospel with a group of native Mexican Indians who were very unreached.

This group of migrant farm workers spoke neither Spanish nor English. Only one man spoke some Spanish, enough to translate for our group. So we headed out to their migrant camp to cook them a nice traditional Mexican meal and share the gospel with them.

When we arrived, the electricity we were counting on to help us cook was non-existent. I had the team gather sticks and rocks and, in good camping fashion, we started cooking the meal on an open fire.

In time these native farm workers started coming in from the fields. As they approached us they started laughing, watching me cook the rest of their meal. Men and women were both laughing hysterically and staring at me.

I was starting to get irritated. “What am I doing wrong?” I asked myself. “What is so funny?” I wondered.  I thought the whole outreach was falling apart. First no electricity and now they are laughing at us.

A few minutes later, Ms. Anna, came up to me laughing as well. “Pastor,” she chuckled, “the village is laughing at you because they have never seen a man cook anything in their entire lives. Watching you cook is totally funny to them and their culture.”

Then she shared something incredible. “The experience has opened up their hearts to hear what we have to say.  Can you preach the gospel to them in a few minutes?” she asked. I was speechless.

A few minutes later, I was able to share the Good News of the forgiveness and transformation offered through a relationship with Jesus Christ. I would speak in English, Anna would translate into Spanish, and the short Indian translator would speak the same words into their language. It was slow and awkward at times.

But the gospel still came through. Several women and one man gave their lives to Christ that day, trusting in His saving work on the cross. Through language and cultural barriers, the gospel broke through and changed the lives of those who responded by faith. That is the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Whether it is across the room, across the street or across an ocean, we are called to “Go and preach the Good News to everyone.”  We are not responsible for the results of that preaching, we are simply told to “Go.” And we are called to “Tell the Good News.” God takes that Good News and changes lives.

The transforming power is in the message, not the messenger. The Holy Spirit takes the message and transforms hearts. The message of the gospel has power in itself.

As we go deep into the truths of the gospel, let us recommit to telling others about this life-changing message. May we offer our time, and our tongues, to God for the presentation of gospel truth. The lives and eternal destinies of people hang in the balance.

God can take scenarios we think are failures, and use them to change people’s lives forever. God can use the least of us to share his life-changing truth.

Lastly, may we allow the gospel, the Good News, to impact us personally. Jesus can change nations and communities. First, let us allow Him to change us as individuals. The Good News is for all of us. The Good News is for these times. And the Good News is for each of our hearts.