Sharing the Transformative Good News of Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: Be Rich in Good Deeds, Generosity, and Sharing

The call to “be rich” is not about material wealth, but about living lives marked by goodness, generosity, and a willingness to share with others. This is a direct command for the church, rooted in the love of God and our love for our neighbors. When we give, serve, and love, we reflect the heart of Jesus and participate in God’s mission to bring hope and restoration to our communities. Every act of kindness, every generous gift, and every moment spent serving others is a tangible expression of the gospel at work in the world. [19:21]

1 Timothy 6:18 (NIV)
"Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share."

Reflection: What is one specific act of generosity or kindness you can do for someone in your community this week, even if it feels small or unnoticed?

Day 2: The Good News of Jesus Is Too Good to Keep Quiet

Peter and John, despite threats and opposition, could not help but speak about what they had seen and heard in Jesus. Their boldness was not rooted in eloquence or education, but in the undeniable reality of Christ’s resurrection and the transformation they experienced. The early church grew because ordinary people courageously shared the good news, even when it was risky or unpopular. Today, we are called to the same courage: to love others enough to share the hope and life we have found in Jesus, regardless of fear or discomfort. [34:27]

Acts 4:19-20 (NIV)
"But Peter and John replied, 'Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.'"

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the good news of Jesus, and what would it look like for you to lovingly share your story with them this week?

Day 3: Everyone Has Sinned, But God Offers the Gift of Life

The reality of our human condition is that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, and the consequence of that sin is death. Yet, the story does not end there—God, in His love, offers us the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. This is the heart of the gospel: we are in desperate need, and Jesus is the answer. Before we can share this good news with others, we must first receive it for ourselves, recognizing our need and embracing the gift God freely gives. [36:54]

Romans 3:23; 6:23 (NIV)
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God... For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need to receive God’s forgiveness and new life today, and how can you open your heart to His gift?

Day 4: The Good News Must Be Shared—People Can’t Believe Unless They Hear

The gospel is for everyone, but people cannot believe in Jesus unless someone tells them about Him. God has placed you in unique relationships and circles of influence so that you can be the one to share the good news. Whether it’s a family member, a neighbor, a coworker, or a friend, your invitation and your story matter. Loving others means loving them enough to help them encounter Jesus for themselves, trusting that God will use your words and actions to draw them closer to Him. [45:26]

Romans 10:14 (NIV)
"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?"

Reflection: Who is one person God has put in your life that you can invite to church or into a conversation about faith this week?

Day 5: Pray for Courage and Take the Next Step

Sharing the good news can be intimidating, but God invites us to rely on Him for courage and boldness. You don’t need to have all the answers or be a professional; you simply need to trust that the news of Jesus is truly good and worth sharing. Start by praying, “God, make me brave,” and look for opportunities to invest in relationships and invite others to experience Jesus with you. Your invitation could be the turning point in someone’s life, just as someone’s invitation once was for you. [47:54]

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Reflection: What is one step you can take today to move past fear and boldly share the love and message of Jesus with someone in your world?

Sermon Summary

The greatest news anyone can ever receive is the good news of Jesus—news so transformative and life-giving that it’s meant to be shared. Just as we naturally share good experiences, like a great restaurant or a movie, we are called to share the ultimate good news: that through Jesus, God has made a way for rescue and restoration, both now and for eternity. This is the heart of what it means to “Be Rich”—not in material wealth, but in good deeds, generosity, and a willingness to share, as Paul instructed Timothy. Our Be Rich initiative has been about giving, serving, and loving, but at its core, it’s about loving others enough to share the gospel.

The story of Peter and John in Acts 4 reminds us that the early church was built on the eyewitness testimony of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Even when threatened, they could not help but speak about what they had seen and heard. Their courage came not from eloquence or education, but from a deep conviction that the good news was too good to keep to themselves. This same conviction should drive us today. We are here because someone loved us enough to share Jesus with us; now, we are called to do the same for others.

The gospel is not just a set of beliefs or a church tradition—it is the announcement that, though all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. This is not just good news for the next generation, but for everyone, regardless of background or baggage. Our acts of kindness and service are important, but the greatest act of love is to invite others to experience the good news for themselves.

Sharing the gospel can be intimidating, but we are not alone. We can pray for courage, trust God to work through our ordinary lives, and simply invite others to join us in discovering Jesus. Each of us has unique relationships and opportunities to extend this invitation. As we continue to give, serve, and love, let’s remember that the most loving thing we can do is to share the good news that has changed our lives.

Key Takeaways

1. The Good News Is Too Good to Keep: The gospel is not just information; it is life-changing news that demands to be shared. Like Peter and John, we are compelled to speak about what we have seen and heard, even when it’s uncomfortable or risky. Our faith is rooted in the reality of Jesus’ resurrection, and sharing that truth is an act of love for others. [34:27]
2. Love Means Sharing What Matters Most: True love for our neighbors goes beyond acts of kindness—it means loving them enough to share the hope and rescue found in Jesus. We are surrounded by people who may have heard about Jesus but have never truly experienced Him. Our calling is to bridge that gap, offering not just help, but the invitation to new life. [45:26]
3. Courage Comes from Dependence on God: Sharing our faith can be daunting, but we are not called to do it in our own strength. Praying “God, make me brave” acknowledges our need for His help and opens us to the Spirit’s empowering presence. Ordinary people, like Peter and John, became bold witnesses because they relied on God, not their own abilities. [47:54]
4. The Gospel Is for Everyone, No Exceptions: The good news of Jesus is not limited by anyone’s background, beliefs, or behavior. Every person you encounter is made by God, loved by God, and someone for whom Jesus died. Our responsibility is to see people through God’s eyes and extend the invitation to all, trusting that God’s love can reach anyone. [46:52]
5. Invest and Invite: You have unique relationships and influence that no one else has. Sometimes sharing the gospel is as simple as inviting someone to sit with you, to join you in community, or to hear the story of Jesus. Don’t underestimate the power of a simple invitation—God often uses these moments to change lives for eternity. [50:05]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:30] - Sharing Good News in Everyday Life
[04:10] - The Be Rich Initiative: Give, Serve, Love
[08:45] - How to Participate in Be Rich
[12:30] - Serving Our Community Partners
[16:00] - The Heart of Be Rich: Love
[19:21] - The Biblical Call to Be Rich
[25:15] - Peter and John: Sharing the Gospel Boldly
[34:27] - The Cost and Courage of Witness
[36:54] - The Gospel: Our Desperate Need and God’s Gift
[40:27] - The Urgency of Reaching the Next Generation
[42:03] - Stories of Impact: Kids Sharing the Good News
[45:26] - The Responsibility to Tell Others
[47:54] - Praying for Courage to Share
[50:05] - The Power of Invitation
[52:12] - Living Be Rich Year-Round
[53:27] - Communion: Remembering God’s Richness Toward Us
[54:38] - Closing Prayer and Challenge
[55:54] - Communion and Worship

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1. 1 Timothy 6:18 (NIV) — > Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

2. Acts 4:18-20 (NIV) — > Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

3. Romans 3:23 & 6:23 (NIV) — > For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God... For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Observation Questions

According to 1 Timothy 6:18, what are the specific actions Paul instructs the church to pursue?
In Acts 4, what was the main reason Peter and John were brought before the religious leaders, and how did they respond when told to stop talking about Jesus? ([25:15])
What does Romans 3:23 say about the human condition, and how does Romans 6:23 describe the solution God provides?
In the sermon, what examples were given of simple ways to love our neighbors? ([19:21])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Paul connects being “rich” not with money, but with good deeds, generosity, and sharing? How does this redefine what it means to be “rich” as a Christian? ([19:21])
What does Peter and John’s response in Acts 4 reveal about their priorities and convictions? Why do you think they felt compelled to keep sharing the good news, even when threatened? ([34:27])
The sermon mentioned that the gospel is not just for the next generation, but for everyone, regardless of background or baggage. Why is it important to remember this when thinking about who to share the gospel with? ([46:52])
The pastor said that sharing the gospel can be intimidating and that we need to pray, “God, make me brave.” Why is dependence on God essential for sharing our faith? ([47:54])

Application Questions

The sermon compared sharing the gospel to sharing good news about a restaurant or movie. When was the last time you shared something you were excited about? What made it easy or hard? How does this compare to sharing your faith? ([19:21])
Think about the people in your life—family, friends, coworkers, neighbors. Who do you know that may have heard about Jesus but never truly experienced Him? What is one step you could take to bridge that gap this week? ([38:50])
The pastor encouraged us to pray, “God, make me brave.” What specific fears or hesitations do you have about sharing your faith? How can you invite God into those fears? ([47:54])
The sermon emphasized that the gospel is for everyone, no matter their background or behavior. Is there someone in your life you’ve overlooked or written off as “unlikely” to respond to Jesus? What would it look like to see them through God’s eyes? ([46:52])
The idea of “invest and invite” was highlighted—sometimes sharing the gospel is as simple as inviting someone to church or to sit with you. Who is one person you could invite to join you at church or a small group in the next month? ([50:05])
The Be Rich initiative is about giving, serving, and loving, but the sermon said the greatest act of love is sharing the gospel. How can you make sharing the good news a regular part of your life, not just during a church campaign? ([53:27])
The pastor said, “We are here because someone loved us enough to share Jesus with us.” Who first shared the gospel with you, and how did it impact your life? Have you ever thanked them or honored their influence? ([34:27])

Sermon Clips

We have the same good news to share to this day. And here's the truth about every single person in this room or watching online. It's we all know about the good news of Jesus because someone loved you and me enough to tell us about the good news of Jesus. And that's amazing to even think about. Someone loved you enough to tell you about the good news of Jesus Christ. And here's what I would encourage you. If that person is still alive today, thank them today. Send them a text. Give them a phone call. Whatever it may be. Just thank them. Hey, thank you for loving me enough to tell you. And listen, if they have since passed on, honor them by remembering they loved you so much that they told you the good news of Jesus. [00:35:38] (42 seconds) #GratefulForTheGoodNews

Because here's the truth about the good news of Jesus. Through Jesus, we have the answers to the problems people are experiencing in their lives and in this world. And Jesus is the good news for people's desperate needs, starting with your own desperate needs. You see, for the good news that makes sense, we have to first see that as good news, which means we have to see that we have a desperate need. And the only answer to that is Jesus Christ. [00:36:20] (23 seconds) #JesusIsTheAnswer

We've all sinned. We've all messed up. We deserve death. We are in desperate need of help. And the only help, the only good news we have is Jesus. It's through Jesus, through faith in Jesus, the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord. This is good news. Jesus saves you and me through his life, his death, and resurrection. And we trust to follow him. He changes everything. He forgives us. He restores us. And that good news has to start with you. We can't share good news with other people if we don't believe it's good news for ourselves. [00:38:09] (31 seconds) #BelieveToShare

But here's the reality of this as well. This is an urgent thing. This is urgent. This is not something we just take our time on or get passive about. This is something we have to be very active on. And something that is leading and helping us, you know, focus our lives on is, as a follower of Jesus, my job is to tell good news to other people. [00:40:22] (20 seconds) #ExperienceTheGoodNews

``But here's the deal. This isn't just for the next generation. This is an open invitation to all because the good news of Jesus is for everybody. No matter their background, their baggage, their beliefs, their behaviors, the good news of Jesus is for everyone. But everyone needs someone to love them enough to tell them the good news of Jesus. [00:45:16] (21 seconds) #FaithInTheNextGen

So go be rich in love by being kind. Do small acts of kindness and small acts of love. Do those things. Those can build those relationships. But ultimately, and more importantly, tell them the good news of Jesus. And that's our one thing today. It's this, is to love others, is to love them enough to share the good news of Jesus. And when we don't, we're missing out what Jesus calls us to do. We're refusing to follow Jesus in this. This is a call of Jesus. This isn't an option. [00:46:57] (30 seconds) #MadeLovedSent

You don't need all the answers. You just need to believe that the good news is really good news. Peter and John were unschooled, ordinary men. This isn't about convincing someone because you don't need to argue someone that Jesus, I don't know anyone who's ever been argued to Jesus. You need to love them enough to share the good news with them. And this isn't about convincing, it's about inviting. [00:48:46] (21 seconds) #PrayForCourage

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