GOOD NEWS NOTES - Week 6
The Message: The Gospel - Part I

This week and next we give you the four parts of the gospel in a very simple form. I hope you will take a little time and learn these four basics of what a missing person needs to accept Christ. You probably already know them. If I were to ask you the one word to describe God that you have known since you were very young, what would you say? Most of you would answer "God is love." We know this from the song, Jesus Loves Me. This presentation of the basics of the gospel begins with the same phrase every time. God loves you and me . . . Then there are four key words to help us remember the four points. Relationship - Sin - Answer - Receive.

1. God loves you and me so much that he desires to have a relationship with us. Through this relationship we will experience peace, purpose, and as a result have eternal life. This is the purpose of why we are on earth, so we may enjoy a relationship with God, the creator. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. We were created especially to have a close relationship with him but something messed that relationship up. (Also read John 10:10)

2. God loves you and me even though we are sinful. Standing between us and our relationship with God is sin (which is anything that separates us from God). God by his very nature is sinless, holy and cannot relate to anything that is sinful. Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Read Matthew 5:48 also) So what can we do about this sin problem? Is there an answer?

Continued next week - The Answer

Scripture - This verse makes it clear that we can not do one thing on our own for our salvation. Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Salvation is a gift of God and no human logic will ever be able to change the fact that we have sin in our lives.

Action - Take the time to write out these first two parts of the gospel. When we write out ideas we are able to remember them longer in our mind. Add your own notes to these two points of the gospel, the good news. In your prayer give thanks to God for the wonderful truth of the gospel of Christ.

Prayer - Lord, thank you for providing the Good News to us in your son Jesus Christ. Thank you for the gift of my salvation. I will always give you praise for loving me and giving me eternal life. Help me to show my gratitude by being willing to focus on people who are missing. I am still praying that you will show me with whom you would like for me to build a relationship. There are missing people all around us, help me see with your eyes of love.

Next Week: The Gospel - Part II