Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the good news of the kingdom,
and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
Matthew 4:23
- It’s all good!
- Good as new!
- Good news or bad news?
- Good to see you
- Good deal
- A world of good
- Good sport
- Good day
- Goodbye
We throw around the word good to describe everything from lunch to world events. We use it to distinguish positive from negative and to greet one another (both coming and going).
So common is the word’s usage that it’s one of the 52 sight words on the Dolch primer list for children. It’s so familiar (and perhaps overused) that we may not give it a lot of thought.
This month, I hope we will give some thought to good – particularly, to the use of the word in the New Testament, where we will find that good (depending on your translation) may also be translated gospel.
Our Write the WORD bookmark for November highlights New Testament verses that feature the word, good. (We hope you’ll join us in January, when we drill down on the same word with verses from the Old Testament.)
The first verse on our list comes from Matthew 4:23 (noted above). It clues us in on the mission of Jesus during His earthly, incarnate time of ministry: teaching, proclaiming, and healing. His teaching and proclaiming brought good news. His healing confirmed the authenticity of His message. Healing provided tangible evidence of His power over disease and illness. It pointed to the greater truth: His power to heal not only physically, but spiritually. The good news – the gospel – was celebrated by those who embraced it then. And it is still celebrated, all these years later, by those who accept it now.
Are you experiencing the gospel as a reality in your life? Do you believe Jesus – His life, death, and resurrection – made good news possible for you? What difference is it making in your life? How is God moving and working in your life to live the reality of the gospel? How is it providing peace and joy, purpose and provision to you personally?
Is it all good for you – because you have believed the good news He proclaimed?
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In this week’s Friday video, we welcome you to our study in Galatians: Be Free and Live Free!
Paul wrote this letter to the churches he established in Galatia. The theme of the book is the GOSPEL.
In this introductory teaching lecture from Laura, we learn that Paul writes to address an issue in the churches: the gospel has been messed with and he will not have it!
As you listen, we hope and pray you will have a deeper understanding of the gospel for your life — the gospel that sets you free and enables you to live free. Click here to access “Who Was Saul/Paul?,” the one-page worksheet used with the small group discussion today.
