GLAD TIDINGS/GREAT JOY – Good News!

The common theme – DO NOT FEAR

Two commandments – Love God/Love People.

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

14-16 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you?

I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16 (MSG)

Light doesn’t just expose – it reveals!

1 Dear friends, let me give you clearly the heart of the gospel that I’ve preached to you—the good news that you have heartily received and on which you stand. 2 For it is through the revelation of the gospel that you are being saved, if you fasten your life firmly to the message I’ve taught you, unless you have believed in vain.

3 For I have shared with you what I have received and what is of utmost importance: The Messiah died for our sins, fulfilling the prophecies of the Scriptures. 4 He was buried in a tomb and was raised from the dead after three days, as foretold in the Scriptures.

5 Then he appeared to Peter the Rock and to the twelve apostles.
6 He also appeared to more than five hundred of his followers at the same time, most of whom are still alive as I write this, though a few have passed away. 7 Then he appeared to Jacob and to all the apostles.

8 Last of all he appeared in front of me, like one born prematurely, ripped from the womb. 9 Yes, I am the most insignificant of all the apostles, unworthy even to be called an apostle, because I hunted down believers and persecuted God’s church.

10 But God’s amazing grace has made me who I am! And his grace to me was not fruitless. In fact, I worked harder than all the rest, yet not in my own strength but God’s, for his empowering grace is poured out upon me. 11 So this is what we all have taught you, and whether it was through me or someone else, you have now believed the gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (TPT)