Gospel: The Power of God

Romans 1:16-17

You are here this morning hoping to hear good news. I have good news for you. You’re going to hear good news. That’s what the word “gospel” means, which is our particular focus this morning.

But let’s take a step back for a moment and talk about the relative nature of good news. It is relative. News effects people differently. For example, if I was the one to tell you that the Texans were favored to win the superbowl this year (which I’m not), many of you would consider that good news. But not all of you. Some of you don’t like the Texans. If you were a fan of the Cowboys, my news would be bad. Some of you don’t care at all about football, so the news is indifferent and you would tune out what I had to say about it.

When it comes to the gospel, people have the same reaction. To some, it is the greatest news in the world and they eat and breathe by it everyday. Others, however, may hear it as terrifying news. And still others may have no to little interest about it.

While it is unlikely any of you hear it as terrifying (you would have stayed at home), I would be willing to bet that some of you are indifferent. You get the concept that it is good, but it doesn’t really grip you and so, more than likely, you’ll tune out at some point this morning. Maybe you already have. To you, especially, I ask:

What do you want God to do in your life?

What is God doing now in your life?

What has God done in the past in your life?

These are questions that you ought to be asking on a regular basis, if not everyday. Why? Because you should have great expectations for God to work in your life.

Why? Because the gospel is the power of God for salvation. If that doesn’t grip you like news of the Texans prospects for the superbowl (assuming they have any), then we need to see it from the right perspective.