Sermons from Good News: The reason for the season

Note before sharing the sermon: As I mentioned in yesterday's post, below are the sermon notes from the first service at the new location in Wood Dale. What I thought was remarkable (and wonderful that it happened) was that this was the first time I got to hear my church's mission statement in the four-plus years I've been attending. It's only really once in less than a blue moon that I get to hear messages like this, and in the daily (and weekly) distractions and obligations of life this type of thing can get lost in the shuffle very quickly and easily. I remember at my previous church when one of the two senior pastors retired (this particular individual was more like the COO of the church). It was a treat hearing his sermon, as I got to hear him restate his mission statement (not just for the Vineyard, but also for him as a pastor). Thankfully my current church's pastor isn't retiring anytime soon, but it was still nonetheless wonderful to hear him share a little about the journey of our church and the mission that God has given him (and us) all at the same time.



Church 12/01/2024


Offertory scripture:


Jeremiah 17:7-8

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,

Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not fear when heat comes;

But its leaf will be green,

And will not be anxious in the year of drought,

Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Sermon message:


Thesis: The reason for the season.


The birth of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.


But also for Good News church at Agape in Wood Dale. This is what we will focus on.


Ecclesiastes 3:1

To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:

There is a season of Good News at Agape.


Point #1: To deliver God’s good news with God’s love.


John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Mark 16:15

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

God wants us saved and He wants us to take His message of salvation to other people.


God is a forgiver. That’s the good news to tell others.


God is helps us with our needs.


Philippians 4:19

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:11

Give us this day our daily bread.

God wants you to have the Holy Spirit.


Luke 11:13

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

John 3:17

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

God loves the world with Agape love.


We should spread God’s good news with God’s love.


John 13:34-35

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

1 Corinthians 13:1-3,4-8A

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

To deliver God’s good news with God’s love.


Point #2: To restore our hope and faith.


1 Corinthians 13:13

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

John 10:10

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Today more than ever, faith and hope are needed.


Proverbs 12:25

Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,

But a good word makes it glad.

Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart does good, like medicine,

But a broken spirit dries the bones.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Point #3: Truly be an island of love and compassion in a troubled world.


Will you join us and help us fulfill the vision that God has for this place?