News on Urgency

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The Parable of the Clown

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Ezekiel 33:6, 2 Corinthians 6:2, 1 Peter 2:9, Acts 8:4, 1 Corinthians 1:18, Colossians 4:5-6

The Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard once told a parable to illustrate the urgency of the gospel message—and the need for all believers, not just clergy, to share it. A traveling circus in Denm...

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Author

Carl F. H. Henry

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The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time.

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Bad News

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2 Kings 20:1-11, Mark 5:21-43, John 11:1-44, Romans 8:38-39, John 14:6, Psalm 23:1, Isaiah 40:31

A man went in for his annual checkup and received a phone call from his physician a couple of days later. The doctor said, “I’m afraid I have some bad news for you.” “What’s the news?” the man asked...

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You Summon and Send Us

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Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

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Mark 6:1-13, Luke 9:1-13, Matthew 10:1-42

This prayer can be voiced by a single speaker or responsively by a single speaker (light print) and group (bold). Jesus, you summon and send us You give us authority over all that is unholy and de...

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Author

Douglas Adams

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"Nothing travels faster than the speed of light, with the possible exception of bad news, which obeys its own special laws."

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May the Holy Spirit empower you now and

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

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Scripture

Ephesians 3:16-19, Acts 6:8-15, Acts 3:1-10, John 14:26-27, 2 Timothy 1:7, Romans 15:13, Acts 1:8

May the Holy Spirit empower you now and always to speak and live the Good News of Jesus for you and for all. Amen.

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Your Healing Hands

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

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Scripture

Mark 4:35-41, Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 5:25-34, Romans 1:16, Acts 3:19, John 11:25

Jesus, Resurrected One Light of New Life Breaker of Chains Bringer of Grace and Hope You are moving, speaking, inviting We hear your call to repentance The turning will save us We hear your Good Ne...

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Merciful God, you have moved and

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Laura B. Murray

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Merciful God, you have moved and changed our lives in amazing ways, yet we have kept these stories to ourselves. We confess the times we have kept these stories to ourselves out of fear of rejection a...

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Father God: You know our thoughts,

Author

Richard Herman

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Father God: You know our thoughts, before we speak them. You know our needs, without us saying them. So, You invite us into Your presence, with arms wide open, not to hear our laundry lists of wants a...

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Author

Patti Smith

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The idea of redemption is always good news, even if it means sacrifice or some difficult times.

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Author

Frank J. Matera

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The good news that Jesus brings to the poor in spirit is that the kingdom of heaven is making its appearance, and when it arrives there will be a reversal of fortunes whereby many who are first will b...

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Carlos Ruiz Zafón

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In small towns, news travels at the speed of boredom.

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Father: Thank You for always being

Author

Richard Herman

Scripture

Psalm 34:14, Luke 15:20, Hebrews 4:14, Romans 6:4, Acts 1:8, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Psalm 25:4-5, Matthew 11:28-30, Isaiah 41:10, John 14:13, James 1:5, 2 Corinthians 9:8, Habakkuk 3:2, Isaiah 6:8, Matthew 28:19-20

Father: Thank You for always being ready to welcome us and listen to us. Thank You for sending Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Savior: born like us, experiencing all that we experience yet sinless, who d...

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Lord our God, we have sometimes not

Author

C. Hassell Bullock

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Lord our God, we have sometimes not listened for your summons to praise you; we have not acknowledged that this good news we proclaim is for the whole world; and we have too often been silent to the s...

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The good news in Christ is that when we face

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Scripture

Luke 15:11-32, Romans 8:1, 1 John 1:9, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Joshua 1:9, Psalm 103:12

Leader: The good news in Christ is that when we face ourselves and God with the awareness of our need, we are given grace to grow, and courage to continue the journey. Friends, believe the good news o...

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Holy Father, You are perfect and just,

Author

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church

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Colossians 1:13-14, Psalm 103:12, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 5:8, Titus 3:5, 1 John 1:9

Holy Father, You are perfect and just, but we are sinful and unworthy. We intend the best in how we live our lives, Yet sin remains in us. Through Your Son, we are able to have redemption and a reconn...

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Blessed are we who come to you

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Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie

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Blessed are we who come to you just as we are, asking to be gathered, hidden, and held, shielded for a time from things too hard for us, too heavy to hold for this long. God, give us...

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The Good News or the Bad News

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

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Scripture

Genesis 39:, Exodus 7:, Exodus 8:, Daniel 6:, Ecclesiastes 3:1, 1 Peter 5:7, Isaiah 43:2

I read in a book recently about a young pastor who was fired from his church over a theological controversy. When he went to share the news with his wife, he said, “I’ve got good news and bad news, wh...

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Father God, we live in a world

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

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Scripture

Isaiah 61:1-3 , Ezekiel 37:1-14 , Habakkuk 2:2-4 , Romans 1:16-17, Philippians 2:1-4, Psalm 34:17-19

Pastor: Father God, we live in a world where good news is rare. Help us always to remember the Good News of Your Son, who by His life, death, and resurrection brought into the world the hope of a ne...

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Author

Karl Barth

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Scripture

1 Corinthians 15:20-22, Romans 6:9, 1 Peter 3:13-22, Revelation 1:17-18, Colossians 3:1-2

What happened on that day (of Easter) became, was and remained the centre around which everything else moves. For everything lasts its time, but the love of God - which was at work and was expressed i...

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Opening Prayer Inspired by John 4

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

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Scripture

John 4:5-42

We remember the woman at the well – her questions, her truth, her witness. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us, so we too may ask deeply, reveal ourselves deeply, and share your Good News deeply. Pour o...

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News that Brings Joy

Author

Timothy Keller

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Scripture

Colossians 1:5-6, Ephesians 1:13-14, Galatians 1:6-9, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Romans 1:16, Mark 1:14-15

Euangelion in Greek, which is translated as “good news” or “gospel,” combines angelos, the word for one announcing news, and the prefix eu-, which means “joyful.” Gospel means “news that brings joy.” ...

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The Forgotten French Soldier

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

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Scripture

Psalm 142:4-5, Isaiah 49:15-16, Psalm 34:18, Hebrews 4:15, Matthew 28:20, John 14:18, Romans 8:38-39, Lamentations 3:21-23, Psalm 40:1-12

This story is probably apocryphal, but conveys a truth nonetheless. During the early 19th century, following the Napoleonic Wars, a French soldier was captured and imprisoned. He was thrown into a...

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Inspired by Jeremiah 33:14-16

Author

Austin D. Hill

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Scripture

Jeremiah 33:14-16

The prophet Jeremiah reminds us that when it seems all hope is lost, God is still working toward restoration. Friends, believe the Good News today: through the messiah, the righteous branch, our sins ...

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As you go through your week, may you remember

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

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Scripture

Psalm 127:7-8, Matthew 28:20, 1 Peter 3:15, Matthew 5:14-16, Proverbs 3:5-6, Colossians 4:5-6

Leader: As you go through your week, may you remember that not only is God for you, God is with you. And just as you can trust Jesus’ death and resurrection for your eternal life, you can trust God wi...

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Adapted from Luke 4:18

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

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Scripture

Luke 4:18

Leader: As Jesus began his earthly ministry, he said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.” People: Through the Holy Spirit, we too have ...

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The Word of the LORD is true and

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Psalm 19:9-10, Luke 4:16-21, Acts 8:26-39, Nehemiah 8:1-12, Isaiah 55:10-11, 1 Corinthians 2:10-12, John 14:26

The Word of the LORD is true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold, sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb. As we turn to your Scripture, s...

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The Failure to Understand & Give Grace

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

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Scripture

Exodus 34:6-7, Jonah 4:2, Isaiah 1:18, Ephesians 2:8-9 , Luke 15:20-24, Psalm 103:10-12

David Seamands (1922-2006) was an author, scholar, evangelical renewal leader and counselor. In an article for Christianity Today , he shares his earnest experience of many of his patients who we...

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Overcoming Fear with God's Grace

Author

Laura B. Murray

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Scripture

Matthew 5:14-16, Acts 1:8 , Mark 5:18-20, 1 Peter 3:15, John 4:28-30; 39-42, Romans 1:16 , 2 Timothy 1:7-8

Merciful God, you have moved and changed our lives in amazing ways, yet we have kept these stories to ourselves. We confess the times we have kept these stories to ourselves out of fear of rejection a...

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Gracious God, in Christ Jesus, you

Gracious God, in Christ Jesus, you teach us to love our neighbors but instead we build dividing walls of hostility. You show us how to love one another as sisters and brothers but instead we hide from...

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