May Mission Month
“Good News to the Poor”
Brian Kenning
11th May 2014
• “Your Kingdom Come”
• The Spirit of the Lord is on me
because he has anointed me to
proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom
for the prisoners and recovery of
sight for the blind, to set the
oppressed free, to proclaim the
year of the Lord’s favour”
Luke 4:18-19
• Your Kingdom Come
Your Will be done
On Earth as it is in heaven
“Good News to the Poor”
1. “The Poor”
Greek ptōchos
• To crouch like a beggar
• To cower like one who is afraid
Hebrew scriptures identify the poor as
• The widows
• The orphans
• Refugees/aliens
• Landless labourers
Jeremiah 22:3
2. “To preach good news”
Euangeliō
angel = messenger
eu = good
So Jesus was sent in the power of the Spirit to preach / proclaim a good message to the crouching ones
It was those with the least who responded most enthusiastically to Jesus and his message
Jesus does not necessarily promise a change of circumstance
3. Jesus’ gift is in his person and in his message
• Father God knows, and Father God cares
• Father God loves you unconditionally
• You are not alone, you are not forgotten
• God forgives sins through Jesus
• You are welcome in God’s family
• You are welcome in God’s Kingdom
• Nothing can separate us from the love of God
Kundula’s story :
(week one Video)
Freeset:
Kerry and Annie
Jo
Pip
John and Susan
NZ Income Figures:
Minimum Wage – $28,600
Living Wage ($18.40) – $38,270
What is “good news” for those on the bottom half of the ladder?
• Father knows and Father cares
• You are not alone, you are not forgotten
• You are welcome in God’s family
• You are welcome in God’s Kingdom
• Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus
Kundula :
“I am happy even though I still have some
problems. But now I lack nothing.
Jesus is with me and I get much help
through prayer.
Even though I don’t ask he gives to me.
This is the result of my faith perhaps”
Questions for personal reflection and group discussion:
(Also refer to Week 1 Handout)
1. What does “good news” look like for you?
2. In what way was Jesus message “good news” to the poor?
How could the poor possibly receive Jesus message as “good news”?
3. In Ch 2:1-9 James writes about the poor in the context of the church. Rewrite these words as if James was writing to ICBC in 2014.
4. Identify those in your context who could be considered “poor”. What might good news look like and mean for them? How might you be a “proclaimer” of good news?