TODAY’S “GOOD NEWS” – April 6, 2003  

MESSAGE:  “GOIN’ JESUS’ WAY:

…Surrender as You Go!”

SCRIPTURE:  Luke 23:32-43

KEY VERSE:  v. 42  “And the thief was saying, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come in your Kingdom.’”

FOCUS:  God’s grace in Jesus will enable anyone to change.

INTRODUCTION:  “Only Luke tells us about the two thieves.  Both have sinned and have been rightfully judged.  But one repents while the other doesn’t.  Our sin is not what keeps us from God.  Our problem is our inability to respond to the love of God and to repent and change.  Only one of the thieves did that.”                                 ~ Bruce Larson

I.      MAN’S SINFULNESS DISRUPTS GOD’S MAJESTIC PLAN

II.    GOD’S LOVE DRAWS MAN TO NEW HOPE

III.     MAN’S HONEST CONFESSION OPENS THE DOOR TO SALVATION

IV.     GOD’S GRACE GIVES MAN A WHOLE NEW FUTURE

CONCLUSION: “So long as a man’s heart still beats, the invitation of Christ still stands.”                                                                  ~ Wm. Barclay