Scripture: Mark 1:14-15 & Luke 4:16-21 | Date: October 5, 2025

We live in a world filled with endless advice. From podcasts to self-help books, everyone seems to have a “better way.” Yet, advice often adds pressure—it tells us to try harder, do more, and fix ourselves. But Jesus came not to give more advice. He came to proclaim good news.

The gospel is not a list of steps to follow. It is an announcement of what God has already done through Jesus Christ. The Good News changes everything because it declares what is, not what might be. Jesus entered Galilee not with commands, but with a proclamation: “The time is fulfilled. The Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news.”

This message reveals that God’s kingdom is not distant. It is here—breaking into our ordinary lives, workplaces, homes, and neighborhoods. Jesus did not stay apart from people; He stepped into their everyday realities. His presence was the embodiment of the good news.

To repent is to turn around—to see life differently through the lens of grace. Believing means trusting what God has already accomplished. The gospel is not about striving; it’s about surrendering to the reality that God’s kingdom has arrived in Jesus.

As followers of Christ, we are invited to join this mission. We don’t carry the burden of making the kingdom happen. Instead, we join what God is already doing. Every interaction can reflect His good news—through compassion, prayer, and presence.

Even small moments can become sacred encounters where others experience the nearness of God. When you live like the kingdom is near, you become a living proclamation of hope.

So, stop striving for perfection. Start proclaiming good news. God’s kingdom is already here—and that changes everything.

*summary created with help of ChatGPT

Need prayer? https://villagechurchnorthbrook.org/prayer-request/

Give online: https://www.villagechurchnorthbrook.org/give

On Sundays we host two worship services: a contemporary service at 9:30am and a traditional worship service at 11:00am.

For more information or to get in contact with us, please visit our website: https://villagechurchnorthbrook.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VillageChurchNorthbrook
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/villagechurchnorthbrook
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@villagechurchnorthbrook