Good News

Bridgepoint Church
Dec 19, 2025
3 min read

Pastor: Jeff Love

Which Do You Want First?

You’ve probably heard it before:“I’ve got good news and bad news… which do you want first?”

Most of us prefer the bad news first—get it out of the way so the good news can land better. Studies actually confirm that pattern: bad news followed by good news often results in a better overall response.

That’s exactly the rhythm of the Christmas story.

This sermon walks us through good news, then bad news, then the best news of all—and it’s great news for every one of us.

The Good News: Great Joy for All People

Luke 2:10

When the angel appeared to the shepherds, he didn’t lead with fear or judgment. He said:

“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.”

This wasn’t just informational news.It was joy-producing news.

Think about how news hits differently when it’s personal—a baby is born, a grandchild arrives, a loved one recovers. That’s the kind of joy this announcement carried.

And notice who received it first: shepherds.Not kings. Not priests. Not the powerful.

The least likely. The overlooked.Joy was announced to all people, starting with those who never expected to be included.

Why the Good News Is So Good: The Bad News Beneath It

The angel’s message is only truly joyful because it rests on a difficult truth.

We all carry what can be called a sense of “ought.”

We know there are things we ought to do—and things we ought not to do.And we also know this uncomfortable reality:

We don’t live up to it.

That internal awareness is universal. Every culture knows some things are wrong—lying, stealing, violence. And deep down, we know we’ve fallen short.

Scripture names it clearly:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

The bad news isn’t that you’re the worst person ever.The bad news is that sin creates a real barrier between us and a holy God, and we are accountable for it.

For the good news to truly be good, the bad news has to be honest.

The Best News: God’s Goodwill Toward Us

Luke 2:14

The angels didn’t stop at announcing joy. They declared:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

That “goodwill” means God’s favor.God’s pleasure.God’s gracious initiative toward people who don’t deserve it.

This moment in Bethlehem wasn’t random—it was the continuation of a redemption story set in motion long before the manger.

God arrived as a baby with a purpose:

To live a perfect life
To give His life in our place
To pay the price for sin
To offer forgiveness as a free gift

Jesus later summed it up this way:

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save those who are lost.” (Luke 19:10)

Lost doesn’t mean mildly confused.It means helpless. Vulnerable. In danger.

Like a lamb that can’t find its way home.

Grace Changes Everything

Romans 3:24

The story doesn’t end with sin and separation:

“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Forgiveness isn’t earned.It’s received.

The good news of Christmas is that Jesus didn’t wait for us to fix ourselves—He came looking for us. Not casually. Not reluctantly. But intentionally.

This is the moment where information becomes invitation.

To stop running.To release guilt and shame.To surrender and receive grace.