The Gospel Is Real Good News
Month 10: Telling the Good News · Why We Believe
Today's Scripture
Read together: 1 Corinthians 15:3–8
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.
Memory Verse
“that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”— Romans 10:9 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Proverbs 5–7
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Wisdom keeps warning us to choose the right path — and the gospel is the best news about the only path that leads home.)The Heart of It
The word "gospel" simply means "good news." Paul tells us exactly what that news is: "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day." Three facts. He died. He was buried. He rose. This isn't a nice idea someone invented later. Paul says it's "of first importance," the core thing the whole faith stands on. And then he does something a fairy tale never does. He names the witnesses. Peter saw the risen Jesus. The twelve saw Him. Over five hundred people saw Him at once. And Paul says most of them were still alive, as if to say, "Go ask them yourself."
That's why we can call the gospel real good news, not just "feel-good" news. It's tied to events that actually happened in history, checked by people who were there. The good news is good because it's true. And it's good because of what it does. A holy God made a way for sinful people to be forgiven and brought home, all through Jesus. Bad news tells you to fix yourself. Good news tells you Someone already paid what you couldn't. That's the message we get to carry. Not "try harder," but "it is finished; come and be welcomed."
Around the Table
The good news is this: Jesus died for our sins, He was buried, and He came back ALIVE! And lots of people saw Him — that's how we know it's true.
Let's do it: Hold up three fingers and count the good news: "One — died! Two — buried! Three — ALIVE!"
Paul listed real people who saw Jesus alive again, even five hundred at once. Why does naming witnesses make the story more believable?
Let's talk: What's the difference between a made-up story and one with real eyewitnesses?
Scholars date this creed to within a few years of the resurrection. That's far too early to be a legend. Paul stakes the entire faith on a checkable, historical event.
Let's go deeper: If the gospel depends on whether the resurrection really happened, how should that shape how seriously we investigate it?
💬 Conversation Starter
What's the best news you've ever gotten? Now imagine news so good and so true that hundreds of people would risk their lives to keep telling it.
🛡️ Defending the Faith
When someone says, "Christianity is just a nice made-up story to make people feel better": we can kindly answer like this. "I get why people think that. But the very first Christians didn't preach a feeling. They preached an event. Paul listed eyewitnesses who saw Jesus alive after He died. That included over five hundred people at one time (). And he basically said, 'most are still around, go ask them.' Legends don't usually invite you to fact-check them. The good news is good because it's true, not just because it's comforting." Then, as reminds us, say it with gentleness. You're sharing something steady you've found, not trying to crush anyone.
For Dad · Go Deeper
The "minimal facts" approach to the resurrection rests on this passage, and it's worth your time to grasp. It gives your children confidence that their faith is reasonable, not just inherited. The creed Paul quotes (verses 3–5) is widely dated by even skeptical scholars to within a handful of years of the crucifixion. There simply wasn't time for myth to overgrow the facts. Teach your kids that the gospel is "news" before it is "advice." It announces something God did in history, and only then asks for a response. A child who understands that Christianity is grounded in checkable events will not be rattled the first time someone calls it a fairy tale. Model curiosity, not fear. Let them see that you welcome hard questions because the evidence holds up.
Draws on: Gary Habermas & Mike Licona, The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that the good news is really true. Jesus died. He was buried. And He rose again, and many people saw Him. Help our family believe it with all our hearts. And help us share it gladly. In Jesus' name, amen."
The gospel is good news because it's true news. Jesus really died and really rose.