The same week the bombs went off at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, I was preparing to preach on Luke 4:42-44. Verse 43 reads, “…I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”

Tim Keller defines the kingdom of God as “The entrance into the world of God’s ruling power–and that power will heal and ‘re-weave’ all of creation back together, spiritually, psychologically, socially, and even physically….relationships between races and classes, between individuals, between man and God are healed and re-woven into one fabric again to the degree that they come under the authority of Jesus, through his word and Spirit.”

I couldn’t help but think how such a gospel sounds like good news in this broken world. Too often I’ve preached only this good news: “Jesus died to save you from your sins.” That is certainly true and good news for anyone who knows they’re a sinner in the hands of an angry God. But as you know, forgiving an individual from their sin is only part of God’s intended salvation. In a world where bombs go off at the finish line of marathons, the gospel that God’s healing power has broken into our broken world is indeed good news to those that have ears that can hear.

Which nuance of the gospel did you preach yesterday?