Once upon a time
Everybody loves a good story. But what if there was a best story? And what if you could be a part of it? At Trinity Church Manchester, we have found a better story. It’s not all about us. It’s not all about you. At the heart of this story is Jesus.
If this story is true, it changes everything. The message of Jesus - also known as the gospel - takes us back to the beginning of all things. It tells us that God made all people with an incredible purpose; to know God and enjoy life with Him. It’s a great opening chapter, but it didn’t last long.
Because people thought they knew better. It’s not that they didn’t believe in God, they just didn’t want Him. And so they ran. They went their own way, rebelling against the God who made them and loved them. The result? Brokenness. Chaos. Death. But this story isn’t just about the past, it’s about today.
Right now, millions of people are living life as though God isn’t there or doesn’t care. Maybe that’s you. That was certainly us for a long time. We lived our lives running away from God - believing that we could write a better story without Him in the picture. And even if there was something like a good and perfect God, what could He do with a story as messy as ours?
Here's why this story is good news
Jesus. God sent His precious Son into the mess of our story to bring us back home. Jesus lived the life that we were meant to live in the beginning - perfect in every way, truly pleasing His Father. Unlike us, Jesus never strayed from the good story of life with God.
And Jesus died the death that we were meant to die. At the cross, Jesus bore the punishment that should have been ours. All the wrong that we had done since chapter one was laid on Jesus. All our evil. All our guilt. All our shame. And as he breathed his last breath, Jesus cried, “It is finished!” But it wasn’t the end of the story…
Because Jesus breathed again. After three days of being dead in a tomb, the Son of God defeated the powers of evil and death and rose to new life. And now he has ascended into heaven where he rules over all as King.
This is the hope of the gospel - Jesus is alive. His life can be our life, his story our story. His invitation is for anyone who will hear. Turn to him and find forgiveness, hope and life.
No matter your story so far. No matter what you’ve done. No matter who you are. Jesus offers you a new life in him. Join his story.