Hearing the Melody Again

Inspired by Sunnybrook Community Church’s Christmas Message (2024)

Sunnybrook Christmas Message - Bach in G# (YouTube)

John 3:16–17
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

 

Think of a beautiful piece of music that stirs your soul. Now imagine it being played completely out of tune by someone who doesn’t know the instrument. You’d cringe—but you wouldn’t blame the music. You’d still know that something deeper and more beautiful exists behind the broken performance.

That’s how many people experience Christianity.

The Gospel is beautiful—but we’ve often played it poorly.

What Is the Gospel?

The word Gospel means Good News—and it truly is.

Here’s the message at its core:

• God created us to live in perfect loving relationship with Him.
• Sin separated us from Him—not just our mistakes, but our inability to fix the brokenness ourselves.
• Jesus came to rescue us—not to condemn, but to save.
• He was born to a virgin named Mary, lived a perfect life, died in our place, and rose again so we could be forgiven, restored, and reunited with God.
• The Gospel is not earned—it’s a gift. It’s not a set of rules; it’s an invitation to relationship.

That’s the melody. That’s the masterpiece.
Even when Christians have failed to perform it well… the Gospel remains beautifully true.

• Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
• Ephesians 2:8–9 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
• 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 – “Christ died for our sins… he was buried… he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
• Romans 10:9 – “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Jesus, I’ve heard so many versions of Your story - some beautiful, some broken. Help me hear the true melody again. Tune my heart to Your love and grace. Where I’ve been hurt, bring healing. Where I’ve strayed, bring me home. Thank You for the Gospel - for the rescue I could never earn but freely receive. Let my life be part of Your beautiful song. Amen.

Bach’s Cello Prelude in G - Yo Yo Ma’s Official Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1prweT95Mo0