Gospel-Centered Preaching (part 1}

1. Introduction 

Before we get to the whats and hows, it’s important to state that there is good preaching and bad preaching. In our context, there is no shortage of preachers or preaching, but the question is of what kind? There is morality preaching which never gets to the core of the problem of the human heart. There is motivational preaching whose aim is to pump up the ego, putting man at the centre of the universe. There’s ‘smart’ preaching which appeals only to the intellectual mind but never touches the heart and never calls one to action. There’s cultural preaching which interprets the bible based on culture and tells people to live by culture.

So, what kind of preacher do you want to be? The morality preacher? Cultural… ‘smart’… motivational preacher? Or do you want to be a faithful gospel preacher?

2. Fundamental Convictions (See Stott, I Believe in Preaching, pg. 87-118)

If our preaching is going to make any impact, we must realize that it needs to touch the head, the heart and the hands. The head so that people’s thinking about God, man and the world we live in is biblically transformed… so that they have the right convictions. The heart so that the affections are set on Christ… character is tuned by and to the gospel. The hands so that all that they do, they do not as unto man but to God… competence in all they do. For this to happen, we need to be convicted of the following:

1. God is there and he is at work. We must be convicted that God is the living God, the Creator and sustainer of all things. He didn’t create and let things run their course but he is actively at work. Jesus says “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” (John 5:17). Because he is at work, he directs the course of events right now.
2. God has spoken and speaks through his word (Heb. 1:1-4, 4:12). And when he speaks, he acts (Gen. 1, Isa. 55:11). Therefore, when God’s word is faithfully opened, God’s voice is heard and God’s purposes are accomplished. 
3. God has equipped us with all that we need for salvation and for ministry (2 Tim. 3:14-17). Since God’s word then is so powerful, it’s all we need for salvation and for ministry. The danger in this age is to move on from God’s word to other things, programmes, events etc. You have a complete toolbox.
4. We preach not ourselves but Christ crucified and set him before men as the only hope for salvation. The content of our preaching is Christ (Jn. 1:1-3, Col. 1:16, Heb. 1:3).

More could be said here, but the question is, what are your convictions? You need to be clear.

3. The Aim of Preaching

With the convictions above, what is the aim or goal of preaching? It’s simple, so that God’s people hear God, know him, his will and his plan of redemption, and trust him for salvation in this life now and in the life to come, and live each day for his glory alone. So, as you prepare your sermon, ask yourself:

• What is it saying about God, man and the world?
• What is it saying about God’s plan of redemption? Where in the story of God’s redemption is the scripture I am preaching from? How does it reveal Christ?
• How is it calling my listeners to respond? What do they need to know, believe or do? What convictions is/should God’s Spirit be working in them?
• How is God glorified in this message?

Here’s one passage that sums up the aim of ministry: And I, when I came to you, brothers and sisters, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Cor. 2:1-5)

Man, this is what gives me sleepless nights. You see, the danger in preaching today is to do exactly the opposite of what Paul highlights above; instead of ‘the testimony of God’ we proclaim ourselves, with lofty speech and wisdom. We know and preach everything except Christ and him crucified. We don’t show our weakness and trembling before God, instead, we are the most powerful MoGs and WoGs… we are the OGs. Our speech, our message is filled with plausible words of wisdom (wisdom of this world) and lacking in demonstration of the Spirit and power. No wonder many today have their faith resting in the wisdom of men because all they hear in preaching is wisdom of men – financial prosperity, how to conquer in the marketplace, academic excellence etc.

When we face real people with eternal souls balanced between heaven and hell, the nobility of preaching both awes us and makes us more aware of our inadequacies (cf. 1 Cor. 2:3). We know our skills are insufficient for an activity with such vast consequences. We recognize that our hearts are too lacking in purity to lead others to holiness. Honest evaluation inevitably causes us to conclude that we do not have sufficient eloquence, wisdom, or character to be capable of turning others from spiritual death to eternal life. Such a realization can cause young preachers to run from their first preaching assignment and experienced pastors to despair in their pulpits.” Excerpt From: Bryan Chapell. “Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon”. Apple Books.