Preaching the Cross

A troubling ideology is becoming more prevalent among preachers today, that is the idea that our sermons do not need to lead hearers to the cross. What makes this troubling is the fact that the message of the Gospel is explicitly tied to the cross where the sacrifice for our sins was made.

My initial sermon as a newly called preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ came from this passage,

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  (Hebrews 12:2)

The title of my sermon was, “Look to Jesus”. The message was about the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, and how it secures a saving relationship with God through faith in Jesus. Messages like this is what Gospel preaching truly is. The Apostle Paul says,

“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”  (1 Corinthians 1:23–24)

Preaching the Gospel should always lead hearers to the cross. If it doesn’t, then what are we preaching? If a sermon is not intended to convince the mind that Jesus is Lord, convict the heart of one’s own sin, and convert the soul for eternal salvation, then how can it be called a Gospel sermon?

I have heard so-called sermons about finances, healing, self help, politics, and other ancillary subjects like those, and they never lead the hearers to the cross. Instead, the audience is lead to ideas of positive thinking, positive confessions, and better self esteem, not the cross.

I do think those subjects are important in the appropriate context and setting, but messages like these are not the Gospel. They are great subjects for lectures on better living and improved outcomes in various areas of life, but they are not Gospel messages.

A Gospel message may address the topic of mental illness, but it must find its resolution in the finished work of Christ on the cross. The same is true for the topic corruption in political circles the resolution must be that salvation of the soul will impact the hearts of politicians, and cause them to makes choices reflective of one who is lead by the Spirit of Christ.

Unfortunately, many preachers today are trying to stay away from the true Gospel message of the cross, and focus on socioeconomic and sociopolitical messages that cater to physical ills instead of spiritual ills.

The world needs the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul said,

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is about salvation of the soul that was secured for us by his sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Any sermon considered to be a Gospel sermon must lead to this ultimate conclusion.