PREACH JESUS!

 

The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all  (Acts 10:36)

“What are you preaching?”  Do you ever get that question from fellow pastors?  I understand the question—they wish to know what topic we are addressing or what text we are using.  Let me suggest, however, that the overarching concern should not be what we are preaching so much as whom we are preaching—and that sermon subject should always be JESUS!  We may labor to be cute and creative, and waste a lot of energy on our part during the week—and the people’s part on Sunday morning—trying to be novel and hip.  I have nothing new to say—just the old, old story of Jesus and His love!  Men, keep Jesus as the central theme of your preaching.  The congregation has a mass of needs, but nothing is as needful as an encounter with Christ.  Do we believe that He is all sufficient and that all grace flows from the atonement?  Do we believe the Bible is adequate to testify of Him—and that the Gospel is still the power of salvation to everyone who believes?

When Peter went to the house of Cornelius a revolution was to take place.  The Gospel would come to the Gentiles—and the world has never been the same!  This was a pivotal moment—and what would the old fisherman do?  He preached Jesus!  He shared His death, burial and resurrection.  He pointed his audience to the Savior:

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.  ‎And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree.  ‎Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.  And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.  To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.  (Acts 10:38-43)

Peter proclaimed Christ’s virtuous life, vicarious death and victorious resurrection—and the implications of that upon every soul. 

In the morning when you stand, stand up for Jesus!  As you open your Bible to speak, speak about Jesus!  If you are no longer excited about preaching the old, old story then get on your knees and stay until you get a fresh glimpse of Calvary and a new encounter with the Risen Lord—or do yourself and your flock a favor, and stay at the house tomorrow!

Brothers, I say it again—PREACH JESUS!