Preaching the gospel centers on proclaiming Christ as the Lamb of God who brings salvation to sinners, emphasizing grace over condemnation (John 1:29, Romans 1:16). Illustrations often use vivid images of sacrifice, redemption, and hope to convey the transformative power of the gospel message.
Preaching Christ as the Lamb of God is the true message for sinners, not condemnation.
Wesley was once preaching to a congregation of the honored of the realm, and used the “generation of vipers” text. A nobleman afterward said to Wesley: “That text should have been preached at the prison.” “No,” replied Wesley, my text there would have been, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’“
True ministry must hold forth the cross of Christ as the only trust for sinners.
In a village church in one of the Tyrolese valleys, we saw upon the pulpit an outstretched arm, carved in wood, the hand of which held forth a cross. We noted the emblem as full of instruction as to what all true ministry should be, and must be—a holding forth of the cross of Christ to the multitude as the only trust of sinners. Jesus Christ must be set forth evidently crucified among them. Lord, make this the aim and habit of all our ministers.
The gospel’s truth is beautiful and needs no ornate speech to glorify it.
When Dionysius, the tyrant, sent Lysander some rich Sicilian garments for his daughters, he refused them, alleging that "He was afraid these fine clothes would make them look more homely." The truth of God is so comely in itself that the trappings of oratory are far more likely to lessen its glory than to increase it. Paul saith that he preached the gospel "not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect."
Preaching the gospel faithfully is often neglected and seen as a novelty in some eras.
When Le Tourneau preached the Lent sermon at St. Benoit, at Paris, Louis XIV. enquired of Boileau, "if he knew anything of a preacher called Le Tourneau, whom everybody was running after?" "Sire," replied the poet, "your Majesty knows that people always run after novelties; this man preaches the gospel." Boileau's remark as to the novelty of preaching the gospel in his time, brings to mind the candid confession of a Flemish preacher, who, in a sermon delivered before an audience wholly of his own order, said, "We are worse than Judas; he sold and delivered his Master, we sell him too, but deliver him not."
The gospel must be preached plainly so all can understand the way of salvation.
Of the works of a famous alchymist of the thirteenth century, it is said that, "whoever would read his book to find out the secret would employ all his labour in vain." AH the gold makers who have written upon their favourite mystery are in the like predicament, no one can comprehend what the secret is which they pretend to divulge. May we not shrewdly guess that if they had any secret to tell they would put it in intelligible language, and that their pompous and involved sentences are only a screen for their utter ignorance of the matter? When we hear preachers talking of divine things in a style savouring more of metaphysical subtlety than of gospel plainness; when the seeking sinner cannot find out the way of salvation because of their philosophical jargon, may we not with justice suspect that the preacher does not know the gospel, and conceals his culpable ignorance behind the veil of rhetorical magniloquence? Surely if the man understood a matter so important to all his hearers as the way of salvation, he would feel constrained to tell it out in words which all might comprehend.
Sermons must contain the gospel to truly save sinners.
A friend called on the Rev. T. Charles, of Bala, on Sunday afternoon, September II, 1814, after having been in church. "Well," said he, "how did you like Mr. M------? Was there enough of gospel in the sermon to save a sinner? If not, it was of little consequence what was preached. I hope Bala people will never take up with anything short of that."
Church attendance depends on preaching the gospel clearly and effectively.
I have seen an advertisement reading thus: “If the druggist says, ‘We haven’t Brown’s soap, but here is something just as good,’ don’t take it! Go somewhere else.” The Church is in business, and Church attendance is controlled by business principles. The man who drops in wants the gospel, nothing else will answer, and he can not be expected to continue dropping in unless he gets it.
— DAVID JAMES BURRELL
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