The responsibility of every believer is to ensure the right representation of the kingdom of God on earth. So, our message must be kingdom-centered. Scripture instructs us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33). We do not need messages that constantly revolve around material gain while neglecting spiritual growth. What believers truly need is regular exhortation concerning our responsibilities as citizens of God’s kingdom.
Scripture also encourages us to live lives worthy of the faith we profess. We must not be Christians by confession alone, but by conduct also. Our messages should stir believers toward good works, spiritual maturity, and godly character. Much of Paul’s writing was not only about explaining Christ and His finished work, but also about instructing believers on how to live rightly. That is why he told Timothy,
“Set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.”
1 Timothy 4:12
Paul reminded the Corinthians that the apostles did not come with eloquent wisdom or carefully crafted speech, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power (1 Cor. 2:1–5). And Romans 1:16 tells us that the gospel itself is the power of God unto salvation. Their confidence was never in a well-constructed statement or a persuasive speech. Their message was simply Jesus Christ and the truth of what He had done. Their message was Christ, and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2).
Therefore, the most straightforward and reliable way to preach the gospel is to present Jesus. Since the gospel is about Him, He must remain at the center of the message.
We must not preach the gospel as though its greatest promise is riches, influence, or earthly connections. As mentioned in last week’s post, those are not the core promises of the gospel. Besides, unbelievers also possess these things, sometimes even in greater measure. The greatest thing we receive through Christ is the salvation of our souls. That should remain the focus of our message, whether on the pulpit, in conversations, or anywhere else. After all, Scripture asks, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?” (Mk. 8:36).
One reason many people walk away from the faith is because they were introduced to a distorted version of the gospel. Some were told that once they came to Jesus, life would become free from trouble. Others were made to believe that Christ was simply a gateway to material wealth. So when they eventually encounter any form of suffering, hardship, or disappointment, they conclude that Christianity itself is false. But Jesus never hid the reality of suffering from His followers. He said plainly in John 16:33: In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. The promise is not the absence of suffering, but victory through Him. As Romans 8:18 reminds us, “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
The world may offer riches, but only Jesus gives treasures that transcend this life. Only He gives what is incorruptible and eternal (1 Pet. 1:4). Only He gives blessings that do not corrupt the soul or draw us away from Him (Prov. 10:22). What Christ gives is true, pure, and everlasting.
Hence, when we witness to people, we should not do so primarily from the standpoint of what they stand to gain in this present world, but from the standpoint of what they gain in eternity.
First Timothy 1:5 tells us that “the aim of our instruction is love.” Any message that does not flow from genuine love is already missing the heart of the gospel. When Jesus walked the earth, the heartbeat of His ministry was unmistakable—it was love. Christianity can boldly speak about the love of God because our God demonstrated His love through action. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus Himself also said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jhn. 15:13). If the highest expression of love is self-sacrifice, then Christ has loved us with the greatest love possible.
Our message should tell people about the God who loves humanity and reaches toward us in love. The demon-possessed man of Gadara was isolated and rejected because of his condition, yet Jesus reached out to him in compassion (Mk. 5:1–20). Zacchaeus, despised because of his profession and dishonesty, was shown kindness and acceptance by Jesus (Lk. 19:1–10). The Samaritan woman at the well had a broken and complicated past, yet Jesus still reached out to her with grace and love (Jhn. 4:1–26).
And perhaps the most relatable example is you. You were once deep in sin, headed toward destruction, perhaps without even fully realizing it, yet Christ reached out to you in love and saved you. The greatest display of God’s love is salvation, and that is the essence of the gospel we preach:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
It remains the most powerful and timeless message ever preached.
In the end, preaching the gospel is about faithfully presenting Christ—His love, His sacrifice, His kingdom, and the salvation found in Him. When Jesus remains the center of the message, the gospel retains its power to convict, transform, and save.
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