Journal: Southeastern Theological Review
Volume: STR 13:2 (Fall 2022)
Article: Christ Crucified: The Necessity Of Preaching Christ From All Of Scripture
Author: H. Jared Bumpers

STR 13:2 (Fall 2022) p. 37

Christ Crucified: The Necessity Of Preaching Christ From All Of Scripture

Jared Bumpers

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Abstract: Must every sermon contain the gospel? This question has frustrated homileticians for the last several decades. While some homileticans argue preachers have a responsibility to preach Christ in every sermon, others argue preachers have a responsibility to preach the text (although they would affirm the importance of preaching Christ often). This article argues Christian preachers should preach Christ in every sermon and provides three reasons to substantiate this claim. First, the pattern of preaching in the New Testament was undeniably Christ-centered. Jesus, the apostles, and Paul embraced and practiced gospel-centered preaching. Second, Christ-centered preaching benefits the church. When Christ is preached, unbelievers are certain to hear the gospel and struggling Christians are comforted. Third, failing to preach Christ every week negatively affects the church. Christ-less preaching robs unbelievers of the opportunity to believe the gospel and withholds the true source of change from believers.

Key Words: Christ, Christ-centered, gospel-Centered, homiletics, pastoral theology, practical theology, preaching, redemptive-historical.

Christian preachers have a responsibility to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ from all of Scripture. Jesus himself claimed the entirety of Scripture bears witness to him (John 5:39; cf. Luke 24:44–49), and Christian preaching should reflect that reality. Indeed, preaching the gospel is what makes Christian preaching distinctly “Christian.”1 While most preachers would affirm general statements concerning the importance of preaching Christ, many would bristle at the notion Christ must be at the heart of every sermon. “Must every sermon contain the

STR 13:2 (Fall 2022) p. 38

gospel,” they ask. The short answer is “yes.” Preachers who fail to proclaim the gospel in every sermon ignore the teaching of the New Testament, rob their congregations of the benefits of hearing the gospel each week, and expose their congregations to the dangers of Christ-less sermons.

The Pattern Of Preaching In The New Testament

The Gospel writers portray Jesus as a preacher.2 He began his earthly ministry by preaching the gospel (Matt 4:17; Mark 1:14). Throughout his ministry, Jesu...