November 2021 Devotional: Why aren't we preaching the Gospel?
Matthew 28:19-21
19 Go [a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [b]Amen.
Mark 16:15
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
The graphic above should send shivers down the spine of every church leader. According to this survey released by the Barna Research Group in 2018, 51% of churchgoers in this survey had never heard of the Great Commission.
I wish I could say that I was surprised but I wasn't because THE GOSPEL is barely being preached in churches let alone The Great Commission that tells us to go out and PREACH the gospel.
What is the Gospel?
Blue-Letter Bible: After the death of Christ, the term comprises also the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ as having suffered death on the cross to procure eternal salvation for the men in the kingdom of God, but as restored to life and exalted to the right hand of God in heaven, thence to return in majesty to consummate the kingdom of God
Merriam-Webster: the message concerning Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation
When I was growing up the gospel was simply defined as the good news of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Why aren’t we preaching it?
I have become quite disturbed that popular preaching often does not mention: Jesus’ death on the cross, his resurrection, and why he had to die. Even more disturbing are the lack of the words sin, sinners, and repentance.
The Bible clearly says that Jesus came to earth to save the people from their sins.
Matthew 1:20-21
.20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus,[a] for he will save his people from their sins.”
Jesus died on the cross because we were sinners and we needed a Savior.
The Apostle Paul addresses this issue in Romans 5 when he talks about how Adam sinned and led to condemnation but God’s free gift [Jesus] leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. (Romans 5:16)
Sin isn’t a bad word because Jesus died on the cross to forgive us of our sins so that we can become sons and daughters of God. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. This is great news and so why aren’t we preaching it?
Here's just one guess...It won't profit like a hyped-up catchy slogan will.
1 Timothy 6:10-12
For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
Practical Application: Get back to basics
I heard a prophetic word from a man who said that the church will get back to simplicity. The church must get back to basics. The foundation must be built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ and not marketing or hype because all other ground is sinking sand.
Nothing made that more clear than the Covid pandemic. 2020 came and blew the whole house down because the people did not have deep roots in the word. This shouldn’t surprise anyone because that is exactly what Jesus taught in the parable of the Sower.
Matthew 13:21
the seed scattered on the shallow rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.
I have asked myself if a majority of the people coming to church these days even know what the gospel is. I fear that they have been led to believe that Jesus is their personal genie in the bottle that will grant them all of their wishes. It's time to start preaching the gospel including repentance of sins again
It’s time to get back to real Bible Study and things like Sunday School where believers and curious people can ask questions and be taught the truth of the word of God.
Action Step: Set Goals for 2022
2021 is almost over and I’ve been feeling convicted about getting into action for 2022 around this issue because I feel this is a burden especially for younger people. Our people are being destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6)
My personal goal is to teach the non-watered down gospel because I don’t want to see people:
Go to Hell
Be in church and not know Jesus
Put their faith in worldly systems
Get scammed by these preachers and false “profits” who are wolves in wolf clothing selling wolf tickets to people
What can you do in the coming days ahead to live out The Great Commission?
All of us have a role to play especially as times get darker and the world will be looking for answers.
I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t love street evangelism. I prefer talking to people one on one, praying for them, and teaching. Yes, God can and will stretch me with street evangelism if needed and I’m open to it. We all need to be open to what God wants us to do and look for ways to serve according to our giftings. Dr. Violet Kiteley used to say, “The new wine is found in the cluster!”
Prayer
Lord, we pray that in this next year you will show us how you want us to live out The Great Commission. We pray that we will be open when you want us to do in this hour. Lord, we will not teach a watered-down gospel but will give the full gospel message. Father, be with us in the days ahead and we pray that as we march into 2022 that we will rise up and do what you have called us to do in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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