Today I’d like to give you one last test to grade your sermon or lesson by before presenting it tomorrow. The test is this: Can my presentation only be delivered in a Christian context?
Another way of framing this is by asking yourself if your presentation could be delivered in a non-Christian environment and not be offensive. If it could then you are not ready to preach or teach.
There is a terrible danger that we can fall into: we can prepare wonderful sermons and lessons-even identifying a biblical text and sprinkling scripture throughout our presentation and yet not be presenting an exclusively Christian message.
Remember, you are called to make disciples-disciples of Jesus Christ.
As important as teaching our people about the principles of a good marriage, wise financial stewardship, handling the problems and trials of life and a dozen other excellent topics are, if we do not connect those topics with the message of the Gospel and Jesus’ claim over our lives then we are failing our people.
It was Paul who wrote: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)
Often, at the root of much of our preparations is a fear that if we just preach the Gospel it will not be enough. The temptation is to “spike” our messages with the wisdom and advice of the world. We justify this with an honest effort to be “relevant and practical” and I might add both are worthy goals. But believe me dear friend, you can trust the Bible. Teach it and preach it faithfully, pointing your people to Christ and his claim on their lives-whatever your topic or text.
So read through your message or lesson one more time this evening; if it would be offensive in a non-Christian gathering then you are ready – go for it and be assured that it will not returned void but will achieve that which God intended (Isaiah 55:11).
“We should never be offensive in terms of the communication of the cross, but if the clear and compassionate communication of Christ does offend, then that is a price that must be borne as a privilege by the teller of the Gospel.”
_Joseph M. Stowell, Shepherding the Church into the 21st Century, p. 49
The ONE THING 
Great instruction!!!
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Indeed, we need to reach the unchurched. Some of the best sermons are the testimonies of our life we share with unbelievers. We must not simply preach but also teach the ways of Jesus. ” Go and make disciples of all nations….. And teaching them to obey everything” (paraphrase) Matt 28:19
Have you heard of Andy Stanley? He’s our church pastor, and does an amazing job of teaching the practical lessons of the Bible in ways the unchurched can understand.
Well done Pastor Kemp!
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Thanks!!!!!
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