Why Look For a Church That Preaches Christ-Centered, Cross-Focused Sermons?
May 14, 2008 by Renee Ann Addison Culver
Many talks about life issues that are put forward as Christian sermons could also be given in a Mosque or a Synagogue. In other words, they are not distinctly Christian sermons. To hear a sermon that speaks about life issues, but is grounded in Christ and the cross… that is true hope for living… soaring to the heights! By grounded in Christ and the cross, I do not mean assumed. I mean that the gospel should be explicitly stated and be central to the message. I have not extensively studied why we should have Christ-centered, cross focused sermons. I feel strongly about this simply because I highly value Christ and His work and crave to worship Him. I wrote a paragraph just yesterday concerning sin, forgiveness and why I crave Christ-centered, cross-focused weekly worship, What Do You Do With Your Guilt?
Frequency of Christ-centered cross focused sermons:
I say at least weekly, because of the long established Sabbath. A day in seven was set aside as being holy.
Priority of worship:
I think of the first commandment,
(Matthew 22:37) And he [Jesus] said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
To be Christ-centered is a higher priority than the “second” commandment.
(Matthew 22:39) “And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
So, it seems to me to that we should be purposeful in minimally setting aside one worship service per week to honor Christ.
The links below give a little more detail on what constitutes Christ-centered, cross-focused preaching and why it is necessary.
I pray that many preachers will resolve to preach Christ-centered, cross-focused weekly sermons. And, I pray more worshipers will crave to worship Christ above all. To Christ be the glory! Amen.
LINKS that may be of interest:
What is Christ-Centered Preaching? This. by Chris Anderson
Christian Worship: Christ Centered Preaching by Steven Newell
Overview of Edmund P. Clowney’s book Preaching Christ in All of Scripture
Preaching and Sightings of Calvary by C.J. Mahaney
Are my sermons really Christian? a 9Marks, Church Matters blog post by Mike Gilbart-Smith
Related Posts on my blog:
What Do You Do With Your Guilt?
Christless Christianity
More Christless Christianity
An Elegant Explanation of the Gospel
What Is the Gospel?
So, how can God be loving if He is always seeking His own exultation?
God is the Gospel at Resolved Conference 2007
WHAT IS REFORMED THEOLOGY?
Around the Corner… Rebecca Writes… Her Notes on D. A. Carson’s Sermon “What is the Gospel?”
links for 2007-09-01
[...] 15, 2008 by Renee Ann Addison Culver In yesterday’s post, I listed a link to Mike Gilbart-Smith’s post, Are my sermons really Christian? Since, [...]
[...] 16, 2008 by Renee Ann Addison Culver In a post a couple of days ago, I listed a link to C. J. Mahaney’s post, Preaching and Sightings of [...]
[...] 18, 2008 by Renee Ann Addison Culver In a post last week, I listed a link to Chris Anderson’s post, What is Christ-Centered Preaching? This. [...]
[...] 20, 2008 by Renee Ann Addison Culver In a post last week, I listed a link to Steven Newell’s post, Christian Worship: Christ centered [...]