How many American churches leave the actual Gospel presentation out of their Sunday sermons? I could be completely wrong, but from my recollection of sermons, I believe they seldom preach the straight up gospel. My squad leader Brandy attended church occasionally her entire life and never remembers hearing the actual story of why Jesus died on a cross until she was 26 years old, driving her car and listening to it on a radio station. Subsequently, she accepted Christ because this is the first time she really understood what Jesus did for her. I wonder to myself, though, how many sermons did she hear in her 26 years that actually left out the gospel story?
I suppose it’s possible that she heard it many times and it just didn’t sink in, but part of me wonders now if this isn’t a scheme of the enemy. Convincing pastors across our nation that they don’t need to remind their congregations regularly of what it is that Jesus did for them. I know that sermons in America have to be relavent and exciting in order for people to not get bored and leave the church. But I also know that there wouldn’t be a Christian church without the gospel story. This is why we attend church every Sunday, read our Bible’s and pray. Because God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, so that whoever believed in him would not perish, but have eternal life. Jesus died on a cross to pay the penalty of our sins so that we won’t have to. It’s simple, but it’s the key to eternity in heaven with God.
So if you are a pastor of a church, especially in America, I pray that you will consider what I’ve observed here and be aware of it when you prepare your next sermon.
