Preaching Christ: The Centrality of the Cross

Devotional

Day 1: Glorifying God in Every Sermon

The ultimate aim of all preaching is to glorify God, aligning with the purpose of all creation. Every sermon should be delivered with the intent to magnify God's glory, recognizing that His glory is the ultimate end of all things. This perspective ensures that the message is not just about imparting knowledge but about leading the congregation to a deeper worship and reverence for God. By focusing on God's glory, preachers can help believers see the bigger picture of their faith and how every aspect of their lives is meant to reflect His majesty. [01:21]

1 Chronicles 16:28-29 (ESV): "Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness."

Reflection: In what specific ways can you glorify God in your daily interactions and decisions today?

Day 2: The Cross as the Foundation of Hope

The cross of Christ is the foundation of every sermon, as it is the basis for all the promises and blessings believers receive. Without the cross, there is no hope or redemption for sinners, making it essential to connect every text to Christ's atoning work. This connection is not just a theological exercise but a source of hope and assurance for believers, reminding them of the depth of God's love and the certainty of His promises. By rooting every message in the cross, preachers can offer a message of hope that transcends circumstances and speaks to the heart of every listener. [06:39]

Colossians 1:19-20 (ESV): "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."

Reflection: How does the reality of the cross change your perspective on a current challenge you are facing?

Day 3: Seeing Life Through the Lens of the Cross

Paul's focus on knowing nothing but Christ crucified challenges us to see every issue in light of the cross. This perspective transforms how we approach topics like pride, marriage, and spiritual gifts, ensuring that Christ remains central in all our teachings. By viewing life through the lens of the cross, believers can find guidance and strength in every situation, knowing that their identity and purpose are rooted in Christ's sacrifice. This approach encourages a Christ-centered worldview that impacts every decision and relationship. [04:29]

Galatians 2:20 (ESV): "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to apply the perspective of the cross more fully today?

Day 4: Deepening the Connection to the Cross

Preaching should not superficially connect to the cross but should explore how the atonement underlies every aspect of the text. This approach ensures that the message is faithful to the Word of God and that Christ is truly magnified in the lives of believers. By delving deeply into the significance of the cross, preachers can help their congregation understand the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice and how it applies to their daily lives. This depth of understanding leads to a more profound appreciation of God's grace and a more committed walk with Him. [09:30]

Hebrews 9:14 (ESV): "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God."

Reflection: How can you deepen your understanding of the cross and its impact on your life this week?

Day 5: The Cross as the Source of Transformation

The cross of Christ makes the realities of the text possible, beautiful, and redemptive. By connecting the specificities of the text to the cross, we offer hope and transformation to sinners, demonstrating the power and glory of Christ in their lives. This connection is not just about understanding but about experiencing the transformative power of the cross in everyday life. Believers are called to live out the implications of the cross, allowing its power to shape their actions, attitudes, and relationships. [10:43]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Reflection: What is one specific way you can allow the transformative power of the cross to influence your actions today?

Sermon Summary

In this session, I explore the profound realities that should permeate all Christian preaching, focusing on the centrality of Jesus Christ and His crucifixion. The foundation of every sermon should be the glory of God, as stated in 1 Corinthians 10:31, and the cross of Christ, which is the cornerstone of our faith. The Apostle Paul serves as a key figure in understanding this concept, as he emphasizes the centrality of Christ crucified in his teachings. In Colossians 1, Paul proclaims Christ as the fulfillment of all preaching, and in Ephesians 3:8, he speaks of the riches of Christ's glory.

Paul's statements in 1 Corinthians 2:2 and Galatians 6:14 are particularly striking, as he declares that he knows nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and that he boasts only in the cross of Christ. These declarations challenge us to see every issue and topic in relation to Christ's crucifixion. The promises of God are affirmed in Christ, as seen in 2 Corinthians 1:24, and Romans 8:32 assures us that because God did not spare His own Son, He will freely give us all things. This means that every good thing and every trial turned for good in a believer's life is rooted in the crucifixion of Christ.

Preaching should not merely make a superficial connection to the cross but should delve deeply into how the atonement underpins every aspect of the text. The goal is not to abandon the text for a generic message about the cross but to illuminate how the cross empowers and transforms the specificities of the text. This approach ensures that Christ is magnified, and the lives of believers are enriched with His love, power, and glory. Ultimately, every biblical author would be pleased if we connect the realities they address to the glory of God and the redemptive work of Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. The glory of God should be the ultimate aim of all preaching, as it aligns with the purpose of all creation. Every text should be preached with the intent to glorify God, recognizing that His glory is the ultimate end of all things. [01:21]
2. The cross of Christ is the foundation of every sermon, as it is the basis for all the promises and blessings believers receive. Without the cross, there is no hope or redemption for sinners, making it essential to connect every text to Christ's atoning work. [06:39]
3. Paul's focus on knowing nothing but Christ crucified challenges us to see every issue in light of the cross. This perspective transforms how we approach topics like pride, marriage, and spiritual gifts, ensuring that Christ remains central in all our teachings. [04:29]
4. Preaching should not superficially connect to the cross but should explore how the atonement underlies every aspect of the text. This approach ensures that the message is faithful to the Word of God and that Christ is truly magnified in the lives of believers. [09:30]
5. The cross of Christ makes the realities of the text possible, beautiful, and redemptive. By connecting the specificities of the text to the cross, we offer hope and transformation to sinners, demonstrating the power and glory of Christ in their lives. [10:43]
** [10:43]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - Introduction to Christian Realities
[00:31] - Hospitality and Connection to God
[01:09] - The Goal of All Things
[01:38] - Christ and His Cross as Foundation
[02:10] - Proclaiming Christ
[02:38] - Paul's Central Message
[03:22] - Addressing Various Issues
[04:03] - Boasting in the Cross
[05:17] - Promises Affirmed in Christ
[06:03] - All Things Through Christ
[06:39] - Preaching to the Glory of God
[07:38] - Preaching Christ in Every Sermon
[08:54] - Beeline to the Cross
[09:48] - Magnifying Christ Through Preaching

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1 Corinthians 10:31
1 Corinthians 2:2
Galatians 6:14

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Observation Questions:

According to 1 Corinthians 10:31, what should be the ultimate aim of all our actions, including preaching? How does this align with the purpose of all creation? [01:21]
In 1 Corinthians 2:2, Paul states that he decided to know nothing among the Corinthians except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. What does this reveal about the centrality of the cross in Paul's teachings? [02:38]
Galatians 6:14 mentions boasting only in the cross of Christ. What does Paul mean by this, and how does it challenge our understanding of what we should take pride in? [02:54]
How does the sermon suggest that every good thing and every trial turned for good in a believer's life is rooted in the crucifixion of Christ? [05:33]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of preaching every text to the glory of God, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:31, influence the way we approach and understand Scripture? [01:21]
What might Paul mean when he says he knows nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified? How does this perspective transform the way we address various issues in life, such as pride or marriage? [04:29]
In what ways does the cross of Christ serve as the foundation for all the promises and blessings believers receive, as discussed in the sermon? [06:39]
How does the sermon suggest that the atonement underlies every aspect of the text, and why is it important not to superficially connect to the cross? [09:30]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your daily actions and decisions. How can you ensure that they are aimed at glorifying God, as instructed in 1 Corinthians 10:31? What specific changes might you need to make? [01:21]
Consider a current issue or challenge in your life. How can viewing it through the lens of Christ crucified, as Paul suggests, change your approach or perspective? [04:29]
Identify an area in your life where you tend to boast or take pride. How can you shift your focus to boast only in the cross of Christ, as Paul encourages in Galatians 6:14? [02:54]
Think about a recent sermon or Bible study you attended. Did it connect the specificities of the text to the cross of Christ? How did this impact your understanding and application of the message? [09:30]
How can you delve deeper into understanding how the atonement underpins every aspect of Scripture, rather than making a superficial connection to the cross? What resources or practices might help you in this endeavor? [09:30]
Reflect on a trial or difficulty you are currently facing. How can the assurance that God will freely give us all things through Christ (Romans 8:32) provide hope and transformation in this situation? [06:03]
In what ways can you magnify Christ in your daily life, ensuring that His love, power, and glory are evident to those around you? What specific actions can you take this week to achieve this? [10:01]

Sermon Clips

I think when he says I don't know anything but Jesus Christ here, I think he means every single issue and topic that I take up, I take up in relationship to Christ crucified. Same thing in Galatians 6 when he says I boast only in the Lord, I think he means all of my other boasts are boasts which are expressions of my boasting in Jesus Christ. [00:04:26]

In Second Corinthians 1:24 he says all the promises of God are yes in Christ Jesus, which means everything good and everything bad that God turns for good that comes into the life of a believer is owing to Jesus Christ crucified. Or Romans 8:32 he who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all will he not with him freely give us all things. [00:05:17]

Because Christ was crucified, all things come to believers, which means everything in every text in the Bible that is for our good or that is bad news that God turns for good, all of it has underneath it Jesus Christ crucified. So if I ask what are the pervading realities that should be in every sermon I answer first every sermon to the glory of God. [00:06:06]

Every sermon based on the cross of Christ because I'm dealing in every text with sinners in front of me those sinners deserve to see nothing in this text savor nothing in this text obey nothing in this text fulfill experience no fulfilled promises in this text nothing why they're sinners they're under the wrath of God except for one thing Christ died for them. [00:06:49]

Which means that in every text every good that comes to them is bought by Jesus which means the cross of Christ is the foundation of every text every sermon. Now let me say one last thing because I think the idea of preaching Christ in every sermon can take on a kind of artificial form because of maybe trying to follow Spurgeon's take a text and make a beeline to the cross. [00:07:18]

If that means and I fear it does for some people here's a text it's got a lot of concrete specificity about our daily lives and our marriage and our kids and our culture and our society and our sin and it needs to be dealt with in all of its specificity and people kind of deal with it quickly and generally and then off they are in a beeline. [00:08:09]

I don't think that's a good idea. I don't think that's faithful to the word of God or to the cross of Christ so when I think the word beeline to the cross so here's my picture here's here the specificities of the text you want to make a beeline to the cross go like this like beeline underneath the text and say how can how can all of this become real. [00:08:41]

How can people love each other how can people be broken of their pride how can people be set free from pornography how can marriages be healed answer underneath is massive atonement the the way to preach I think texts is not to leave the text and go off and preach another sermon it really gets old week after week but rather clarify in creative ways. [00:09:09]

Underneath this text and the only hope of this text for any believer is that Christ died for sinners now I believe that when that happens of course Christ is going to be magnified these these uh branches and fruit that grow from that text into the lives of our people will be radiant with the love and the power and the glory of Christ. [00:09:36]

Every author in the Bible would be pleased if we brought the specificities of the reality he's dealing with into connection with first this is all to the glory of God and second underneath this making it possible and beautiful and redemptive and hopeful and glorious for sinners like us is the cross of Jesus Christ. [00:10:19]

Paul is my key person here I hear Paul in several texts say things that simply are mind-boggling when it comes to the centrality and the pervasiveness of of Christ crucified in his preaching he says in Colossians 1 him we proclaim like the proclamation is fulfilled in one word him Jesus Christ he says we preach the riches of his glory Ephesians 3:8. [00:01:51]

He says in First Corinthians 2:2 I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified similarly creating the same problem for me he says in Galatians 6:14 God forbid that I should boast in anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ now I step back from those two texts and I say whoa. [00:02:38]

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Preaching Christ: The Centrality of the Cross

Devotional

Day 1: Glorifying God in Every Sermon

Day 2: The Cross as the Foundation of Hope

Day 3: Seeing Life Through the Lens of the Cross

Day 4: Deepening the Connection to the Cross

Day 5: The Cross as the Source of Transformation

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Preaching Christ: The Centrality of the Cross

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