When we speak about preaching the gospel in the local church, we are not saying that it is the only place the gospel should be preached. There are many opportunities to preach the gospel both publicly and privately. Preaching the gospel at assembly meetings and on street corners are not mutually exclusive.
Also, we should not assume that gospel preaching is the only function of the local church. The assembly is not simply a gospel preaching center. There is more to it than that. It is for worship, prayer, fellowship and teaching doctrine. These are vital activities in the local church. To crowd out these practices because of busy evangelistic work is another extreme some have rightly warned us about.
But, should we preach the gospel at the meetings of the local church? What is the evidence in the New Testament?
The apostle Paul did it. “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also” (Rom. 1:15). “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you…” (1 Cor. 15:1). It is evident that the apostle engaged in preaching the gospel at gatherings of the local church.
The early church did it. Paul’s words to the enthusiastic Thessalonians are relevant, “From you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad” (1 Thess. 1:8). These Thessalonians had a clear ringing witness to the gospel. The local church has a corporate testimony–the reason the churches of Revelation are called lampstands. It portrays corporate witness.
It discharges our obligation to the lost. While it is true that we are not to remain cloistered in our assembly buildings waiting for the lost to come in, it is also true that in Western culture it is fashionable for people to visit what they perceive to be a church building. They may come by curiosity. They may come by coercion. They may come out of confusion, looking for answers. Whatever their motive, we have an obligation to them to present a clear ringing witness to the truth of the gospel. It is an immense tragedy for an unbeliever to meet with a gathering of Christians and never hear the certain sound of the gospel.
The preaching of the gospel binds believers together. There is nothing like a common cause to bring people together. Petty differences are soon forgotten in face of a greater matter. This is the way with the preaching of the gospel. Paul says to the Philippians, “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (1:27).
Believers are kept from false teaching when they revisit the foundation of faith. Paul was alarmed at the Galatians who were “removed…unto another gospel” (Gal. 1:6). So much so that he makes this startling statement, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Gal. l:9). The Galatians were confused about Christian living because they got away from the foundation. The gospel of grace would have reminded them that not only is salvation by grace, but sanctification is by grace also.
Paul gave the Corinthians his reason for preaching the gospel among them as well. “…the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved [are being saved], if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” A solid foundation keeps us stable.
Preach the gospel? Preach it in the office and in the shop; preach it in the classroom and in the neighborhood; preach it on the radio and television; preach in print and on the internet; preach it to young and old, rich and poor, the skeptic, the thoughtful, the enemies of the cross. And don’t forget: preach it in the local church.