Let’s get practical.
In today’s rush to be relevant and trendy, many preachers have forgotten Who called them and why. Today’s goal is often to build a large “seeker sensitive” church, and to provide practical help in our everyday lives. We are told that we must preach to “transform” and not “inform.” By conscious decision, doctrine is not preached. And few are bothering to ask, “What think ye of Christ?” (Mt. 22:42)
There exists on the market any number of books on how to preach sermons. And while many contain helpful nuggets, there are dangers, the biggest of which is that we will not properly understand the scope and importance of Christ-centered ministry. We are told to focus on other things in order not to “bore” the listeners. Now, let us be clear that “practical ministry” is good. It is important that we understand we are reaching people who are in a fallen condition. Expository preaching can be helpful. The redemptive message of the Scripture should be clearly presented. Yet none of these provide an adequate understanding of the scope and importance of Christ-centered ministry.
Man-Centered Ministry
A recent textbook on preaching presents two aspects to what it says is Christ-centered ministry. First we must remember that we are preaching to people who are in a fallen condition. These people have “real world” problems, and we must address these problems. Second, that in every passage we must find the redemptive focus. If we focus on these two important points, we are told, we will be giving Christ-centered ministry.
To be sure, we are preaching to people with real world problems, and we should seek to shed the light of the divine instruction and wisdom contained in Scripture onto their problems and into their lives. But is this Christ-centered ministry? Can we really preach a message dwelling on man and his problems, and call it Christ-centered? Simply put, a message cannot be man-centered and Christ-centered at the same time.
Likewise, if a passage of Scripture is relevant to the gospel, we should not miss the opportunity to present the gospel. But do we have to find a redemptive message in every verse? If we follow Covenant Theology and believe that God’s highest purpose is our salvation, we might think so. But if we follow Dispensational Theology, and realize that God’s highest purpose is His own glory, we are closer to the mark. We must not preach a mancentered gospel, but rather the “glorious gospel of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:4).
Christ-Centered Ministry
So what is Christ-centered ministry? Christ-centered ministry is ministry that exalts the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is similar to worship, but differs in the intended audience. Worship exalts the person and work of the Lord Jesus to God the Father. Christ-centered ministry exalts the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ to our fellow man.
Is such preaching contrary to “practical ministry”? The author of Hebrews answers this question: “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith… For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” (Heb. 12:2-3). The Christian race cannot be run well unless our eyes are fixed firmly on Christ. If we want to make progress in the Christian life, we must make progress with Christ.
How do we make progress with Christ? There are an infinite number of ways, but four categories are presented here: our doctrine, our outreach, our encouragement and our devotion. How can we be Christ-centered in each of these areas?
In our doctrine, we must make sure we have a good grasp on those teachings that concern the Lord Jesus Christ. For example, His high priestly ministry and His impeccability are concepts we should understand. We must study the main “Christological” passages of the Bible. These include John 1 and 17, Colossians 1, Philippians 2 and the Epistle to the Hebrews. We must understand and be able to articulate to others who Jesus Christ is and what He has done. For example, can we demonstrate from Scripture the deity of Christ?
In reaching others, we must go forth because of a love for Christ rather than only a love of the lost. Of course, it’s not wrong to love the lost! But if a love of the lost is our sustaining reason for trying to reach others, our evangelistic fervor will not last. Veteran missionaries tell us that many of the people they meet are not loveable; it is the love of Christ that keeps them on the mission field.
In our encouragement, do we seek to help people become nice and good and polite and moral? Or do we seek to help them to be transformed into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18)? The Word of God can cut as a sword, and the sometimes cutting message of exhortation from the Bible must be given for the noble purpose of making people more like Christ.
Christ-centered ministry will also encourage us in our devotion towards the Lord Jesus. The ministry we receive should cause our minds and hearts to contemplate the person and work of the Lord, and this will lead us to private and corporate worship.
However, in an effort to be devotional, we must be careful. There are many people, events, and objects that may be applied to the Lord Jesus. But, in our ministry we must be sure we do not present these devotional applications as the primary interpretation of the passage. For example, there are many parallels between the life of Joseph and the life of Christ. Christ-centered ministry will point these out for the purpose of stirring our hearts, but we must not present these parallels as the infallible interpretation of these verses.
How Can We Be More Christ-Centered?
Genuine Christ-centered ministry leads to Christcentered assemblies, and so assemblies must make a conscious and deliberate commitment to such ministry. This commitment is both personal and corporate. Personally, each brother who speaks from the pulpit must examine his own messages to ensure that they are Christ-centered. Every message doesn’t need to be solely focused on the doctrine of Christ, but the person and work of the Lord Jesus must be evident in and vital to every message. As you prepare, preach and review every sermon, you must ask yourself, “Have I spoken well of Christ? Have I taught the believers about Christ? Have I warmed their hearts towards Christ? Have I pointed the lost to Christ?” If not, then we have not discharged our responsibility with all diligence.
Corporately, the elders must lead in this direction, making sure that ministry that exalts Christ exists in the assembly. They must make it clear to those who preach that Christ-centered ministry is expected. This may call for loving but honest feedback to those who are ministering. It may require the courage to stand against the tide of popular “needs-based, man-centered” ministry. Such leadership may not be easy, but an oversight that knows it reports to the Chief Shepherd and not to the sheep (much less the goats!) will have the courage to lead the flock toward Christ.
A man-centered message may be trendy and may seem relevant. It may fill a building, but it can’t fill a heart. We are saved by the work of Christ and built through the work of Christ so that we can be like the person of Christ and worship Christ for eternity. Ministry that is Christ-centered makes all this possible; ministry that is not Christ-centered falls short of the mark.
Written by Shawn Abigail