The call to the whole counsel

Paul could say with a clean conscience that he had not withheld the whole will of God from the church (Acts 20:27). That is our aim as well. We are not free to select only what is easy. We are charged to hand on everything God has said, because every text reveals His character, His purposes, and His Son.

The Great Commission is not only evangelism; it is a long obedience in the same direction: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me... Go therefore and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:18–20). And we are not left to our own resources: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

- Teaching the whole counsel guards the church from fads (Ephesians 4:14).

- It shapes mature disciples who can shepherd others (Hebrews 5:12–14).

- It displays the fullness of God’s wisdom to a watching world (Romans 11:33).

Scripture’s authority and clarity

God’s word is not a human word elevated by tradition. “For no prophecy was ever brought about through human initiative, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). Jesus Himself asserted its truth: “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17). Because Scripture is God-breathed, its authority is absolute, and its accuracy extends to every line (Matthew 5:18).

We therefore receive the Bible as true in all it affirms—creation, fall, flood, exodus, virgin birth, miracles, cross, resurrection, ascension, and return. It is clear enough for the church to understand and obey, and profound enough to humble scholars and saints. The people of God have always read and explained it so all could grasp and respond (Nehemiah 8:8; Acts 17:11).

- Inerrant: God does not err; His word does not err (Psalm 119:160).

- Sufficient: It provides all we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3–4).

- Clear: Its main message is understandable to the church by ordinary means (Psalm 19:7–8).

- Final: It is the non-negotiable standard for all doctrine and practice (Isaiah 40:8).

Christ at the center of every page

Jesus taught His disciples to read the whole Bible with Him at the center. “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself” (Luke 24:27). The promises, patterns, priesthood, sacrifices, kings, and prophets find their meaning in Him.

Keeping Christ central does not shrink Scripture; it opens it. We do not flatten every text into the same sermon, but we do trace the lines from the passage to the person and work of Jesus—His cross, resurrection, reign, and return. We resolve with Paul, “to know nothing... except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2), and we never tire of declaring that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures... He was buried... He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).

- Honor the author’s intent; then show the text’s place in the whole story.

- Unpack types and shadows in their canonical context (Hebrews 8:5).

- Let promises, commands, and wisdom flow to and from the gospel.

Teaching that forms obedient disciples

Jesus commissions us to teach people to obey everything He commanded (Matthew 28:20). That means doctrine and duty, creed and character, head and hands together. The outcome is not mere note-taking, but faithful living in the fear of the Lord.

The church that hears but does not do is self-deceived. “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding yourselves” (James 1:22). So our teaching must invite, instruct, and insist on obedience in the power of the Spirit.

- Devote to the public reading of Scripture, exhortation, and teaching (1 Timothy 4:13).

- Shape expository preaching through books of the Bible.

- Build catechesis for all ages around core doctrines and the storyline of Scripture.

- Establish rhythms of Scripture memory and meditation (Psalm 1).

- Plan application pathways and accountability in community (Hebrews 10:24–25).

Handling the word accurately

Faithful teachers are careful workers. “Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Accuracy includes context, covenant, genre, grammar, and the grand narrative.

We take the text in its plain sense, honoring its literary form—law, narrative, poetry, wisdom, prophecy, gospel, epistle—and its covenant location. We let Scripture interpret Scripture, majoring on what the Bible majors on, and we refuse to pit one passage against another.

- Read the passage in its immediate and whole-Bible context.

- Trace words, themes, and promises across the canon.

- Distinguish Law and Gospel while showing their unity in Christ (Romans 3:19–26).

- Apply the text to mind, affections, and life with specificity.

The whole counsel in the life of the church

The whole counsel becomes the church’s air and diet—not an occasional series, but the steady pattern of life. From pulpit to classroom to table, Scripture saturates our gatherings and our scatterings.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom...” (Colossians 3:16). The first believers “did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 5:42). That rhythm still shapes healthy churches.

- Pulpit: sequential exposition from both Testaments; Christ-centered and life-applied.

- Classes: Bible overview, doctrine, spiritual disciplines, ethics.

- Homes: family worship; parents discipling children (Deuteronomy 6:6–7).

- Groups: discussion anchored in the sermon text with accountable application.

- Worship: multiple Scripture readings, psalms, biblically rich songs and prayers.

Hard texts and hard truths

We do not skip passages that cut against our culture or comfort. Some words are weighty and will land as reproof before they heal as grace. Our task is not to edit God but to echo Him, with tears if needed.

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2). When counter-gospels arise, we speak plainly: “even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary... let him be under a curse!” (Galatians 1:8).

- God’s holiness and wrath (Leviticus 10; Romans 1:18).

- Sexual purity and marriage (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11).

- The narrow way of salvation (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

- God’s sovereignty and human responsibility (Romans 9–10).

- Church discipline and restoration (Matthew 18:15–17; 1 Corinthians 5; Galatians 6:1).

Gospel centrality without reduction

The gospel is the blazing center. But “gospel centrality” does not mean neglecting the rest of the Bible’s instruction. The same grace that saves also trains. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men. It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 2:11–12).

We proclaim Christ crucified and risen as the power of God, and then we teach everything He commands as the path of gratitude and holiness. That keeps us from legalism on the one side and lawlessness on the other.

- Always announce what God has done before pressing what we must do.

- Tie every imperative to gospel identity and power (Ephesians 4:1; Colossians 3:1–4).

- Aim for transformed hearts that overflow in obedience (Romans 12:1–2).

A long-range plan to teach everything

Faithful churches plan to cover the whole Bible and the whole faith over time. A measured, patient plan forms sturdy saints and stable congregations.

Consider a three-to-five-year cycle that interleaves biblical books with doctrinal groundings and practical formation:

1) Preach alternating Old and New Testament books; include at least one Gospel and one wisdom book each year.

2) Teach a Bible overview course and a basic doctrine course annually.

3) Embed a Scripture memory plan tied to the preaching calendar.

4) Catechize children and new believers with a concise confession and Q&A.

5) Offer electives on Christian ethics, evangelism, apologetics, and vocation.

Courage, humility, and love

Teaching the whole counsel requires courage to say all God has said, humility to admit what we do not yet see, and love to feed the flock with patience. We speak boldly because the word is clear; we walk softly because we are servants, not masters.

We correct error as shepherds, not as pundits, and we adorn truth with holy lives. “Speaking the truth in love,” we “grow up in all things into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). We remember and imitate leaders who spoke the word faithfully (Hebrews 13:7), and we measure success by faithfulness, not fads (1 Corinthians 4:2).

Conclusion

The whole counsel of God produces whole Christians and whole churches. The Spirit wields the word to save, sanctify, and send. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword...” (Hebrews 4:12). So we give ourselves to it—publicly and house to house—until He comes (Acts 5:42).

We keep declaring Christ from all the Scriptures, forming disciples who gladly obey everything He commands, and trusting that His word will not return empty (Isaiah 55:10–11).

- Poetry: concrete imagery conveys reality (Psalm 23; Psalm 19).

- Parables: one main thrust anchored in the kingdom (Matthew 13).

- Apocalyptic: symbolic visions grounded in earlier Scripture (Daniel; Revelation).

- Historical narrative: real events interpreted theologically (Exodus; Acts).

Old Testament law today

Jesus fulfilled the Law without abolishing it. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets... I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17). In Christ, sacrificial and priestly systems reach their goal (Hebrews 8–10), while God’s moral will abides.

- Read the Law through the cross and new covenant (Jeremiah 31; 2 Corinthians 3).

- Distinguish what is fulfilled, what is transformed, and what remains as moral norm.

- Apply the Ten Commandments through Christ and the apostles (Romans 13:8–10).

- Learn wisdom and justice from case laws without reimposing Israel’s civil code.

Typology and prophecy without allegory

The apostles teach us to see Christ in the patterns of Scripture: “the rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4). Typology honors real historical people and events that prefigure greater realities in Jesus.

- Start with clear apostolic examples (Hebrews; 1 Peter).

- Trace symbols returned to again and again (temple, priest, Passover, exodus).

- Test typological connections by textual links, not imagination.

- Let fulfilled prophecy strengthen hope and holiness (1 Peter 1:10–12).

Creation and chronology

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). The Bible’s presentation of creation, fall, flood, Babel, and the patriarchs is historical and foundational. Exodus 20:11 ties creation to the week, and the New Testament roots the gospel in a real Adam and a real fall (Romans 5:12–21).

- Teach creation with reverence for the text and courage amid controversy.

- Emphasize design, purpose, and goodness; reject naturalistic explanations (Psalm 33:6–9).

- Show how marriage, work, rest, and stewardship arise from creation (Genesis 1–2).

- Keep gospel connections explicit: the second Adam restores what the first Adam lost.

Gender, sexuality, and the body

From the beginning, God made humanity male and female (Genesis 1:27). Jesus affirms creation’s design for marriage and sexuality (Matthew 19:4–6). The body matters in holiness and hope (1 Corinthians 6:12–20; 15).

- Uphold chastity, fidelity, and the goodness of marriage and singleness (1 Corinthians 7).

- Speak truth with compassion, calling sinners to redemption and new identity (1 Corinthians 6:11).

- Ground personhood in the image of God, not in feelings or fashion.

- Anchor pastoral care in both conviction and patience (Galatians 6:1–2).

Justice, mercy, and public righteousness

Biblical justice is covenantal love in public. It refuses partiality, protects the weak, and honors God’s standards (Deuteronomy; Proverbs). “What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).

- Confront oppression and dishonesty without adopting secular ideologies (James 5:1–6).

- Combine personal responsibility with compassion (Proverbs 14:31; 2 Thessalonians 3:10–12).

- Care for widows, orphans, and strangers (James 1:27).

- Let the church be the church—holy, truthful, and generous (Acts 2:42–47).

Israel, the nations, and the end

God’s promises to Israel stand (Romans 11), and in Christ Gentiles are grafted in (Ephesians 2:11–22). Eschatology fuels mission and holiness, not speculation.

- Teach the hope of resurrection and Christ’s return clearly (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).

- Hold secondary timelines with humility; hold the blessed hope with certainty (Titus 2:13).

- Pray for Israel and the nations (Psalm 67).

- Read Revelation with cross-shaped realism and patient endurance (Revelation 1–3).

Spiritual gifts and ordered worship

Pursue love and earnestly desire the gifts (1 Corinthians 14:1). Edification and order are twin priorities. “Let all things be done in a proper and orderly way” (1 Corinthians 14:40).

- Teach 1 Corinthians 12–14 in full, neither quenching nor counterfeiting the Spirit.

- Aim every gathering at the building up of the body (1 Corinthians 14:26).

- Test everything; hold fast what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:19–21).

- Tie discernment to clear doctrine and godly character.

Church discipline and gentle restoration

Jesus prescribes a path for pursuing straying brothers and protecting the flock (Matthew 18:15–17). Discipline is an act of love toward the sinner, the church, and the name of Christ.

- Start with private, patient correction; escalate only as needed (Galatians 6:1).

- Combine firmness about sin with eagerness to forgive the repentant (2 Corinthians 2:5–11).

- Teach membership vows and responsibilities clearly.

- Pray and act for restoration at every step.

Suffering, persecution, and perseverance

“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). The whole counsel prepares saints to endure with hope, joy, and faithfulness.

- Preach the Psalms of lament to form resilient faith (Psalm 42–43).

- Frame trials under God’s fatherly hand (Hebrews 12:5–11; James 1:2–4).

- Share in the sufferings of Christ, awaiting glory (1 Peter 4:12–19).

- Strengthen the church to stand in the evil day (Ephesians 6:10–20).

Mission, evangelism, and culture

The gospel runs through cultures without being captured by any. We preach Christ with clarity, courage, and compassion, and we disciple converts into the full counsel.

- Keep the message fixed; adjust methods wisely (1 Corinthians 9:19–23).

- Train every member to share the gospel plainly (Acts 8:4).

- Plant and strengthen churches as mission’s endgame (Acts 14:21–23).

- Let holiness and love commend the message (Matthew 5:16).

Confessions, catechisms, and stability

Sound summaries help us teach the whole counsel with clarity. They do not replace Scripture; they guard and guide our hearing of it.

- Use a brief confession to anchor membership and teaching (2 Thessalonians 2:15).

- Catechize children, new believers, and leaders for shared language and convictions.

- Review doctrinal standards regularly to keep the church on the rails (1 Timothy 6:12).

- Hold the Bible over every statement; reform where Scripture requires.

Measuring fruit by faithfulness

We measure success by fidelity to the word and the formation of holy, loving, multiplying disciples. God alone gives the growth.

- Stewardship, not spectacle (1 Corinthians 4:2).

- Depth before breadth; health before hype (Colossians 1:28).

- Patience with process; perseverance in prayer (Luke 18:1).

- Confidence that God’s word will accomplish His purpose (Isaiah 55:10–11).