The Bible’s Own Claim About Its Center

Jesus Himself taught that He is the subject of Scripture. “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself” (Luke 24:27). He confirmed it again: “Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms” (Luke 24:44).

He also said, “You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me” (John 5:39). Scripture is God-breathed, accurate in all it affirms, and truthful in every part; it tells one unified, literal story with Christ at the center (2 Timothy 3:16–17; Hebrews 1:1–3; Revelation 19:10).

Apostolic Preaching Was Christ-Centered

The apostles resolved to preach Christ, not themselves. “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). “For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:5).

Their gospel was clear and scriptural: “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). This pattern runs through Acts, from Pentecost (Acts 2:22–36) to Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:16–41).

- They proclaimed the person and work of Jesus as fulfillment.

- They called for repentance and faith in His name.

- They anchored every claim in the written Word.

- They aimed for maturity in Christ: “We proclaim Him… so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ” (Colossians 1:28).

Why Christ-Focused Preaching Nourishes the Church

Faith comes from hearing Christ. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). When Christ is held up, the Spirit transforms His people: “we… are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Grace trains us. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men. It instructs us to renounce ungodliness… while we wait for the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11–13). Christ-centered preaching grows holy, hopeful, courageous disciples.

- It anchors assurance in His finished work, not human effort.

- It fuels obedience through love for the Savior.

- It equips mission by magnifying the only Name that saves (Acts 4:12).

- It unites the church around the gospel of first importance (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).

How Every Text Leads to Jesus Without Forcing It

Christ fulfills the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). This does not flatten the rich diversity of Scripture; it brings each part to its God-intended goal.

- Law: exposes sin, drives to Christ. “So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ” (Galatians 3:24). Application moves from command to Christ’s obedience, cross, and Spirit-powered renewal.

- Narrative: shows God’s promises and patterns fulfilled in Jesus. The bronze serpent lifts our eyes to the cross (Numbers 21; John 3:14–15). Davidic kingship finds its righteous King in Christ (2 Samuel 7; Luke 1:32–33).

- Poetry/Wisdom: paints the character and path that Jesus embodies and grants. The Lord is our Shepherd; Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). Wisdom’s call culminates in Christ, “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24).

- Prophecy: foretells His sufferings and glories (1 Peter 1:10–12). “He was pierced for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus declares, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21).

- Epistles: apply the gospel to the church’s life in Christ. Commands flow from union with Him (Colossians 3:1–4; Ephesians 4:1).

This approach honors literal history and authorial intent while tracing the Spirit’s inspired design toward Christ (Hebrews 10:1; 1 Corinthians 10:4).

Guardrails Against Moralism and Self-Help

Scripture equips us “so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17). Detached from Christ, sermons drift into mere advice or activism, which empties the cross of its power (Galatians 2:21).

- Preach the text in context; then locate the text in the whole-canon storyline.

- Move from the text’s truth to Christ’s person and work; then to Spirit-enabled obedience.

- Make the hero Jesus, not the preacher or the listener.

- Let the Word do the work: “Is not My word like fire… and like a hammer that shatters a rock?” (Jeremiah 23:29).

Practical Helps for Preachers and Hearers

Preachers carry a clear charge. “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). Do so with the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27), in the aim the Bible itself gives: “these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ… and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31).

Listeners share in the holy work. Receive the Word as the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Test all things by Scripture, like the Bereans (Acts 17:11).

- For preachers:

- Show the text’s meaning, then show the Savior’s glory.

- Tie application to union with Christ, not bare willpower.

- Pray and depend on the Spirit who “will glorify Me” (John 16:14).

- For hearers:

- Listen for the gospel, not merely goals.

- Look for how the text leads to repentance and faith in Christ.

- Seek transformation in heart, habits, and hope through Him.

Christ in All of Life and Mission

Christ-centered sermons train whole-life disciples. The gospel shapes marriages, work, justice, mercy, and endurance, because He reigns and He redeems (Colossians 2:6–7; Philippians 2:9–11).

This preaching also advances witness. “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). The same Christ who saves sinners also strengthens saints to disciple others (Matthew 28:18–20; 2 Timothy 2:2).

- Evangelism: clear, cross-centered appeals rooted in the text.

- Discipleship: teaching to obey all He commanded, by His grace.

- Perseverance: fixing eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:2).

The Sermon and the Savior

A sermon that misses Jesus misses the Bible’s heartbeat. A sermon that exalts Jesus feeds faith, builds love, and advances the mission. The Spirit delights to magnify the Son through the Word, to the glory of the Father, for the joy and holiness of the church (Ephesians 3:8; Hebrews 13:20–21).

Christ is the exegetical goal and theological center of the canon. Genesis 3:15 promises a serpent-crushing Seed; Revelation reveals the Lamb on the throne (Revelation 5). The Word who “was God” and “became flesh” (John 1:1, 14) binds the story in one redemptive arc.

- Covenant and promise: Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and New Covenants converge in Christ (2 Samuel 7; Jeremiah 31:31–34; Luke 22:20).

- Theme lines: kingdom, temple, sacrifice, priesthood, wisdom, exile/return find completion in Jesus (Matthew 12:6; John 2:19–21; Hebrews 7–10).

Typology without Speculation

Typology recognizes God-ordained patterns that point forward to Christ. It respects textual cues and canonical confirmation (Hebrews 8:5; 10:1; 1 Corinthians 10:1–4).

- Guardrails:

- Root types in authorial intent and redemptive-historical context.

- Prefer New Testament-sanctioned connections; extend carefully with thematic parallels.

- Keep the antitype greater than the type; fulfill, do not flatten.

Law and Gospel in Holy Harmony

Law reveals God’s will and our need; gospel reveals God’s provision in Christ. Both stand, each in its place.

- The law convicts and guides (Romans 3:20; Psalm 19:7–11).

- The gospel justifies and empowers (Romans 1:16–17; Galatians 2:20).

- Sermons should move from the text’s demand to Christ’s deliverance to Spirit-led obedience (Ezekiel 36:26–27; Titus 2:11–14).

Preaching Christ in Hard Texts

Difficult passages still serve His glory and our good.

- Imprecatory psalms: frame justice in Christ’s cross and coming judgment; teach lament and trust (Psalm 2; Romans 12:19; Acts 4:25–28).

- Violence and conquest: locate within God’s holy justice and redemptive plan, culminating at the cross where justice and mercy meet (Psalm 85:10; Romans 3:25–26).

- Genealogies and measurements: trace covenant fidelity and the line to Christ; echo God’s ordered dwelling with His people (Matthew 1:1–17; Ezekiel 40–48; John 1:14).

Christ and Christian Ethics

Ethics anchored in Christ are more than rules; they are resurrection life.

- Identity: union with Christ precedes imitation of Christ (Colossians 3:1–4).

- Power: the Spirit applies Christ’s victory to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4; Galatians 5:16–25).

- Aim: love shaped by the cross as the law’s fulfillment (Romans 13:8–10; John 13:34–35).

The Trinity in the Pulpit

Gospel preaching is Trinitarian. The Father sends, the Son accomplishes, the Spirit applies.

- The Father planned redemption (Ephesians 1:3–6).

- The Son accomplished redemption (Ephesians 1:7–12).

- The Spirit seals and empowers (Ephesians 1:13–14; John 16:14).

Word, Sacraments, and Christ’s Presence

Preaching, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper proclaim one gospel, holding Christ before the church.

- The preached Word generates faith (Romans 10:17).

- Baptism signifies union with Christ (Romans 6:3–5).

- The Supper proclaims His death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26).

Expository and Topical, One Christ

Whether walking verse by verse or addressing a topic, Scripture must govern and Christ must be the center.

- Expository: aim for the text’s main point as the sermon’s main point in Christ.

- Topical: weave multiple texts responsibly, landing on Christ’s person and work.

Preaching to the Conscience

The Spirit uses the Word to pierce and heal (Hebrews 4:12–13).

- Specific conviction tied to the text’s claims.

- Concrete hope rooted in Christ’s blood and righteousness (1 John 2:1–2).

- Clear pathways of repentance and faith in His promises.

Measuring Faithful Preaching

Fruit is spiritual, not merely statistical.

- Fidelity to the text and the gospel (Galatians 1:6–9; Jude 3).

- Growth in holiness, unity, and mission (Ephesians 4:11–16).

- Perseverance in trials with eyes on Christ (Hebrews 12:1–3).

Building a Christ-Centered Culture

Carry Christ from pulpit to pew to home.

- Congregational singing saturated with “the word of Christ” (Colossians 3:16).

- Catechesis and small groups rehearsing the gospel storyline.

- Testimony and evangelism that plainly announce Jesus as Lord and Savior (Acts 2:36; Acts 4:12).

The End and the Beginning

“The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). From first promise to final glory, the Scriptures present the Son. Preach Him, trust Him, and follow Him, until the day faith becomes sight and the Lamb is all in all.