What steps can you take to ensure you are preaching the same gospel? Reading the Verse in Context “Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.” — 1 Corinthians 15:11 Why Paul’s Reminder Matters • Paul unites himself with the other apostles: same message, same authority, same Lord. • The Corinthian believers are proof the unchanging gospel saves; their faith rests on the word preached, not the preacher’s identity. • In a culture of competing voices, Paul’s point is simple: stick to the apostolic gospel you first received. Core Gospel Essentials 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 defines the non-negotiables: • “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” • “He was buried.” • “He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” Hold these truths together, and you have the heartbeat of the gospel. Practical Steps for Staying True • Anchor Everything in Scripture – 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is God-breathed…” Let Scripture set the content, tone, and boundaries of your message. – Make a habit of asking, “Where is that in the text?” • Keep the Apostolic Outline in Sight – Before preaching, run your notes through 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. If death, burial, and resurrection are missing, adjust. – Jude 3 reminds us to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” • Refuse Add-Ons and Take-Aways – Galatians 1:6-9 warns against “another gospel.” Additions dilute; subtractions distort. – Guard against cultural pressure to soften sin, replace repentance, or downplay the cross. • Emphasize Christ, Not the Messenger – 2 Corinthians 4:5: “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord.” – Personal stories can illustrate, but they should never eclipse the Savior’s story. • Rely on the Holy Spirit’s Power – 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 shows Paul trusting in “demonstration of the Spirit and of power,” not clever rhetoric. – Prayerful dependence ensures the message stays supernatural, not merely motivational. • Test the Message in Community – Acts 17:11 commends Bereans who searched the Scriptures daily “to see if these teachings were true.” – Invite mature believers to review outlines and offer correction when needed. • Maintain Doctrinal Accountability – Titus 2:1: “But as for you, speak the things that are consistent with sound doctrine.” – Submit to church elders and confessions that echo apostolic teaching. Living the Gospel You Preach • Integrity reinforces credibility; hypocrisy undermines it (1 Peter 3:15-16). • Let the risen Christ shape attitudes, relationships, and priorities, so hearers see the message embodied. • A consistent life shouts the same gospel your lips declare. By gripping the apostolic essentials, guarding against distortions, and grounding every sermon in Scripture, you can echo Paul’s confidence: “This is what we preach, and this is what you believed.” |
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