Preaching Daily - November 23

Today's Reading...

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. - 1 Corinthians 2:2

Today's Devotional Insight...

Preaching must be gospel-focused
Michael Duduit

Arturo Azurdia III was the featured speaker in Southeastern Baptist Seminary’s recent Adams Lecture Series. Azurdia is associate professor of pastoral theology at Western Seminary in Portland, Ore., and the senior minister of word and worship at Trinity Church.

During his first lecture on “Christ-centered exposition,” Azurdia encouraged students to have the same goal in their preaching and teaching as the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:2. “This is what it means to preach Christianly. Every message needs to be connected to Jesus Christ and Him crucified,” he said.

Azurdia warned against catering to the desires of a crowd instead of focusing on the Gospel. “We are living in a day now when people from our own subculture are telling us if you want to have a really successful church then find out what the people want and give that to them,” he said. “This is why we must never allow the pew to dictate to the pulpit because the pew will never demand the Gospel.”

Although the world sees the message of the cross as foolish, Azurdia urged students to stick to the clear Gospel. “You are to preach a crucified Christ in a crucified style,” he said. “Don’t attempt to make the Gospel glorious. It is glorious enough without any of us.”

(Read the full article here.)

Today’s Pastoral Resource...

Spice

SermonSpice exists to equip pastors, church leaders, and worship leaders with powerful visual media to spice up sermons, teachings, and worship experiences. Use this free download to spice up your service this weekend.