God called us to preach the Word—and that is what I had the privilege to do this year at the Faganofi Seventh-day Adventist Church in Papua New Guinea.
After returning from preaching around the country, I spoke to a pastor who claimed that Moses and the prophets did not mention Jesus in their preaching, so we do not have to either. This excited my interest to research biblically to determine whether we are called not only to mention Jesus but also to point listeners to Him as our Lord and Savior in all our preaching.
Should we mention Jesus?
In today’s evolving landscape, should we mention Jesus when we preach? Some argue that we can deliver a meaningful sermon without explicitly mentioning the name of Jesus. However, by studying the New Testament’s teachings, particularly in the post-Resurrection era, one finds a resounding imperative: we are called to uplift Christ and the good news of the gospel in every sermon.
Throughout the New Testament, there is a consistent appeal to preach Christ crucified. This mandate is not just a suggestion but a foundational principle upon which the Christian faith is built. In John 12:32, Jesus Himself declares, “ ‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ ”1 This proclamation underscores the centrality of Christ in drawing humanity to the heart of God’s redemptive plan. Professor Gennifer Benjamin Brooks says it perfectly: “The need of every heart is the Good News of the Gospel.”2
Acts 4:12 reinforces this truth by stating, “ ‘Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.’ ” It is through Christ alone that humanity finds reconciliation with God. In Acts 5:42, we read, “And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (NASB 1995). The center of every biblical sermon is Jesus Christ.
The essence of Scripture
In John 5:39, 40, Jesus admonishes the Pharisees, saying, “ ‘You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.’ ” This passage elucidates that the Scriptures themselves bear witness to Jesus Christ. Thus, to neglect the mention of Jesus in our preaching is to overlook the essence of Scripture, which ultimately points to Him.
The apostle Paul encapsulates this principle succinctly in 1 Corinthians 2:2, stating, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” It is through the proclamation of Christ’s sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection that lives are transformed and souls are reconciled to God.
The greatest sermons are the ones that point us to Jesus. The best sermon points are the ones that uplift Jesus.
The assertion that we can preach without mentioning Jesus is a departure from the foundational principles of Christian proclamation. Scripture unequivocally mandates the exaltation of Christ in every sermon. As leaders, we bear the sacred responsibility of shepherding God’s flock and proclaiming the whole counsel of His Word. In fulfilling this mandate, let us not shy away from declaring the name above all names, for in Him alone is the hope, salvation, and abundant life our world desperately needs.
Eternal peace
As we journey in ministry, may we remain steadfast in our commitment to preaching Christ crucified, for it is through Him that lives are transformed and souls find eternal peace.
- Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations in this article are from the New International Version.
- Gennifer Benjamin Brooks, Good News Preaching: Offering the Gospel in Every Sermon (Cleveland, OH: Pilgrim Press, 2011), viii.
