The lost treasure of the Gospel

Possibly every Sunday in church you hear words such as: “Anointing”, “power”, “glory”, “process”, “desert”, “holiness”, “tithe”, “offerings”. And while many of these concepts have their biblical place, the unfortunate reality is that in countless pulpits these words have taken center stage while other words—far more essential to the Christian faith—are heard less and less. Words like “Jesus”, “Gospel”, “Bible”, “grace”, and “love” should be the heartbeat of every sermon, yet in many places they have become rare. If your congregation still belongs to the second group, where Christ and His message remain the center, then that is a profound reason to rejoice.

The gospel, in its simplest and purest form, is the message proclaimed after the death and resurrection of Christ and originally taught by the apostles. It is not a complicated philosophy, nor a motivational speech, nor a collection of emotional experiences. The gospel is a historical and spiritual truth summarized in four foundational points:

1. Jesus, being God, became man and lived among us.
2. He died on the cross for our sins to free us from evil and reconcile us to God.
3. He was resurrected on the third day according to the Scriptures.
4. He promised that He will return for His people.

This is the entire gospel message condensed into four essential truths. And the great tragedy is that while the message is simple, the church has been entrusted with the responsibility to proclaim it faithfully—yet many have abandoned it. Why is this a problem? Because in countless congregations, the pulpit is no longer centered on Christ but on the first set of words mentioned earlier, words that may be used to manipulate emotions, maintain control, or promote superficial expressions of spirituality.

The apostle Paul made a powerful and sobering statement about preaching the gospel:

For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
1 Corinthians 9:16

This verse alone is a sermon. We could divide it into points, illustrations, and applications, but two phrases stand out forcefully: “for necessity is laid upon me” and “woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.” These words reveal the weight, urgency, and sacred responsibility that rests upon every preacher, leader, and believer. Paul understood that the gospel was not optional—it was a divine mandate. To preach anything else was to betray the One who called him.

There are no negotiations when it comes to the gospel. There is no superior message that can replace it. No motivational philosophy, prophetic declaration, or emotional experience can take its place. The gospel has been entrusted to the church, and if the church abandons it, then the church ceases to be what God designed it to be. When we move Christ from the center and elevate other messages in His place, we are in spiritual danger.

A certain Christian singer once said something very true:

There are many people who live waiting for a miracle, but the greatest miracle was done by Jesus on the cross more than two thousand years ago.

This is the miracle the church must return to announcing—not the miracle of temporary circumstances changing, but the eternal miracle of salvation through Christ. When Paul said, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel,” the expression “woe to me” was not casual. It was an interjection of fear, pain, and lament. He was declaring divine judgment upon anyone who uses the sacred pulpit to preach anything other than the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The church of today must awaken. It must recover the word “Gospel” in its sermons, its teachings, and its mission. The message of the cross cannot be treated as an accessory or something secondary—it is the very foundation of our faith. Sadly, in many pulpits the gospel has become like a lost treasure buried beneath emotionalism, prosperity messages, legalism, and entertainment.

Let us return to the simplicity and power of Christ. Let us preach His life, His death, His resurrection, and His return. And let us say with the apostle Paul: “Necessity is laid upon me.”