I care about the Church, and I am concerned about the message we are sharing. No church is perfect. Sometimes we lose focus and give too much attention to things that will not matter in heaven.
Calling ourselves a “Bible-believing church” is not enough. As Canadian Pastor Henry Blackaby reminds us, we must also teach the Bible faithfully. This is not about attacking churches or pastors. It is about asking an honest question: Are we preaching the message Jesus gave us?
What Did Jesus Preach?
Jesus preached the good news of God’s kingdom. He called people to turn away from sin and believe the good news. He taught, called disciples, and healed the sick. His message was not just about hearing something encouraging. It called people to follow Him and let Him rule in their lives. (Matthew 4:17–23; Mark 1:14–15)
The word “gospel” means “good news.” The Bible calls it the gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel of God’s grace, the gospel of God, the glorious gospel, the gospel of salvation, and the gospel of peace. These are not separate messages. They help us see different parts of the same good news. (Mark 1:1; Acts 20:24; Romans 1:1; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 6:15)
That good news calls us to turn from sin, trust Jesus, and receive the new life God offers through His grace. Salvation comes through Jesus alone. He also warned that the way to life is narrow. We must not leave out His call to repent and believe. (Acts 4:12; Matthew 7:14; Mark 1:15)
Through Jesus, we can be free from sin’s control and learn to live for God. We belong to His kingdom, which is not of this world. (Romans 6:18–19; Galatians 4:3–9; John 18:36)
Are We Leaving Out Important Truths?
During prayer, I began thinking about how little we sometimes hear about the Beatitudes. When I first became a believer, I wanted to know the truth and learn how to follow Jesus every day. I still do.
Our churches include new believers, longtime believers, and people who do not yet know Jesus. All of us need clear Bible teaching. When did we last hear a message about the Beatitudes, salvation, grace, or the Holy Spirit? Do we speak honestly about sin and our need to turn away from it?
Encouragement matters, but we also need truth that helps us grow. We should ask whether our messages help people follow Jesus or simply make them feel comfortable.
Paul warned that people would turn away from sound teaching and seek teachers who tell them what they want to hear. He also warned against accepting a different spirit or a different gospel just because a message sounds good. (2 Timothy 4:3–4; 2 Corinthians 11:2–4)
I sometimes feel uneasy about messages I hear in church, on television, or online. I ask myself whether I am being too harsh. My desire is not to judge others. I want to support my church and its pastors, but my first commitment is to Jesus.
What if we have accepted or taught a different gospel without realizing it? Wouldn’t we want to know? I would want someone to help me see the truth with love.
Let’s Return to God’s Word
Paul told Timothy to study carefully and teach God’s Word correctly. We must do more than repeat what we have heard. We need to understand Scripture and handle it faithfully. (2 Timothy 2:15)
In his sermon “Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth,” C. H. Spurgeon warned against twisting or misusing Scripture. The goal of teaching is not to impress or entertain people. It is to lead them to Jesus.
Paul’s warning to the Galatians was serious: they were turning away from the gospel of grace to a different gospel. If they needed to examine their message, we should be willing to examine ours too. (Galatians 1:6–9)
We can learn from the Bereans. They welcomed Paul’s teaching, but they also checked the Scriptures every day to see whether it was true. We should test what we hear against God’s Word, not accept it simply because the speaker is popular or the message sounds good. (Acts 17:11)
As a minister, I put my heart into this work, and I know many others do too. I am not questioning anyone’s care or effort. I am asking all of us to look honestly at what we believe and preach. Where change is needed, let us be willing to change.
Romans 13:11 reminds us that it is time to wake up. Like the sons of Issachar, who understood their times and knew what Israel should do, we need to pay attention and respond wisely. (1 Chronicles 12:32)
Let’s return to Jesus and His Word. Let’s speak the truth with love, teach the good news clearly, and help people follow Him in everyday life.
The question is not just, “Does our message sound good?” It is, “Is our message faithful to Jesus?”
Minister A Francine Green, November 2026