There was one clear subject Peter, under direction of the Holy Spirit, intended to discuss in his preaching on the day of Pentecost—Jesus of Nazareth. In closing his quotation from the Old Testament prophet, Joel, Peter said, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (21). Paul would later quote that same passage (Romans 10:13) and then write, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). On this day, the preacher, Peter, knows his hearers must come to know who that Lord is. As he concludes his sermon he definitively affirms to them: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (36).

As preachers of the Gospel, we must never lose sight of the fact that Jesus is “a man approved of God” (22). In his class, “Expository Preaching From Acts,” brother Winkler once gave a six point development of Peter’s sermon on Jesus in Acts 2. He outlined the points in this way. Jesus is a man approved of God… 1) …by the miracles He performed (22), 2) …by His resurrection (24), 3) …by the prophecy He fulfilled (30ff), 4) …by His virgin birth (30, “the fruit of his loins,” cf. 2 Samuel 7:12-13, Luke 1:26-32, Isaiah 7:14), 5) …by His exaltation (33), and 6) …by His having been declared by God to be both Lord and Christ (36).

When the disciples were forced from Jerusalem they “went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). But, what word did they preach? The next verse informs us that “…Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them” (Acts 8:5). The word preached was the Gospel, the “good news” about Jesus Christ.” Later in Acts 8, we are told the Samaritans “…believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ,” and “they were baptized, both men and women” (8:12). Hence, the preaching of Jesus must necessarily include more than just the good life of Jesus. It quite obviously also includes teaching regarding His kingdom, the church, and the terms of salvation including baptism for the remission of sins. To preach these things as well as other necessary truths from the New Testament is to be Christ-centered in our preaching.

Preacher friend, have you listened to your own preaching lately? Where is it centered? Are you talking about everything except Jesus? Certainly, if our sermons are filled with the philosophies of men, Christ is not the center of our preaching. It may even be the case that we cease to be Christ-centered in our preaching when we become too caught up in issues-oriented preaching. Don’t get me wrong, as preachers we must address the issues of our times, but when we become more focused on what is wrong with the Lord’s church than what is right with it we will not win souls for Christ! Paul addressed the issues of his day, but he had one driving force behind his preaching. To the Corinthians he wrote, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). May we always do the same.