I find it clear, not just logically, but biblically clear that the church should be rooted in the gospel. However, to be gospel centered is to be word centered. Christians are charged to spread the gospel. The pastors of our church have said several times that "...we have the most exciting and best news in the world." Therefore, we should share that news, or that gospel word. The Church must be gospel centered.
This is true no matter what the church is doing. Whether it be evangelism, discipleship, or teaching, the content is consistently the Christian gospel, and context is always our belonging in the Church. Our identity as Christians is defined by the gospel and how we do Church, or how we live in community with one another.
Being gospel-centered actually means two things. First, it must be word-centered because the gospel is a word - the gospel is news, a message. Second, it means being missions-centered because the gospel is a word to be proclaimed - the gospel is good news, a missionary message. As the book of Acts says that Philip preached the gospel to "all the towns he came to." The gospel is a missional commitment.
When the Church is rooted in the gospel, the church becomes rooted in what the early church was rooted in. Paul was eager to preach the gospel (Romans 1:15). And Paul was not ashamed of the gospel.
The Church has and will be rooted in the gospel. If we are not gospel centered, then we become what Paul wrote to the Conrinthians "If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied." Christ is the gospel; He alone is the good news of this world. If that is not true then we are of all people most to be pitied.
Coming soon pt. 2 "The Vigilant Church"
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