The Gospel or Gimmicks?
Opening Up Romans—9
Exploring the riches of God’s grace, one passage at a time.
In the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, we held on to these words: “I am not ashamed of the gospel” (Rom. 1:16). Since then, life has moved quickly—a second son leaving for college and another important Christian voice, Voddie Baucham, passed away suddenly. It’s been an emotional season. In these weeks, the gospel has been our anchor: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
I want to say to you as your pastor: this is all I have to offer. I wish for better buildings, larger classrooms, additional talented musicians, and more resources for ministries among us and to our community. But what I have is the gospel—the power of God for salvation. This message meets the deepest needs of our souls and is enough for any situation. The gospel is sufficient, free, and available to all who believe (v. 16).
In an age of uncertainty, distraction, and gimmicks, the gospel is our anchor and our call as a church family.
A Gospel Church is a Preaching Church
To be a gospel church today means to be a preaching church. Paul was “set apart for the gospel” (1:1), promised by the prophets (1:2), and defined as Jesus Christ and His work (1:3–4). His goal: to “bring about the obedience of faith among all the nations” (1:5–6). Preaching is God’s chosen method to bring salvation. As one Puritan put it:
Without the preaching of the gospel, there is no salvation. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation, not written in leaves, but preached.
This responsibility extends to all of us. By hearing and proclaiming God’s Word, we are called to be witnesses of Jesus Christ in word and deed (1 Peter 2:9). Preaching is not outdated; it is timeless. Our world may favor visual media and clever gimmicks, but God’s Word alone has power to save.
A Gospel Church is a Confident Church
Being a gospel church also means being a confident church. God demonstrates His power through the gospel, even when the world sees only weakness or foolishness (1 Cor. 1:18–25). We do not need flashy programs or worldly marketing to make Christianity appealing. Christ crucified is the power of God, and His Word alone changes hearts.
Are we confident enough to trust that God’s gospel is sufficient, even when numbers or appearances suggest otherwise?
A Gospel Church is a Welcoming Church
Finally, a gospel church is a welcoming church. When we began OURC 25 years ago, someone asked me: “Who is our target demographic?” My answer then is the same as it is today; it’s really simple : sinners! The gospel does not discriminate. It’s for “everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16).
To live this out, start by welcoming one another and showing genuine love within our congregation. As we grow in love for one another, we’ll be prepared to reach a world in desperate need of Christ.
This is All We Have!
This is all I have, beloved: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (v. 16). This is all you have!
Do you want gimmicks, or do you want the gospel?
God calls us to be a gospel church in an age of gimmicks. Let us be a preaching, confident, and welcoming church. Will you answer the call?