The Gospel — Keep it Simple!
We seem to have made The Gospel quite complicated.
We often appear to be “making a meal” of presenting The Gospel, making it full of complex Christianese buzzwords.
I really don’t think we make it easy for unchurched people to understand some of our terminology and by doing that we possibly lose as many as we win!
I feel The LORD, in calling us to prepare for the harvest season, is saying to “Keep it Simple!”
The average man on the street doesn’t understand erudite theologically correct explanations of The Gospel.
He does understand a simple, clear Gospel message, spoken with conviction and in plain English!
William Booth, addressing a graduation service at his training school for young evangelists put it very simply:
“When addressing Mary and her mother, speak to Mary lest what you say to them goes over both their heads!”
This was said of William Seymour, the leader of the Azusa Street Revival in America,
“He was meek and plain spoken and no orator.
He spoke the common language of the uneducated man. He might speak for three quarters of an hour with no more emotionalism than a fence post!
He was no arm-waving thunderer by any stretch of the imagination.
The only way to explain the results is this: that his teachings were so simple that those opposed to organised religion accepted it.
It was the simplicity that attracted them!”
Evan Roberts rarely preached, but when he did it was entirely under the unction of Holy Spirit and simple enough for everyone present to understand.
The Jeffreys brothers, Derek Prince, even Smith Wigglesworth, when they preached — none of them were passionate orators, none overdosed on charisma, and look at the success they all had!
Every one of them kept it simple, and The LORD is saying again today, even in this technically erudite generation, KEEP IT SIMPLE!
And, as Paul said,
“And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:4-5.
I would emphasise the ‘demonstration of the Spirit and of power’ as I believe that presenting The Gospel simply WILL be followed by signs, wonders, miracles, AND a vast harvest of Salvations.
God doesn’t want fully trained, theologically correct, powerful orators — He is looking for willing hearts, empowered by The Holy Spirit, who are willing to ‘look foolish’ for Him.
God uses the foolish to confound the wise, He uses the children to silence the adults, He uses the pauper to speak to the king!
~ Chris G. Bennett
Chris Bennett came to salvation in 1962 but didn’t begin ministry until 2007 — a late-comer! Now mandated by The LORD to prophesy and open old wells of revival in the U.K., but especially in Wales. He has also operated Healing Rooms, and worked with deliverance teams, all with his wife, Linda. Happily now doing whatever The LORD asks of them! Founder, with wife Linda, of their ministry The Upper Room Encounter.
Good Morning Bro. Chris!
Happy to know of your deliverance Ministry. I appreciate your post. I hope to know you better.
Making the gospel too complicated may indeed raise a barrier to salvation, but the main problem today is the presentation of a soft, man-pleasing gospel, which cannot save, even though it may fill the pews.
When I say I always,no matter circumstances keep ‘you shall not lie, not steal etc’ People use to ask ” uh,are you religious?!” When I answer “is not this for everyone?” They often look astonished, because they most often “think” that they do these things but when (gentle) confronted with someone that really do it,they got something to consider, and that is what the gospel is about,doing the Word not only “hearing” it and these small “seeds” you plant here and there is all you have to do. Just give a sedd and continue your walk with the Lord. It is very simple.