"And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned [neglected] to declare to you the whole counsel of God.” Acts 20:25-27

Last time we considered what it means to declare the whole counsel of God, and what is at stake for not doing so. This time, let us consider how to be sure declaring the whole counsel of God is not being neglected.

Some maintain that preaching expository sermons ensures that the entire counsel of God is being declared. Is that an ironclad guarantee? Sadly, no. First, even if a preacher is working his way through a passage as part of working his way through a book of the Bible, the whole counsel of God is being neglected when the message is legalism (do good), or moralism (being good), instead of Christ and the gospel (who Christ is, and what He has done, for we who are incapable of doing or being good!).

Preaching through passages and books of the Bible does not guarantee that the whole counsel of God is being declared, since the entire Bible (correctly understood) is about Christ and the gospel. It is not only possible, but far too common for preachers (if we dare call them that) to promote “Christless Christianity” under the guise of expository preaching.

May preachers refuse to neglect preaching the whole counsel of God and may parishioners not tolerate anything less.

Next Time: Why churches tolerate this kind of neglect.