A Useful Test For Evaluating Sermons And Ministry: If A Sermon May Be Preached In A Mosque Or Synagogue It is Not A Christian Message

Years ago I remember hearing an elder say that if my sermon could be accepted in a Jewish synagogue then it is not a distinctively Christian sermon. I’ve thought a lot about that over the years. What makes Christian sermons distinctively Christian? What damage could be done in the life of the Christian church if our sermons lose their distinctively Christian character? To answer that, of course, one would need to understand and appreciate what makes a gospel message distinctively “gospel”.
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To be sure, the word “gospel” is used differently in the Scriptures. Robert Godfrey provides a helpful observation: read more»

REV. CHRISTOPHER GORDON was ordained to the Ministry of the Word in October 2004. Rev. Gordon is a native of Central California, and prior to answering God’s call into the ministry, he was a high school Bible teacher in the central Californian valley. Rev. Gordon, having a love for Reformed theology, pursued further theological studies and received his Master of Divinity degree from Westminster Seminary in Escondido, CA, where he studied under such scholars as Drs. Michael Horton, W. Robert Godfrey, R.S. Clark, S.M. Baugh, David VanDrunen and D.G. Hart. He pastored at the Lynden United Reformed Church from 2004 to July 2012, and is presently Preaching Pastor at the Escondido United Reformed Church.