“…you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God... And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.”
1 Peter 1:23-25
Sadly, we live in a world that celebrates polished speech over solid truth. The result is that we now find ourselves surrounded by the notion that how a message is delivered carries more weight than what is said.
This trend becomes particularly troubling when applied to the words of Scripture. In 1 Corinthians 2:4, the Apostke Paul reminds us of the simplicity and power of his preaching: “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” He understood that if the method of communication becomes the focal point, the message first becomes diluted and eventually lost altogether.
The Berean Jews serve as a profound example for us in Acts 17:11. They received the message from Paul and Silas with an eagerness to discover truth, and their nobility came from searching the Scriptures daily to confirm what they heard. They did not rely on subjective measures—feelings, traditions, or popular opinion—to assess the validity of Paul’s message. They tested it solely against the Word of God. Here, the CONTENT, not the delivery style or eloquence of the speaker, was paramount. In 2 Timothy 2:8, Paul states succinctly, “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead,descended from David. This is my gospel.”
In contrast, much of today’s culture demands messages from pastors and preachers that are palatable, gentle, and affirming above all else. The danger in this expectation is that the uncompromising truth of Scripture becomes overshadowed or, worse, lost completely due to a desire to appease the masses rather than to equip the saints for the work of ministry to build up Christ’s Body & Bride (Eph 4:11-13).
When the Gospel becomes watered down and the truth is trimmed to avoid offense, all hope is lost. Christ did not temper His words to match cultural expectations or societal sensitivities. He offended the masses saying, “Truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:53-54).
And to His disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). And to this who reject Christ’s ambassadors, heralds, and message, “If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town” ( Matthew 10:13-15). King Jesus didn’t pull any punches.
The message of the cross is both a call to humility and repentance; it is not comfortable or pleasing to the natural human inclination. That’s why we can’t prioritize or rely upon the eloquence or delivery of our message, but must rely completely upon the Holy Spirt to accomplish what He intends. Our part is to be faith sowers of the seed.
Consider the teachings of Christ and His apostles, who often spoke in terms designed not to please but to prod. Peter at Pentecost was direct, charging his audience with the responsibility for the crucifixion of Jesus (Acts 2:36). His words struck deeply, prompting the people to respond, “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). His boldness in delivering truth brought conviction and ultimately salvation to many.
Here we see a model of communication grounded in truth rather than technique. As Paul instructs in Galatians 1:10, “Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” The integrity of our message to a world in need of salvation depends on whether we prioritize truth over method, God’s approval over man’s applause.
The extreme overemphasis today on tone and method tempts us to mold biblical truth into a perverse form that never confronts, never convicts, and never calls for repentance. In succumbing to this approach, churches and preachers create what Paul warned Timothy about: a people with “itching ears,” who gather around themselves teachers who will tell them what they want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3).
The Word of God, however, is likened to a “double-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12), piercing and exposing. This is not a picture of soothing speech but of potent truth capable of transforming lives. When we prize the package over the power of the message, we move dangerously toward the realm of manipulation and away from the authority of Scripture.
In truth, the Gospel requires not only clear speech but also the courage to speak what God has said, no matter how unpopular or uncomfortable. It challenges us to be like the Bereans, who were honored for their noble-mindedness, not because they demanded a message that suited them but because they sought to understand and obey what God had already established in Scripture. This is the Berean mindset, one that does not let style obscure substance.
Therefore, we must communicate the Gospel with integrity, focusing on the TRUTH God has revealed in His Word. Let us be bold, unashamed, and faithful in delivering that truth, trusting in the Holy Spirit to bring conviction and change through the power of God’s Word, not through our cleverness or style.
The message of salvation through Christ cannot be diluted. Let us echo Paul’s humility and power in saying, “I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). In this resolve, we find both our purpose and our power, honoring King Jesus by holding fast to the truth and letting it speak for itself through us.
Blessings and love,
Kevin M. Kelley
Powerful! Holy Spirit let your transforming power change me daily to become all that God has created me to be.
Praise God!