What is a Gospel Centered Church?

Is there really such a thing as a Christian church that is not also gospel-centered? Is it possible for elders and pastors to lead churches into areas that are not gospel-centered? Yes.

However, it is not that these churches have fallen into some sort of blatant heresy. Most likely, it is that over time, they have let the message of the gospel slip in favor of another way to try and draw people or even change people.

Replacements for Gospel Motivation

A few of the most prevalent replacements that can crowd out the gospel:

1. Moralism – using fear, rules and commands as the basis for discouraging sin and encouraging holy living, which sadly, results in increases self-righteousness among the rule-keepers and despair among those who feel they can’t live up.
2. Pragmatism – when in an effort to reach new people, church leaders spend more time focused on techniques of useful principals than actually pointing people to the only thing that has real power to change both hearts and lives.
3. Activism – out of a desire to get involved in the public square and influence policy, Christians of every political stripe often begin to equate the spread of the gospel with the growth of a particular political party.

What is tricky is that usually these -isms start with good intentions and noble aspirations: a deep desire to help people change and grow, a desire to reach out to people who are far from God, or a desire to use influence to change the way things are done. Unfortunately, when something other than Jesus is our primary goal, (no matter how good that goal is), we will eventually start taking shortcuts to get what we want accomplished.

Marks of a Gospel-Centered Church

A gospel-centered church understands that change or transformation of any kind, especially authentic heart-transformation, cannot happen apart from the gospel of grace.

A gospel-centered church roots itself and keeps the focus of all activity – teaching, worship, outreach, social activism and discipleship – honed in on the gospel: the riches of the grace of God available because of the sacrificial death of Jesus for sinners.

Because of this, a gospel-centered church is committed to:

• Reading and teaching the entire Bible in light of the gospel message
• Preaching the gospel to believers, not just unbelievers
• Leaders applying the gospel to themselves first; church leaders are a model of repentance
• Developing a leadership culture marked by ever increasing “gospel-astonishment”
• Being known for an atmosphere of grace (gospel-centered churches are a safe place for seekers, skeptics and those outside the faith)
• Producing people who not only know the doctrine of the gospel but who also love the person of Jesus Christ

The Heartbeat of Redeemer City Church

These are some of the themes that we are committed to living together at Redeemer City Church. At the end of the day, grace isn’t just something we “get” and the cross is not just some object in time. These things hinge on a person.

Jesus.

Taken from “What is a Gospel-Centered Church?” from the Redeemer City Church Vision Packet (adapted from “Christ, City, Church” by Jonathan McIntosh) - download here