Isn’t Everyone Gospel-Centered?

If you didn’t know any better, it’d seem like everyone’s become “gospel-centered.” This should be a cause for great celebration. But in all the talk about gospel-centrality, it’s become a phrase without any meaning. Afterall, what Christians intentionally marginalize the gospel? 

Some ministries profess themselves as gospel-centered because they’re evangelistic, or theologically-robust, or from a Reformed background. But none of those inherently lead to gospel-centered ministry. For the sake of clarity, here are three postures your ministry can take towards the gospel. 

Gospel Absent 

Gospel absent ministries come in two varieties: liberalism and legalism. Liberal Christianity has changed enough of their doctrine that it denies Christian orthodoxy. The gospel they preach is “another gospel” from the one Paul preached, and qualifies as the kind Paul warned against in Galatians 1:8 and 2 Corinthians 11:4. This posture is quite rare among those who profess to be gospel-centered. 

Legalism, however, is far more common - and it’s not usually the “don’t dance, don’t drink, don’t have fun” type of variety. Instead, it denies the gospel by emphasizing commands about what we’re supposed to do, rather than building on the proclamation about what God has done for us through Christ Jesus. Usually, these ministers are simply trying to be helpful and relevant. It is tragically common for well-intentioned youth workers to teach biblical truths and godly behavior without even mentioning the gospel. Some legalists claim to be gospel-centered because they are helping students live like Jesus, but they are (unintentially) doing so in a legalistic way. 

One test to consider is this: Look at what you’ve taught over the past school-year. How much of it is intentionally built around the finished work of the cross, and how much is it aimed to give students pointers about how to be better Christians? Accidental gospel-absence is still gospel-absence. Be honest with your evaluation, but receive the grace of Christ rather than beating yourself up. 

Gospel Present 

This is probably the most common posture in evangelical youth ministry. The gospel is proclaimed, but it’s primarily viewed as an evangelism tool. Jesus’ death and resurrection is the heart of the gospel, but the gospel is narrow and broad. It is the best news we have to tell! Let’s not be shy about that or get bored with proclaiming that message to all. 

Oftentimes, these youth workers are evangelistically-minded, they are Bible-believing Christians, and they love the Lord… and while the gospel is present, it is not at the center of everything they do in ministry. Although their evangelistic motivations are good, it’s important to realize the gospel isn’t an entrance strategy and as an exit strategy for life. It is the heart that sustains the entire Christian experience. I don’t know anyone better at conveying this truth than Tim Keller (Counterfeit Gods is my favorite of his book). Usually, gospel-present youth workers only have a narrow view of the gospel. 

Evaluation Question: Do I only preach the gospel as if it applies to nonChristians and “bad” Christians who need to repent? Do I know how to apply the gospel to Christians who are trying to live for Jesus? Is the gospel at the heart of everything about the youth ministry, or just our evangelism? 

Gospel Centered 

The gospel is big enough to provide a foundation for everything in our ministries: the way we play, sing, teach, serve, engage over social media, and practice discipline when students are out of control. Gospel-centered youth workers strive to keep the gospel at the center of everything they do in their ministry, not merely on the periphery. 

This is one of the reasons I wrote Lead Them to Jesus: A Handbook for Youth Workers (New Growth Press, 2021) - because it can be overwhelming to try figuring out how the gospel shapes all those examples above. Lead Them to Jesus is full of short, blog-length chapters on questions and topics every youth worker needs to consider. The Rooted Ministry and Reformed Youth Ministries are also reliable guides to help you develop a gospel-centered youth ministry. 

Evaluation Question: Paul has been consistently disrupting his small group, and his leader made plans to meet up during the week to talk about it with him. How do you counsel this leader to navigate that conversation? 

Gospel-centered ministry seeks to apply the grace of God to the whole person. That’s because the gospel is the message of life, not a message that only pertains to “spirituality.” It can feel overly simplistic to say and trust, “The gospel is enough.” But in those moments, remember you are not alone. The Apostle Paul said the same thing in 1 Corinthians 2:2, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” This is the message upon which Christ built his Church. If we build our ministries on anything else, why should we be surprised to see it crumble?