In Acts 2, as Peter preached to the crowds in Jerusalem, He made the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus central to His sermon. “This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him” (Acts 2:23-24).

Sermons throughout the New Testament (like the one preached by Peter in Acts 2) had the cross and the empty tomb at their core. Almost thirty years ago, I committed to the Lord to keep the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus at the center of my preaching. I have sought to do this faithfully over the years. Satan wants to distract us from the simple but powerful Gospel message.

Just as God’s deliberate plan involved sending Christ to the cross, His deliberate plan for us is to keep our message centered on the finished work of Jesus. Today, thank God for the Good News and that it reached you. Ask God to keep Calvary Community Church centered on that sweet, sweet, Good News in the days, months, and years ahead.

We preach the same message today that Peter preached when the church was born.