Why the Church Must Do More Than Preach the Gospel Every Sunday
One of the great responsibilities entrusted to the local church is the spiritual nourishment of those who already belong to Christ. Whilst the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, and whilst it should always hold a central place in the life of the church, the regular Lord’s Day gathering of believers ought not to consist solely of evangelistic preaching. The Scriptures distinguish between the work of evangelism and the work of shepherding the flock, and the local assembly must give due attention to both.
The New Testament teaches that pastors and elders are charged with feeding God’s people. When the risen Lord commissioned Peter, He said:
“Shepherd My lambs.”
“Shepherd My sheep.”
“Tend My sheep.”
(John 21:15–17)
The emphasis is clear. Those who already belong to Christ require continual instruction, correction, encouragement, and spiritual nourishment. Believers do not simply need to hear how they were saved; they need to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Likewise, Paul reminded the Ephesian elders of their solemn responsibility:
“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28)
Notice that the responsibility is toward “the flock” and “the church of God.” The primary ministry within the gathered assembly is the shepherding of believers.
The apostle Paul described his own ministry in similar terms. Speaking to the Ephesian elders, he declared:
“For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.” (Acts 20:27)
Paul did not limit himself to repeating the Gospel message week after week. He taught the whole counsel of God. Christians require doctrine, practical instruction, encouragement, correction, and teaching concerning every area of the Christian life.
This truth is reinforced by Paul’s instruction to Timothy:
“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” (2 Timothy 4:2)
The preacher’s task extends far beyond evangelism. God’s people must be reproved when they err, encouraged when they are discouraged, instructed in sound doctrine, and equipped for faithful service.
The purpose of teaching believers is also explained in Ephesians:
“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11–12)
It is significant that evangelists and pastor-teachers are mentioned separately. Evangelists proclaim Christ to those who have not believed, whilst pastors and teachers build up those who have. Although every preacher may at times fulfil both functions, the distinction remains important.
Imagine attending a weekly meeting where the speaker repeatedly sought to persuade you of something you had already accepted. It would soon become repetitive and unprofitable. By way of illustration, it would make little sense for a lifelong Cardiff City F.C. supporter to attend a weekly meeting devoted entirely to convincing supporters that they ought to follow Cardiff City. He already believes it. What he may desire instead is deeper knowledge of the club’s history, strategy, players, and future. Whilst no earthly illustration is perfect, the principle is clear. Those who already believe the Gospel should be continually established, strengthened, and instructed in the truths that flow from it.
In many assemblies, particularly those with a long-established membership of believers, it is not uncommon for ninety-nine per cent of those present on a Sunday morning or evening to be Christians. If this is so, then a weekly message aimed exclusively at convincing unbelievers to trust Christ may fail to meet the primary spiritual needs of the congregation. Those believers require systematic exposition of Scripture, sound doctrine, practical instruction for holy living, and teaching that matures them in the faith.
The ministry of the Lord Jesus also illustrates an important pattern. Throughout the Gospels, He frequently went out to where the lost were found. He travelled through cities and villages, preached in synagogues, taught beside the sea, spoke in homes, and proclaimed the kingdom to the multitudes. His ministry intentionally sought those who needed to hear the good news. At the same time, He devoted considerable time to instructing His disciples privately, preparing them for future service and explaining truths they were not yet ready to understand.
The Great Commission likewise commands the church not merely to evangelise but also to disciple:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19–20)
Evangelism is the beginning of the Christian life, not its conclusion. Those who believe must then be taught “all” that Christ commanded.
None of this diminishes the importance of the Gospel. The Gospel should be proclaimed faithfully whenever opportunity arises, and every believer ought never to tire of hearing of the saving work of Christ. Indeed, every sermon should ultimately point to Christ and be consistent with the Gospel. Yet there is a difference between preaching Christ as the foundation of all biblical truth and preaching an exclusively evangelistic appeal week after week to an audience composed almost entirely of believers.
A healthy local church will therefore maintain a proper balance. It will actively seek opportunities to preach the Gospel to the lost through evangelistic meetings, open-air preaching, personal witness, outreach ministries, and other suitable means. At the same time, the regular gatherings of the church should be devoted chiefly to feeding the flock of God through the faithful exposition of Scripture, so that believers may become mature, stable, fruitful, and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The New Testament presents both ministries as essential. The Gospel must be proclaimed to those who have never believed, whilst the people of God must be continually fed from the Word of God. When these two responsibilities are kept in their proper place, the church fulfils both its evangelistic mission and its pastoral calling.
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