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What Should Be Preached – According to Scripture

  • Writer: Dr. Michael Stallings
    Dr. Michael Stallings
  • Apr 22
  • 5 min read

Here's a great reason to have hope in Christ today!


Preach the Gospel! This post addresses essential biblical truths that guard against false teaching. These truths are not hidden – they are clearly revealed in Scripture. And while they may be deep, they are not secret. The biblical Truth about all things life is taught by the Scriptures. So what do they teach about what should be taught? Can a teacher follow personal impulses, or must he submit to Scripture? What should a true teacher listen to – and proclaim?


Noah, a preacher of righteousness 2 Peter 2.5
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. But avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness. [It spreads] like gangrene... Timothy 2.15-17

Satan continues his work as the accuser of the brethren. He offers endless opinions about what should and should not be preached, yet his narrative stands opposed to Christ and to the truth that has been clearly revealed. If Christ were intent on obscuring that truth from those who seek Him, He would not be worthy of our adoration, obedience, or faith. But He is good. He has not hidden the message – He has made it known. Therefore, we can look to the Word of God with confidence to define what we as preachers and teachers are called to proclaim. Christ has commanded us to preach, and according to Scripture, that preaching must center on a few non-negotiables:


1. The Gospel itself

  • Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection – 1 Corinthians 15:3–4

Paul wrote: "For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures..." He said it was most important.

  • Salvation by grace through faith – Ephesians 2:8–9

2. The whole counsel of God

  • Not selective themes, but the full message of Scripture – Acts 20:27 Paul stated he "did not shrink back from declaring the whole plan of God." This precludes us from focusing on 1) things that are not God's plan and 2) cherry-picking personal pet-peeves, or penchants as the counsel of God.

3. Christ as the center

  • Preach Christ and him crucified –1 Cor 2.2

  • Preach Christ, not yourself – 2 Corinthians 4:5

  • All Scripture points to Him – Luke 24:27

4. Repentance and faith

  • Call people to turn and believe – Mark 1:15

Repent and believe the gospel – the good news must be clearly proclaimed for it to be believed. Within the first 14 verses of the book of Mark it states, "Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news of God: 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news!'" For people to believe the good news, good news must be preached.

  • This was the consistent apostolic message – Acts 2:38-40 The term apostolic denotes authority; To be authoritative, preach the good news. 'Repent,' Peter said to them, 'and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.' And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, 'Be saved from this corrupt generation!'

  • To be truly apostolic is not stylistic – it is doctrinal. The apostles preached repentance, forgiveness of sins, and salvation through Christ.

  • The Gospel is what was promised and preached. Be saved!

5. Sound doctrine

  • Teach what accords with truth – Titus 2:1

"But you must say the things that are consistent with sound teaching." That sound teaching is important; Titus chapter 1 is about appointing "Elders" and teaching truth, not error, not myths, not conjecture. Teach things consistent with the truth.

  • Guard against error – 2 Timothy 4:3–4 More about this below...

6. Scripture itself

  • Preach the Word, not opinions – 2 Timothy 4:2

Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.

7. Holiness and obedience

  • Teach people to obey Christ – Matthew 28:20

8. The Kingdom of God

  • The message Jesus proclaimed – Matthew 4:17


The Goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. – 1 Timothy 1:5

Guarding against error is an important part of biblical teaching, so the Word addresses things which should not preach, nor be practiced.

1. Unfounded accusations are condemned

  • Do not receive or spread charges lightly – 1 Timothy 5:19

The enemy's narrative consistently involves accusing God's people.

  • God hates a false witness who stirs division – Proverbs 6:16–19

2. Suspicion-driven narratives are a warning sign

  • People can become “suspicious… always quarreling” – 1 Timothy 6:4–5

  • “Irreverent babble” spreads like disease – 2 Timothy 2:16–17

3. Public slander of leaders is taken seriously

  • “Do not speak evil against one another” – James 4:11

How can a house stand if it is bent on division?

  • “Not slanderers” is a baseline Christian expectation – Titus 2:3

4. Division as a pattern, not a one-off

  • Mark and avoid those who create divisions contrary to sound doctrine – Romans 16:17

  • Reject a divisive person after warning – Titus 3:10

5. False teachers often trade in “hidden knowledge”

  • Warnings about myths and speculative teaching – 1 Timothy 1:4

  • “What is falsely called knowledge” – 1 Timothy 6:20

6. Proper correction has a defined posture

  • Correct with gentleness, not public defamation – 2 Timothy 2:24–25

  • Restore in a spirit of humility – Galatians 6:1


The bottom line: Build ministry efforts on the rock of the Word of God and you can trust, not worry, about the results. The alternative to biblical teaching and the natural bent of mankind is accusations, secret evils, and public defaming of people who belong to the Lord. It's a biblical pattern too so scripture calls for evidence, restraint, humility, and unity, not suspicion-driven crusades. Followers of Christ follow Him. We are responsible for what we teach and we are not our own, but were bought with a price; We can mirror the Apostle Paul who claimed,


...an obligation is placed on me. And woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 1 Corinthians 9:16

There is a great reason to have hope in Christ today!

Jesus came to "set the captives free," by the Truth.

Do you know Jesus yet?

Pray and ask Him to deliver you! He will.

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