Nothing but the Cross

by: Chic Broersma

Paul came to Corinth speaking the gospel in simple terms. He had just journeyed there from Athens where he had drawn on his education and tried to communicate the gospel in the style of a philosopher. He even quoted from the Greek poets. The result? The great missionary fell flat on his face. I can picture him entering into his diary, “Don’t ever try this again. The cross doesn’t need my verbal decorations.”

But in Corinth he told the people “the simple gospel.” The gospel itself supplied the power as Paul spoke. It was that gospel that established the church, God’s redeemed community.

Much of the secret of Billy Graham’s worldwide success lies in his simple but powerful presentation of the gospel. Seeing the masses respond to Graham’s preaching in Germany caused at least one renowned university chaplain to say, “I’m going to have to rethink my own style of preaching.” In an American college setting, a convert to Christ complimented the simple witness of his Christian roommate. “I could destroy every argument my roommate put up,” he said, “but I couldn’t destroy the Christ within him.”

Maybe you are nervous or afraid when it comes to witnessing. Remember that the power doesn’t come from our personalities or verbal skills. It comes from Jesus Christ and his cross.