Why We Need to Protect the Gospel
It can feel almost impossible to imagine a world where the gospel is no longer central. Churches line our streets. Families still gather on Sundays. Christianity feels embedded in our culture. But history offers a sobering reality: it only takes one generation for the gospel to be rejected and everything can change.
We need to wake up to the truth that a shift in just a few influential voices can alter the spiritual trajectory of an entire community. It doesn’t take mass persecution. It doesn’t take a political upheaval. Sometimes, all it takes is silence.
While it’s true that the gospel can be rejected in a single generation, it’s just as possible, and perhaps even more common, for it to be slowly neglected over time. Consider Western Europe. Once the heart of Christendom, today fewer than 5% of people attend church on any given week. Christianity wasn’t outlawed there. It was simply ignored.
Countries like Sweden, Norway, and Denmark were once proudly Christian kingdoms. Today, they are some of the most secular cultures in the world. Not because of hostility toward Christ, but because of growing complacency with Him.
Even more sobering: 40% of the global population today has little to no access to the gospel. That means even if they wanted to hear, there’s no one there to tell them.
How does that happen? It happens when generation after generation chooses to reject or neglect the gospel.
Do We Want the Next Generation to Know God?
So here’s the question: Do you want your children and grandchildren to know God? To worship Him? To give Him thanks as God? I believe you do. I certainly do.
But if that’s true, we need to ask ourselves something else: If we don't want the gospel to be rejected or neglected... how much are we actually talking about Jesus?
Last week, just think about it. You probably talked about food. Maybe watched a ballgame. Maybe got into some political discussions. But how much did you actually talk about Jesus?
And if you didn’t talk much about Jesus during the very week we celebrate His birth, how much do you talk about Him during the rest of the year?
A Self-Assessment: Are We Protecting the Gospel?
Let’s take a moment to reflect. I’ve done this myself already, and I’m asking you to do the same. Grab a pen and something to write on, or open a note on your phone. I'm going to list a series of statements. For each one, write down the first number that comes to mind:
1 if it's rarely or never true of you
2 if occasionally
3 for sometimes
4 for often
5 if it's consistently or always true
This is a self-assessment to help us measure how well we are promoting and protecting the gospel in our lives. No one else will see your answers.
1. I remind myself of the gospel daily.
2. I consciously connect spiritual growth to the finished work of Christ, not self-effort.
3. I seek repentance and renewal through the gospel instead of ignoring sin or making excuses.
4. When I face stress, fear, or shame, I intentionally look to Jesus rather than distractions.
5. We read Scripture or pray together as a family.
6. Conversations about the gospel happen naturally and regularly in my home.
7. We prioritize church involvement and Christian community over sports schedules and comfort.
8. We model repentance in front of one another.
9. I intentionally speak about Jesus to friends, coworkers, or classmates.
10. I pray regularly for someone far from God by name.
11. I maintain margin in my life to be interruptible for people’s spiritual needs.
12. I look for opportunities to show gospel-shaped grace and truth in conflict or tension.
13. I am aware of the global need for the gospel, including unreached people groups.
14. I pray for missions, missionaries, or an unreached people group regularly.
15. I give financially in a way that reflects gospel priority, not leftover generosity.
16. I look for ways to actively participate in Jesus’s mission.
Take a minute to tally your score. If you want, divide your total by 80, then multiply by 100 to get a percentage grade.
A Heart Check Worth Doing
Let me be clear; this isn’t a formal measure of your spiritual life. I threw this list together as I prepared this message, and I’ve walked through it myself. When I did, I had tears in my eyes. The truth is, my grade broke my heart.
Because I want my children, and, God willing, my grandchildren to know who God is. I want them to experience a real, living relationship with Him. I want them to worship Him, thank Him, and walk with Him.
But if something in my life doesn’t change, if the gospel doesn’t truly hold priority in my daily habits and family culture, how can I expect that legacy to last?
The Gospel Won’t Last Where It’s Not Lived
The gospel doesn’t get passed down automatically. It requires intentionality. It requires our words, our example, our repentance, and our commitment. Not just once a week. Not just on holidays. But woven into the everyday rhythm of our lives.
If we want to keep the gospel from being rejected or neglected in our homes, in our churches, and in our community, we must start by taking personal responsibility.
Because it can be lost in just one generation. But it can also be renewed one decision, one conversation, one prayer at a time.Let’s not grow complacent. Let’s live like the gospel matters. Because it does.
