A Firm Foundation

I remember years ago when my parents decided to build an extra room onto our house. They hired a contractor and as a little boy I was amazed at all the work that went into building just one room. Looking back I cannot help but remember the contractor digging the footers, installing rebar, and then pouring the concrete. I’m reminded of this because this contractor knew that if that room did not rest on a firm foundation that it would not stand.

I often find myself asking: What are our churches really built on today? Across America—and around the world—what foundation are we standing on?

There was a time when that question didn’t even need to be asked. We just assumed the answer: Of course, the church is built on the gospel of Jesus Christ. That was the bedrock. The non-negotiable. But not anymore.

Today, assumptions are dangerous. Foundations are shifting—quietly, quickly, and sometimes unnoticed. What once was gospel-centered can now become culture-driven, comfort-focused, or personality-based. And it can happen faster than the next news cycle or presidential announcement.

So let’s get to the heart of the matter: What is the gospel, and why must it be the foundation of the church?
The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ: that the eternal Son of God became fully human—born into our world—to live among us, to face every temptation we face, yet without sin. Why? Because only a perfect Savior could offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice. Jesus died on the cruel cross of Calvary, was buried, and rose again on the third day—so that we could be saved.

That’s the gospel. It’s not a motivational message. It’s not moral improvement. It’s not religious tradition. It is the once-for-all, unchanging truth that Jesus Christ gave His life so we could find ours.

And here’s the incredible part: this gospel is a free gift. You can’t buy it. You can’t earn it. You can only receive it by grace—through faith. But make no mistake: receiving it means you must surrender your pride. You must admit that you can’t save yourself. You must surrender. You must trust in the cross.
In short—you need Jesus. We all do.

And if the church is going to be what God has called it to be—a light in the darkness, a refuge for the broken, a beacon of hope—then it must be built on that gospel. Nothing else will do.
The gospel leads us to grace—God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense. And that grace shapes everything: how we serve, how we speak, how we treat others, how we love our neighbor. As Romans 12:3 reminds us, we’re not to think too highly of ourselves, but to live humbly, knowing that every good thing we have is a gift from God.

That’s what a gospel-centered church looks like: not flashy, but faithful. Not proud, but servant-hearted. Not chasing trends but grounded in truth.

Without the gospel, there is no real ministry. Not for children. Not for youth. Not for men or women. Not for anyone. Strip away the gospel, and all you’re left with is a social club where people gather to feel better about themselves.

But the church is not called to make people feel good. The church is called to bring people to Jesus.
So why must the gospel be our foundation?

Because without the gospel, there is no church.