Cross-centered. We put that compound adjective before nouns like life or preaching or church.

Cross-centered life, cross-centered preaching, cross-centered church. And for over 20 years,

it has been a catchphrase in the American Reformed world, cross-centered.

Of course, the concept is far older.

In the Navigator's Bible Reading Plan today, we read 1st Corinthians 1, 18 to 31, where Christ crucified is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

That's according to verse 24.

The cross of Christ is the sharp edge of the sword that meets all the fake and false

hopes of this world.

The cross is essential to our ministry, and it is so essential, according to legend.

Charles Spursion once told preachers that every sermon should make a beeline to the cross,

a beeline to the cross.

Whether he actually said that, it's doubtful.

But he did this very thing, and that's quite obvious.

He took every sermon to Calvary. And with Good Friday

tomorrow, it's a timely topic today on Ask Pastor John, the wrong kind of cross-centered.

We get there, Pastor John, because you say some controversial things, even some perplexing things in your book on preaching,

expository exultation, your new one, expository exultation.

Specifically in chapter 16, that chapter on expository exaltation in Christ crucified part two,

that we might live to righteousness, which is basically a chapter on 1st Peter 2.24, which is a key text for you here.

Not only preachers, but lots of people who listen to preaching would love to hear you, I think, explain more fully what you're getting at.

When you criticize the method of preaching that begins with a text and makes a beeline to the cross.

You say that the be line should be to the cross and then from the cross as well.

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