PREACHING JESUS CHRIST

At the heart of Christian proclamation stands the call to preach Jesus Christ.

Through keynote addresses, workshops, and preaching sessions, LRPF 2026 will explore how faithful preaching bears witness to Christ in the life of the church and the world today.

Why a fresh study of Jesus Christ today?

Preachers once took preaching Christ as a given. Today there can be uncertainty about what preaching Christ might mean in our complex pluralistic world. How do we speak of Christ when so many social issues raise controversy? The cross and resurrection – and what God has done and is doing in our world – might itself seem to be controversial. Talk of Jesus Christ can be interpreted as disrespectful of people of other religions or none. Christ-language may be perceived by some as a stumbling block to faith. Christ can be ignored in sermons, or reduced to a mere moral example to imitate, or he can be treated as though he blesses or condemns others based on their political affiliation.

Christ gave disciples the authority to preach. He promises to be present where “two or three are gathered in my name” Matthew 18:20) and says, “whoever hears you hears me” (Luke 10:16). The Spirit gives us words to say (Luke 12:12). How do preachers ensure that they hear God and preach God’s Word, not their own?

Every Sunday is a ‘little Easter’. This conference will explore how best to preach Jesus Christ in today’s world. How does Christ care about our problems? Is it possible to preach Christ from the Hebrew Scriptures or the majority of New Testament passages that do not mention him directly? What is a resurrection lens with which we may read the Bible? With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, preaching Jesus Christ becomes exciting, inspiring, even prophetic. Excellent speakers will suggest practical tools with which to preach faithfully the living Christ to the powers of this world.