Preventative Medicine
by Heath Rogers

“For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you” (2 Peter 1:12-13).

Although they knew and were established in the truth, Peter realized these Christians needed to be reminded of some important truths. He was not insulting their intelligence. He was stirring them up with a reminder.

There are several important subjects that a local preacher needs to cover from time to time. Sermons are needed regularly on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, worldliness, sin, the church, scriptural worship, Bible authority, Bible study, evidences, prayer, and brotherly love. Preachers brought in for Gospel Meetings need to present sermons on these same subjects for the same reason. 

While solid meat needs to be offered on a regular rotation, and mature Christians need to be challenged with “deep dives” into the treasures of God’s word, first principle sermons need to be preached over and over again. There are always those in attendance hearing them for the first time. There are young people maturing to the point they need these foundational truths explained to them. There are members struggling to teach their neighbors who need to hear these subjects laid out and explained clearly again. Balance is needed in the pulpit.

It is important for us to do things to keep our physical bodies healthy. A lot of times serious health problems are avoided if we practice some preventative medicine (eat right, exercise, take vitamins, get checkups, etc.). Serious spiritual problems in the local body of Christ (the church) are also avoided with some “preventative preaching.”

Think about it.