The above statement is the “mantra” of a friend of mine. When it comes to preaching and teaching God’s word, he often tells me, “Keep it simple.” This sentiment was impressed upon my mind even further when a sister in Christ told me, “The main problem that high school students have today is not which church to go to, but whether or not to believe in God in the first place.” Think about it: We live in a society that has so pushed God aside that the lady who talked with me said she knows high school students who need to be convinced about the very existence of God!

This sister’s observation told me that, yes, my friend is right in telling me to “keep it simple” as I preach. It also tells me that I need to be preaching and teaching these “simple” sermons not only to the teenagers but also to the parents of those teenagers! After all, children are the students of their parents. Therefore, if parents do not expose their children to God, the Bible, the truth, etc., then how can we expect them to know these things? God has placed the responsibility of teaching with parents (Gen. 18:19; Deut. 6:6-9, 11:18-21; Eph. 6:4; 2 Tim. 1:5; etc.).

Furthermore, when I think about the statement, “Keep it simple,” I find this does not mean making things simplistic or speaking down to people. Instead, it places responsibility on the teacher to make sure things are said in such a way that folks can understand. For many years, brethren said that one does not need to be a “Greek scholar” to go to Heaven. We do not need Ph.D.’s to understand the Bible! The apostle Paul said, “Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:4). Jesus encouraged the reading and searching (studying) of Scriptures, for He knew that by so doing, mankind could understand the truth and follow it (John 5:39, 17:17; Rev. 1:3). Not only did He state this truth, but He lived it (Acts 1:1)! Bear in mind, that when Jesus spoke, “the common people heard him gladly” (Mark 12:37). This means that the message of God is not just for the educated or the elite, but for everyone. Those who listened to Jesus were often the “unknowns,” the “rejected,” and “the general population.” In contrast, the social “elites” and their ilk did not like Jesus. In fact, they conspired against Him to keep Him from preaching (John 11:47-53). After Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, the apostles continued preaching His simple message (Acts 2, etc.). When they preached that simple message, the “elites” and “educated” people marveled at their words, noting, “...they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

Therefore, to “keep it simple” means to preach like Jesus and the apostles did. Can we think of any better examples to follow than Christ and His apostles when one today wants to communicate God’s will effectively? I can’t! When we determine to preach and teach as Christ, then we will “keep it simple” for all people searching for the truth. Let no man get so caught up in his own ability and talents that he forgets to “hide behind the cross” when preaching! Keep it simple so the “common people” can hear the truth, believe it, and obey it! Start at home!