The Ongoing Need for the Gospel

Why should Christians worry so much about the gospel being present in church, if after all, worship is for the regenerate believers (as I believe it is)? 

I have been listening to a sermon series by Tullian Tchividjian of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Florida the last few weeks.  Pastor Tullian (who I've cited here several times before, here, here, here, and here) does a good job explaining exactly why the gospel is important in the church-

"One of the most important discoveries of my life has been that the Gospel is not just for non-Christians; it’s for Christians too. I used to think the Gospel was simply what non-Christians must believe in to be saved, while afterward we advance to deeper theological waters. But what I’ve come to understand is that once God saves us he doesn’t then move us beyond the Gospel. Rather he moves us deeper into the Gospel. The Gospel, in other words, is every bit as important for growing as a Christian as it is for becoming a Christian in the first place. The Gospel is the fuel that makes Christians go."

In one of the sermons, Tullian uses this analogy to make the point- A new believer is a bit like a new sailboat owner.  He (or she) buys the boat, gets all the right equipment on board, takes lessons on how to operate the sailboat, studies the wind and current patterns, and all the other stuff necessary to safely and effectively operate a sailboat.  Then the owner hops in the boat and promptly goes nowhere.  The sails are hanging limp, and the boat does not move.  What's missing?  The wind is missing!

The gospel, says Tullian, is the fuel that makes Christians go.  It is the wind that is missing in the sails to make the boat go.  He points out Col. 1:6 as an example of the gospel being center for the Christian's growth.  It goes back to Tullian's major point that every gospel command (imperative) is grounded in, or surrounded by, gospel proclamations (indicative).  Even with all the right training and head knowledge about missions, or teaching Sunday School, serving in the children's ministry, serving the homeless, etc., without the gospel, the ministry is really pointless.

The gospel is critical to the unbeliever in justification, because it is the power unto salvation (Rom. 1:16) in that it saves us from the penalty of sin.  But the gospel is also the power unto salvation for the believer as well, as it also saves from the power of sin.  As Tullian says, "We are not justified by the gospel then sanctified by obedience, but the gospel is the way we grow (Gal.3:1-3) and are renewed (Col.1:6)."

What the church needs more than anything these days is not more seeker-sensitive worship styles nor more contemporary music.  What the church needs is the gospel, delivered via expository (rather than topical) preaching of God's word.

The sermon series I listened to is called, "Jesus plus nothing equals everything."  I highly recommend it (you can download it or listen online for free at the link in the previous sentence).