Gospel-Centered vs. Issue-Driven Ministry - Jared Wilson

On this episode of This vs. That, we sit down with Jared Wilson to explore the tension between gospel-centered and issue-driven ministry. We ask whether gospel centeredness was just another evangelical trend or if it remains essential to the DNA of healthy Christians and churches.

Jared breaks down what gospel-centered ministry actually means—centering on Christ in Scripture, trusting grace for heart-level change, and finding our validation in Christ's performance rather than our own. In contrast, issue-driven ministry hinges its hope for change on cultural topics or headlines rather than the announcement of the gospel.

We discuss why some have moved away from gospel centrality, exploring concerns about pragmatism and the temptation to lean on other approaches when change seems slow. Jared offers practical wisdom on how to recognize when we've drifted from gospel-centered ministry—often it starts when the gospel begins to feel perfunctory or less interesting than the cultural issue of the day.

Throughout our conversation, we grapple with how to keep the gospel central when cultural issues demand our attention, and how to avoid treating the gospel like an empty Trojan rabbit—something we've forgotten to include in our ministry altogether.