Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:13

The Gospel that Timothy is to preach is the same which he heard Paul preach some many times on their missionary journeyings together. It is the same message that Timothy now preaches as a local evangelist. How is it defined? Paul says “in faith and love which is in Jesus Christ.”

If the Gospel is not preached with faith, stirring up the intellect of those that hear it, it is a false Gospel. Faith is an intellectual response to hearing the preaching of the Gospel. We believe with our minds as we accept the Truth for what it is.

If the Gospel is not preached in love, stirring up the emotions of those who hear it, it is a false Gospel. Every sermon you hear needs to appeal to your core emotions. A good sermon needs to make you think, yes, but it also needs to make you feel. You have to FEEL in order to be moved by the crucifixion. You have to FEEL in order to be moved to obedience.

True preaching touches both the heart and the mind. Any preaching that deemphasizes one or both of those needs to be rejected.