What is the plain, simple gospel message?
The plain, simple gospel is that Christ died for the sins of the world—He died for me and He died for you. It is the simple message of salvation, centered on preaching Christ crucified, which is often circumvented or neglected in eloquent sermons.
Les explains that at Corinth, a wild, wicked Gentile city, God did not permit Paul to use his Jewish background or his Old Testament knowledge. Instead, Paul came with only one message—the gospel that Christ died for the sins of the world, that He died for me and for you. Les notes this message is seldom heard plain and simple today; it is often circumvented, with preachers coming close but not quite. He recalls a funeral of a neighbor lady where a tremendous, eloquent preacher drew a huge crowd, but at the threshold of the plan of salvation, he dropped the ball instead of preaching Christ crucified. Les says that happens all too often.