One of the core values of Second Mile Church — and one of the truths that has been most explosively alive in my life and in the life of our leadership — has been “gospel-centeredness.” This statement (which probably originated with Tim Keller) gets to the heart of this idea most succinctly: “The gospel is not just the A-B-C’s of Christianity but the A-to-Z of Christianity.”
Timmy Brister has put together a “Gospel-Centered Reader,” with tons of links to helpful audio and articles about this truth of gospel-centeredness.
So, whether you (a) already are growing in a deeper sense of what it means to be gospel-centered or (b) keep hearing the phrase but don’t know what it means, go check out this reader.
Also, be sure to check out our church website’s page on the gospel. It gives a straightforward look at how we value this key truth.
HT: Dustin Neeley
Second Mile Church Blog 
#1 by Quinn on December 2, 2010 - 12:44 pm
Luke,
You said last Sunday that you have been most excited about this time of year just in the last 2 years because you understand the gospel now more than ever.
What has helped you understand the gospel?
#2 by Luke Simmons on December 3, 2010 - 8:39 am
Hey Quinn, thanks for asking. A number of things have brought a richer understanding of the gospel for me. A number of the resources listed on this reader have been helpful including, “The Centrality of the Gospel” (Keller), The Gospel-Centered Life (Thune), and “The Gospel in it’s Many Forms” (Keller). Other books have been helpful, such as The Prodigal God (Keller), The Drama of Scripture (Goheen), Salvation Belongs to Our God (Wright), Counterfeit Gods (Keller), and The Gospel for Real Life (Bridges). As much as anything, it’s probably been listening to sermons by Tim Keller as well as his resource called Preaching to the Heart. It is $35 dollars and worth every penny to anybody trying to counsel or communicate the gospel. Additionally, going through the Surge school and spending time with other gospel-centered leaders with Acts29 and Tyler Johnson have been invaluable for working these things through.
#3 by Jeffery on December 3, 2010 - 9:43 am
There are some fine resources here; it is important to recognize a few caveats: (1) understanding what actually IS the gospel? HINT: the gospel is NOT “Jesus died for my sins.” (2) understanding that being “gospel-centered” is NOT equivalent to the slogan “being “Cross-Centered” as the latter often reflects a truncated or even erroneous biblical message that is frequently also man-centered in function, because it divorces union with Christ from the sinner.