As we prepare for Cherishing The Gospel (CTG) 2026, one question deserves our careful attention: how do we prepare our hearts to receive Christ profitably?

CTG has never been merely another Christian conference on the calendar. It is a deliberate gathering around one glorious message, the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. We gather, not because we are looking for something new, but because we can never outgrow the excellency of knowing Christ. Every time the gospel is faithfully preached, we are reminded again of God's greatest gift to mankind: the person and the work of His Son.

This was the conviction that governed the Apostle Paul when he wrote to the Corinthians—a church surrounded by division, immorality, pride and human wisdom at the time. Paul made a remarkable declaration: “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2, KJV).

Paul understood that the greatest need of God's people was not another philosophy, another method or another religious experience. Their greatest need was Christ Himself. Consequently, everything in his ministry revolved around the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Earlier in the same letter he declared that Christ is the power of God, and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24). In doing so, Paul contrasts God's wisdom with the wisdom of this world. Human wisdom cannot reconcile sinners to God. Human effort cannot produce righteousness. Human achievements cannot secure acceptance before God. God has invested everything necessary for our salvation in one Person, Jesus Christ Our Lord! This is the gospel we cherish. This is the Christ we gather to behold. This is the reason CTG exists.

Throughout the Scriptures we see God's unwavering purpose to reveal His Son. What was once promised through the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms has now been fully revealed in Christ Jesus. The greatest work God has ever accomplished is the death and resurrection of His Son, through whom we have forgiveness, righteousness, peace with God and eternal life.

As we gather this year, may that glorious reality occupy our hearts more than anything else. For four days we will intentionally step away from the normal pace of life. Away from our routines. Away from the noise and distractions that constantly compete for our attention. But our greatest preparation is not simply travelling to the venue, it is preparing our hearts to hear God's testimony concerning His Son. The question each of us should honestly ask is this: What am I really coming to CTG to receive? If our greatest expectation is merely to enjoy the fellowship, appreciate the music, admire gifted speakers or experience another well-organised conference, we may leave encouraged, but still miss the greatest blessing. The greatest blessing CTG can offer is not found in the programme itself, it is found in seeing Christ more clearly.

The Apostle Paul counted everything else as loss “for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8, KJV). That same persuasion should shape our expectations. If, at the end of CTG, we know Christ more clearly, love Him more deeply and appreciate His finished work more fully than when we arrived, then we have truly profited.

How Then Should We Prepare?

• Pray for illumination: Pray that God would open your understanding to behold Christ more clearly in the Scriptures. Our prayer should not merely be for an enjoyable meeting, but for hearts that truly see the glory of Christ.
• Spend time in the Scriptures beforehand: Read passages that speak directly about the person and work of Christ. Prepare your mind before you arrive so that your heart is already inclined towards Him.
• Come expecting Christ not personalities: Our confidence is not in eloquence, charisma or gifted communicators. We come because God has chosen to reveal His Son through the faithful preaching of the gospel.
• Come with a teachable heart: Allow the Scriptures to challenge “long held assumptions if necessary.” A humble heart learns readily because it desires truth more than tradition.
• Remove unnecessary distractions: Guard your attention. Simple decisions such as limiting phone use during the sessions or setting aside unnecessary concerns can help you listen more carefully to the God’s Word.
• Be ready to continue after CTG: The blessing of the gospel is not confined to four days. The Christ we behold during CTG is the Christ we continue to know, trust and live for afterwards.

What Could Hinder Us?

Scripture also teaches that hearing can be hindered. As we prepare, we should prayerfully guard against attitudes that prevent us from receiving all that God would have us hear.

We should avoid:

• becoming overly familiar with those preaching, so that we focus on personalities rather than the message;
• attending as critics instead of learners;
• allowing divided attention and unnecessary distractions to compete with the preaching of the gospel;
• becoming so occupied with planning, serving or logistics that we fail to sit under the very Word we have helped make possible for others to hear.

Our Prayer for CTG 2026

May we come to CTG already persuaded that Christ is God's greatest gift, the gospel is God's greatest message, and the knowledge of Christ is the greatest treasure any believer can receive. May our hearts gladly consent to God's testimony concerning His Son. May every sermon draw our eyes again to Christ crucified and risen. May every conversation deepen our appreciation of the gospel. And when CTG comes to an end, may we leave with a greater affection for Christ than when we first arrived.

For in the end, the greatest blessing of Cherishing The Gospel is not merely attending another conference. It is cherishing Christ Himself.