As the crowds were increasing, He began to say, “This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah.” – Luke 11:29

Now Jesus never read our modern church growth manuals. He would know that the so-called “experts” in growing churches today would tell Him that He can’t grow a church by calling them a wicked generation. They aren’t going to come back to hear Him very often if He preaches like that. But Jesus was not about popularity. This was never the driving motive in His preaching. His preaching cut the heart against the grain of the culture. He walked into the wind of popular belief.

Now, stirring controversy was not His goal, but only to obey His Father and preach His Father’s truth. This is a lesson for all preachers today. First of all, preachers, do not try to be contrary to the culture. We don’t need any more of that. Don’t be one who finds out what is going on and then tries to fly against it.The culture, you see, is not to be your focus. When we focus on all that is going on outside in this fallen and sinful world and we react to it, we usually end up compromising somewhere along the way to adjust to what we’re focusing on.

Our focus is to be on the truth of God. We don’t focus on the culture or react to the culture, but we faithfully proclaim the word of truth, and this will often put you against cultural thought and cultural behavior. And as you focus on the word of truth and stand on the word of truth, regardless of the cost or the consequences, like Christ did, then we become determined to not back up, or let up, or give up. Always be reminded, the truth will not sell to this modern generation, but the truth faithfully proclaimed will save this generation, because only the truth saves any generation.