A memorable moment in season 2 of the anime Vinland Saga captures a tension many Christians quietly feel when reading the Bible.
Snake, a battle-hardened mercenary, sits with the old master of the Ketil Farms, who has converted to Christianity. As he reads from Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:43-48), where Christ commands His followers to love their enemies, Snake becomes visibly uncomfortable. After finishing the passage, he remarks that he does not like this “new stuff” and would rather return to the “old stuff” filled with wars and killing.
It is an honest reaction, and in many ways it reflects how many people view Scripture.
For some, the Old Testament feels raw, violent, and dramatic, while the New Testament feels softer, gentler, and almost disconnected from everything that came before it. The result is that many Christians unconsciously read the Bible as though it were telling two completely different stories: a story of wrath in the Old Testament and a story of grace in the New Testament.
But the Bible does not present two different Gods or two competing stories.
From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture tells one unified story: the story of humanity’s fall, God’s promise of redemption, and the fulfilment of that redemption in Jesus Christ. The Gospel is not something that suddenly appears in Matthew. It is woven throughout the entire Bible, including the Old Testament itself.
Once you begin to see that, the Old Testament changes completely. The laws, sacrifices, kings, prophets, battles, and even the failures of Israel begin to point toward something, or rather, Someone greater.
And when the Old Testament is preached well, that is exactly where it should lead you: to Christ.
Here’s how to find the Gospel in the Old Testament and what faithful Gospel-centered preaching from the Old Testament should sound like.
1. Look for the Big Story, Not Just Moral Lessons
One of the easiest ways to miss the Gospel in the Old Testament is to read every story as merely a lesson about human behaviour.
David and Goliath become “be brave and face your giants.”
Noah becomes “obey God.”
Joseph becomes “work hard and forgive people.”
While there are certainly lessons to learn from biblical characters, the Bible is ultimately not a collection of disconnected moral stories. It is one unified story about God redeeming sinners through Jesus Christ.
When reading the Old Testament, ask:
- What does this passage reveal about God’s character?
- How does it expose humanity’s need for salvation?
- How does this point forward to Christ or prepare the way for Him?
The Bible’s central storyline is redemption. The Old Testament sets the stage for the Saviour, and the New Testament reveals fully.
2. Pay Attention to Promises
The Gospel first appears immediately after humanity’s fall into sin.
After Adam and Eve sinned, God promised that the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent’s head. This is the first glimpse of redemption in Scripture, a promise that evil would one day be defeated.
From there, the Old Testament unfolds through covenant promises:
- God promises Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his offspring.
- God promises David an eternal King.
- The prophets promise a suffering servant, a new covenant, and a coming Messiah.
The Old Testament constantly creates anticipation. Every promise whispers: Someone is coming.
Good preaching from the Old Testament does not stop at the promise itself. It shows how Christ fulfils it.
3. Watch for Patterns and “Types”
Many Old Testament people, events, and institutions foreshadow Jesus.
These are often called “types”, pictures or patterns that point forward to Christ.
Examples include:
- The Passover lamb points to Jesus as the Lamb of God.
- Jonah emerges from the fish after three days, pointing toward Christ’s resurrection.
- Boaz in Ruth acting as a kinsman-redeemer, foreshadowing Jesus redeeming His people.
- The sacrificial system points to the need for a final and perfect sacrifice.
These stories are not random coincidences. They are intentional signposts God placed throughout Scripture.
This is why preaching through Old Testament books can be incredibly rich when done faithfully.
For example, the book of Ruth beautifully displays redemption, covenant love, and the role of a redeemer. The series from LightWk Chapel on Ruth helps listeners see how this seemingly quiet story ultimately points beyond Boaz to Christ, our greater Redeemer.
Similarly, Tim Keller’s preaching through the Book of Jonah reveals how Jonah is not merely about a reluctant prophet swallowed by a fish, but about God’s mercy toward undeserving sinners and the need for a better and more faithful Saviour. You can explore more from GetSermons to find Gospel-centered series like these.
4. Notice Humanity’s Repeated Failure
The Old Testament repeatedly demonstrates that humanity cannot save itself.
Israel receives the Law yet continually rebels.
Judges rise and fall.
Kings succeed briefly before collapsing into sin.
Even the “heroes” are deeply flawed.
This is intentional.
The Old Testament creates a longing for someone better:
- A better prophet than Moses.
- A better king than David.
- A better priest than Aaron.
- A better sacrifice than bulls and goats.
Every failure intensifies the anticipation for Christ.
When preached well, Old Testament sermons should not leave listeners simply trying harder to imitate biblical characters. They should leave listeners recognising their need for Jesus.
5. Expect Christ-Centred Preaching, Not Forced Allegories
Faithful Gospel preaching from the Old Testament does not mean every verse is twisted into an artificial reference to Jesus.
Good preaching respects:
- the original context,
- the historical setting,
- the literary meaning,
- and the author’s intent.
But it also recognises that every passage exists within the larger story of redemption.
A faithful preacher asks:
- How does this fit into God’s redemptive plan?
- How does this prepare us for Christ?
- How is the Gospel anticipated, pictured, or revealed here?
There is a difference between Christ-centred preaching and forced symbolism. Good preaching avoids making random details “secret codes” about Jesus while still faithfully showing how all Scripture points toward Him.
6. What Gospel-Centered Old Testament Preaching Should Feel Like
When the Gospel is preached well from the Old Testament, you should walk away with:
- a greater understanding of God’s holiness,
- a deeper awareness of human sinfulness,
- a clearer picture of Christ’s beauty,
- and a stronger sense of God’s unfolding redemption story.
You should not leave merely inspired by ancient characters. You should leave amazed at God’s grace.
The best Old Testament preaching makes Jesus feel bigger, not smaller.
It reveals that Christ was never God’s “backup plan.” From the very beginning, Scripture has been telling one story, the story of redemption through Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
The Old Testament is not disconnected from the Gospel; it is saturated with it.
Its promises anticipate Christ.
Its sacrifices foreshadow Christ.
Its kings and prophets point toward Christ.
Its failures reveal the need for Christ.
Learning to see this transforms Bible reading from fragmented stories into one breathtaking narrative of redemption.
And when pastors preach the Old Testament faithfully, they help believers see what Jesus Himself declared: all the Scriptures ultimately testify about Him.