As faith leaders, we should never be concerned about repeatedly teaching or preaching about the fundamentals of faith. Peter wrote that those who fail to remind people of Bible basics were negligent. He wrote: Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. (1 Peter 1:12-14)
A Leader’s Responsibility
As leaders, we should never feel pressured to come up with a "new revelation" to preach. Peter didn't tout new and revolutionary messages. Rather, as an apostle writing to his sheep, he said that he would not be negligent, meaning he would not be careless, inattentive, slipshod, lax, or slack in reminding them of fundamental Bible truths.
A leader should remind their followers about the essentials of faith because even if they know them, they can slip away. Hebrews 2:1 puts it this way: Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
Peter noted that his readers already knew the truth, but he wanted to assure that they were established or well-grounded in the truth as a present reality, not a past experience.
Last Year’s Testimony
Thank God for last year’s testimony, but you can’t live off past victories. You should continue to share what God did for you in the past, but you need to be walking in this year’s testimony and this year’s miracle. Faith is now according to Hebrews 11:1. The Word we sowed into our hearts last year can still produce results only if we remember. We can’t leave the seed of the Word of God untended and expect it to continue to produce. You need to hear the essential truths of the Word of God again and again.
The Right Attitude
Christians who have been around for a while may need to check their attitude toward being reminded about the basics of faith. For example, they may hear their pastor teach a topic that they've listened to many times, and if they don't have the right attitude, they may say to themselves, “Oh, I’ve heard this before. I know all about it.” Those who take that approach cut themselves off from the blessing God has for them. If they change their attitude and say, "I've heard this before, and I know something about it, but I know the Holy Ghost can teach me more about it," that is what will happen. The Holy Ghost will give them another cut of revelation that will be brand new. They’ll understand new applications and see connections to the same truth in other parts of God’s Word. I know this to be true from personal experience.
My spiritual father, Reverend Kenneth E. Hagin, taught the same messages for decades. I heard him preach the same thing so often that I could complete his sentences as he spoke. He once told me, "You could preach this as well as I can,” but every time I heard him preach, I recognized the prophet's anointing, and I got a new revelation. It never failed. The anointing on the man or woman of God and God's Word is always present. We just must be willing to receive.
Continue to teach the truths of God’s Word. Don’t worry about repeating yourself. People need to remember the fundamentals of faith. Encourage them to expect to receive new insight and fresh revelation because there is always more to know and experience in God’s Word!