What Is the Kerygma?
The kerygma is the clear proclamation of who Jesus Christ is, what He has done for us, and the invitation to respond to Him.
The Good News of Jesus Christ — Simply Stated
At the heart of Christianity is not a program, a system, or a philosophy. It is a person: Jesus Christ – alive, present, and inviting you into relationship with Him.
The kerygma is the core proclamation of the Gospel: who Jesus Christ is, what He has done for us, and the invitation to respond to Him.
The Church calls the clear proclamation of who Jesus is and what He has done the kerygma. This proclamation is not one teaching among many; it is the core message of the Gospel and the foundation of all Christian faith and discipleship.
There are many faithful ways to articulate the kerygma. What matters most is not the formula, but the clarity of the proclamation and the witness of the person doing the proclaiming.
Below, we share how the Church understands the kerygma – and how we at Burning Hearts commonly articulate it to help leaders proclaim the Gospel clearly, relationally, and with confidence.
If the kerygma is unclear, faith becomes abstract and discipleship stalls.
“[Silent] witness, no matter how excellent, will ultimately prove ineffective unless its meaning is clarified and corroborated…the good news proclaimed by a witness of life sooner or later has to be proclaimed by the word of life. (Pope Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi, 22)
What Is the Kerygma? | Good News & Gospel Meaning | From Prayer to Proclamation | Tools for Leaders | From Proclamation to Mission
What Is the Kerygma?
The Gospel, proclaimed — not assumed.
The kerygma is the first and essential proclamation of the Gospel. It is not a summary of Church teaching and not a theological framework. It is an announcement that calls for a response.
When we proclaim the gospel plainly, this is what we announce:
- God created you for relationship and communion.
- That relationship was broken by sin.
- Jesus Christ restores communion through His life, death, resurrection, and ascension..
- He invites you to turn toward Him and entrust your life to Him.
- The Holy Spirit gives you new life and sends you into mission through the Church.
The kerygma is not a program, method, or summary of Church teaching. It is the proclamation of Jesus Christ — crucified and risen — and the invitation to respond to Him.
The word kerygma comes from the Greek kēryssō — to proclaim aloud. It is meant to be heard, received, and lived.
Download the One-Page Guide
A one page proclamation you can put in the hands of your team, your catechists, or your small group.
Before moving on to tools or strategy: pause.
The kerygma is not just something you understand. It is something you receive.
Take time to sit and pray with the Gospel
before trying to share it.
Start here
- If you’re new to the kerygma, read the overview below.
- If you lead others, jump to leader specific tools ↓
- If you need language, examples, or formation resources, browse the sections that follow.
What Christians Mean by “Good News”
Not a slogan. Not a sentiment. A specific proclamation.
Many people encounter Christian language through prayer, Scripture, or moments of gratitude without ever hearing the Gospel named clearly.
When Christians speak of “good news,” we are not speaking in generalities. We are proclaiming something specific that God has done.
The good news is this: God has acted decisively in Jesus Christ to save, heal, and restore what was broken. This is the Gospel. And when it is proclaimed clearly and personally, the Church calls it the kerygma.
If this is truly good news, it should sound like good news when it is proclaimed—and look like good news in the lives of those who claim to believe it.
When the Gospel is reduced to obligation, correction, or cultural habit, it stops sounding like good news at all. The kerygma reminds us that Christianity begins not with a demand, but with a gift. The way it is proclaimed should reflect the joy of what is being announced.
Kerygma Tools for Leaders
Same Gospel. Different contexts.
The kerygma is not only for seekers or first-time believers. It is for the baptized. It is for leaders. The message does not change—but the way it is proclaimed must fit the people and setting entrusted to you.
Catechists & RCIA Teams
Tools and resources for those leading others in structured formation contexts – OCIA, adult faith formation, small groups, and parish discipleship – where the Gospel must be proclaimed clearly, not assumed.
Families & Youth
Resources designed to help parents, youth ministers, and those working with children and youth proclaim the Gospel simply and relationally – meeting young people where they are and naming the Good News in age-appropriate ways.
From Proclamation to Mission
When the Gospel is proclaimed clearly, renewal becomes possible.
When the kerygma is proclaimed clearly, faith shifts. Belief moves from obligation to relationship. Discipleship moves from maintenance to mission. Evangelization becomes possible because the Gospel is no longer assumed.
Discipleship Compass | Living as Missionary Disciples | Share Your Story
When a parish or community needs renewal, the starting point is not a new initiative. It is the Gospel, proclaimed. If renwal is what you want, clarity is the price.
Invite a Kerygma Mission or Speaker →
Where the Kerygma Is Proclaimed
The Gospel, named and lived in real contexts.
The kerygma is not confined to a single talk, formula, or moment. It is proclaimed whenever the Gospel is named clearly and personally/ That can be in preaching, testimony, catechesis, accompaniment, or everyday conversation.
The articles below explore what that proclamation looks like across different settings and seasons of ministry. Each one shows the kerygma at work: spoken as good news meant to be heard and received by a variety of audiences.
Formation doesn’t happen in isolation. These resources work together to help leaders proclaim the Gospel clearly, share it humanly, and live it relationally.
