The Kerygma, Stated Plainly
A clear statement of the Gospel for those who may already know the faith but struggle to name the proclamation itself.
The Definition
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.
It is the proclamation that God created you out of love for relationship and communion, that you have broken communion through sin, and that Jesus Christ – God made man – has acted to restore what was broken through his life, death, resurrection, and ascension. In Jesus Christ, salvation is offered to you as a gift of God’s grace and mercy. You are invited to trust him, turn from sin, give your life to him, and receive new life and power through the Holy Spirit in the Church.
What the kerygma is
- It is spoken aloud.
- It is named explicitly, not implied.
- It is addressed to a person.
- It is proclaimed as good news by someone who has received new life.
- It is an invitation that demands a response.
What the kerygma is not
- It is not a concept to be discussed.
- It is not the entirety of Catholic doctrine.
- It is not a program, method, or event.
- It is not implied by good intentions or good works.
- It is not complete until it is received in the heart of the hearer.
Proclamation Check
If someone asked you why they need Jesus, what would you say?
Is Jesus clearly the subject of what you proclaim – or does the focus drift to the Church, its values, or its work?
When you speak of the Gospel, do you name both what Jesus has done and the call to turn away from sin and toward him?
Are you proclaiming this to a real person you know – or speaking in general terms that avoid relationship?
If Jesus were removed from your language, would anything essential be lost?
Quick Self-Check for Leaders
- Could you state the kerygma clearly in one minute – out loud, without notes or explanation?
- When you speak of the Gospel, do you explicitly name Jesus, his life, death, resurrection and ascension, and a call to respond?
- If someone asked “Why do I need Jesus?”, would your answer be clear – or would it drift into Catholic language and explanation?
- Ask yourself or your team: How you would proclaim the Gospel to someone who knows nothing?
- Pay attention to where your language becomes vague, indirect, or institutional.
- Notice whether Jesus remains the subject of what you say – or quietly moves to the background.
Before You Proclaim
If this proclamation is unfamiliar to you as something you have personally encountered, do not attempt to proclaim it yet.
The kerygma is first received before it is announced.
Many Catholics have never rejected the Gospel – they have simply learned to assume it.
