"Preach the Word,

The Apostle Paul tells Timothy (one of the young pastors whom he mentored) to "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine." (II Tim 4:2) So how does this relate to the church in this century? Are we to bring in a more comfortable, casual church environment? Are we to bring in a worldly worship style (music, dress, etc.) to appeal and draw in the modern crowd? What are we to do? How are we to apply this exhortation from Paul to our ministry?

Before we get started though we need to look at the verbage and definitions in this verse. The idea of "instant" refers to sermons that are appropriate and timely. "In season" this implies preaching sermons that are relevant to the contemporary time, current events, worries, and concerns. "Out of season" this implies preaching sermons that are grounded in the truth and not of current fad or embedded with worldly influences. "Reprove, rebuke, exhort" carries the idea of how we are to preach to the people not sugarcoated or watered down but the truth. "With all longsuffering" this is to be our attitude when we approach the pulpit and preach the Word. Consistent with our message and patient with our people whether they repsond or not. "Doctrine" this commands us to use the Truth to preach not our convictions, preferences, or opinions. Ok with this being said now I'll share three points that I gleaned from this verse for the preacher.

First, I think we need to be in the Word..period! The Scriptures give us all the arsenal we need to preach and teach practical and timely messages. I think when a Preacher stands in the pulpit to share God's Word that he should preach the Word...not preach 'about it' or 'out of it' but actually read the verses so the people can hear them and see for themselves. When we preach/teach we should teach the background of the author and the book, then the context of the timing and the audience, then understand the whole chapter and surrounding verses, and finally define the words and word pictures in the actual verses themselves. All of this should be part of a normal lesson or sermon. This helps the people to understand the intent of the author and make a connection to the book, the author, the target audience and will build interest through out the Bible.

Second, I think we put too much emphasis on the idea that 'expository' preaching is the proper or best style of preaching and anything less is shameful or heresy. We need to preach as Jesus did with verses from the Bible...preaching topical sermons...using real life experience...all to make these verses practical. Sadly, not enough emphasis is placed on taking the contemporary audience across the 'principle' bridge to connect the Bible of old to the concerns and challenges of here and now. I think that we need to preach more of the Word and relate the Word, but to take 5 years to go through Romans verse by verse can be frustrating, intimidating, tiring, and irrelevant to the people.

Third, we need to be pastors that are humble teachers and preachers of the Word of God. We don't need to preach in a manner that falsely builds us into something we are not to be. We need to lift up Christ not build ourselves up. We are to be humble not highlighting ourselves but giving God the focus and the glory. We are to be true to our calling to serve the Lord and not to be self-serving!

A wise mentor told me to use II Timothy 3:16 as guidance when I approach the Bible and preaching. This verse tells us so much in such a simple way - "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine (doctrine = what's right), for reproof (reproof = what's not right), for correction (correction = how to get right), for instruction (instruction = how to stay right) in righteousness:" So if I/we use this verse as a measuring stick for all sermons and as a guide for our attitude then we will be the pastor God wants us to be and the pastor our people need us to be. We will find it easy to preach sermons that are both in season and out of season.

God bless you as your serve in His harvest! Stay in the Word!