Preach The Word

Preach The Word!

2 Timothy 4:1-4

INTRODUCTION

1. A solemn charge was given by Paul to Timothy...

a. In view of the coming of the Lord and His judgment

- 2 Tim 4:1

b. Pertaining to preaching the Word of God - 2 Tim 4:2-4

2. It is a charge that should considered carefully by all...

a. By those who preach the Word, in response to the Great

Commission - Mark 16:15

b. By those who send and support those who preach - Rom 10:15

[Our text reveals that not all preaching is the same. There is that which pleases God, there is that which clearly displeases Him. With the words of Paul before us, let’s first examine...]

I. PREACHING THAT PLEASES GOD

A. PREACHING THAT IS EVER READY...

1. "Be ready in season and out of season" - 2 Tim 4:2

2. Preaching that reveals a degree of preparation; i.e.,

Study that shows...

a. One has given attention to reading, and to doctrine

- 1 Tim 4:13,16

b. One has been diligent in their learning - 2 Tim 2:15;

3:14

3. Preaching that is ready on all occasions

a. in season - "seasonably, opportunely; when the

opportunity occurs"

b. out of season - "a minister is to seek opportunities

to preach the gospel even at such periods as might be

inconvenient to himself, or when there might be

hindrances and embarrassments, or when there was no

stated appointment for preaching."

B. PREACHING THAT CONVINCES...

1. "convince" - 2 Tim 4:2

a. "reprove"

b. "correct"

2. "to use such arguments as would ’convince’ men of the

truth of religion, and of their own need of it."

3. As Paul did in the synagogues - Acts 17:2-3; 19:8

C. PREACHING THAT REBUKES...

1. "rebuke" - 2 Tim 4:2

2. "to admonish or charge sharply"

3. "chide for sin; some privately, others more publicly,

According to the nature and circumstances of the

offense; some more gently, others more roughly, as is

needful."

4. So Paul likewise charged Titus - Titus 2:15

D. PREACHING THAT EXHORTS...

1. "exhort" - 2 Tim 4:2

2. "to encourage and strengthen by consolation"

3. "as the ministers of the Gospel are in some cases to be

’Boanergeses’, sons of thunder, so other cases they

should be Barnabases, sons of consolation; and comfort

distressed minds, by preaching the comfortable doctrines

of peace, pardon, righteousness and salvation by Jesus

Christ."

E. PREACHING THAT IS LONGSUFFERING...

1. "with all longsuffering" - 2 Tim 4:2

2. "patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in

Avenging wrongs"

3. "with a patient and persevering spirit if you are

opposed;"

4. Shown toward both the faint-hearted and hardhearted –

1 Thess 5:14; 2 Tim 2:24-25

F. PREACHING THAT IS DOCTRINAL...

1. "and teaching" - 2 Tim 4:2

a. "doctrine"

b. "instruction"

2. "that which is taught, doctrine, teaching, concerning

something; the act of teaching, instruction"

3. "in a way that is instructive and teaching, and in

Agreement with the doctrine of the Scriptures, which are

profitable for that purpose."

[Preaching that pleases God is "well-rounded": ready at all times, seeking to persuade, rebuking when necessary, yet with all longsuffering instructing others in the doctrine of the Lord. Contrast that with...]

II. PREACHING THAT DISPLEASES GOD

A. PREACHING UNSOUND DOCTRINE...

1. The time will come when some will not endure ’sound

doctrine’ - 2 Tim 4:3

a. Lit., "healthful doctrine"

b. "doctrine contributing to the health of the soul, or

to salvation."

2. Times of which Paul had already warned Timothy

a. When people will give heed to deceiving spirits

- 1 Tim 4:1-2

b. When people will be lovers of self and pleasure

- 2 Tim 3:1-2

3. They will want to hear things ’according to their own

desires’ - 2 Tim 4:3

a. That justifies their sinful behavior, rather than

Rebukes them for it

b. When guilty of things "contrary to sound doctrine"

(e.g., sodomy) - 1 Tim 1:10

c. Not being told such things are ’unhealthy’ to their

soul e.g., homosexuality) - 1 Cor 6:9-10

B. PREACHING TO ENTERTAIN...

1. People will have "itching ears" - 2 Tim 4:3

a. "loving to have their ears scratched and tickled with

smooth things; that are pleasing and agreeable to

natural men, and carnal minds;"

b. "Endless curiosity, an insatiable desire of variety;

And they get their ears tickled with the language

and accent of the person, abandoning the good and

faithful preacher for the fine speaker."

c. They will love to hear even true preachers, if they

Are eloquent - Ezekial 33:30-33

2. They will "heap for themselves teachers" - 2 Tim 4:3

a. There will be plenty of teachers willing to

accommodate them

b. People will find the teachers that please them

3. The sad result of such preaching - 2 Tim 4:4

a. People "will turn their ears away from the truth"