Read 2 Timothy 4:1–8
Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season;
correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful
instruction.
2 Timothy 4:2
It is easy to make excuses when we ought to be making opportunities.
Paul himself always found an opportunity to share the Word, whether
it was in the temple courts, on a stormy sea, or even in prison. “He
that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds
shall not reap” (Eccl. 11:4 KJV). Stop making excuses and get to work!
Preaching must be marked by three elements: conviction, warning, and appeal (“reprove, rebuke, exhort”). To quote an old rule
of preachers, “He should afflict the comfortable and comfort the
afflicted.” If there is conviction but no remedy, we add to people’s
burdens. And if we encourage those who ought to be rebuked, we are
assisting them to sin. Biblical preaching must be balanced.
God’s speaker must be patient as he preaches the Word. He will
not always see immediate results. He must be patient with those who
oppose his preaching. Above all else, he must preach doctrine. He must
not simply tell Bible stories, relate interesting illustrations, or read a
verse and then forget it. True preaching is the explanation and application of Bible doctrine. Anything else is just religious speechmaking.
Something to Ponder
What are some examples of “true preaching” you’ve experienced?
What made the preaching particularly good?