<< Previous | Index | Next >>"THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY" Preach The Word! (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 - 2Ti 4:1 b. Pertaining to preaching the Word of God - 2Ti 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 - Mk 16:15 b. By those who send and support those who preach - cf. Ro 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" - 2Ti 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 - cf. 1Ti 4:13,16 b. One has been diligent in their learning - cf. 2Ti 2:15; 3:14 3. Preaching that is ready on all occasions a. in season - "seasonably, opportunely; when the opportunity occurs" - Thayer 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." - Barnes B. PREACHING THAT CONVINCES... 1. "convince" - 2Ti 4:2 a. "reprove" (KJV, NASB) b. "correct" (NIV) 2. "to use such arguments as would 'convince' men of the truth of religion, and of their own need of it." - Barnes 3. As Paul did in the synagogues - cf. Ac 17:2-3; 19:8 C. PREACHING THAT REBUKES... 1. "rebuke" - 2Ti 4:2 2. "to admonish or charge sharply" - Thayer 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." - Gill 4. So Paul likewise charged Titus - cf. Tit 2:15 D. PREACHING THAT EXHORTS... 1. "exhort" - 2Ti 4:2 2. "to encourage and strengthen by consolation" - Thayer 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." - Gill E. PREACHING THAT IS LONGSUFFERING... 1. "with all longsuffering" - 2Ti 4:2 2. "patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs" - Thayer 3. "with a patient and persevering spirit if you are opposed;" - Barnes 4. Shown toward both the faint-hearted and hardhearted - cf. 1 Th 5:14; 2Ti 2:24-25 F. PREACHING THAT IS DOCTRINAL... 1. "and teaching" - 2Ti 4:2 a. "doctrine" (KJV) b. "instruction" (NASB) 2. "that which is taught, doctrine, teaching, concerning something; the act of teaching, instruction" - Thayer 3. "in a way that is instructive and teaching, and in agreement with the doctrine of the Scriptures, which are profitable for that purpose." - Gill [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' - 2Ti 4:3 a. Lit., "healthful doctrine" b. "doctrine contributing to the health of the soul, or to salvation." - Barnes 2. Times of which Paul had already warned Timothy a. When people will give heed to deceiving spirits - 1Ti 4:1-2 b. When people will be lovers of self and pleasure - 2Ti 3:1-2 3. They will want to hear things 'according to their own desires' - 2Ti 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) - cf. 1Ti 1:10 c. Not being told such things are 'unhealthy' to their soul (e.g., homosexuality) - cf. 1Co 6:9-10 B. PREACHING TO ENTERTAIN... 1. People will have "itching ears" - 2Ti 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;" - Gill 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." - Clarke c. They will love to hear even true preachers, if they are eloquent - cf. Eze 33:30-33 2. They will "heap for themselves teachers" - 2Ti 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 - 2Ti 4:4 a. People "will turn their ears away from the truth" 1) The truth of God will not interest them 2) They will have no time to hear what the truth has to say b. They will "be turned aside to fables" 1) "Believe any kind of stuff and nonsense;" - Clarke 2) "as one has justly observed, 'Those who reject the truth are abandoned by the just judgment of God to credit the most degrading nonsense.'" - ibid. 3) Or as attributed to G. K. Chesterton: "He who does not believe in God will believe in anything." CONCLUSION 1. The truthfulness of the words by Clarke, Chesterton, and apostle Paul can easily be seen today... a. People will reject the Word of God, but believe in witchcraft, UFOs, channeling, etc. b. People will reject the Gospel of Christ, but accept religious traditions of men c. People reject "sound doctrine", but accept "unhealthy teaching" that endangers body and soul 2. The problem is the type of "preaching" people want to listen to... a. They listen to be entertained, to justify fulfilling the lusts of the flesh b. They do not listen to be saved, to learn the way of righteousness Those who dare to preach, and those who desire to hear, should make sure the preaching is that which pleases God! Have you responded in obedience to the preaching of God's Word...? Ro 6:17-18<< Previous | Index | Next >>
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