Preach The Word
by Pastor Andrew Wolfenbarger
06/24/2023
2 Timothy 4:1-2 – “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
Three boys in the schoolyard were bragging about their fathers. The first boy says, “My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he then calls it a poem, and they give him $50.00.” The second boy says, “That’s nothing, my Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a song, and they give him $100.00.” The third boy says, “I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the money!” This young boy may have been using the wrong evidence to support his case of the value of his father’s work, but he didn’t reach the wrong conclusion.
Throughout the Bible, God gave His messengers a word from the Lord. God spoke by Prophets, the Apostles, and today He speaks through His Word. In our key passage, Paul reminds Timothy to faithfully proclaim the Word of God which had just been declared to be “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” There are many opinions and strategies on how to live well, but the Word of God is the only thing that equips us to truly live for the Lord.
A God-given message preached at the right time to a hurting, wounded, soul can be what is needed. It can be a life-giving drink to a sinner who has drank from every fountain and cannot be satisfied.
I can think of times when a Preacher spoke and God used it as if it were a message crafted just for me. I might have been guilty before God and that sermon was what I needed for my hard heart to be softened so that I would repent before the Lord. There have been times when I was discouraged. Sermons have reminded me of the faithfulness of God and the privilege of serving Him. Those messages strengthened me so that I could carry on. The preaching of the Word of God has helped me when nothing else could.
1. We should prepare for preaching
Just as good soil is more equipped to germinate a seed, a heart that has prayerfully prepared for preaching will be ready to receive what God has for it.
2. We should participate in preaching
We must tune out distractions and keep our attention from wandering. If you were sick and a doctor came into the consultation room to give you medical instructions that could save your life: would you be thinking of your grocery list or what you will choose to eat for lunch? Of course not!
3. We should take preaching personally
There is a great temptation to apply preaching to others. Perhaps we know of something going on in someone’s life, we might be tempted to say, “Bro. So-and-so needs to hear that”. If our heart is going through this little exercise of assigning the Word of God to others, we can be sure we need it the most.
Every message should be heard as if we opened a letter that had written on the envelope, “From: God; To: You.”
06/24/2023
2 Timothy 4:1-2 – “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
Three boys in the schoolyard were bragging about their fathers. The first boy says, “My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he then calls it a poem, and they give him $50.00.” The second boy says, “That’s nothing, my Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a song, and they give him $100.00.” The third boy says, “I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the money!” This young boy may have been using the wrong evidence to support his case of the value of his father’s work, but he didn’t reach the wrong conclusion.
Throughout the Bible, God gave His messengers a word from the Lord. God spoke by Prophets, the Apostles, and today He speaks through His Word. In our key passage, Paul reminds Timothy to faithfully proclaim the Word of God which had just been declared to be “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” There are many opinions and strategies on how to live well, but the Word of God is the only thing that equips us to truly live for the Lord.
A God-given message preached at the right time to a hurting, wounded, soul can be what is needed. It can be a life-giving drink to a sinner who has drank from every fountain and cannot be satisfied.
I can think of times when a Preacher spoke and God used it as if it were a message crafted just for me. I might have been guilty before God and that sermon was what I needed for my hard heart to be softened so that I would repent before the Lord. There have been times when I was discouraged. Sermons have reminded me of the faithfulness of God and the privilege of serving Him. Those messages strengthened me so that I could carry on. The preaching of the Word of God has helped me when nothing else could.
1. We should prepare for preaching
Just as good soil is more equipped to germinate a seed, a heart that has prayerfully prepared for preaching will be ready to receive what God has for it.
2. We should participate in preaching
We must tune out distractions and keep our attention from wandering. If you were sick and a doctor came into the consultation room to give you medical instructions that could save your life: would you be thinking of your grocery list or what you will choose to eat for lunch? Of course not!
3. We should take preaching personally
There is a great temptation to apply preaching to others. Perhaps we know of something going on in someone’s life, we might be tempted to say, “Bro. So-and-so needs to hear that”. If our heart is going through this little exercise of assigning the Word of God to others, we can be sure we need it the most.
Every message should be heard as if we opened a letter that had written on the envelope, “From: God; To: You.”
Posted in Living for God, The Great Commission
Posted in 2 Timothy 4, Preach, Message, Prepare, participation, personal
Posted in 2 Timothy 4, Preach, Message, Prepare, participation, personal
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