PREACH THE WORD

1. 25 years ago a man wrote a book entitled, “what you always wanted to know about your preacher.”

2. Much of this book is in a question and answer format.

3. His first question is, “Where to preachers get their sermons?”

WE CANNOT SPEAK FOR EVERYONE, BUT WE KNOW WHERE EVERY ONE SHOULD GO FOR SERMONS. THIS PLACE IS THE BIBLE. PAUL MADE THIS CLEAR IN THE SCRIPTURE READING, 2 TIM. 4:1-5.

a) Paul said, “preach the word.”

b) What is the word? It is the Bible, the Word of God, or we might say the New Testament (covenant).

c) God has made an agreement with mankind, and preachers are supposed to use it.

2) This is not a new concept.

3) Before becoming a Christian Paul had lived as a Jew under the Old Testament law.

4) Being a Hebrew he was surely familiar with passages like Ps. 40:9:

5) “I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great assembly.”

6) Another writer (Isaiah, Isa. 61:1-3) said the Spirit of the “Lord was upon him.”

7) What did the Spirit help this prophet do? Preach God’s message (covenant).

8) God told the prophet Jonah (3:2) to “go and preach.”

9) What was the prophet to say? God said preach the message deity would provide.

10) In Lk. 4:18-19 Jesus said He came to preach “good tidings.”

IN LOOKING AT 2 TIM. 4:2, PAUL SAID WE ARE TO TAKE THE SCRIPTURES AND BE “INSTANT.”

a) This term has the sense of always being prepared.

b) In life, we repeatedly keep certain documents with us.

c) Most will not drive without their driver’s license.

d) Most also keep basic vehicle information with them (registration and insurance information).

2) If we work in a place that requires identification, we may carry a form of i.d. with us.

3) People who are members of God’s covenant are supposed to be “instant.”

4) We take God’s covenant and make it an integral part of our lives.

5) As we live our lives we allow the Scriptures to fill our minds and guide our lives.

6) God’s word is a source of meditation and contemplation.

7) Being instant necessitates regular study of the Bible.

8) Preaching the word and being “instant” describes a strong commitment to the Scriptures.

9) How can people preach what they do not know?

AS PAUL SPOKE TO A YOUNGER PRAECHER ABOUT GOD’S AGREEMENT WITH MAN AND COMMUNICATING THAT TO OTHERS, HE SAID DO IT “IN SEASON” AND “OUT OF SEASON.”

a) In season comes from a single term that is quite rare; it is found only twice in the New Testament.

b) The word for “out of season” occurs only here.

c) While the words are rare, they are not hard to explain.

10) Think back to the documentation that was mentioned a moment ago.

11) There are times to display a driver’s license and there are times to not display it.

12) There are circumstances where we need to take out our automobile insurance and times when we do not.

13) God’s covenant is in a different category.

a) The Bible is always “in season.”

b) It is always appropriate to talk about the Scriptures.

c) God’s contract with mankind will always be relevant and a suitable topic for conversation.

d) We would say that not every part is fitting for every occasion.

e) Information about husbands and wives is not the right topic for a toddler’s class.

f) Reading Noah’s genealogy for a wedding ceremony is probably going to be out of place.

14) If we are familiar with God’s word, some part of it is always be “in season.”

15) If we are members of God’s covenant, this must be our view of the Scriptures.

16) Every single day, parts of the Bible are relevant to our lives and the lives of others.

17) If we are “instant” (prepared), we can tell people about God’s word in season and out of season.

18) We can tell them when they want to hear it and even when they do not.

19) Every chance that arises to offer religious instruction is an opportunity we need to take.

AS WE THINKING ABOUT HANDLING THE SCRIPTURES WE HAVE THREE MORE KEY WORDS IN SECOND TIMOTHY 4:2: REPROVE, REBUKE, AND EXHORT. ALL THREE OF THESE ACTIONS ARE RELATED TO THE SCRIPTURES.

1) Reprove has to do with restoring a relationship with someone.

a) It involves instructing someone so a relationship is mended.

b) Jesus used this same word in Mt. 18:15 where it is translated “tell him his fault.”

c) In that verse Jesus basically said, “go out and reprove someone.”

d) Why do that? Is such an action designed to make someone feel bad?

e) No, it is done to repair a relationship.

f) This same term is applied to Christians in Heb. 12:5.

g) We are “reproven” by God (corrected because heaven’s goal is the restoration of fellowship).

2) God’s covenant with us (the Bible) is a tool of reproof (a document of restoration).

3) It restores a person’s fellowship with God once it is obeyed.

4) This is why Paul said “preach it,” be “prepared” to use it, and do this in and out of season.

5) God’s covenant with mankind fixes broken relationships if people will listen to and follow it.

6) God’s word does something else.

7) It is also a means of “rebuke.”

a) Our world doesn’t care too much for this idea.

b) We are surrounded with the idea that people should be allowed to do whatever they want.

c) Again and again we hear that we should not correct anyone or question any kind of behavior.

8) Notice the connection between the words in 2 Tim. 4:2.

9) Paul said preach. Preach what? The word. How earnestly should we do that? In and out of season.

10) Why should we do that? To instruct people in what is right and restore fellowship.

11) What if people will not respond? We now come to the next logical step.

a) An apostle said rebuke them.

b) This term has the sense of censure or warning.

c) Jesus “rebuked” (same word) the winds and sea, Mt. 8:26.

d) How did the Lord act when He quieted the storms?

e) Did He say, “You do what you want to do. I can see you are having a bad day?”

f) Based upon this word, He must have said something like, “Enough. Quit. Quiet. Stop it.”

12) When Jesus came face to face with angry weather, He was not “sensitive.”

13) He told the elements that they had to cease their hostility.

14) If we are going to fault someone or show disapproval, we need authority.

a) With children, our authority might be safety.

b) We tell a child “no” and “get away” when he or she is close to a hot stove.

c) Where is our authority for rebuke and censure today?

15) Is the right to do this based upon a country’s national law?

16) If this is the standard, how can brutal dictators be called immoral?

17) If a nation’s righteousness is based upon its own laws, and the dictator writes the laws, they must be just.

18) One argument to prove the existence of God is the moral argument.

19) Without a God (superior being) there is no absolute moral standard.

20) Without God, we cannot say that any action is definitely wrong.

21) If we have a God but no revelation from Him, we are in still in the same boat.

22) A short time ago a man visited Ohio State University and saw a newer building.

23) This is a new art building that reflects the “post modernist view of reality.”

24) In simpler terms, this building has no pattern (literal design).

a) It has staircases but they do not lead anywhere.

b) This building has pillars but they do not support nothing.

c) This structure is to symbolize man’s senseless direction of life.

d) We are moving and going, but ultimately we are going nowhere.

e) This is the view of many now living.

25) The person who saw this structure asked if the foundation had been created in the same way.

26) A person quickly responded, “of course not.”

27) Our world tries to argue that we have a moral foundation but we cannot legislate morality.

28) That’s nonsense.

29) God says to His people, “preach the word.”

30) “Take my agreement—the new covenant and let people know about it.”

31) “Tell them whether they want to hear or not because my word is always relevant.”

32) God’s covenant with us is both a foundation for life and a blueprint for daily living.

33) Our world needs this message now than ever.

a) We have a world full of “itching ears” (2 Tim. 4:3), but God says “preach my word anyway.

b) Notice again what is said in verse 4 – READ.

34) Our generation has gone far astray and says do what ever you want; God says preach the word.

a) We have a moral crisis on our hands in many ways, but God says, “proclaim the gospel.”

b) We have people so turned off by the message they will destroy a church sign.

c) God comes back to us and says, “preach the word.”

d) People don’t want to listen, but God still says, “continue to go out and preach the word.”

35) As we go we teach with longsuffering (patience) and teaching, 2b.

36) There is a God and we have an agreement from Him.

37) God views this agreement in the most serious way.

38) Notice again how this chapter begins – verse 1 – READ.

39) Timothy was “charged in the sight of God.”

40) Paul strengthened the point by also mentioning the Lord.

41) There will be a future judgment and Jesus will be the judge.

42) All people will be evaluated based upon God’s word (the covenant) they lived under.

43) For that reason God tells us, “take my message into the entire world and give people a chance to obey it.”

44) Christianity is applicable to all places and all times.

45) If you believe this but have not obeyed, we ask a simple question:

46) When will you become a Christian? Time and opportunities are slipping by so quickly.

47) There will never be a chance than right now, and the steps are so easy.