55 Preaching and teaching/ 2 Timothy 4:1-8: Preach the Word

Preach the Word

ETS-Timothy must continue to preach the word like Paul.

ESS-We must preach the word.

OSS-Hearers will share the word with a specific person.

FCF-There are many forces that keep us from preaching the word and finishing strong so we must keep our focus on the motivations given in this passage.

Intro-

Does anyone know who this is?

Robert the Bruce!

Does anyone know what move this is from?

Braveheart

This was my favorite movie as a kid.

William Wallace was about to be put to death, he had spent his life fighting for Scotland and now he was a prisoner.

In one of the last scenes of the movie William Wallace is given a chance to recant everything he had ever fought for.

In this moment as the suspense is building up he yells… Freedom

\William Wallace ran his race and he was done, he lived his life with conviction and he fought his race until the day he died.

Who was going to take the torch. IN Brave heart the man I just showed you: Robert the Bruce wanted to fight with William Wallace, but how bad did he want it because he also had money and was with the nobles. Was he going to take up the torch or was he going to live a life of comfort.

As I thought about the parallels to 2 Timothy I thought how similar.

Would Timothy take the torch?

If Paul were here today, I think he would be asking us will you take the torch?

Was Timothy going to take up the torch or was he going to take the easy way.

What about you going to go all in with Jesus or are

What is our church going to be known for?

There are a lot of great things to be known for, Our love for God, our love for others.

But is loving God’s word going to be one of the things RCC is known for.

I am convinced that if we want to be a world changing church, we have to love the very word of God.

1. We must preach the word because it is commanded (1-2).-

Paul was about to die, Timothy was feeling pressure from every side, not only was his mentor about to die but in this culture persecution was beginning to be a reality.

Nero was known to light Christians on fire and use them as the night lights.

Paul had an urgent assignment for Timothy.

Preach the Word and he wanted him to feel the weight of this.

He who is given much, much is expected.

2 Timothy 4:1 NASB95

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 4:1

It would be difficult to see how Paul could have made his charge to Timothy any more weighty (cf. 1 Tim. 5:21; 6:13). He

God desires us to live as God pleasers

Because if Timothy was going to live out this command he was going to have to be a God pleaser.

Have you ever thought that it is God who is our king and judge the one whose presence we cannot hide from. We cannot run or hid from the presence of God it is everywhere. Can you imagine if we really believed that how it would change our life. Are you living as a man pleaser or a God pleaser.

This is a serious charge. He is the ultimate judge: not your friends, bosses, teachers, coaches or parents, Jesus Christ is the ultimate judge. If this is true, we should strive not to please others but him alone.

Do you realize how freeing it is to live as a God pleaser?

The Ultimate Judge

2 Judgements

Everyone (living and the dead)

The very reason Jesus came was to give us life John 10:10.

GOSPEL (we are based what we do on Jesus: Eternity is in the balance).

What we do with him

Believers are based off of their rewards.

His Return is coming-He is coming back again. He rose from the dead, and is still alive.

Talk through this!-Picture this!

Context of Timothy’s situation:

Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible Exposition

“The [Roman] Emperor’s appearance in any place was his epiphaneia [appearing]. Obviously when the Emperor was due to visit any place, everything was put in perfect order. The streets were swept and garnished; all work was up-to-date. The town was scoured and decorated to be fit for the epiphaneia of the Emperor. So Paul says to Timothy: ‘You know what happens when any town is expecting the epiphaneia of the Emperor; you are expecting the epiphaneia of Jesus Christ. Do your work in such a way that all things will be ready whenever He appears.’“

Could you picture if Jesus showed up to your house today?

Are you ready?

2 Timothy 4:2 (NASB95)

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (4:2)

4:2. The content of Paul’s charge represents the central thrust of every minister’s task: Timothy was to preach the Word.

1, 2 Timothy, Titus (2) Timothy’s Charge to Ministry (4:2)

To “preach” does not imply that an ordained minister is to stand behind a stately pulpit and expound Scripture. It called Timothy to a public heralding of the gospel message, whether done in a mass meeting or person-to-person.

As one man said preach the world all the time and use words when necessary.

There are five imperatives in this verse, the big picture is to preach the word.

The What is Crystal Clear: Preach the Word

This is such a challenge to me, because if I am not doing this I am not doing the main thing God has called me to do.

I am not just to preach about the word I am to preach the very word of God.

Notice the crystal clarity of the command. Their is no doubt what Paul is telling Timothy what to do.

This is so challenging to me because their are so many things that go into planting a church and being a pastor, but if I am not preaching the word I am not doing the great work that God has called me to.

Are you ready to preach the word?

The When: All the Time:

When I say this I say this to myself. Are we really ready to preach the word.

Are you ready?

JD is ready

JD-He is ready to share the word wherever he goes. He is ready, there is not a right way to do it, he has his way and he shares the word wherever he goes.

Maybe you need some training?

There are people here who can help you get ready.

In this passage he is talking about sharing the word with those inside and outside the church but it starts inside.

This means we can share it with our friends and with our family, are you sharing the word.

How do we preach the word!

intellect, conscience, and will. Timothy was to correct error by the use of reasoned argument. He was to rebuke a straying conscience whenever the need appeared. He was to give hope to the fainthearted by providing tender encouragement in the face of discouraging opposition.

Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 243). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Reproved-an appeal to the mind.

Rebuke-an appeal to the conscience. Now if you love rebuking someone you need to slow down a little. But the other ditch is you never are willing to share truth with anyone.

Exhort-an appeal to the will

When we had CECE celebration of life ceremony I saw Major preach the word to his family and the entire group that was here. Sometimes this is the absolute hardest thing to do. He did it in love and in truth.

Application:

Don’t we love when our kids do what we ask them just because we ask them to do it: AKA clean the room.

What if we preached and shared the word just because God asked us to do it.

One of the greatest things I have found in my Christian walk is that before I preach the word to to others I need to preach the word to myself each and every day.

I need to be reminded that I am loved by God, that I am a child of the king, that I am a new creation.

Where can you share the word this week:

With your Parents, with your kids, with your family, at your work, in your neighborhood. Where and who is God calling you to share the word with this week?

2. We must preach the word because of the consequences (3-5). The Problem

We must preach the Gospel to ourselves everyday

On a serious note who is going to preach the word if we don’t: a non believer, an atheist, WHO?

When the church of God goes a way from the word of God, the entire world suffers.

1. The Church will flounder.

The church in America has been more like a thermometer than a thermostat. When God calls us to be more like a thermometer. How do we stay like a thermometer we hold fast to the word of God.

There are churches that teach that sin is okay

There are churches that look more like the world than like Jesus Christ

What are the consequences when a church becomes a thermometer instead of a thermostat-Generations of people!

2 Timothy 4:3–4 (NASB95)

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,

and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

There are churches who have gone away from the very word of God. The very place that is supposed to be bringing hope to the world is losing it’s way in some places. If the church loses it’s way who is going to bring hope and love to others.. The answer is no one.

The goal is sound doctrine

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 4:3–4

Such teachers merely “tickle the ear” so that they turn people away from the truth on the one hand and toward myths (mythous; cf. 1 Tim. 1:4) on the other. Paul’s main focus in this passage was on the inclinations of the audience rather than, as was more his custom (but cf. 2 Tim. 3:6–7), the evil intent of the false teachers. For error to flourish both sides of the transaction must cooperate.

Even Church people want our ears tickled

Even if you are believer the world pulls you to think like it thinks.

There is really no absolute truth.

Jesus is just like all the other Gods.

Just be a good person.

Don’t take your sin too serious.

We want to hear that we are pretty good people (play out moralistic therapeutic deism). This is what I believed before I believed in Jesus. And there are many churches who are teaching this mumbo jumbo instead of teaching the very word of God.

There are plenty of people who are willing to tickle!

Isn’t it easy to find people who will tell us what we want t hear. Sometimes we will go to a friend and tell them what we are going to do, that friend may be neutral, and not really say anything and we leave that conversation saying that friend agreed that I should..... (Fill in the blank).

There are preachers in the name of Christ who are tickling ears and trying to make money instead of preaching the word of God.

Satan’s greatest ambassadors are not pimps, politicians, or power-brokers, but pastors. His priests do not peddle a different religion, but a deadly perversion of the true one. His troops do not make a full-out frontal assault, but work as agents, sneaking into the opposing army. Satan’s tactics are studied, clever, predictable, effective. Therefore, we must always remain vigilant. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:15-16a).

This is always why we need to make sure that we are checking what people say by the word of God, but if you don’t know the word of God you can’t check it by the word of God.

2. The World will have no hope!

2 Timothy 4:5 (NASB95)

But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Remember in v. 2 their were five imperatives, in this verse their are 4:

Be Sober in all things

Endure Hardship

Do the work of your minsitry

Fulfill your minsitry

How do we combat this, we share the good news of Christ. How was Timothy going to fulfill his ministry. He needed to share Christ.

There were people during Timothys day who were dying and going to hell, and Paul reminds him do the work of an evangelist.

Timothy preach the word to your believers and preach the gospel to the world. In our every day lives we can love people radically and share the love of Christ.

Tell the story of how Matt Chandler most popular preacher on itunes: this guy is good. When he moved from California to Texas he was on the football team and he was lockering next to the best player on the team he had a scholarship to A&M. This is what the guy said to Chandler, do you want to talk about Jesus now or later. Chandler being timid (new guy talking to the best player on the team said) later. Later the guy lead him to Christ. This guy was the best player on the team was preaching the word.

But would he not tell us this today, do the work of an evangelist.

Church what if we took personal responsibility to share the unconditional love of God with those that we came into those we came into contact with.

“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”

― Charles Spurgeon

First time I shard the gospel. Walk them through this. I was terrified. When I started shring my faith people started asking questions. Because I did not know how to answer them I would go and have to look them up. I still do that today if I don’t know the answer. I started praying becasue when I began to share my faith I quickly realized that nothing was going to happen if God did not move in the other person’s life. Then I went to the mall and started sharing the gospel and got kicked out for it. I grew like crazy because I shared my faith.

One of the greatest reasons I learned the Bible well is because I shared the Bible early on as a new believer. When you share it you will get questions and then you have to go to the Bible and see what the answer to those questions are.

George Barna-The most effective evangelists are the most obedient and committed Christians.

Application:

Who do you need to bring good news to?

TOP 5-

3. We must preach the word because of the great reward (6-8).

2 Timothy 4:6 (NASB95)

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.

We all have a course

Paul’s race was finishing up, it was about to be done for good, he was about to die.

Paul was being poured out like a drink offering as Philippians says. There was a daily offering of lambs and Pauls life was an offering to God.

Your life will one day be finished, what greater joy could we say than what Paul said-I am being poured out!

Tombstone words

2 Timothy 4:7 (NASB95)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;

a. Fought the good fight-We are all fighting for something, what if we could say with Paul I fought the good fight.

b. Finished the race-How many do we know who have started with Jesus but are no longer walking with him. What is amazing about God is even if we don’t finish strong he will finish what he started with us.

But why not as Paul said, should we not desire to finish the race strong.

c. Kept the faith.

The Righteous Judge

2 Timothy 4:8 (NASB95)

in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Paul left no doubt that he loved the Lord Jesus Christ, he was waiting his reunion with his master as a celebration.

Should we not do the same.

Illustration and Example-Pouring yourself out-Drink offering.

Crown = He has kept the faith-

Compare to graduating high school with honors and without honors. Heather’s dad almost did not let me marry her because my grades were so bad.

Conclusion:

We are going to be having a grand opening service January 21st-We want to personally invite 1500 people to this. Now I am not a numbers guy I do not want to pass these out so we have all these numbers. I want to invite people because they need to hear from God and their our lives in this community that God himself wants to transform.

Who will you invite.

Is there someone you can share with.

philemon 1:6-share first time shared the gospel and how sharing the gospel has been incredible for me

Phrase that pays: Preach the word

then there was another time when I was training up another friend to share the gospel. We were in Colorado and we saw some mormons. Who in here has seen dumb and dumber. Do you remember what they said when they saw hitchikers-Pick em up. So I said the same thing. They were going the other way than us so I turned around almost driving into a ditch and I drive my buddy towards them and I told him to get out of the car to pick them up. We stuck them in the back of my truck and when we got to our Condo we shared the gospel with them.

Phrase that pays: Preach the word

My life has not been boring and one of the reasons is because I share the gospel. But here is what I have realized about sharing the gospel, I need to do it for myself. When I am sharing the gospel i have to rely on God, it does not take you long to realize that no one is going to be saved unless God intervenes. It also made me learn my Bible. I remember early on when people would ask me: do you really believe Jesus is the only way? Let me go look it up. Lastly it is so awesome because I get to see God work. Just last week Ryan called me up and said I am going to share with one of my teammates. We shared with Trey and seeing him come to know Christ reminded me this is what I am here for to become like Jesus and Jesus came to seek and to save the Lost.

George Barna-The most effective evangelists are the most obedient and committed Christians.

I got this off of twitter by the way.

Share the story about Steve Shadrach and how he grew up in Church and a guy who worked for Campus Crusade for Christ took him out to share the gospel when he was going into college. Shad came to Christ when he went out. A guy who thought he was a believer became a believer. In College instead of pursuing the American dream Shad’s passion was to reach his fraternity brothers for Christ. Tell the story about the guy who passed away. Shad is still touching more lives than you could imagine and you know what-he is still sharing the gospel.

What is God’s mission-It’s the same as it has been for all time, he gets a ton of glory by redeeming people of all the world to himself.

You see in this verse Jesus looked out at the crowd and they were helpless and hopeless like a sheep without a shepherd. He wanted there to be a solution-What was the solution = more laborers.

Phrase that pays: Preach the word

Let me tell you about one of the best laborers we met.

Share about Sarah Watson and Megan Denman who share the gospel with their whole dorms

If Sarah and Megan did not share the gospel in their target who was going to.

Who was going to go into the harvest field and share the gospel.

Answer No one.

I want those stories with you guys in here

Where has God placed you: on a sports team, in the classroom, in the band. Are you going to go there and preach the word.

Phrase that pays: Preach the word

Are you going to preach the word for your target.

If you don’t who is?

The next world changer for Christ can be missed if you don’t preach the gospel in your target.

Tyler- if you play soccer or work in your dad’s shop this year there is going to be a legacy left there because you preached the word.

Daniel Severs- preach the gospel to your band

Mallory Brooks preach the gospel to your band

Carlise Preach the word to your volleyball team

Angela preach the word to the whole school

Dillon preach the word to your golf team

121 Preach the gospel to the entire school

Vilonia is your target.