2 Timothy 4:1-4

2 Timothy 4:1–4 HCSB

I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of His appearing and His kingdom: Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.

Paul is charging (challenging and instructing) Timothy before God and Jesus, by Jesus resurrection (authority), his kingdom (present and future reign)… In other words this is NOT to be taken lightly?

Who was Timothy? Pastor. Paul is encouraging this to take place INSIDE the church. The problems Paul is warning against are not just outside the church, but inside the church. This is a message to pastor for the Church, because we are all a priesthood of believers and we’ve all been given the same command to go and make disciples!

PROCLAIM - to persuade, urge, and warn

the Word - (Logos) The message of Christ

PERSIST - to continue, don’t quit! endurance in the faith

convenient - when its favorable, when the time is right and people are listening

not convenient - when your unwelcome!

REBUKE - showing someone their fault; “Don’t you see that what your doing is sin?”

CORRECT - expressing God’s disapproval; “Don’t you know that your sin displeases God?”

ENCOURAGE - plead, beg, exhort them to respond; “Don’t you want to repent and do whats right?”

How do we “rebuke, correct, and encourage”?

with patience

with teaching

Why? (This is happening today!)

“The time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine” (Sound doctrine isn’t about making us happy, its about making His name great, and making us holy, for his Glory)

“They will accumulate teachers for themselves because they want to hear something new” (The message of the gospel is not new… It started in the Garden and was fulfilled in Christ!)

Result of straying: (This is happening and we are trying to stop this)

“They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.”

Reminder:

Keep a clear head - don’t get distracted by the new teachers with new messages, don’t tolerate unsound doctrine for the sake of ease, comfort, or friendliness.

Endure hardship - those with itching ears and false doctrines will (and have) attack messengers of the Gospel and God’s Word!

Do the work of an evangelist - Share the good news of Jesus Christ.

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