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Bold and Unashamed in the Preaching of the Word

by on May 07, 2021

Key Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1–5 “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Earlier in this letter, Paul affirmed for Timothy God as the source of Scripture and Scripture’s usefulness (2 Tim 3:16–17). In Matthew, Jesus says the Word of God is the source of man’s spiritual life. Since the Word of God is holy, the matter of preaching the Word is no small thing. Using courtroom language in 2 Timothy 4:1, Paul testifies of these truths to Timothy and all future pastors.

We can only love and desire the Word by God’s grace. The world will reject it. And even Christians, at times, will struggle to desire it when it convicts. The temptation exists in congregations today for a pastor to appease us. A pastor faces a world that hates the Word, and generations that call themselves Christians, but deny truth. He faces his pride, pressure to put numbers above God’s Word, and pressure to not offend. When a pastor gives in and carries this weight with him to the pulpit, he no longer preaches the Word of God, but his own version of truth, attempting to make everyone happy.

A lead pastor who loves the Word will know to leave that weight at the foot of the cross, will make no compromises to truth, and will preach and teach the Word in the face of affliction, suffering, or persecution. As believers, we need Scripture and the gospel preached boldly by a man who loves God more than he fears man.

Question to Consider: Do you listen to sermons to feel better or to grow in the knowledge and understanding of Christ?

Prayer Prompts:

  • Pray that God would increase Pastor Mike’s passion for preaching the Word of God.
  • Pray that he will boldly and unashamedly proclaim the truth, without compromise.

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