2 Timothy: Guard The GospelSample

Throughout his letter Paul encourages Timothy to be faithful – to his gift (1:6); to Paul (1:8); to the gospel (1:13–14); to Christ (2:8); to the church (2:24); and to Scripture (3:14–15). Now he urges him to be faithful to ‘preach the word’ (4:2). 

This is Paul’s main reason for writing. As he anticipates his execution and the end of the apostolic age, he wants Timothy to be prepared to continue gospel ministry. The most important part of that is preaching God’s Word. He must be prepared to preach it ‘in season and out of season’ (v. 2) – when it is convenient and when it is costly to him; when his hearers are willing to listen and when they are hard-hearted; when unbelievers are receptive to his words and when he faces hostility. He will need to correct thinking that disagrees with the Word. He will need to rebuke behaviour that is inconsistent with the Word. He will need to encourage godliness in obedience to the Word.

Faithful, frequent preaching of God’s Word is vital if the church is to grow. This is the primary way God has chosen to build up his church, so it’s important to be part of a Bible-teaching church. We need regular opportunities to hear the Bible taught carefully. We must be willing to be corrected when our thinking is wrong and rebuked when our behaviour is sinful. We should be prepared to change in response to God’s Word.

You may think you don’t need to hear regular preaching. Perhaps you believe you can grow by reading God’s Word yourself. While we should all read the Bible and pray by ourselves – often – God has given pastors and teachers as gifts to build up the church and equip us to serve him (Eph. 4:11–12). We see throughout the Bible that God uses people to declare his truth. In his wisdom, he has chosen to use individuals as instruments to proclaim and explain his own words. We must be humble and delight in this gift.

Reflection

How highly do you value faithful preaching? Do you take every opportunity to hear the Bible taught and explained? Pray that those who are responsible for the preaching in your church would teach God’s Word carefully and patiently in every season.