Skip to main content

Preach the Word (2 Timothy 4:2)

"Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction."


PREACH THE WORD, that's the primary ministry of a servant of God. All other things are only peripheral. Ministry of the word in prayer and proclamation is at the core of ministry.

Preaching implies (CAP)

COMMUNICATION of the Word with people. It is communication with people and so involves responsibility. The communication is personal and not impersonal. It aims at carrying God's message to the heart of the person through the power of the Holy Spirit.
ADDRESSING the issues that are relevant to the preaching. Addressing the question and need of the hour is ministry. Ministry is not a formality, but response to a need. One doesn't need to preach about atheism in a context where polytheism and not atheism is the biggest problem. Every age and area has its question that God's Word alone is capable to address. Jesus Christ is central to the proclamation of the Gospel. The Holy Spirit witnesses to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement.
PERSUASION. Propagation must be persuasive or else it is meaningless. The message must have a meaning, an aim, a target, and a purpose. The goal is obedience of faith.

In addition to these, one must remember the following about the ministry of the Word:

1. INTEGRITY OF THE WORD. Sound doctrine, rightly dividing the word of truth, and right application of the God's message are involved in possessing the pure and wholesome Word of God in all its integrity. One must never compromise or submit God's word to personal interpretation or dictates of one's feelings and opinions.
2. INTENSITY OF THE WORD. Paul exhorts Timothy to preach in season and out of season; to rebuke, to correct, to exhort. If the preacher is not passionate about the message, he has no business preaching it. If there is passion then the preaching will be "by all means" and in every way possible.
3. INTERNALITY OF THE WORD. The preacher's life should be the testimony of the word he preaches. In other words, one must not preach what one doesn't practice. The Word must be internal, transforming one's own life, before it can be communicated to others. The preacher must be an example to others in sound doctrine.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Is Water Baptism Necessary Before Partaking in Lord's Supper

"Last Supper" by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (1750) Yes, it is. Water baptism identifies one with the redemption work of Jesus Christ, with His death, burial, and resurrection. It is anticipated of visible identification with Christ and His Church. Every person has the personal responsibility to examine him/herself before deciding to partake in the Lord's Table. The Bible makes it clear that those who chose not to be baptized were rejecting the counsel of God (Lk.7:30). In a mixed congregation, it is not possible to always know who is worthy to partake of the Table; however, the minister must encourage only those who have been baptized for remission of sins (not just as a ritual but by faith in Jesus Christ) to partake of the Table. Before Jesus sat down to dip bread in the cup, He washed His disciples' feet. He makes the statement that they are already "washed" and only need feet to be washed. Of course, this may not explicitly/only refer to their baptism, fo
Post a Comment
Read more

Matthew 6:31-33

"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Mat 6:31-33) The original sense of nakedness was from that deep insecurity of autonomy that sprung from man's first alienation from God due to sin-- spiritual death. Seeking God marks man's refusal to stay alienated by turning towards His Maker in whom alone is Covering and true Security and no reason to be ashamed anymore.
Post a Comment
Read more

The Light of Law Vs Light of Christ (John 8)

JOHN 8:1-12 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the mids
Post a Comment
Read more