Preach the word

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering 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. – 2 Timothy 4.2-4

There are all kinds of suggestions and ideas about how to build or grow your church. Have the right facilities. Use the right music. Survey your area to see what people are looking for in a church. Paul however left a pretty instruction with Timothy - 'preach the word.'

In this section we are going to find out that Paul knew that his time on earth was short. He felt compelled to prepare Timothy for his departure. Paul knew that it was not going to be easy. He was burdened for his young son in the faith and didn't take time for a lot of complicated instructions. He put it simply.

Preach the word

Be ready

Convince

Rebuke

Exhort

Be patient

But it is all precipitated on the first phrase - preach the word. Don't preach your ideas or agendas. Don't preach your hobby horses. Don't preach political reformation - just preach the word.

We may adapt on the non-essentials. We may change man-made traditions. We might change our styles. We may make cultural changes.

But there is one thing we must always do and never change - preach the word.

No matter how bad the opposition gets - preach the word.

No matter how the world around us changes - preach the word.

No matter how great the pressure to change the message - preach the word.

When people are looking to have their ears tickled, don't give in - preach the word

When folks don't endure sound doctrine - still preach the word

So what are we to do? Get involved in politics? Sure. Work for social reform? Fine. Feed the poor? Of course, we are told to do that.

But, ever and always – PREACH THE WORD.