Biblical Preaching

Introduction

We all remember the feeling as a child when you sat down for dinner, hoping for macaroni and a hot dog only for your mother give you a plate filled with brussels sprouts, cauliflower, tomatoes, or whatever other healthy food you despised. 
Your heart sank. “This is the worst day ever.” “Mom, if you really loved me, you would give me Frosted Flakes.” But she refused to let you get up until you swallowed every broccoli floret. 
Why did she do that? Did she relish making you suffer? Was she hiding the hot dogs for herself? No, she foresaw that if you ate Frosted Flakes for every meal, your body wouldn’t develop properly, and you would establish habits that would devastate the quality of your life. She gave you what you needed for your long-term health and happiness. 
The kids may not agree, but most people will applaud your mother for her disciplined foresight. But sadly, some of the same Christians will immediately turn around and live on spiritual Twinkies. They don’t want the meat of the Word, and they definitely don’t want conviction. They want preaching, Bible studies, and podcasts that taste good and digest easily. They want to laugh and come away feeling better. 
And many churches are packed because they give people what they want, and people happily eat it up. But today’s text calls you to desire something more and to give something more to the people you love (vv. 1–5). This passage is addressed to pastors, but it is incredibly relevant to you. If you are going to get all that you should out of church, you must develop the right taste. And you have options for how you feed your soul on Sunday and throughout the week. Will you come to the Word looking for what you want or what you need? And you have a platform with family, classmates, and coworkers. Will you use it to give them Frosted Flakes or healthy, life-giving meals? 
This passage is crucial to a biblical philosophy of ministry and spiritual growth, so I’m only going to cover vv. 1–2 today. It begins with a strong word about…

i.  Your Accountability (v. 1)

Context: Remember that 2 Timothy is Paul’s last words, and we are nearing the end of those words. The body of 2 Timothy ends with v. 8. Most people want their last words to really stick. So, we know Paul wants vv. 1–8 to really stick. And the stickiest word is the command in v. 2, “Preach the Word.” Timothy’s first pastoral task is to preach the Bible. 
It’s so important that Paul frames the command with a weighty preface in v. 1. John Piper says, “I am not aware of any other biblical command that has such an extended, exalted, intensifying introduction.” Paul gave many commands, but he doesn’t frame any other command like this one. Why was this one so important, and why must you value biblical preaching just as much? First, because of…
The Nature of Scripture: It’s no accident that this command follows 3:16–17. The Bible is a precious treasure. It has the power to save, and it is sufficient for every spiritual need. So, it only makes sense that we would spend the precious little time we have as a church preaching the Word. Why would anyone come to church wanting entertainment or pop psychology when we can study God’s Word, God’s voice to us?
The same goes for the people you love. Preach the Word because that’s what they really need. 2nd, Timothy must preach the Word because…
The Authority of God: Verse 1 begins by saying, “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus.” This verb is often used of taking an oath. So, imagine Timothy standing in a courtroom with his hand on a Bible, taking an oath to preach the Word.
But this is no ordinary courtroom. He is in the presence of the Father and the Son. So, Timothy must not only feel the weight of Paul’s apostolic authority; he must realize that the Father and the Son are watching how he conducts his ministry. Of course, he is watching us right now. He’s watching your ministry at home or in the office. The Lord sees whether you are faithful or not.
So, Christians have long used the Latin phrase, Coram Deo, to describe a Christian philosophy of life. It means we live “in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God” (Sproul). Live to please God. 
The Accountability of God: This is vital because God is not only watching; he will also hold you accountable. Verse 1 says Jesus will “judge the living and the dead” when he appears to establish his kingdom. 
Ever since the Fall, humanity has rebelled against King Jesus, but in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, Jesus will appear in a blaze of glory to judge the world and establish the Millennial Kingdom. 
But before we enter that kingdom, Jesus will judge all Christians, the living and the dead. There are no exceptions. Not even death can save you from that day. Someday, you will stand before the Lord and give an account of how you obeyed the Lord and how you fulfilled your ministry. 
The NT says this accounting will be especially weighty for pastors. Hebrews 13:17 states, “Obey those who rule over you (speaking of pastors), and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.” And James 3:1 states, “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” 
Jesus is listening to what I’m saying, and someday, I’m going to stand before Christ, and we will discuss my preaching and teaching. And I won’t be alone. Luke 12:48 states, “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required.” The Lord has given most of you great opportunities to know him and serve him. He will hold you accountable for your stewardship. 
So, Paul is very clear that preaching matters to God. If it matters to God, it should matter to you. I hope you never leave Life Point, but if you ever must look for a church, biblical preaching better be nonnegotiable. A church may have great programs and give you a great experience, but if they don’t preach the Word, it’s not the church for you.  
And be sure to preach the Word in whatever ministry God has given you because you will be tempted to ignore v. 2. “It won’t work in this instance. I need something else.” “If I tell my friend what the Bible says, I might lose him, and I can’t lose a friend.” “I don’t want to be perceived as judgmental. I don’t want to make waves.” 
When those thoughts come, remember that God is watching and someday Jesus will judge you. He’s going to ask, “Did you preach the Word?” When you start talking about everything else you did for your kids, he will interrupt, “That’s all great, but did you do what I said?” Make sure you can say, “Yes, I fulfilled my ministry by preaching the Word.” 
I’m talking about judgment for ministry, but that judgment is irrelevant if you are not fit for heaven. The Bible promises that God will judge the living and the dead by their deeds. He will judge you. 
And the standard will be God’s perfect holiness. No one can measure up, so Jesus became a man, and he fulfilled all righteousness. Then he died in your place on the cross. You can be saved from God’s wrath by putting your faith Christ. Don’t ignore that day. Make sure you are ready. Receive him as your Lord and Savior so that your judgment will be a day of joy, not loss.
Beyond that, Jesus will judge pastors and all Christian servants for how they fulfilled their ministry. Feel the weight of this passage. Feel the weight of what’s in your future. Then determine by God’s grace to be ready. 
We don’t have to be terrified of that day. God is our Father, and Jesus is our friend. By God’s grace, it can be a day of joy, not sorrow. Make sure it is. For that to happen, we must obey God’s command—“Preach the Word.” Let’s discuss…

ii.  Our Responsibility (v. 2a)

Herald: The verb Paul uses is kēyrússō. The noun form is kēyrux. It was commonly used for a herald who would make public proclamations on behalf of a king or another high official. 
Proclamation is important. A herald who read the script quietly and without passion would be fired. So, preaching is passionate, persausive proclamation. After John Piper examines how kēyrússō and euangelizomai, the other key word for preaching in the NT, are used inside and outside the Bible, he concludes “(kēyrússō and euangelizomai) describe a kind of speech that involves more than the transfer of information or the explanation of truth that is coming from another source. They both signify a kind of speech that accords with good news, great import, and significant authority” (Expository Exultation, p. 56).
If you are merely communicating information, you’re not preaching. God commands us to preach with passion and joy and a zeal to persuade. Jeremiah wanted to stop preaching because no one listened. But he confessed, “Then in my heart it (God’s message) becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it” (Jer 20:9). Preaching must never just be a job; it must be in our bones. 
Of course, everyone doesn’t express that the same way. I know that I often feel the message more deeply than my face shows. Some express passion by being loud and others by being soft. The measure of a preacher is not how much he cries or laughs or if he could make it on Broadway. But he must believe what he says, and he must preach with joy, urgency, and sincerity.
The same is true for all spiritual influence. Lead people with conviction and deep love. If you don’t believe it, and you don’t care, no one else will either. Don’t try to be something you are not but be the best version of yourself. Then proclaim the Word with conviction.
The Word: But always remember that far more important than your stage presence is the content of what you says God says, “preach the Word.” He doesn’t say preach your opinions, your jokes, your stories, pop psychology trends, or the latest news cycle. No, tell God’s people what God said.
Now, no pastor is going to disagree with that statement, but various churches still end up with dramatically different preaching styles. But from the very beginning Life Point has had strong convictions about what Paul means, and these convictions are vital to who we are. So, I want to slow down and talk about our commitment to expository preaching. It’s important that you buy into it so that you get the most out of our preaching and so that you imitate this model 7 days a week.
Lesson 2 of Life Point 101 says, “We are committed to expositional preaching. This means that we will primarily preach through Bible books or sections of books with the goal of tracing the argument, finding the authorial intent, and demonstrating its significance for life.” First, why do we preach through Bible books vs. preaching topically? It’s because preaching the Word demands preaching…
The Whole Counsel of God: Topical preaching will inevitably be unbalanced because the preacher sets the agenda. Most of the time, he’s going to set the agenda based on his perception of what people need to hear or want to hear. Parents feel overwhelmed so he does a series on parenting. People feel depressed so he does a series on depression. He’s burdened about politics, so he does a series on it.
None of that is bad. A good shepherd should constantly be evaluating the needs of the church and working to address them. Topical preaching plays a valuable role in the church. 
But we believe the primary diet of the church should come from preaching through long sections of the Bible so that God sets the menu, not man. I see the benefit of this all the time. Very often as I study a text I think, I would never think to preach this message on my own, but I’m so glad that the text raised it. That’s because God’s mind is broader and deeper than any of ours. He knows you better than you know yourself. He knows where we must go and how to get us there far better than any mortal man. So, we preach expositionally. 
That means some sermons may not feel relevant to the burdens on your heart. But trust the Lord that he knows you need a steak today, not Frosted Flakes. And I would urge you to adopt the same philosophy for your private Bible study. Don’t start with your felt needs and go to the Bible for answers. Study the whole counsel of God by working through books of the Bible. I promise that over the long run you will mature faster and become better equipped to handle your felt needs. 2nd, preaching the Word demands…
Contextual/Authorial Intent: Just because a preacher goes verse by verse does not mean he is preaching the Word, not if he is pulling phrases out of context and using them to prop up his own agenda. No, if you want to hear God’s voice in the Word, you must study the Bible in context with zeal to find the author’s intended meaning and to trace how he develops his message. 
I could say so much about this, but I hope you get the point. Good preaching and good Bible study doesn’t start with your agenda; it starts with understanding what God is trying to say and how he develops it. That takes some thought, but this is God’s Word. You should want to think hard and truly understand what he is saying. 3rd, preaching the Word demands demonstrating…
Significance for Life: The preacher’s goal should never be to merely tell you something new or interesting or to prove how much he learned in his study. No, he tells you what God said, and then he demonstrates its significance to your life.
That’s because the Bible is not a compilation of interesting facts. God wrote the Bible to show you who God is and to transform you into his likeness. So, preaching must apply the Word to people’s situation, confront them, persuade them, and inspire them. The rest of the verse proves this.
So, come to church wanting God to correct your false beliefs and sinful behavior. Ask God to expose your sin. Ask God to show you his glory but not simply so that you know more but so that it will work down your soul. 
Read the Bible with the same heart. And always minister the Word with the desire to see people transformed. Don’t just pass along information; show them the beauty of Jesus. Persuade them, confront them, and inspire them. The minister’s responsibility is to preach the Word. Then v. 2 expands on…

iii.  Our Communication (v. 2b)

Paul ends v. 2 with 4 commands that expand on preaching the Word. 1st…
Stay Consistent: Paul commands Timothy, “be ready in season and out of season.” Every preacher and every leader of any worth knows there are times when people applaud your message and other times where they throw stones. So, many religions mold their message to fit the times. Suddenly, they are pro-LGBTQ+ after opposing it for centuries. On a lesser scale, every leader is tempted to mold their message to the whims of their audience.
But God doesn’t change and neither does his Word. So, the preacher must “be ready” at all times. Think of a firefighter in the firehouse. He’s ready to go when the bell rings. Similarly, pastors and all Christian leaders must maintain strong convictions and fresh faith. We’re always ready to preach God’s Word. 
And we do so consistently whether it is in season or out of season, whether our message is popular or not. There have been many times that I get up to preach, and so and so just happened to show up after being gone for 6 weeks, and I think, “That figures.” I know that what I have planned for that Sunday is not going to go over well. I can’t let it affect me. I must preach God’s Word whether people applaud or throw stones. 
You must do the same. Parents, have convictions and be consistent. The same goes for each one of us as we fulfill our ministry. Be consistent. 2nd…
Call out error. Paul commands Timothy to “reprove.” This is the same term translated “reproof” in 3:16. Since the Bible reproves error, Bible preachers must do the same. 
One of the best commercials I’ve ever seen was a Geico commercial in which Pinocchio is a motivational speaker. Pinocchio stands in front of an audience and says this room is full of potential. He then looks down at a man and says, “you have potential.” His nose begins to grow because the man has no potential. It’s funny because motivational speakers often lie through their teeth. They tell people what they want to hear, not what they need to hear. 
Love people enough to tell the truth and to call out their sin. And love godliness enough that you welcome reproof and you come to church wanting it. 3rd…
Confront sin. There’s not a great difference between “reprove” and “rebuke.” Rebuke is simply more direct and more urgent. It’s important because when someone is drowning, you don’t teach them how to swim or have a conversation about rip tides. You aggressively and swiftly pull them out of the water. 
When people are headed to hell, you don’t give them some things to think about. Jude says you “snatch them out of fire” (v. 23). You can’t be a faithful preacher and be soft about situations that demand strength. Of course, strong rebuke must be used strategically. If you cry wolf every day, people stop listening. But when the need is urgent, you must rebuke.
Maybe you need to stop hugging a friend and grab him by the collar. Love means communicating the danger he is in. Doing so may feel terribly unnatural, but love him enough to give what he needs. And when a preacher or a friend loves you enough to deliver a sharp and timely rebuke, don’t get defensive. Listen and thank them for doing the hard thing. 4th…
Shepherd rather than lord. “Exhort” is a flexible term that can range from encourage to mild rebuke. Paul adds “with great patience and instruction.” This final command describes the normal pattern of preaching. We patiently teach and persuade them to believe and obey. We don’t want to intimidate people into conformity or manipulate behavior. We want them to understand the truth and believe it for themselves. We give the Spirit space to transform the heart but always with a persuasive tone. A good pastor leads the sheep; he doesn’t drive them except in exceptional situations. 
If you are burdened for someone you love, don’t bypass the heart for outward conformity. You want them to believe the truth and value obeying the truth. Unless they are falling off a cliff, give them good biblical reasons in a persuasive manner. And give the Spirit space to work because he alone changes the heart.

Conclusion

That’s really what this comes down to. We love God, and we want others to love him and enjoy him. But we can’t make them do that. You can’t even make yourself do that. Only the Spirit changes hearts, and he does it through the Word. So, desire biblical preaching and preach biblically to yourself and to those you love.