THE KING COMMANDS YOU TO PREACH THE WORD: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

INTRODUCTION

In Christ, you and I must stand firm on the Scriptures because they are perfectly sufficient to be used by God the Holy Spirit to justify, sanctify, and equip for the glory of God. Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17. But what must you and I do with these perfectly sufficient Scriptures? That is exactly the question God answers through the Apostle Paul in the following verses. And the answer is this:

BIG IDEA

We must preach the Word of God because the King commands it, and we must preach it how the King commands it.

OUTLINE

I. You and I must preach the Word because the King commands it (v. 1)

2 Timothy 4:1 “I charge you in the presence of God and of (even) Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:”

II. You and I must preach the Word, nothing less and nothing more (v. 2a)

2 Timothy 4:2a “preach the word”

I) You and I must preach all of the Word—“the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27); not worldly wisdom

Isaiah 58:1 “Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression.”

Proverbs 30:6 "Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.”

II) You and I must preach the the Hero of the Word

As Paul says, “[Christ] we proclaim and not ourselves” (2 Cor. 4:5) and “All the promises of God find their ‘yes’ in [Jesus]” (2 Cor. 1:20).

III) You and I must preach the sacrificial work of the Hero!

As the beloved Apostle says in 1 Corinthians 1, “We preach Christ crucified” (1 Cor 1:23) and “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Cor 2:2).

III. You and I must be ready to preach the Word at a moments notice (v. 2b)

2 Timothy 4:2b “be ready in season and out of season”

IV. You and I must preach the Word by reproving, rebuking, and exhorting (v. 2c)

2 Timothy 4:2c “reprove, rebuke, and exhort”

V. You and I must preach the Word with complete patience and teaching (v. 2d)

2 Timothy 4:2d “with complete patience and teaching (doctrine).”

VI. You and I must preach the Word, not what people want to hear (vv. 3-4)

2 Timothy 4:3-4 “3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

VII. You and I must preach the Word with a sober mind (v. 5a)

2 Timothy 4:5a “As for you, always be sober-minded,”

VIII. You and I must preach the Word, expecting and enduring suffering (v. 5b)

2 Timothy 4:5b “endure suffering”

IX. You and I must preach the Word as evangelists (v. 5c)

2 Timothy 4:5c “do the work of an evangelist.”

X. You and I must preach the Word because it is our duty (v. 5d)

2 Timothy 4:5d “fulfill your ministry.”