A church board received the following chain letter in the mail.
“This chain letter is meant to bring you happiness. Simply sit down and make a list of five other churches that are tired of their ministers. Send a copy of this letter to all five churches on the list. Then send your pastor to the church on the bottom of the list. In one week, you will receive 15,625 ministers, and one of them should work out for you.
P.S. Don’t break the chain. One church did and they got their old minister back!”
It’s not easy being a pastor because there’s not much respect for the clergy today. I want to draw your attention to a letter written by the Apostle Paul when he was in chains. This “chain” letter was written to a young man named Timothy as a primer on pastoring. As Paul was nearing the end of his life, he passed along some pastoral wisdom before he passed on.
Turn to 2 Timothy 4:1-5: “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 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. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
Kyle, Jason, and Justin, hold on to this main idea: In light of eternity, always preach the weightiness of God’s Word to everyone.
To help us remember the various ministry mandates found in this passage, we’ll focus on who, what, where, when, how, and why. To make sure I’m not sent to a church on the bottom of the list, I’ll keep my comments brief (don’t roll your eyes).
1. Remember who. A leader must remember who he is really serving. If Paul had said, “I charge you,” we would pay attention. If he had written, “I charge you in the presence of God,” it would have been a strong admonition. Had he said, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,” it would have been a very forceful exhortation. If he would have written, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead,” it would have been off the charts.
But here’s what he said, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom.” I don’t know how he could have charged this young man in ministry more seriously, emphatically, or urgently.
The term “appearing” was used of a Roman emperor’s visit to a town. Before he arrived, everyone would put everything in perfect order. Likewise, we’re called to minister with an eye towards the second coming of Christ.
Jonathan Edwards said he always, “endeavored to preach and act as if he had already seen the happiness of Heaven and the horrors of Hell.” Kyle, Jason and Justin, you are called to labor in the presence of Almighty God and the Lord Jesus Christ, before whom every heart will be exposed, and before whom we will ultimately give an account. Because of the certainty of judgment, the return of Christ, and His coming kingdom, we are charged with preaching with passion and ministering with urgency.
Kyle, Jason, and Justin, everyone you minister to is either on the narrow way to Heaven or on the wide highway to Hell. They are lost and need to be saved or they are saved and in need of sanctification. They need to be delivered from sin or discipled into the Savior. Whenever you preach, keep the horrors of Hell and the happiness of Heaven at the forefront of your mind and be reminded that people are headed to one or the other.
The preacher William Still of Aberdeen often said, “I never preach now without believing that something will happen that will last for all eternity.” When you preach about Hell, do so with tears in your eyes and when you preach Heaven, do so with joy on your face. Or, as Spurgeon was fond of saying, “When you speak of Heaven, let your face light up. When you speak of Hell, well then, your everyday face will do!”
Even though pastoring will not always be easy, God wants you to have a sense of weightiness as you handle His Word. Not only is the triune God serving as witness to your proclamation of the Word, but each of you will also give account before Him.
We would do well to apply the words of Martin Luther: “I preach as though Christ was crucified yesterday, rose from the dead today, and is coming back tomorrow.”
In light of eternity, always preach the weightiness of God’s Word to everyone.
First, remember who.
Second, remember what.
2. Remember what. According to verse 2 a minister is to “preach the Word.” A.T. Robertson once said, “One of the best proofs of the inspiration of the Bible is that it has withstood so much preaching!”
Paul is putting Timothy under oath to preach the word. The word “preach” means to “announce, proclaim, publish abroad loudly, to set forth and make known.” To “preach” referred to what a herald did with a message from a king to his people. He was to declare the message with authority, making it loud and clear so it could be heard and heeded. The messenger was not at liberty to change the message; likewise, the preacher must preach only what is in God’s Word. Interestingly, there are over 36 references to God’s Word in the book of 2 Timothy alone!
Preachers have a big job to do. According to Acts 20:27, the Apostle Paul said: “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” 1 Peter 4:11 says we should have a sense of awe when announcing God’s Word: “Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God.” Colossians 1:28 calls us to “preach Christ crucified” and Colossians 1:28 says we proclaim Christ in order to “present everyone mature in Christ.”
To “preach the Word” is not a suggestion; it’s an active imperative. Don’t ever turn away from teaching truth from the text, don’t water down the Word, and don’t be embarrassed by Scripture. Preach and teach as if a person’s eternal destiny hangs on your words…because it does.
Richard Baxter captured it well: “I preached as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men.”
First, remember who.
Second, remember what.
Third, remember where.
3. Remember where. The next charge is to “be ready.” This has the idea of standing near so you can “be instant” or “always on” with a sense of readiness and urgency. Be ready to proclaim God’s Word wherever you are.
In light of eternity, always preach the weightiness of God’s Word to everyone.
4. Remember when. Closely related to this thought is the fourth charge: “in season and out of season.” Preach God’s Word when it’s convenient and when it’s not, whether you feel like it or not. Preach the Scriptures even when society pushes back, and you get labeled as someone who is narrow-minded and old-fashioned.
Be ready when you’re scheduled to preach or teach and when you’re not. Look for ways to preach God’s Word in formal settings and proclaim it intentionally in casual conversation. Communicate doctrine in large groups and disciple new believers one-on-one. Preach when people listen and especially when they don’t.
Remember who – our Triune God.
Remember what – preach the Word.
Remember where – be ready.
Remember when – always.
5. Remember how. This passage lists seven ways God has made His Word to work:
The first three are from verse 2.
• Reprove. This has the idea of convincing someone intellectually. Appeal to their heads to correct error.
• Rebuke. If reproving is intellectual, rebuking is moral. This is when we appeal to people’s hands so they will repent by changing their behavior. Paul told Titus something similar in Titus 1:9: “Hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”
• Exhort. To “exhort” is to encourage those who are discouraged and feel defeated. We must appeal to their hearts by pouring courage back into them.
One wise pastor once said: “The job of a preacher is to afflict the comfortable, and to comfort the afflicted.”
The final four imperatives are found in verse 5. Listen to how this verse begins: “As for you…” One translation renders it this way: “Watch thou…” Another puts it like this: “But you…”
• Always be sober-minded. The idea is to “be self-controlled” or “to keep your head.” It literally means to be free of intoxicants. When people get drunk on the latest doctrinal deception, you are called to be the designated driver! Be on the alert, watch for wolves out to destroy the flock. Stay calm and settled when things are unsettled around you.
Endure suffering. When afflictions arrive, and they will, endure them. Someone has said pastors need “tough skin and tender hearts.” Serving God is hard because the devil, the world, and your flesh are all fighting against you. Earlier in this same letter, we read these words in 2 Timothy 2:3: “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”
• Do the work of an evangelist. The word “work” means, “labor and duty.” Evangelism involves exertion. I’ll never forget a chapel at Moody when the speaker announced he was going to speak on evangelism. We all groaned inwardly. He got up to the podium, looked around, opened his Bible, and said just three words: “Just Do It.” Then, he closed his Bible, walked off the platform, and out the doors. That was it. Chapel was over. But I’ve never forgotten the sermon.
More and more, the local church needs to be re-evangelized. Make sure you are giving the gospel and calling church goers to repent and receive it. Live on mission by making disciples who make disciples by gathering, growing, giving, and going with the gospel, all for the glory of God. Take the gospel to your neighbors and to the nations.
God often reminds me of this sermon excerpt from Charles Spurgeon: “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”
• Fulfill your ministry. Kyle, Jason and Justin, make sure you leave nothing undone or literally, “keep on filling it full.” The word for “ministry” is the word for deacon and speaks of sacrificial, thankless service at tables, like what busboys do.
In John 17:4, Jesus prayed to the Father, “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.” Acts 12:25 says, Paul and Barnabas “completed their service.” May each of you be able to echo the Apostle Paul when he declared in 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Earlier this week I was watching men’s track at the Olympics. In the 200-meter semi-finals, the U.S. runner, who was the reigning world champion, was leading the race, but slowed down with 20 meters to go. He ended up being passed by two runners and almost missed the finals. On Twitter, one person called him, “nonchalant.” Guys, don’t decelerate when the finish line is in sight!
On Wednesday night, when the members of the U.S. men’s track relay team were introduced, most of them strutted onto the track, flexing their muscles, and wearing thick gold chains around their necks. Because they were not focused, their handoffs were sloppy, and they came in sixth in their heat. They didn’t even qualify for the finals.
On Thursday, in the 110-meter hurdles, favorite Grant Holloway, who seemed to begin his gold-medal celebration before the race was run, was beaten by a runner from Jamaica.
Guys, keep your pride in check. There’s no place for strutting spiritually. Isaiah 66:2: “But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”
• Reprove
• Rebuke
• Exhort
• Be sober-minded
• Endure suffering
• Do the work of an evangelist
• Fulfill your ministry
In light of eternity, always preach the weightiness of God’s Word to everyone.
Remember who – you serve the Triune God.
Remember what – preach the Word.
Remember where – be ready.
Remember when – always.
Remember how – watch God’s Word do its work.
That leads to #6…
6. Remember why. We’re given the reason behind the need for gospel-saturated ministry in verses 4-5: “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, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” Doesn’t it seem like fewer people today want to hear about holiness? In an age where people are deconstructing their faith and becoming apostate, you must hold to sound doctrine. The word “sound” means healthy and safe; it’s actually where our word “hygiene” comes from.
Many would rather be tickled by triteness or by politically correct tripe. Some simply “accumulate” or “heap up” teachers who will say what they want to hear so they can keep living the way they want. Unfortunately, these kinds of preachers are easy to find on TV and online.
Tragically, many have already “turned away from listening to the truth and have wandered off into myths.” Five times in 2 Timothy, Paul calls his young apprentice to hold on to “truth.” Myths are “fabrications” and today would include progressive Christianity, prosperity theology, the redefinition of marriage and gender, reproductive rights, and many others.
The final challenge I leave you with is found in the last phrase of verse 2: “With complete patience and teaching.” As you minister, you will need great patience because people are still in process. Don’t take out your anger or exasperation against people by whacking a rock like Moses did. Guard your tongue and your temper.
The word “teaching” can be translated as “careful instruction” and often involves repetition. Paul returns to the theme of patience in 1 Thessalonians 5:14: “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”
I close with some insights from Dustin Benge.
1. Ministry will be hard, persevere.
2. People will be difficult, endure.
3. Sin will haunt you, kill it.
4. Joy will elude you, fight for it.
5. Christ will always love you, be thankful.
In light of eternity, always preach the weightiness of God’s Word to everyone.
Don’t break Paul’s chain letter. Reverend Parks, Reverend Crosby, and Reverend Rumley, fulfill all the duties of your ministry, all for God’s glory in the gospel, and for the fame of His holy name.
Prayer
