The Priority Of Preaching-1 Series

The PRIORITY of PREACHING-I—2Timothy 4:1-8

Attention:

Preaching is a standardized & major part of the livelihood of a church. It is vital to the worship experience. It is necessary to alignment with Bible Study. It calls the hearer to action. It draws the hearer closer to God. But is it only to be used inside the church during corporate worship?

Need:

I don’t see what’s so great about preaching but every church I go to I have to put up with it. It bores me to tears.

There must be some way to avoid preaching.

Why do others see it as so important?

Paul solemnly charged Timothy to preach the word of God as knowledge of it is vital to overcoming a hostile environment(3:15-17).

Every pastor is compelled to place his priority upon faithfully preaching God’s revealed word.

Pastor’s must prioritize preaching God’s word.

Why must pastors prioritize preaching God’s word?

5 incentives/principles prioritizing the preaching of God’s word.

OVERCOMING a HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT-III—2Timothy 3:10-17

A hostile environment is overcome by Adherence to Authority’s…

A—IMITATION of APOSTLES-I-III(3:10-14)

B—KNOWLEDGE of SCRIPTURES(3:15-17)

1—REVELATION /Authority(:15a)

2—WISDOM(:15b)

3—BREATH/Inspiration(:16a)

4—PROFIT(:16b-17)

1— An incentive prioritizing the preaching of God’s word is....

The KINGDOM(:1)

Explanation/Argumentation:(:1)

:1—“I charge you therefore before God & the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living & the dead at His appearing & His kingdom:”

“I charge you therefore...”

‘Those who are called to proclaim & interpret the Word of God have the most profound responsibility that the Lord places on any man.’—MacArthur

“Charge/Solemnly charge”—diamarturomai—1) To testify—1a) earnestly, religiously to charge; 2) To attest, testify to, solemnly affirm.

“Before God & the Lord Jesus Christ”

“Before/In the presence of”—

Every God-called pastor, ‘constantly ministers under the omniscient scrutiny of His divine presence.’—MacArthur

A pastor must give constant attention to the fact that God in Christ, has called him to present His word faithfully.

“Who will judge the living & the dead”

A further call to faithfulness with God’s Word is the fact that Jesus is not only the pastor’s King, Savior, Redeemer, Friend & what-have-you, but He is also the pastor’s Judge! He is the determiner of justification & righteousness regarding the pastor’s heart & actions.

“At His appearing & His kingdom:”

OR—“And by His appearing”(Maj.Text)—A deeper/further anchor to the charge.

*This “charge” is anchored to 5 criteria precious to every Christian:

1)“God” the Father.

1Cor. 8:6—“yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, & we for Him; & one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, & through whom we live.”

2) Jesus the Christ who is the Christian’s “Lord.”(the Mediator)

Combination(God the Father & the Lord Jesus Christ) is used 15X.

Jude 1—“Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, & brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, & preserved in Jesus Christ:”

3)Christ’s absolute Judgment.

Jn. 5:21-23—““For as the Father raises the dead & gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”

Rom. 14:10-12, 2Cor. 5:10—The bema Judgment seat of all believers following the rapture.

Rev. 20:11-15—The final Great White Throne Judgment.

4)The certainty of Christ’s “appearing.”

Jn. 14:3—““And if I go & prepare a place for you, I will come again & receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

1Cor. 11:26—“For as often as you eat this bread & drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”

Heb 9:27-28—“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”

‘The full consummation of the Kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ & the end of this age.’—2000 BF&M

5)The certainty of His “Kingdom’s” fulfillment.

Dan. 7:14—“Then to Him was given dominion & glory & a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, & languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.”

Rev. 11:15—“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord & of His Christ, & He shall reign forever & ever!””

Illustration:

U.S. wields direct control over its 50 states/It holds a great deal of influence around the world but has no direct power there/Its KINGDOM is limited as any nation/God’s kingdom is global & will physically extend globally/The KINGDOM