Preach the Word - Part I - Introduction

"Preach the Word" (2 Timothy 4:2). No imperative is more important for the minister of the gospel. No command is more grave. No exhortation is more sobering. At the end of his life, Paul writes to Timothy from a Roman prison. As the Apostle dictates his letter to an amanuensis, he contemplates his inevitible execution, pauses, collects his thoughts, and relates them through the scribe for young Timothy, who will receive the words in Ephesus: "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come" (2 Timothy 4:6). Paul is aware that he is about to die. He is conscious about the fact that he is about to stand before the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the one God has appointed to judge the living and the dead. And what does Paul say to Timothy, this young pastor, as Paul awaits his sure and certain death and considers his life in light of eternity? Paul simply says, "Timothy, preach the Word." Remarkable. It is beyond an indictment of the modern church growth strategies and the postmodern assault on the proclamation of the Word. It is a bell that rings from Mt. Zion and echoes throughout the history of the church: Preach the Word. Some pastors have heard the bell, and so they preach. But many have become dull to the Word of God and its commandment to proclaim the truth of God. Some pastors have hardened their hearts to Paul's clarion call to preach the Word. If we study 2 Timothy 4:1-5, we will discovery the importance of this solemn imperative of preaching. Although a pastor-teacher has many responsibilities, this is paramount. This sacred command must never be overlooked or underappreciated by the servant of God. It must continually ring into the minds and hearts of those who have been duly called of God to stand in the pulpit and proclaim the Word of God, which is able to make sinners wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is for these reasons--and there are many more reasons--that we enter into a humble exposition of this passage of Holy Scripture. We should pray for the illumination of the Spirit as we seek to understand the Scripture he inspired. So then, having provided these words of introduction, let us enter our subject with reverence.