Biblical Preaching (2)
In typical Pauline style, the apostle explains how to fulfill this command to “preach the Word.” The following imperatives in 2 Tim. 4:2 give the ingredients to Biblical preaching.
First of all, Biblical preaching should involve readiness. The translation “in season and out of season” doesn’t quite do the phrase justice. The literal rendering would be “be ready in good time or bad time.” In other words, there is always a need for Biblical preaching. In good times or bad times, the people need to have the man of God “preach the Word.” Whenever, wherever, and whyever, simply preach the Word!
Every sermon preached Biblically should involve reproving and rebuking. That means you might have to step on some toes. You might have to say what is not popular. You might have to call out sin. You might have to give the truth no matter whose feelings you are going to hurt. This should be done as long as it is what the Word of God is communicating. Biblical preaching should not be ashamed to denounce sin, call for repentance, and seek out righteousness. Paul’s list begins with the sin issue first.
The next step, exhortation, is often what most liberal preachers jump right into doing. All they seek out to do is smile big and make the audience leave in the same way – with a smile. There is no conviction of sin (and often the word “sin” is neglected). The idea behind exhortation is probably to give a “how to” sermon. I can think off of the top of my head of 1 Peter 1:13 answering the question of how to be holy on the inside – 1) gird up the loins of your mind, 2) be sober, and 3) hope to the end. All points are from the text and exhorting the people on how to live a holy life for God. These sermons are in the text. You just have to “preach the Word.”
Another key component to Biblical preaching found in verse 2 is the teaching that takes place. If the content of your sermon is the text of Scripture, then there will be much to explain. A good preacher will establish the interpretation of the text he is expounding before moving on to the application. Thus each sermon should have some instruction of the text being preached on. The depth of explanation will vary from audience to audience,[1] but the common factor should always be to instruct or teach.
Verses 3-4 are fundamental for all Biblical preaching. When the command to “preach the Word” is fulfilled, sound doctrine will be accompanied in the message. Some like to avoid doctrine. But you can’t “preach the Word” without preaching Scriptural truths. Yes doctrine divides, but it was intended to be divisive! Truth always divides itself from what is false. Light always separates the darkness. Truth needs to be proclaimed no matter what the listeners want to hear. If sound doctrine is proclaimed and your audience shrinks as is predicted in verse 4, then don’t change. It is still the duty of the preacher to “preach the Word” no matter what the outcome.
Oh, what an effect it would have on our morally declining nation if more pastors of churches began to obey the Bible and started to “preach the Word.” Since that is the only thing guaranteed to change lives, why wouldn’t more churches tap into that resource of ministry and focus on the life-changing power of the Word of God. How different things might be.
Timothy L. Decker
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[1] For instance, I wouldn’t just explain to my congregation that “the word in question is a perfect passive participle in the Greek.” I might explain that the emphasis of this word is a completed action from an outside agent. And even then my terms would be less academic. But if I were preaching to a seminary or Bible college audience, I would have no qualms about spouting off grammatical parsings if I thought it were relevant to the understanding of the text and common knowledge to the audience.