DAY 2: 2 TIMOTHY 4:1-5
SAVE THE PLANET!
Read 2 Timothy 4:1-2a.
The Word – it is called the mystery of Christ in Colossians 4:3; it is the gospel of 1 Thes. 1:6, 8; and it is the good doctrine of 2 Tim. 4:3; and it is Jesus Christ Himself in John 1:1. The Word is all that pertains to Christ and His redemptive purposes for the fallen creation. The Word is most notably an emphasis on the gospel as it relates to the fallen human race.
How important is the preaching of the Word? It is perhaps the most important thing that must be done on this planet Earth. It gives the “Save the Planet” slogan its truest meaning. We can spend billions of dollars and lifetimes of manpower to reduce waste, reduce greenhouse emissions, and reduce the slaughtering of forests and endangered species, but there will be no greater use of time or money than saving the planet from the impending disaster of a Christless eternity. The former may be valuable, but the latter is absolutely critical.
So calling upon God and Christ as his witnesses, Paul charges Timothy to preach the Word. And one can imagine Paul looking ahead to Christ’s glorious yet unpleasant (for many) return, His judgement of every person, and the eternal kingdom to follow — that must have only impassioned his charge to Timothy. The world must hear the gospel!
How important is the preaching of the Word? It is all important. It is not only important that it be preached, but in context of this letter, it must also be preached accurately (2 Tim. 2:15). The point Paul seems to be making here is that Timothy is to preach the Word – not some conterfeit truth, not some quarrelsome trivia, not controversial, inconclusive word-battles. He was to preach the genuine, life-changing, eternal Word of God. That was Timothy’s call to a world just beginning to hear the gospel of Christ. While the Word has gone forth to most of the world since that day, there are still many who do not fully understand the gospel. The preaching of the Word is just as important today – just as Christ’s return, judgment, and eternity will be for the first century world as well as the 21st century world.
To Consider: What part are you to be playing in the preaching of the Word?
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Home Group Questions
1) What does it mean to “preach the word”?
2) What are some typical ways the word is preached today?
3) Is every follower of Christ called to “preach the word”?
4) Do you believe the Word (i.e. the gospel, doctrine) is preached enough at FBC? How could we do better?
5) What is your role in the preaching of the Word?
