Join us in this enlightening episode of the International Gospel Hour as we delve into the timeless message of preaching the Word, inspired by Paul’s last letter to Timothy. As we examine the importance of being ready in and out of season, Jeff Archie emphasizes the critical role of preaching the gospel through convincing, rebuking, and exhorting, grounded in biblical teachings. Discover how the principles from 2 Timothy resonate today as we strive to uphold sound doctrine and stay true to the truth that guides us.
The Apostle Paul said to the young man Timothy, Preach the word. Wow, that’s an awesome statement, is it not? So today, well, let’s preach the word here from International Gospel Hour. Be back in a moment.
SPEAKER 03 :
Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 02 :
Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour. Let’s begin.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, thank you to our Jay Webb for his kind introductions, as well as his comments throughout our broadcast. We do appreciate Jay, and we appreciate all of you that have tuned in today to study the Word of God with us, courtesy of International Gospel Hour. Let me give you a little detail about our work. If you’d like to write us, we know so many of you respond by email, but some of you may not have the email or internet capability, but you’d like to drop us a note. Our address is P.O. Box 118 Fayetteville, Tennessee 37334. If you wouldn’t mind, you’d like to drop us a note and tell us where you’re listening to our broadcast from, and we’d love to hear from you. Again, it’s P.O. Box 118, Fayetteville, Tennessee, 37334. We’re under the oversight of the elders of the West Fayetteville Church of Christ in Fayetteville, Tennessee. If you’re not familiar where that is in the state of Tennessee, it’s about 20 miles due north of Huntsville, Alabama, if that can be of help to you. Our website is, of course, internationalgospelhour.com. And our toll-free number is 855-444-6988. And if you’d like, give us a call and let us know where you’re listening to our broadcast from. We would love to hear from you. And we appreciate each and every one of our listeners. You know, a great responsibility and challenge is before one who preaches the Word of God. Considering our work at International Gospel Hour, we have striven to preach the gospel for over 90 years via radio, and in recent years, other modes of communication as well. Delivering the Word of God through teaching and preaching, well, to be quite honest, friends, it’s a humbling experience to me, as the souls of mankind such as yours listen and want to hear the simple truth according to His Word on matters pertaining to God. So, friends, please know that I will do all that I can and within my power to point us toward the Word of God, His will, and His way. It is believed that the book of 2 Timothy is Paul’s last letter. Let’s note near the end of that beautifully written, God-inspired letter and listen to this inspired command and encouragement from the Apostle as penned in 2 Timothy 4, verses 1-8. I charge you, therefore, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead, it is appearing in his kingdom. Preach the word. Be instant in season, or ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teachings. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only, but to all, or also to all, who have loved his appearing. Friends, this is our text we will study in a moment as we discuss preaching the word. But let us pause for a few words from our J-Web.
SPEAKER 02 :
Since 1934, the International Gospel Hour has been heard over the radio. We are one of the longest-running weekly religious programs in the history of American radio. We are very blessed to continue over the air through gracious giving of congregations of Churches of Christ, faithful Christians, and devoted friends. That’s why you will never hear us asking for money from you, our listeners. Our study material is free, always has been, always will be. We appreciate you listening.
SPEAKER 01 :
Friends, let’s talk about preaching the word and preaching the word responds promptly. I take us back to verse 2 that says to be ready in season and out of season. That shows a constant readiness, or as the beloved King James Version says, instant, meaning immediate, quickly, and whether in season or out of season. You know, that covers the whole span of time. Things that are instant. I remember as a boy when the Carnation Company came out with what’s called Carnation Instant Breakfast. Now, in recent years, they renamed it Carnation Breakfast Essentials. But in 1964, carnation instant breakfast was introduced. And it was easier to mix and to drink that chocolate milk than it was the old-fashioned way of cocoa, sugar, and hot water. And that’s a whole other story, of course, and I know that I’m aging myself. But the idea of an instant breakfast, that you could simply mix that quickly and have something that today they call a breakfast essential. Well, one will respond promptly in preaching the word, and we respond instant, in season, out of season. We’re always ready because it is a gospel. It’s the word that will convince. Preaching the word so the unbeliever is convicted of his sinfulness, thus exposing the belief of the person with the word of God. Either one’s belief will stand on the word of God, Romans 10, 17, or it does not, parallel to the wise man and foolish man in Matthew 7, 24-27. Preaching the word will rebuke. Now, this is a word that builds on convincing one. And through preaching of the word, the message of the gospel declares and clearly lets one know of his or her condemned state, where they stand and where they are spiritually. Now, friends, that’s not mean nor unloving. It is the same approach that Jesus used upon evil spirits in Matthew 17 and verse 18, and even the winds, Mark 4 and verse 39, is presenting the authority and bringing it forth therein. The word of God will rebuke one’s manner of life if one needs to change. For earlier in 1 Timothy 5 and verse 20, “…them that sin rebuke before all that others also may fear.” Now the word exhort means to encourage toward such a change, to build up and urge one onward, to exhort them in doing so. Why, even to the Christians at the time of the book of Hebrews, in Hebrews 10, 25, they would come together and assemble to exhort one another, to build up, to urge onward. So when a person is convinced of his life, he is rebuked therein, he is exhorted to make the change. Long-suffering. Think about a tremendous enduring patience to bear with good folks of individuals that you’re working with and bearing with. And then responding with teaching, also known as doctrine. Now, if one says doctrine is not important, well, that is something that one is teaching. So he is using doctrine or teaching to teach there is no such thing. Now, friends, if I have just confused you with that, just let it settle for a moment. If one says doctrine is not important, well, one is teaching doctrine is not important, and another word for doctrine is teaching. So one is teaching that teaching is not important. Do you see where that comes around and meets itself? It just doesn’t make good or proper sense. In Titus 2 and verse 1, speak the things which become sound doctrine. Matthew 15 and verse 9, Jesus said, In vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. So preaching the word responds promptly, so individuals will respond promptly. And preaching the word, the gospel must be distinct and clear, and it is ready always. And we need to be ready in listening to the gospel. Consider very quickly, preaching the word will rebuke sharply. We may expand more on this in another broadcast, in our next one, because back to verse 3, the time will come where they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables. In other words, friends, they’re going to follow after the things that, to be very honest, are not of God. They’re going to create their own religion, if you will. And as we have seen, to proclaim the truth in saving souls and keeping the souls saved, I go back to verse 4 that tells us in espousing things that are not true, one turns away from the truth, but it’s the truth that saves. John 17, 17 and John 8, 32. You know, friends, when we look at the Word of God that responds promptly, and preaching the word that will rebuke individuals sharply, we need to make certain that we are abiding within the truth and that truth is to be preached. I want to pause here as we are coming quickly upon the end of our broadcast and defer back to our J-Web with a very special Bible study offer to help you embrace the word that is preached. Here is our J-Web.
SPEAKER 02 :
An additional Bible study by mail is now available from International Gospel Hour. It’s titled, God and Man, How to be Saved from Sin. This study booklet addresses a number of questions about the salvation from God to man. And friends, like all materials, it’s free. Call us toll free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, God and Man. Or you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type God and man in the message box. Another Bible study that is free from IGH. And our friends at godandman.com. That’s god-and-man.com. And, you know, since you can’t see it, let me just spell that out for you. G-O-D-A-N-D-M-A-N.com We’d love to hear from you.
SPEAKER 01 :
Friends, preaching the gospel and preaching the word allows man to know how to be saved from sin. We covered a lot of good ground today, friends, but we have more to discuss on this subject, so I’m going to move this to a Part 2 broadcast for our next broadcast together, titled Preaching the Word. Thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, as always, keep listening.
SPEAKER 03 :
God be with you till we meet again.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com.
