2Timothy 4:2—Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
There is almost an intoxication that comes with preaching the Word from a pulpit to a listening crowd. But I do not believe this is the kind of preaching Paul is challenging Timothy to perform. If anything, I have found over the years, that little results from Sunday morning sermons. Yes, people may go away encouraged, challenged, thinking or offended, but do their lives change much? Are disciples created or is the crowd just expanding? Disciples are not made by microphone messages to seated masses. This is why the church is not winning the world for Jesus.
I believe the preaching that Paul challenges Timothy to be engaged in is the delivery of Biblical principles to people who have indicated a desire to follow Christ. This is what he modeled. He met people where they were at whether in the work-setting or at home. We love winning people to our convictions. How much better to see them take God’s truth and replicate it. The former results in spiritual nurseries the latter in a vibrant spiritual army! Never say, "I cannot disciple anyone, I don’t know enough." You can disciple someone else. Just commit to sharing what Jesus through His word is teaching you. If you are content in your spiritual life but are not sharing God’s word with others so they grow in their faith, you are missing the whole objective of Christianity—to go and make disciples! Rebel against complacency! Burn the creed "I’m too busy." Get after the most rewarding work God gave us. The privilege of making disciples! Such work results in eternal reward most everything else will burn.
Inspiration
