Sharing biblical Truths is an essential part of our calling as followers of Christ.
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
(MSG) 19 Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life,
Paul, in his second letter to Timothy, highlights the need for sharing the gospel by charging Timothy, in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, to “preach the word.”
2 Timothy 4:1-4 (ESV)
1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
This charge is not just for Timothy, but for all of us who have been called to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
It is through preaching, teaching, sharing, and even doing life together, that we are reminded of God’s love, His mercy, His forgiveness, and His promise of eternal life.
As followers of Christ, we are called to be His ambassadors. We are called to proclaim His message to the world.
As followers, We are supposed to be different.
1Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people;
Obstacles to sharing the gospel in our lives are nothing new. In the 14th chapter of Luke, Jesus even told a parable about those who were called making excuses.
‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it.’
‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them.‘
‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot.’
How do we get past these obstacles?
Making sure that we are spending time with the Lord, praying and reading His Word
Sharing the gospel is NOT just about speaking, It’s also about listening.
It is about being open to the voice of God as He speaks to us through His Word.
It is about being open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit as He guides us and empowers us
to proclaim the message of Christ.
We have to listen and let him guide us. As we listen, he builds our faith!
It is through the preaching of the Word and sharing of the gospel, that we are nourished and strengthened in our faith.
Romans 10:17 (NLT)
17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
It is through the Sharing of the gospel and our testimony that the good news of Jesus Christ is proclaimed to those who do not know Him.
It is through our words and actions that the gospel is spread, that hearts are touched, and that lives are changed.
Preaching is not just about teaching; it is about reaching out, about sharing the love of Christ with a lost and hurting world.
Francis of Assisi, “Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.”
We are also charged to “reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
This requires wisdom, discernment, courage, and love. To reprove and to rebuke is to correct error and confront sin.
We must be willing to speak the truth, even when it is hard and uncomfortable.
But we have to do it in a way that is understood, and able to be accepted.
It is to be done with “complete patience and teaching.”
We need to gently guide those around us to the truth, patiently teaching them the ways of God.
When Paul instructs us to “preach the word,” he is not merely suggesting that we send some positive thoughts, good vibes or moral teachings.
He is charging Timothy with the task of proclaiming the Word of God – the living, active, powerful Word
that has the ability to transform lives and shape destinies.
Hebrews 4:12 tells us that it is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
It is a Word that cuts to the heart, that convicts of sin, that brings light to darkness, that offers hope to the hopeless, and that reveals the very character and will of God.
In season and out of season: This means that the Word of God must be proclaimed whether it is popular or not, whether it is convenient or not, whether it is welcomed or not.
The Word of God is not passive. It actively challenges our sin, it confronts our rebellion, and it calls us to repentance and faith.
At the same time, it offers comfort, encouragement, it offers hope to those who are weary, broken, and in need of grace.
Let’s be intentional!
Let’s be ready to speak the Word of God to those around us, not just with our lips, but with our lives.