"The Kind of Preaching You Should Expect" - Jameson Steward

The Kind of Preaching You Should Expect

Those who preach the gospel of Christ don’t get to decide what kind of preaching is acceptable. As the apostle Paul’s life was nearing the end, he gave Timothy instructions that guide us on what kind of preaching we should expect from those who proclaim God’s Word. 

Complete Preaching (2 Timothy 3:14-17). 

Writing by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul reminded Timothy that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” You should expect preaching that proclaims all the words of God – the Old and New Testaments (Romans 15:4). This kind of preaching is “profitable” to us and thoroughly prepares us for every good work in the Lord. Preachers and teachers are to proclaim the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).  

Serious Preaching (2 Timothy 4:1). 

You should expect the preacher and teacher to approach the proclaiming of God’s word respectfully and thoughtfully. This doesn’t mean the preacher can never tell a joke or crack a smile. However, he should approach the preaching of God’s word seriously. Not only is there a lot riding on the proclaiming of God’s word for the hearers – a lot is riding on the proclaimer! Paul solemnly charged Timothy “before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.” Because the message proclaimed is God’s word (2 Timothy 3:16), preaching that word must be taken seriously. Those who fail to do so will stand before the Judge of all the earth and answer (2 Corinthians 5:10). 

Balanced Preaching (2 Timothy 4:2). 

Preaching the word of God must be done “in season and out of season,” – meaning you should expect the gospel preacher to proclaim God’s word without first “testing the winds” to see if that message will be popular. This kind of preaching convinces (convicts), rebukes (admonishes strongly), and exhorts (urges into action) “with all longsuffering and teaching.” Balanced preaching points out the wrong path, shows how to return to the right path, and does so in a “longsuffering” or patient way. 

Healthy Preaching (2 Timothy 4:3-4). 

You should expect those who proclaim God’s word to proclaim “sound” (healthy, accurate, trustworthy) teaching. While some gather up teachers who proclaim what they want to hear, the preaching you must demand and expect is preaching that remains true to God’s word (2 Timothy 3:16). Those who proclaim God’s word must put forth great effort into “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). 

This kind of preaching will benefit us as God’s people. We should expect to hear complete, serious, balanced, and healthy teaching from God’s word every time we open His word together. 

Jameson Steward