The time Scripture foretold

The Word told us this moment would come. “For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3–4). The Spirit did not whisper about a possibility but declared a certainty.

This is not the moment for retreat. “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage, with every form of patient instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2). The church of Christ stands by the truth of Christ proclaimed without apology.

The charge we must keep

Preaching is not a preference but a charge under the eye of God. All Scripture is “God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17). We handle it with reverent accuracy. “Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Paul modeled the pattern: “For I did not shrink back from proclaiming to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). The Word itself carries divine potency. “Is not My word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that shatters a rock” (Jeremiah 23:29).

- Preach the text in its context.

- Proclaim the whole counsel, not hobbyhorses.

- Aim for the conscience with clarity and patience.

- Trust the sword of the Spirit to do its work (Hebrews 4:12).

The gospel we must proclaim

Our content is not self-help but the saving message. “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). God “made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The necessary summons is clear. “Repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in His name to all nations” (Luke 24:47). “God commands all people everywhere to repent” because He “has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed” (Acts 17:30–31). “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36).

- Announce grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8–9).

- Call for repentance and faith, not mere assent.

- Center the message on the cross and resurrection.

- Press the urgency and certainty of coming judgment.

The tone Scripture commands

Truth must arrive in the right tone. “Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). The tongue must carry both steel and kindness. “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6).

God shapes the messenger. “A servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, forbearing. He must gently instruct those who oppose him, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:24–25).

- Clarity without cruelty.

- Courage without harshness.

- Gentleness without compromise.

- Patience without passivity (1 Peter 3:15).

Recognizing ear-tickling

Ear-tickling soothes the flesh and silences Scripture. “If anyone teaches another doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing” (1 Timothy 6:3–4). False teachers promise comfort while hiding the cross. “They dress the wound of the daughter of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14).

Scripture unmasks the strategy. “There will be false teachers among you” who “will exploit you with fabricated words” (2 Peter 2:1–3). Many “refused to love the truth and so be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:10).

Common forms include:

- Therapy without theology.

- Prosperity without perseverance.

- Grace without repentance.

- Unity without holiness.

- Experience without Scripture.

- Jesus as helper, not Lord and Judge.

Forming truthful habits in preaching

A pattern of faithful habits guards a lifetime of faithfulness. The pulpit must be tethered to the text and riveted to Christ crucified and risen (1 Corinthians 2:2). The steady diet matters more than occasional special meals.

Helpful practices:

- Commit to sequential, expositional preaching through books of Scripture.

- State the main point of the text as the main point of the sermon.

- Name sin as Scripture names it and announce grace as Scripture offers it.

- Press clear, specific application for hearts, homes, and habits.

- Include a clear gospel call and a summons to obey Jesus in everything He commanded (Matthew 28:20).

Shepherding a people who love the Word

Preachers are not soloists but shepherds. “Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock” (Acts 20:28). Congregations must learn to receive and test teaching. The Bereans “received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true” (Acts 17:11).

Healthy churches honor and weigh the Word. “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who must give an account” (Hebrews 13:17). “Esteem them very highly in love because of their work” and pursue mutual ministry that admonishes, encourages, and helps (1 Thessalonians 5:12–14).

Congregational commitments:

- Daily Bible intake and family worship.

- Eager hearing, careful testing, humble obedience.

- Praying for pastors to preach with clarity and courage.

- Small groups that discuss and apply sermons.

Courage against the fear of man

The fear of man strangles faithfulness. “The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high” (Proverbs 29:25). A preacher cannot be a man-pleaser. “If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).

God supplies what courage requires. “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Practices that strengthen courage:

- Fast and pray before preaching.

- Confess fear and ask for boldness.

- Anchor claims and applications in clear texts.

- Remember the judgment seat of Christ.

Suffering and reward are part of the call

Hardship is not failure but fellowship with Christ. “As for you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial” (1 Peter 4:12).

God sees and will reward. “There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day” (2 Timothy 4:8). “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me” (Matthew 5:11). “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

Practices for a truth-shaped ministry

Simple commitments guard against drift.

- Read the passage aloud twice each sermon.

- Show your work by tracing the argument of the text.

- Cross-reference Scripture with Scripture.

- Preach Christ from all the Scriptures without forcing.

- Guard the Lord’s Table and practice church discipline biblically.

- Lead in congregational prayer saturated with Scripture.

- Sing rich, Scripture-filled songs that catechize the heart.

- Schedule regular doctrine series on essentials and distinctives.

- Keep evangelism central in pulpit and people.

The word will do the work

Confidence in Scripture steadies the soul. “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17). “The sum of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous judgments endure forever” (Psalm 119:160).

God has pledged the outcome. “So My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it” (Isaiah 55:11). “The word of God is living and active” (Hebrews 4:12). Therefore preach the word, disciple the saints, and trust the God who breathed it out to build His church.

Preach the law lawfully to expose sin and drive to Christ, and preach the gospel freely to save and sanctify. “Through the law we become conscious of sin” (Romans 3:20), and “the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).

- Use the law to reveal guilt, not as a ladder to heaven.

- Use the gospel to announce pardon and power, not as permission to sin (Titus 2:11–12).

Preaching holiness in an immoral age

God’s call is clear. “This is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Holiness is not optional but the necessary fruit of saving faith (Hebrews 12:14).

- Define sin with biblical words and categories.

- Announce forgiveness to the repentant and warn the unrepentant with tears (1 Corinthians 6:9–11).

Money, prosperity, and contentment

False teachers often traffic in greed. “In their greed they will exploit you with fabricated words” (2 Peter 2:3). Scripture trains contentment. “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6).

- Expose prosperity distortions by preaching Christ’s sufficiency, not worldly success.

- Teach generous stewardship, not transactional giving (2 Corinthians 9:6–8).

Unity, holiness, and church discipline

Biblical unity rests on truth and holiness. “Purge the evil person from among you” (1 Corinthians 5:13). Discipline protects the gospel and the flock and aims at restoration (Galatians 6:1).

- Teach membership vows tied to sound doctrine.

- Practice Matthew 18 with patience and impartiality.

Politics, public square, and the pulpit

Preach the King and all He commands while refusing partisan captivity. “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s, and form consciences by Scripture, not slogans.

- Address moral issues where Scripture speaks clearly.

- Avoid using the pulpit to endorse parties or candidates.

- Pray for rulers and pursue quiet, godly lives (1 Timothy 2:1–2).

Guarding the pulpit from wolves

Wolves devour when shepherds nap. “Savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock” (Acts 20:29). Elders must “hold firmly to the trustworthy word” to exhort and refute (Titus 1:9).

- Vet guest preachers and teaching materials.

- Keep doctrinal standards visible and binding.

- Train ushers, small-group leaders, and counselors to spot and stop error.

Training and multiplying faithful preachers

The work must outlast the worker. “What you have heard from me… entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2). Apprenticeships and feedback sharpen gifts and guard doctrine.

- Establish a preaching lab with regular critique.

- Assign texts, require manuscripts, and review recordings.

- Teach hermeneutics, biblical theology, and pastoral application together.

Handling hard texts and difficult doctrines

Hard texts grow deep roots. “To the law and to the testimony” is the rule when pressures rise (Isaiah 8:20). Address wrath, hell, election, and perseverance from the text with humble clarity.

- Outline the passage, define terms, and state tensions plainly.

- Show how the doctrine glorifies Christ and serves holiness.

- Provide pastoral pathways for conscience care and unity.

Digital platforms and ear-tickling algorithms

Algorithms reward novelty, outrage, and flattery. Shepherds must resist the pull. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).

- Let the pulpit, not the platform, set priorities.

- Post truth without chasing trends.

- Protect sermon prep from digital distraction and drift.

Suffering churches and restricted contexts

Many saints stand under pressure and persecution. “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed” (1 Peter 4:14). Preaching in these contexts must be Christ-exalting, cross-centered, and hope-filled.

- Preach the Psalms of lament and the promises of glory.

- Emphasize perseverance, prayer, and the coming kingdom.

- Equip for house gatherings and memorized Scripture under surveillance.

Family discipleship that nourishes preaching

The pulpit thrives when homes are miniature seminaries. “These words… you shall teach them diligently to your children” (Deuteronomy 6:6–7). Family worship multiplies sermon fruit and stabilizes saints.

- Read a chapter, pray, sing, and discuss daily.

- Review sermon texts at the table.

- Memorize key passages together.

- Equip parents with simple guides and catechisms.

Conscience, liberty, and secondary matters

Not every hill is Calvary. “Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:5). Shepherd consciences with truth while guarding the gospel’s core.

- Distinguish essentials, convictions, and preferences.

- Preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace while maintaining holiness (Ephesians 4:3).

Evangelistic preaching that compels

Faith comes through the Word. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). Preach to the lost every week without losing depth for the saints (Colossians 1:28).

- State the gospel plainly and urgently.

- Call for response with clarity about repentance and faith.

- Offer pastoral counsel for seekers and strugglers after services.

Watchman convictions that endure

The watchman must warn. “When you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me” (Ezekiel 33:7). Silence is not love. Clarity is kindness. Christ is worthy.

- Resolve to tell the truth at any cost.

- Keep short accounts with God and your flock.

- Finish the race, keep the faith, and love His appearing (2 Timothy 4:7–8).