The Best Job In The World
Introduction:
A. What do you think is the best job a person could have?
1. Most people want a job that pays a lot.
a. Doctor.
b. Lawyer.
2. Some want a job that makes a difference.
a. One that helps those in need.
b. One that makes the world a better place to live.
3. Others want a job that they love doing.
a. Most everyone does have to work, and we spend
a lot of our time working, so it is important that we
enjoy what we are doing.
b. If you spend 1/3 of your time doing something you
hate, you are probably going to miserable.
B. The greatest job anyone could have is that of a preacher.
1. It pays better than any other, for a preacher is paid...
a. In the opportunity of studying the word of God.
b. In the reward of teaching others what they need to
know so they can have eternal life.
c. In the honor of carrying out the work of The Lord.
2. The work of preaching makes a definite difference...
a. In the lives of those who hear and obey, for they
die to the old man, and walk in newness of life.
b. In society as a whole, for the Bible teaches men to:
obey the government; get along with others; work
hard; and be good husbands, wives, and children.
3. It is something one can love doing.
a. How could anyone not love teaching little children
about their Heavenly Father?
b. How could anyone not love teaching people, who
have been lied to (i.e. there is not a God), about the
all powerful, all knowing, eternal God.
c. How could anyone not love teaching someone, who
is throwing their life away on: drinking, drugs, and
immorality, how/why to be holy as God is holy.
So, let's consider the work of preaching (II Timothy 4:1-5)
I. Those who preach will be held accountable.
A. They will be held accountable to God for what they preach.
1. Each of us are accountable to someone.
a. The crew is accountable to the foreman.
b. The foreman is accountable to the superintendant.
c. The superintendant is accountable to C.E.O.
d. The C.E.O. is accountable to the owner.
2. Paul tells Timothy he is accountable to God:
a. "I charge thee therefore before God..."
b. Although God is a loving God, it is a very serious
thing to be accountable to Him - Hebrews 10:31.
3. Anyone who preaches will be held accountable to God.
a. God is no respector of persons - Acts 10:34.
b. All will be judged by the same standard - John 12:48.
c. If Timothy was going to be accountable to God for
what he preached, all men will be accountable to God.
d. Since Jesus commissioned all christians to preach
the gospel, all christians are accountable to God.
B. What they are to preach is the word of God.
1. Paul (1&2a) charges Timothy to preach "the word."
a. The things he had been taught - II Tim.3:14-15.
1) By Paul.
2) From his childhood.
3) Which were able to make him wise unto salvation.
b. The scriptures given by God - II Timothy 3:16-17.
1) Which are profitable.
2) Which make one perfect & thoroughly furnished.
c. Paul is telling Timothy...
1) Don't preach the doctrines of men.
2) Don't just preach what men want to hear.
3) PREACH THE WORD!
2. Any who preach today are accountable to do the same.
a. Preaching about the kingdom (like Jesus).
b. Preaching about the risen saviour (like Peter).
c. Preaching about the seriousness of sin (like Stephen).
d. Preaching about the true God (Like Paul).
Those who preach are accountable to God, but they have
nothing to fear if "the word" is what they preach.
II. They need to be ready to preach it at all times.
A. Be instant in season, out of season.
1. Be instant.
a. Be ready (NKJV).
b. Be urgent (ASV).
c. Timothy was to be ready to preach the word.
2. In season out of season.
a. Some fruits and vegetables are only available at
certain times of the year (when they are in season).
b. Paul tells Timothy he needs to be ready to preach
the word whether it is in season or not.
3. Timothy had Paul for an example. Paul preached...
a. Soon after obeying the gospel - Acts 9:20.
b. Even when he had to flee from Damascus - Acts 9:29.
c. Later on he went on missionary journeys, preaching
the word in Synagogues, by rivers, and in jails.
d. He preached to people who did not want to hear it,
and to those who nobly searched the scriptures to
see if what he taught was true (Acts 17:11).
4. The time was coming when people would not want to
hear the word. There was going to come a time when...
a. Men would not endure sound doctrine.
b. Men would find teachers to teach them what they wanted.
c. They would rather hear fables than the truth.
d. Therefore, Timothy needed to preach anytime he could.
B. Those who preach today have the same urgency.
1. They need to be ready to preach the word at all times.
a. Whether it is convenient or not.
b. When people are receptive or not.
2. Maybe you have been in similar situations.
a. Someone actually wants to hear the word. You teach
them, and they really think about what the Bible says.
b. Someone asks you what the Bible says on a subject.
You show them, but they do not like what the Bible says.
c. In a conversation someone makes a comment which
denys what the Bible says (i.e. the creation being
trillions of years old, when the Bible says the earth
is 10,000 yrs old). So you teach them the truth.
d. We need to take advantage of every oppotunity.
3. There are those who do not want to hear...
a. Denominationalism is wrong (I Corinthians 1:10).
b. We must have authority for all we do (Colossians 3:17).
c. Baptism is necessary for salvation (Mark 16:16).
d. The truth concerning marriage, divorce, and remarriage
(Matthew 19:9).
So, a preacher needs to be ready at all times to preach the word.
III. A preacher must keep on preaching.
A. Being watchful/ sober in all things.
1. A preacher needs to constantly keep an eye on himself.
a. Is he living a godly life?
b. Is he continuing to study that he might grow.
c. Is he keeping himself away from those who might
lead him away from the truth?
2. It is a shame how many preachers have failed to do this.
a. Great gospel preachers have failed to do this, and as
a result, are guilty of sin that they once preaced against.
b. There have been gospel preachers that were as well
thought of in the brotherhood as anyone you might name,
but they were not sober enough, and allowed themselves
to be lead off into error.
c. There are some preachers who seem not to study, and in
so doing, they are not able to do the job they should. Paul
told Timothy - I Timothy 4:15-16.
d. It can happen to anyone. Jesus said that Satan wanted to
sift Peter like wheat (Luke 22:31).
B. Endure afflictions.
1. The preachers in the N.T. suffered many afflictions.
a. Paul was: beaten; imprisoned; shipwrecked; lied about.
b. Peter was arrested several times, and historically said
to have been crucified upside down.
c. Stephen was stoned to death.
2. Preachers today, in our country, need to endure whatever
may come their way.
a. Mistreated by brethren.
b. Treated hatefully by those they try to teach.
c. Criticized for teaching the truth in articles, and sermons.
C. Do the work....
1. Of an evangelist.
a. Evangelist = a bringer of good tidings (Thayer).
b. Those who preach "good tidings."
c. Timothy was to carry on the work of taking the gospel
to every creature.
1) Timothy traveled with Paul preach the gospel to
thousands of people.
2) Paul is telling him to keep on evangelizing.
2. Make full proof of thy ministry.
a. Full proof = to make full; to carry through to the end.
b. Timothy was to complete the work he was doing, but
the work of preaching is never really ever complete,
for there is always more preaching, and teaching to do.
c. I met a man recently that told me he was a retired
preacher. As long as a person can think and speak,
I don't know if one truly can retire from preaching.
Conclusion:
A. The goal of preaching is to teach someone about Christ,
and God's plan of salvation.
B. If you would like to learn more about Christ, or God's
plan of salvation, we would be glad to study with you.
C. If you believe that Jesus is the Christ, and are willing to
confess Him as such, repent of your sin, and be baptized,
putting Him on in baptism...we invite you to come...