What Should I Preach From the Pulpit — Part III

written by Aaron J. Dodson

 “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” 

(2 Timothy 4:1-8 NKJV). 

Timothy the evangelist was told to continue in the things he had learned from childhood — the “Holy Scriptures” (2 Tim. 3:14-15). 

From 2 Timothy 3:14-17 we have in the two previous articles with the same title considered “Preach the Holy Scriptures.” Here is a summary of reasons why we are to preach the Holy Scriptures.

1. They make one wise for salvation. 
2. They were given by inspiration of God. 
3. They are profitable for everything that we need to make us complete. 
4. That is what God commanded Timothy the evangelist to preach. 
5. Because there are those who will not endure sound doctrine but according to their own desires will heap up for themselves teachers and turn from the truth and turn aside to fables. 
6. Preach the Holy Scriptures and thus do the work of an evangelist. In this third and final article with the above theme let’s consider two more truths on “what should I preach from the pulpit?” 

Preach the Holy Scriptures and thus fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith 

(2 Tim. 4:7). 

Paul fought the good fight by living the Christian life and being loyal to his Master. He finished the race. He didn’t give up during times of discouragement and hardship. Instead he kept the faith (i.e., the standard of God’s revealed written word). Despite his trials he preached the whole counsel of God and glorified God (cf. Acts 20:27). If preachers do not preach the whole truth and nothing but the truth it cannot be said that they fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith. Instead they were false teachers and liars. Ultimately those who change the gospel will be eternally condemned (cf. Gal. 1:8-9). 

When preparing sermons we must preach the word in its context and thus fight the good fight and keep the faith! 

Dear preacher, don’t allow others to prevent you from teaching the whole counsel of God! Instead, show the brethren how to fight the good fight, how to finish the race and keep the faith. My fellow brothers, we must not give in, give out or give up! Our Master has set the greatest example for us to follow! Fight the good fight, knowing that others have done so before us, leaving us a godly example to mimic (cf. Hebrews 11 etc). Finish the race, knowing that others denied worldly allurements and thus avoided derailment. Some did and do quit but we do not admire their behavior (cf. 2 Tim. 4:10). 

Instead we uphold those and seek to follow those who finished the race and kept the faith! We must keep our eyes on Jesus and not fall into the trap of pleasing people (cf. John 12:42-43)! 

Preach the Holy Scriptures and there will be laid up for you the crown of righteousness 


(2 Tim. 4:8). 

When the last sermon is preached and the last second on the earth has passed, will there be a crown of righteousness laid up for us? It won’t be if we didn’t “preach the word” (cf. 2 Tim. 4:2). The Greek word translated “Henceforth” (KJV) or “finally” (NKJV) means “what remains.” When Paul believed his life was nearing it’s end, he looked forward to what remained, which was a crown of righteousness. The crown was a symbol of triumph and reward. The crown is not bestowed meritoriously but “by grace through [the] faith” (Eph. 2:8-9). The crown is the heavenly reward for a Christian’s righteousness and loyalty to Christ (cf. Rom. 1:5; 6:23; 16:26; Rev. 2:10).

 Remember, public teachers will receive a stricter judgment so we must give God our best efforts (cf. Jam. 3:1)! This crown will be rewarded to those who preach the gospel faithfully as “vocational preachers” and it will be rewarded to those who loved Gospel preaching and served the Lord in various capacities i.e., all who have loved Jesus’ appearing. Preaching the Gospel is both a grand privilege and a sobering responsibility. May preachers remember: “take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Tim. 4:16).