In his second letter to Timothy, Paul tells his beloved friend to, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season” (2Timothy 4:2). If you’re anything like me, you may cringe at the thought of “preaching” anything. I’m the girl who always had a mild panic attack in college every time I had to present a three-minute speech on cats (or my personal favorite: give our own eulogy). Not only did my words decide to suddenly disband in every direction the moment I opened my mouth, but I didn’t know how to feign the authoritative, charismatic poise and confidence I thought was required for all speech makers.
Reading today’s passage, I thought it was worth looking up. It looks like Paul’s use of “preach the word” means to instruct others in the truth of the gospel. Well, that’s pretty straightforward, right? Yet there are still many of us who don’t feel gifted in the art of preaching or evangelism.
I pondered the passage again and began to realize Timothy had the unique calling as a pastor to preach God’s Word. However, we’re all called to engage in the art of evangelism. We’re all called to share the truth—the good news—of Jesus Christ, in love, with those God allows our lives to intersect with. This doesn’t just mean a big church auditorium or the streets of Times Square. I think of my own life and the places where God has asked me to do this recently—at a local coffee shop, over the phone with a friend, with the woman behind me at church whose house just caught on fire.
What I especially love about today’s reading is Paul’s call to endurance. He tells Timothy, “continue in what you have learned and firmly believed” in response to the truth of God’s Word (2Timothy 3:14). Continue in. Endure. Keep walking faithfully. Scripture has power because it reveals the heart of the living God—and our response to the truth will undoubtedly lead to action. At least, that’s what I long for in my own life! This reading encourages me because Paul’s words to Timothy are the same call you and I have today. We may not be pastors or have the gift of public speaking. At times, endurance can feel like drudgery as our minds and bodies wrestle against it. But we’re told that Jesus endured until the end, and He took great joy in doing so.
Sisters, let’s be vigilant about where God may want to use us today to share His truth. Scripture is what anchors and nourishes us. “The grass withers, the flowers fade,” says Isaiah, “but the word of our God remains forever” (Isaiah 40:8).
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41 thoughts on "Preach the Word"
Praying for you both.
“I planted the seed, Apollo’s watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in Gods service, you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Cor 3:7-9
Amen
I’m also struck by the relevance of James in the context of evangelizing. How we live our lives is also how we evangelize. Lord, help my heart that I might live out your word.
Please pray for a coworker of mine. We are both teachers at a low income school, with kids who may be homeless, parents hooked on drugs, poverty, and more. She doesn’t believe in God, and her reasoning is because if there is a God, why would He allow innocent children to suffer in the many, many situations we have witnessed over the years. She is very strong willed and opinionated, and she is firm in that belief. I have struggled with what to say to her and how to get her to understand He allows things to happen, so people will run to Him. But these are kids, in very bad situations, and they haven’t been exposed to God, so how do they know to run to Him. I know God placed her in my life for a reason, to plant the seed, to help her understand. But, I struggle with what to say and how to say it to her. I pray for God to give me the words to say and to speak through me, so that I can get through to her. Thankful for this group of ladies, who I know will lift her up in prayer! ❤️❤️
The reading today spoke right to me! I am about the shyest person I’ve ever met, I don’t like big crowds, I don’t like attention to be focused on me, and I definitely don’t like to rock the boat! BUT GOD!! He has placed me in situations where that shyness was overcome by boldness, and I have prayed with strangers, with coworkers, and shared His word. I know that if I depended on myself, I would NEVER do that, but because I have God’s strength in me, I can rely on Him to speak through me. Oh, I’m still shy, and I still second guess myself, and I still struggle with being bold in situations – but, I have seen Him work though me, and I am in awe every time!!
Kelli Carlson, you did what God lead you to do – you planted the seed! He will do the rest! Keep encouraging your mom and keep praying for her! I lifted her up in prayer! Thanks for sharing! ❤️
Tried to share the Gospel with my mom and I could tell she wanted to be good and thought she could be good to get into heaven. I am praying that she reads the Bible I gave her years ago and that the Word convicts her in a loving way. That she sees that Jesus and the Bible are not a burden but actual freedom!
Equipped with every good work, everything God calls a believer to do with guidance of the Holy Spirit. Scripture is God’s Truth with power and faith leading us to righteousness. Be doers if the word not just a hearer of the word.
Equipped with every good work, everything God calls a believer to do with guidance of the Holy Spirit. Scripture is God’s Truth with power and faith leading us to righteousness.
❤️
I struggle so much with sharing the gospel- I struggle with what to say and end up over thinking it. I think it’s because I am too worried about me getting things right, and not letting the Holy Spirit have His way and give me the words to say. I just have to know that it is not my job to save others,it’s Gods. He just wants me to be a willing vessel to share with others the truth about Christ.
Heidi- praying for your niece; so happy to hear that she earned her 60 day.
Michelle P: I saw the add; thank you for adding me! I love “meeting” other she’s IRL; it’s so nice to put a face to a name. I’ll message you on insta with my story; it is LOOONG.
That’s so true.
Kelly (NEO), thank you for asking! Milo is doing really well. His bone marrow has responded perfectly to the chemo. Last labs showed zero cancerous cells. He still has a long road ahead of treatment but his doctors are very pleased. His parents are exhausted but hopeful. Please keep praying!
Tori is recovering from a difficult delivery but enjoying her new little one. The oncologist has told Tori and her husband (my cousin) that she has “the most curable breast
cancer”, it’s stage 1 and should respond well to treatment. It’ll be 1.5 years of chemo and surgery. Treatment starts in a few weeks. Please pray that she finds Christ through this experience.
This is a lovely reminder that we are to be ready to speak about God’s love. One thing that I find helpful, although I am not a preacher, “just” a Christian trying to share a bit of his Light, is to pray for God to speak through me, to give me the words He would have me use. He hasn’t failed me yet!
Heidi- I’m praying for you and your daughter and husband. May He give you the words she needs to hear. May He help you show her His love and your love. May He makes you the parents she needs.
I have a daughter who is almost ten who also struggles with anxiety. My prayers include asking Him to make me the mom she needs, to give me wisdom and the ability to communicate it, and to help our relationship.
Praying for you all! Thank you for your insights!!
As we have sat with dad in the hospital after his tragic accident I’ve thought to myself many times that I’ve never felt the love of God more than I have today. Even in a season where it’s the hardest time of your life God will pull you through it. I cannot imagine going through something like this and not having faith. Even though we are so heart broken over this event I sometimes wonder if I was meant to go through this to help somebody else have a stronger faith.
If any of you are on Facebook and want to share and follow along that way I will post my link below.
https://www.facebook.com/patricia.cavanaugh.0413
If any of you are on Facebook and want to be friends and follow along that way I will post my link below.
Praying for your requests sisters. I love this community of believers. You are each such a blessing to me. ❤️
Molly- beautiful. May the Lord continue to bless you.
Michelle Patire–I honestly never listen to podcasts but felt lead to listen to yours. What an inspirational story you have! I have some family members that are teetering on the edge of New Age but consider themselves Christians. I pray every day that God would open their eyes like he opened yours! May God continue to bless you!
I was touched by Jesus’s prayer in John 17:24. He prays for us to be with him where he is. He wants us to see his glory! I want to see his glory too. Upfront and personal. I loved your thoughts @MOLLY.❤️
B. Thompson, thank you for the timely reminder that even in “old age” I will produce fruit. that is why God has put on my heart to read the Bible everyday and the SRT group has helped me so much! Thank you sisters!
Yes, Bailey, let us be vigilant about where God may want to use us today to share His truth. May God open my eyes and ears to those situations and give me the courage to speak.
In my 20s I had lost my way after growing up in the church, but found my way back and spent several years doing short and long term missions. I grew so much in my faith and thought, “a-ha, now I know what I am called to do.” It was in the outback of Australia that I felt God lay on my heart to go home, get married, and become a mom! WHAT?! No more adventures for you God?? As I began this motherhood journey I was sure I would “go back” to missions some day. It took a long time and a lot of grace and patience from God to show me my motherhood WAS the mission. I had to lay down hopes of going out and reaching others, being the hands and feet of God. I have 4 small disciples, and the enormity of having their eyes and ears always seeing and hearing how I conduct myself at all times. We homeschool, so when I say “at all times,” I mean it! The sheer amount of accountability they bring to my life is stifling sometimes when I just want to react in my humanity (and oh do I ever), but then they also get to see repentance and redemption in the cyclical way it is given so freely to those who believe. Even this morning, at the lovely hour of 5:30am being woken up by my 2 1/2 year old and gathering snacks and finding him a show so I can sit and read the Word and being interrupted every 30 seconds required taking my thoughts captive and remembering to respond in grace and mercy to him. But to God be all the glory: for the first time in almost 11 years of motherhood, I have been faithfully getting up and reading SRT (since Ash Wednesday) no matter if I have beautifully quiet solitude, or the whole gang constantly asking questions and bickering amongst themselves (my current background noise). You all have been such a balm as I practice this habit of getting in the Word daily – and my little copy cats are witnessing it! The mission of Motherhood is so much harder and so much more rewarding and refining than I ever imagined. I am humbled by the calling He placed on my life, and thankful for sweet friends like you to learn from and fellowship with, even if it’s just digitally. Have a great day!
I have always loved John 17 – we get to hear the heart of Jesus and how He talked to the Father. John 17:20 touches my heart every time I read it, because I know that includes me, Jesus prayed for me! How awesome is that! Praying that God will give me boldness to share the good, good news of salvation with those I know and love who need to hear.
@Heidi – continuing to pray for your niece, may God in His love and mercy call her to salvation. I’m also praying for your daughter. Kids (and grownups) can be so mean to one another. I was once reminded and maybe it will be helpful to share this with your daughter — it really isn’t the girls that are being mean to her, but rather Satan – the devil, the liar, the adversary of God (and all who believe) that is using these girls to do his dirty work. They don’t know Jesus and Satan wants to keep it that way. Just a suggestion, but you could pray with her, each day before she leaves for school letting her also pray – especially for these girls by name – that God will change them and Satan will no longer have a hold on them. When we pray for our enemies, somehow God softens our hurts and opens our heart to see them in a different light. ❤️
Blessings to all my SRT sisters!
Thanking God for these scripture and reading reminding me to share the gospel. Especially in my Senior years. My mode of transportation has changed to driver servers. Having conversations with different persons, females, males, people from many backgrounds and other races. God through the Holy Spirit, reminded me to really listen and wait to share in the conversation the gospel by asking a simple question about their job, family etc. opening the door to share the gospel. Most of my trips are to medical appointments I was distracted by what the Dr. reports, copay etc. until I remembered the scriptures that God stated even in old age we can produce fruit. Psalm 92:14.
I love this Churchmouse, thank you as always.
“Be ready in season and out of season… encourage with great patience and teaching” (2 Tim 4:2). Just be ready. And be gentle. I don’t feel like being gentle in the face of myths and evil practices. But if patience and gentleness gets it done… to plant the Seed of Truth into a heart, Lord let it be. All the goodness I see and crave comes from the hand of our Creator. I enjoy the beauty of flowers, but they will fade. Humanity is grass (Isa 40:6). Our goodness in the flowers of the field. All will fade… But the Word of our God remains forever (Isa 40:8). Dear heart, don’t be so intent on the flowers that you forget to be gentle to the people. Be kind and teach them what God can do by showing them what He has done for you. Be ready. Be gentle. Be truthful with love. Jesus, be evident in me (John 17:26). May what I do be full of You (James 1:22). In all that I do, let it be for You. Until… Maranatha.
I pray for ears to hear and eyes to see situations where I can share my hope with others – and for courage to just do it instead of backing down for fear of rejection. I hope everyone has a great Thursday <3
@AZ Walker— thank you so much for listening!! I’m thrilled some of you guys took the time to listen, it was such a lengthy episode, lol.
I had this posted on my socials, I also have a family group chat, but out of six of my siblings, maybe one listened? He never told me if he did, though, he said he was going to. It actually made me sad to read your comment yesterday because I started to grieve the fact that my siblings don’t care enough about my story to listen. And I thought, “well, maybe it’s because they don’t put God first, that they don’t care to hear the wonderful work God has done for me.” I don’t know. I don’t mean to be a downer, but it does break my heart that they didn’t listen to it. Most of them aren’t podcast people, but still.
@Lexi B– thank you for listening as well! I added you makes me so happy to see real life SRT people on my feed!! I’d love to know your story, too!!
Something God has put on my heart lately- it’s not just nonbelievers who need the word shared with them, it’s our own brothers and sisters who have fallen away. Bless me as I seek your sheep father, give me the strength and the words to reach them and bring them back to the flock. Have a wonderful day sisters!
It was a turning point for me when I realized that “preaching” isn’t necessarily having a 3 point sermon on the tip of my tongue. I’ve found that people are more receptive when I’m just me. It’s just a conversation, relating Jesus to their concerns, worries, fears. It’s not eloquent. I often don’t know how effective it is. But I trust I’ve planted a seed.
KELLY-
Thank you for asking about my niece :) She got her 60 day chip a few days ago So exciting!
She is, however, struggling as a very close friend has been on life support for about a week now. In addition, she learned some devastating news that we’ve all known for years but have sheltered her from. Timing of her finding out was horrible. She said “I’m trying to hold it together but I don’t know how…” She’s been wise in talking to her therapist and I’ve sent scriptures to pray and she could absolutely use the prayers of this community to stand against the schemes of the devil as he is finding some tender ground right now… he’s most definitely seeking to destroy.
Love you all- I really do. Thank you so much for your commitment to others…❤️
Endurance. I need that push and reminder as I’m struggling “doing it right” with my 10 y/o girl. She’s struggling. (Would love prayers for her!) Mean girls at school intentionally excluding her that used to be her “friends”; she has an already diagnosed anxiety disorder and all of this is causing huge expression of that. My heart is breaking for her. I need the endurance to keep my patience (I’d like to go to school and knock some heads together) and consistently pouring prayers and scriptures over her, teaching scripture for her mind to find peace. I really don’t know what to do. Grateful summer is a few days away, but still- Fall is coming back. My H’Band and I need so much wisdom how to handle this and be supportive to her at the same time.
App isn’t working well for me today. Can’t highlight verses…today is listed as Day16 when it’s Day 18…had to change it to CSB version manually. Glad I also have the physical study guide.
Heads up, Sisters – Day 18 (for Thursday, May 19) devo & scriptures are misnumbered as Day 16 (so there are 2 “Day 16” postings. Title is for the day is Preach the Word. Posting this on Day 17 also as I was so confused!
Yes, KELLY (NEO), in USA we are sheltered compared to what so many face daily.
Preach the Word – I can barely talk to myself much less another person, and don’t even start on talking to a group. I didn’t know I had a fear of public speaking until I had to give a presentation for work early in my career – prepped, walked onto to the platform and was overcome by what felt like sheer terror. That’s all I remember of that embarrassing event and to this day (decades later) I have no idea what I said, if anything. Today’s kids are exposed to classroom presentations early on but back in the day (at least in our school district), we never were.
Now for what had me in tears this morning, overcome by the Lord’s love for us, even ME and YOU. He prayed for US, for those who believe in Him through the disciples spreading (preaching) His word through the ages. WOW! I’ve read these words many times but the meaning and truth of them floored me this morning.
John 17:20-26, especially vs 20.
Jesus is praying and these words follow His words of prayer for a his disciples –
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
Praying for all.
I second your prayer JO. May I be faithful to SEE the opportunities God brings my way.
TINA thank you for sharing. That was an excellent example of living out today’s passage.
HEIDI – how is your niece?
DOROTHY – how is Finlay doing?
BROOKE P – how have you been feeling? Praying your pregnancy is progressing well.
MAURA – any updates on Tigist?
ASH H – how are Milo and Tori?
I was stopped recently by a guy who had heard my 2 plus hour conversation with a young lady who was struggling with some stuff and issues..
“I just want to say,” he began, “I was not eavesdropping but I heard most of your conversation and I have to say well done. No matter where the conversation led or went, you kept bringing it back to God..and His Word..”
Here’s the thing, as I’ve said many a time before, I couldn’t preach to save my life, I might attempt it to stay alive.. but seriously, I am not one to stand in front of people and preach!
I was literally being an encouragement, an ear, a shoulder, speaking truth, God’s truth, extending arms of love to a hurting young lady whilst equipping her with His truths and promises.
As Bailey has said, it is not about standing up in front of people, it’s about speaking His truth, where ever that takes you, in whatever situation..
I know my God, I have known His goodness, His mercy, His grace, His provision, His loving arms around me when life has been pants.. His faithfulness..
How can I not share the Good News of this Great and wonderful God who is present in all our situations..
BUT GOD..
AMEN..
Blessings dear sisters, wrapped so cosily in love this wet Thursday..❤
My heart resonates with everything that Bailey wrote today. I too am someone who becomes tongue-tied even at the thought of having to preach to others but I love the fact that this verse also applies to me sharing a thought at the photocopier with my work colleagues or the neighbour who is struggling with their toddler’s tantrums. I value being emersed in the Word so that I am ready “in season and out of season” with a scripture that pierces through to their issues that they are facing and allows God to work in their hearts and minds. Father, may I not be too busy today to recognise those opportunities You have already prepared for me to walk in, and please fill my mouth with Your words so that all the glory goes to You, amen, hallelujah!
❤️❤️❤️