Preach the Word
Open Your Bible
2 Timothy 3:14-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-4, Isaiah 40:6-8, John 17:17-26, James 1:19-25
BY Bailey Gillespie
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).
41 thoughts on "Preach the Word"
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“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
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Amen
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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.
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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! ❤️❤️
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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!!
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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! ❤️
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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!
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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.
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