Quick Note – 2 Timothy 4:1-2

2 Timothy 4:1-2 – “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and his kingdom:  preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

One of the most opportune times for Christians to share the Gospel is the Christmas season, for people’s minds are receptive to the Gospel as they hear songs about the birth of Christ, love, and gift-giving.  The problem for many of us Christians though is that we are not ready to share that Gospel.  We have not been prepared to preach and share the Word, for we assume that the job belongs to pastors and ministry leaders alone.  That is completely wrong, for the job of sharing the Gospel was not only given to the leaders of the church but to every follower of Christ.  Our passage today had Paul reminding Timothy to preach the Word of God and be ready in season (the times you think you need to be ready) and out of season (the times you least expect) to share the Word of God through reproof (correction), rebuke (correction with punishment), or exhortation (encouragement towards doing what is right).  This has a double meaning, for many pastors have used these verses to remind Christians to be ready to share the Gospel, but it actually is also a direction for Christians to be ready to share the Word of God with even fellows brothers and sisters in Christ, for it focuses on preaching the Word with patience (longsuffering) and teaching and rebuke and exhortation, all things you do with fellow believers who may be straying from the Word of God.  Although Paul was addressing Timothy, a church leader, this letter is left for us as all Christians to hear and apply to our lives, not just the leaders.  Let us be ready in season and out of season to share the Gospel and the rest of the Word of God with all around us doing so with patience (“not easily provoked”) and teaching.  This charge was given to Timothy but has been passed down to us.  Be ready to share God’s Word with anyone no matter where you are or what time it is, for you know not when God will choose to use you.  Take some time this Christmas season to be alert of the potential people God may want you to share the Word with.