Thursday, August 25, 2011

Pastoral Care


2 Timothy 4:1-22 (NIV)

4:1-2 Preach The Word

Paul urged Timothy to preach the Word.

God is going to judge every person.

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It is the duty of every pastor to preach the gospel and to teach the Bible.

Be ready with the Word of God all the time, in season and out of season.

Be ready even at the times when we are not expected to share.

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Pastors are commanded to correct, rebuke, and encourage their people with great patience and careful instruction.

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4:3-4 Not Enduring Sound Doctrine

Every pastor must have the urgency to preach the Word of God.

As time passes, there will be more and more people in the church who will not want to hear the true Word of God.

More than ever before, they want to be entertained to keep their interest.

They want to hear messages that make them feel good.

They want to be told they are okay even when they are not.

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This has led to the corruption of the church.

This has led to the desecration of the true gospel message.

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4:5 Sober In All Things

Pastors must be serious in everything they do.

There will be hardship in the Christian Ministry.

There will be attacks from every side, because they are on the front lines.

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In addition to teaching the Word, pastor must also do the work of an evangelist.

Why?

Because the great commission that Jesus gave to us was to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Everyone needs to hear about the salvation that Jesus Christ offers.

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4:6-8 Being Poured Out Like A Drink Offering

A drink offering was a sacrifice to God.

Instead of being burnt on an altar, it was poured out.

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Paul was saying that he was like that water, poured out on the ground as a sacrifice to the Lord.

In the world's eyes, his life was wasted.

But he knew better.

He knew a crown in heaven was waiting for him.

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4:9-12 Demas

Paul finished the letter with personal notes to Timothy about his current situation, and where the partners in ministry had gone.

Crescens went to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia, and Tychicus to Ephesus.

Only Luke was with Paul.

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Paul also told Timothy what happened to Demas, how he loved the world and deserted Paul.

This was disturbing, because when Paul was writing to the Colossians (4:14) and Philemon (1:24), Demas was partnered with Paul in the ministry, a fellow worker.

But now, we found out that he was more into the things of the world than the things of God.

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It is sad to see people that we have led to Christ, discipled, or served in ministry with, walk away from the Lord, from fellowship, and from the church.

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4:13 When You Come

Winter was approaching.

Paul was getting cold.

He also wanted his library back.

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4:14-15 Alexander

Alexander was the guy that Paul told Timothy about in the first letter (1 Timothy 1:19-20).

Apparently, Alexander continued to cause trouble in the church and with Paul.

Paul warned Timothy to watch out for him.

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4:16-18 The Lord Stood With Me

Through many of Paul's legal troubles, he stood alone.

But he wasn't really alone.

The Lord was with him.

Paul knew that God was going to safely carry him to heaven, no matter what happened on earth.

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4:19-22 Final Greetings

Paul told Timothy to give his greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

He also filled Timothy in on the status of Erastus and Trophimus, as well as sending greetings from Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and others that Timothy knew.

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