The importance of teaching God's Word and learn how to pay better
attention. Text: 2
Timothy 4:2; 1
Peter 4:11.
Introduction.
1. Probably one thing that all religious groups in the world would agree upon
is that there should be preaching of God's Word during the worship services of
the church.2. This sermon will have two main purposes:
a. First, why should God's Word be preached?
b. Second, how can we better prepare ourselves to hear God's Word preached?
Body.
I. Why should God's Word be preached???
A. Because we are given an explicit command to preach God's Word. "Preach
the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the
truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Timothy 4:2-4).
1. In this passage, we are told to preach the word even when it is not popular.
2. We're told that the reason we must preach is because people are going to turn
away from the truth and turn themselves to fables. There is no salvation
in fables!
3. People today are turning themselves to fables of every kind. What we need as
a country is a good dose of God's Word. Popular or not!
B. Because we are given an example of God's Word being preached. "And
upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread,
Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech
until midnight." (Acts 20:7)
C. Because there is no other way to know God's Will than by studying His Word.
1. "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit:
for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man
knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the
things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not
the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the
things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in
the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth;
comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not
the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can
he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual
judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.16 For who hath known the
mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."
(1 Cororinthians 2:10-16).
a. You cannot read my thoughts and I cannot read yours.
b. The only way for you to know what I am thinking is for me to reveal it to
you. Either with words or actions of some sort.
c. The inspired writers of the Bible were given God's Word by His Spirit.
2. "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in
himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." (Jeremiah).
3. What a blessing it is to have God's Word!!! "Study
to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15).
D. Because it is profitable for all spiritual matters. "All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God
may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
1. The Word of God tells you when you're right, tells you when you're wrong,
tells you how to get right, and tells you how to stay right.
2. No other book is needed! Not the book of Mormon. Not the
"Living Bible." Not the Apocrypha.
E. Because we will be judged by it.
1. "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words,
hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him
in the last day." (John 12:48).
2. "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before
God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book
of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the
books, according to their works." (Revelation 20:12).
II. How can we better prepare ourselves to listen to sermons??
A. Love God.
1. Realizing everything that God has done for us, how can we help but love Him.
2. If we truly love Him, we will want to hear what He has to say.
3. Do we view sermons as something that we have to endure or something to be
enjoyed?
B. Have a proper respect for God's Word.
1. When God's Word is taught or studied; it is God talking to us.
2. Do we show the proper respect.
3. Sometimes we show more reverence when we're talking to God than when He is
talking to us.
C. Remember the power of God's Word.
1. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and
sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul
and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12).
2. "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from
heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring
forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So
shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me
void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the
thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:10-11).
D. Throw your bias out the door when the sermon starts.
1. Too many times, people don't want to be confused with the facts.
2. If the preacher preaches the truth (God's Word) and not his opinions; we are
left with two options. Obey and be saved; or don't and be lost.
3. Our obedience is not to that preacher but to God.
E. Get a good night's sleep.
1. Get to bed early so that you will be ready and alert for the service.
2. That way we won't fall asleep during the sermon.
F. Take notes and follow along in your Bible.
1. This will help to keep you alert.
2. It will also help you to make sure that you are being taught the truth.
3. Also, you'll have that sermon forever, to reference when needed.
Conclusion.
1. The preaching and teaching of God's Word is a very important act of
worship.2. However, it shouldn't just be confined to worship.3. We
should try to teach everyone that we can about what the Bible has to say.4.
Do you know what the Bible has to say about what you must do to be saved?
-- Ralph Price, February 2000
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