Teaching

	"Until I come," Paul instructs in 1 Timothy 4:13, "give attention to the {public} reading {of Scripture,} to exhortation and teaching."
	In other studies we have examined four elements of worship: prayer, giving, singing and the Lord's Supper.  Now let's take a look at a final element of worship: preaching and teaching.
	One day we were walking with some friends through a very old building in Italy.  There had been a meeting place on that same site since at least the early fourth century.  The present building was constructed to accommodate hundreds of people.  But only a handful would be there during a service.
	As we approached the front of the building, we noticed an ornate, carved-stone pulpit raised high above the floor so that all could hear the sermon.  But the stairs leading up to the pulpit had been removed long before.
	"Guess that shows what they think about preaching!" one man observed.
	Indeed, many people even today believe that preachers are like good children.  They should be seen and not heard.  But what does the New Testament teach us about preaching and teaching?
	Preaching is an assignment which has been given.  It has been  given by God to Jesus.
	"And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit," we read in Luke 4:14-19, "and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district.  And He {began} teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.  And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.  And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book, and found the place where it was written, 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.'"
	God sends Jesus to preach the Gospel.  Jesus passes this assignment on to His apostles.
	"And as you go," The Lord commands in Matthew 10:7, "preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"
	God sends Jesus to preach the Gospel.  Jesus passes this assignment on to His apostles.  And they in turn pass it on to other Christians.
	"I solemnly charge {you} in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus," Paul writes  in 2 Timothy 4:1-2, "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, exhort, with great patience and instruction."
	Why is preaching important?  It is important because it is  an assignment given from God to us through Jesus and the apostles.  But why is preaching so special to God?  Why does He want us to preach?
	God wants us to preach so that we won't enter into error.  Paul makes this clear as he writes to the young preacher Timothy.
	"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, {who is} our hope," Paul expresses in 1 Timothy 1:1-11, "to Timothy, {my} true child in {the} faith: Grace, mercy {and} peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.  As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus, in order that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than {furthering} the administration of God which is by faith.  But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.  For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.  But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted."
	Why does God want us to preach?  He wants people to have the knowledge that will strengthen them in combating error.
	"But the Spirit explicitly says," Paul notes in 1 Timothy 4:1-6, "that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, {men} who forbid marriage {and advocate} abstaining from foods, which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.  For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.  In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, {constantly} nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following."
	"Instruct those who are rich in this present world," the apostle adds in 1 Timothy 6:17-21, "not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.  {Instruct them} to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.  O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly {and} empty chatter {and} the opposing arguments of what is falsely called 'knowledge'-- which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you."
	"Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus," Paul urges in 2 Timothy 1:13.
	"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine," 2 Timothy 4:3-4 cautions, "but {wanting} to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths."
	Preaching is important because it helps us to not enter into error.  Paul makes this clear in his letters to the young preacher Timothy.

	Preaching is important because it helps us to not enter into error.  Paul makes this clear in his letters to the young preacher Timothy.  He also stresses this point in his letter to the young evangelist Titus.
	"This testimony is true," Paul states in Titus 1:13-2:1. "For this cause reprove them severely that they may be sound in the faith, not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.  To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.  They profess to know God, but by {their} deeds they deny {Him}, being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed.  But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine."
	Preaching helps to keep us from entering into error.  God also wants us to preach to save souls.
	"For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not {come to} know God," we find in 1 Corinthians 1:21-25, "God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.  For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
	Preaching helps to keep us from entering into error.  God wants us to preach to save souls.  And we want to preach to be pleasing to God.
	"But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed," Paul warns in Galatians 1:8-10. As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ."
	Why do we preach? It is an assignment given to us from God through Jesus and the apostles.  Why is preaching so important? It prepares us to combat error.  It saves souls.  It is pleasing to God.
	"But you, be sober in all things," Paul advises in 2 Timothy 4:5-8, "endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.  For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."
	"God is spirit," Jesus teaches in John 4:24, "and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." 
	Preaching is an important part of our worship.  Let's preach in the spirit.  And let's preach in the truth so that we may be set free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission." (www.lockman.org)