“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Tim. 4:2).

What kind of preaching are you getting from the pulpit, podium, or platform? What kind of preaching do you want? We usually end up finding the type of preaching we want (cf. 2 Tim. 4:3-5). Today’s verse explains the following about gospel preaching:

1. Its message: “The word” of God. Gospel preachers preach God’s word, not the wisdom of men, personal feelings, creeds, philosophies, or politics. But when God’s word is preached, it will address the wisdom of men (1 Cor. 2:1-5; 3:18-20), personal feelings (Acts 26:9; Phil. 4:8-9), creeds (Gal. 1:6-9; 2 John 9), philosophies (Col. 2:8), politics (Matt. 22:21), and more (Acts 20:27).

2. Its moment: “Be ready in season and out of season.” Gospel preaching is pertinent, relevant. It deals in spiritual necessities, not nebulous generalities.

3. Its manner: Convince (“reprove,” KJV), rebuke, and exhort with longsuffering and instruction. It makes applications of God’s word to our lives, testing us, rebuking us, and exhorting faithful responses. It keeps on giving practical instruction that saves souls.

Gospel preaching is not a talent show for performers to delight their audience. It is about presenting Christ to the hearers (1 Cor. 1:23; 2:1-2). Gospel preaching is not about filling up a time slot. It is about filling up hearts with God’s word (James 1:21). What kind of preaching are you doing, preacher? What kind of preaching do you want, Christian?