The Point: If we are going to entrust the Gospel to others, we must fulfill our ministry.

"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:" -2 Timothy 4:1

We must constantly proclaim the Word.

"2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." -2 Timothy 4:2

"15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” -2 Timothy 2:15

"15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." -2 Timothy 3:15-17

"13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching." -1 Timothy 4:13

People don't want to hear the truth.

"3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths" -2 Timothy 4:3-4

1) Be Clear Headed

"5 But as for you, always be sober-minded," -2 Timothy 4:5a

"8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." -1 Peter 5:8

"24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,25 correcting his opponents with gentleness." -2 Timothy 2:24-25a

"23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds," -Ephesians 4:23

"8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." -Philippians 4:8

2) Be Patient

"2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." -2 Timothy 4:2

"5 But as for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering" -2 Timothy 4:5a

"3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." -2 Timothy 2:3

"24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil," -2 Timothy 2:24

"8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." -2 Peter 3:8-9

3) Be Faithful

"This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." -1 Corinthians 4:1-2

"if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself." -2 Timothy 2:13

"Let me state it plainly: your hope is not to be found in your willingness and ability to endure, but in God’s unshakable, enduring commitment to never turn from his work of grace. Your hope is that you have been welcomed into communion with One who will endure no matter what. Why is this so important to understand? Because your endurance will be spotty at best. There will be moments when you forget who you are and live as a grace amnesiac. There will be times when you get discouraged and for a while quit doing the good things God calls you to do. There will be moments, big and small, when you willingly rebel...Because God will ever be faithful, you can bank on the fact that he will give you what you need to be faithful too. Your perseverance rests on him, and he defines what endurance looks like. It is the grace of endurance granted to you by the God of endurance that provides you with everything you need to continue to be what he calls you to be and do what he calls you to do between this moment and the moment when you cross over to the other side. When difficulty exposes the weakness of your resolve and the limits of your strength, you do not have to panic, because he will endure even in those moments when you don’t feel able to do so yourself." -Paul Tripp