Preaching as Worship

Bible on Communion Table

Photo by Mitchell Leach on Unsplash

​2 Tim. 3:16-4:1-5 
Is there ever a time on Sunday where it feels like the worship stops? Many would assume that occurs right about now. This was an assumption that was hammered out of us at seminary. Someone from a church would talk about how we would "have a time of worship AND THEN we will hear the sermon." Did you catch what is being assumed there? Worship is all about the singing, because that is when we are *feeling* it. People's hands don't go up during the sermon. If they did, I would think you are asking a question. It looks instead like maybe this is the *pastor's* turn to worship, and the people will join back in at the closing song, but that isn't what the sermon is meant to be. It isn't *just* me worshiping up here. You are worshiping here, in this moment, as well. 

Now, I don't blame people for making this mistake. Sermons can be hard to listen to. There are a number of ways that they can go wrong. On the one end of the spectrum there are sermons that are (slightly) motivational speeches made up of little more than the pastor's own experience and life guidance, with some fishing stories thrown in. On the other end of the spectrum is a theological lecture getting WAY deep in the weeds on a single Greek word leaving one going, "Well, what difference does that make in my life?" 

Even sermons that find that balance of instruction, conviction, and exhortation can be difficult to listen to because we are still fighting our sin. We can find God's Word boring or convicting and don't really want to hear what needs to be heard. 

We are in the midst of a series on worship, the very purpose of our lives. We saw that worship is meant to be for God, as directed by God in His Word, based on the elements and content of that Word. We saw last week that the sacraments, baptism and the Lord's Supper, are the Word made visible. Yet even those are only means of grace when they are accompanied by God's Word. God's Word provides the direction and content of our worship. 

Therefore, when we hear God's Word read and explained, this is the high point of our worship, of our whole week. It isn't because your preacher is good or not. It is because God's Word is being declared the clearest. That places a heavy responsibility on me to walk closely with God, so I'll be less biased by my sin, to learn theology and ancient languages so I can study deeply, spending the time to ensure that what I bring you in the next few minutes will equip YOU to walk closely with God, to resist YOUR sin, and know YOUR God better. 

Today we will look at 2 Tim. 4:1-5, but we will peak back at chapter 3 briefly. We are going to take a look at two points today: The source of the sermon is the Bible, and the substance of the sermon is patient pleading towards a godly life. 

The Source of the Sermon is the Bible 

This book of second Timothy is Paul's final word to his student Timothy. Paul is soon to be executed, so what are some of the final things he says? Chapter 3 opens with examples of people who have fallen away from the Bible's teachings, but rejoices that Timothy hasn't done that. Instead, he has held to the Bible. 

Paul notes that this teaching that Timothy is holding to isn't just the sentimental morals of his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5), but he is holding to the very Words of God. Here in verse 16, it says that this is inspired literally meaning God breathed. The Bible is so much God's word it is as if you can smell God's breath in the pages. Amazingly, this isn't just a book of incomprehensible mystery but it is actually good for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. 

As we covered the first week of this series, where else would you go for such information? If you want to know how to live your life, you go to the One Who created life! You want the best guidance you can. 

In World War 2, there was a need for accurate maps of Europe in order for the Allies to navigate the city streets. They turned to a trusted source: Michelin. Yes, the tire company. It turns out that if you are a tire company, you need to give people reasons to get in their car and drive, so Michelin went out, found the best restaurants in the cities, and provided maps and rated restaurants (that's where those Michelin stars come from). It turns out that the maps were so good and trusted, they were used by the Allies to help win the war, and the rating system is still used today to find the best restaurants.   

When we get to chapter 4, we notice, as scholars point out, that of all the things that Paul tells Timothy to do, with the reality of Jesus' return coming, the main goal of Timothy's ministry is preaching. That is the only tool that Timothy has. Not pastoral compassion, nor compelling personality, nor comprehensive planning, but preaching. 

The Substance of the Sermon is Patient Pleading Towards Godliness. 

So with the source of the sermon covered, what should be its substance? What should be *in* the sermon? Well, when we get here to chapter four, we find that Paul's instructions for preaching overlap with what he said about what God's Word is for, essentially: conviction, correction, and compelling towards a godly life. 

Paul starts by telling Timothy to reprove. That is what we saw in chapter 3. This is a word that gets at the idea of conviction, and is a concept that overlaps in the next word: rebuke. This is pointing out what is wrong, what is sin, what is against God. This must be done, as unpleasant as it may be. Sin has to be confronted, but this isn't something that is to be done with an air of superiority. This is to be done because it encourages the treatment. 

I saw something online about the difference between doctors and veterinarians. The vets talk to their patients saying, "You're such a good dog, who's good dog" while scratching their back. Meanwhile your doctor comes in saying, "You look fatter and paler then I remember. Also, you're not taking your medications, are you?" Now, is that because vets as a whole are just better people than doctors? No! The vet doesn't have to convince the dog to take the pills, that is the job of the owner. The doctor has to convince her patients to comply and the only real way to do that is to show the consequences of disobedience. Your weight is going up, that is going to lead to a heart attack, you have to exercise and take your medication. If she just walked in, wordlessly handed you a vial of pills and walked out, you probably wouldn't take them. You don't see the need. 

In the same way the pastor has to show your need for a savior. He has to show what the standard is and how we don't meet it. That is what it means to reprove and rebuke. 

But the pastor doesn't just stand up saying, "Y'all are sinners and horrible people. God's gonna get you. Amen." The point is to also offer the gospel, showing what Jesus does for sinners, that there is hope and cure for sin! Jesus has paid the penalty for sin so you don't have to be judged guilty by God. Jesus exchanges His perfect record with your sinful one so God can see you as perfect. 

Now, if were to just leave it there, that would be good news but there wouldn't be any direction after that. What now? is the question! That is were the word "correction" above and a slight shade of meaning here in "rebuke" comes in. Preaching isn't just "not this way," but is also, "walk this path." Interestingly, the word for correction is the same word that we get "orthopedics" or the medical discipline of bones from. Ortho means "straight" which is what you want your doctor to do with your leg. You don't want to walk out of their with a bent leg, you want a straight leg. Similarly, you don't want to just show people that their soul is bent, but you want to lay out for people that here is how to have the correct, straight soul. 

All this is to be done with exhorting. The word here comes with the idea of pleading. You can think of a first responder talking to someone who wants to jump off the bridge. "Hey, don't do this. Don't let a low moment dictate an irreversible decision. We can help you." As the pastor, my job is to plead with you not to sin. It will destroy your life. God has a better way, a way that He has always intended. Follow this. 

That is what a good sermon is supposed to be. It may not always be listened to. It might not always be popular, in fact we are told here it won't be. But this Word is the power of God to save souls. This is the only tool we have. 

So what is the takeaway for you? Is this just a sermon for Aaron and I? No. We have the responsibility to preach, teach, and exhort. But you have the responsibility to listen. Make the most of the time we have together. We send out the bulletin in advance so that you can look ahead at what we are going to do. Prayerfully read the passage over, asking for God's guidance. Think of some questions. Ask how this might apply to you. Listen carefully to what is being said, and reflect on it. Share it with others. Nothing solidifies things in your head like teaching others. 

Bad vision is the result of poorly shaped eyes. My mom has contacts that she wears at night to correct vision. They are hard lenses that literally reshape the eye slightly to see 20/20. But she has to do this every night for the effect to hold the next day. That is what weekly sermons and daily Bible readings do for you. They shape your eyes so that you see the world rightly. We need that reshaping every day, every week because the world is trying to reshape us too. Our own sin is shaping us. We come to God's word for the news that we don't see rightly, but He has come to give us reshaped eyes. We will be transformed from seeing a world of threats all around to a world that needs the gospel. We will be changed to see family members that irritate into family members that need forgiveness. 

That is the power of sound doctrine, the effect of the preached Word. And that is why this is the highlight of our worship. We are invited to bless God, and then He comes, in His Word to bless us in return.