Paul charged Timothy to do seven things as a faithful minister in 2 Timothy 4:1-5. Periodically, every Pastor needs to remind themselves with this short list.
2 Timothy 4:1 I solemnly 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 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (NASB)
At the core, Shepherding the flock of God is about communication, correction and care:
PERSUADE: “preach the word”: Paul’s first admonition was to “Preach the word of God.” Kerudzon is to persuade. We must be prepared to be persuasive. The goal is transformation by the Spirit, not information by the Seminary professor. Don’t just “give a little talk” – demand life change – first in yourself, then in others. Preach the Word not about the word.
POSITION: Paul’s second admonition was “be instant” which means to “stand upon, be always at hand.” You must be ever growing in knowing the Word and standing on the Word. Whether the truth is received (in season) or rejected (out of season) hold fast the truth as lead by the Holy Spirit. Preach the truth at anytime whether it’s popular or not.
PERFORM: Paul charged a third admonition: “Patiently and Instructively Reprove, Rebuke and Exhort”
- The word reproveis Elengchó which is to “expose” or “Convict”. Preach the convicting truth and expose the darkness first in yourself, then in others.
- The word rebukeis epitimaó which means “to meter out due measure, sternly telling”. It is to Correct. We need to measure our words but tell the truth even when it is hard to do. You don’t bring your own message, so you must be careful to stick to God’s Word.
- The word exhortis from parakaleó – the word for encourager. Call them near to comfort them, even after the reproving and rebuking.
PERSIST: A fourth admonition is inferred in the statment: “The time will come…” Do not measure your worth by their acceptance of the truth – but by the reaction of your Savior to what you are doing. The hunger for affirmation will kill your ministry. Paul says that some will no longer endure sound doctrine, but turn away from it. Stay the course. Don’t keep dumbing it down and shortening it up. Don’t keep making Christianity easier. Let God set the yoke and He will make it light.
PEER: Fifth, be sober (nephe: alert and attentive): Paul says stay alert, watching for Satan and his attacks, erring believers, coming waves of temptation.
PERSEVERE: Sixth, endure hardship (kakopatheó: suffer or endure through evil or affliction). Learn to role with the attacks and allow God the victory. There will be hardships, attacks on you, your wife, your home all things will come under attack. . But you must persevere in all and keep on serving God.
PROCLAIM: Seventh, do the work of an evangelist: keep on proclaiming the good news. In all these things, you will “make full proof of your ministry.”
