Are you ready to convince, rebuke, exhort?

By Todd Barrier  

Last week I wasn’t planning on preaching, but at the last minute we had an emergency at our congregation, and I was needed.  

I needed to preach two sermons, with about 36 hours to come up with and prep a lesson/PowerPoint presentation.  

Luckily, the Lord’s Word is always ready, and the task was completed with no problems.  

This reminded me of 2 Timothy 4, where the Bible teaches us to be ready in season and out of season. Paul is instructing Timothy and reminds him why we always have to be ready to teach, preach and defend God’s Word.  

2 Timothy 4:2-5 says, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 

Not everyone knows or understands the Word of God. If someone needs info or understanding, His people should be ready and willing to give it and to give it correctly.  

We won’t always have time to prepare a response or an explanation; however, if we study the Word, live the Word and are serious about our relationship with God, we will be ready in and out of season.  

After all, isn’t it always “in season” for the Christian?  

Are you ready to convince, rebuke and exhort?