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NASB | 2 Timothy 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Timothy 4:2 preach the word [as an official messenger]; be ready when the time is right and even when it is not [keep your sense of urgency, whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable, whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct [those who err in doctrine or behavior], warn [those who sin], exhort and encourage [those who are growing toward spiritual maturity], with inexhaustible patience and [faithful] teaching. |
Bible Question:
Hi everyone, Just looking for some much needed feedback for this story I wrote (half delirious) in the early morning hours a few days ago. Please critic, edit and re-write anything you deem fit. I am giving the Sermon at church in a few weeks (first time in my life I've ever done anything like this) and am just trying to make a point. The story was prompted by a quote by Teddy Roosevelt: "It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." And the story goes: The Christian life can be likened to two bothers, paupers, who have been informed of their fortunate status as a descendants of the king. And as such are now entitled to all the luxuries, wealth, power and position that go along with his new found glory. They are now fully capable of taking advantage of this new life, this incredible offer. Not only can they let every one know that they is now an heir to the throne, but they can take them with them into royalty. They can lead them in to the courts of the king, and alot them the same privelages as they themselves would recieve. This would seem to be the best news every given to some poor paupers. However this great news comes with a responsibility. There is a great battle that looms, ever present, for his new kingdom. And they will sometimes be required to enter the fray to save one of their pauper friends. They will also encounter those acquaintances who do not believe their tales of royalty and palaces and wealth. They will be scorned and scoffed at by many nay sayers. So they are left with the choice to enter the fray, live like kings and experience the best that life has to offer. While facing the dangers and hardships that await them in his new position. They will be faced with glorious victories over his foes, though marred with defeats. They will experience an incredible and fulfilled life with some of their comrades though others will surely laugh and scoff in disbelief at his preposterous claims... the choice is theirs... So the first brother decides that the risk is worth the reward, accepts royalty and accomplishes much for the kingdom. While the other decides that the life of a king is not worth the scorn of his unbelieving friends or the chance of encountering a defeat in battle against the enemy. He continues to live his life in the same manner as before, all the while, knowing that he, at anytime, can take his rightful place in the palace with the king and his knights, and take ownership of what is rightfully his as the heir to the throne. The only question is: what have you decided to do with your royal heritage? Will you step out in faith and live with The King and battle for His kingdom? Or will you hide the truth that has the power to give life because of some potential pitfalls? The choice is now, and will always be, yours and yours alone. Will take countless others with you into the kingdom, or will you be buried by yourself in The Kings tombs? |
Bible Answer: Dear Surfin, Our forum is based upon sola Scriptura. If you want to offer moralizations to people, give them motivational catch phrases, or entertain them, it looks like you are headed in the right direction. However, our forum won't have much to offer. "Sound Bible exposition is an imperative must in the Church of the Living God. Without it no church can be a New Testament church in any strict meaning of that term. But exposition may be carried on in such a way as to leave the hearers devoid of any true spiritual nourishment whatsoever. For it is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself, and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience they are not the better for having heard the truth. The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts." --A. W. Tozer Here's another Roosevelt quote: "There are those who believe that a new modernity demands a new morality. What they fail to consider is the harsh reality that there is no such thing as a new morality. There is only one morality. All else is immorality. There is only true Christian ethics over against which stands the whole of paganism.... We must return to the old morality, the sole morality. And if we are to do that, then the church must prepare us for such a task." I'd posit to you, sir, that you will best feed the sheep by teaching the Bible expositionally. In Him, Doc |