2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction.
As Paul comes towards the end of his letter, he solemnly charges Timothy, reminding him of several aspects of the ministry that he must give attention to. In the verse he tells him, firstly, to preach the Word. The heralding of the Word has to have priority in the life of any true minister. We tend to think of the Sunday pulpit work when we think of preaching but there are other forms of preaching and all of it must be done without neglect. Along with this, there must be a prepared or ready attitude that is maintained both when it is easy to do so and when it is not. Whatever changes come the work of preaching must go on. Adaptability to situations is important in the ministry. Then there is the work of correcting, rebuking and encouraging. This work is not confined to preaching, although much of it will take place in that context. This work must be done with great patience and careful instruction. Your correcting or rebuking or encouraging may be ignored at first or not understood. Keep at it - repeating and clarifying all the way until, ideally, it is received.
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