ministry strategy

as per the apostle Paul: (with comments by steve)

"I 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: (a weighty place to be commissioned so DO NOT take these instructions lightly)

preach the word; (gotta know it to preach it)
be ready in season and out of season; (that's pretty much all the time... in fact it IS all the time)
reprove, ("to criticize or correct, especially gently")
rebuke, ("to express sharp, stern disapproval")
and exhort, ("to give urgent advice, recommendations or warnings")
with complete patience and teaching. (thorough, time consuming and costly - don't give up)

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (this Bible stuff's boring, let's try something else, something more fun and entertaining)

As for you, (denoting contrast)

always be sober-minded, (don't get distracted or muddle headed)
endure suffering, (persevere - don't give up - and yes, this means that there will be suffering, expect it)
do the work of an evangelist, (tell the good news of Christ's life, death and resurrection)
fulfill your ministry." (see instructions above)

2 Timothy 4:1-5

yeah, i love 2 Timothy 2 OR i'm a list guy

breaking down the content of 2 Timothy 2 based on the commands:

• "be strengthened" 2 Timothy 2:1 - yeah, i know, this first command is kind of a strange one in that it looks to something done for us not by us - the grace that strengthens me is outside of me - it is in Christ Jesus... alone
• "entrust" 2 Timothy 2:2 - the generational nature of the gospel message - four of them are mentioned in this verse...
• "share" 2 Timothy 2:3 - not the usual mother to child command to share... a call to share IN SUFFERING! - mindset: soldier, athlete, farmer
• "Think over" 2 Timothy 2:7 - okay, you've made it this far, review the first 6 verses again - the Lord will give you understanding
• "Remember" 2 Timothy 2:8 - Jesus Christ - His resurrection - His descent (from David - the throne is His by right)
• "Remind" 2 Timothy 2:14 - of these things - ie. Jesus' resurrection, His kingship, Paul's imprisonment, the freedom of the word of God, dying and living with Him, enduring and reigning with Him, denial of and by Him, His faithfulness
• "charge" 2 Timothy 2:14 - not to quarrel about words
• "Do your best" 2 Timothy 2:15 - to present yourself to God as one approved - ie. a worker who rightly handles the word of truth
• "avoid" 2 Timothy 2:16 - irreverent babble - it leads people into more and more ungodliness
• "flee" 2 Timothy 2:22 - youthful passions - in order to be a clean vessel, holy and set apart for honorable uses - useful to the master of the house - ready for every good work
• "pursue" 2 Timothy 2:22 - righteousness, faith, love, and peace - with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart - in order to be a clean vessel, holy and set apart for honorable uses - useful to the master of the house - ready for every good work
• "Have nothing to do" 2 Timothy 2:23 - with foolish, ignorant controversies - they breed quarrels - the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness