Better Chaplain Series - Preach In Season and Out

Who is the loudest voice in your life? For many this is their constantly shifting desires, appetites, and pride. For others the authority is a celebrity or strong personality. Others may appeal to history or tradition.

The faithful chaplain knows that true authority comes from God and Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead. The Word of God reigns supreme and forever, even though a time is coming and is now here when people will not endure sound teaching, but will accumulate authorities who will tell them what they want to hear.

The authority is not the ambassador, or the chaplain, or your opinion (no matter how good you think it is), it belongs to the king. It is his Word that has power and the teaching that must be shared. It should be at the forefront of your mind, bound on your hands, stored up in your heart and in your soul. And more importantly, it should come out at every opportunity.

Chaplain, share the Word in sermons, in conversations, in invocations, in counseling, and everywhere. Share it openly when people ask, and share it always even when they don't want it.

Key Verse: Preach the word: be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. ~ 2 Timothy 4:4

More:

1. The chapter and verse breakups were added officially in 1558 by Robert Estienne (aka Stephanus); in light of these additions consider if it is necessary to say, "John 3:16 says..." or if the authority of the verse is enough. Consider the book of Haggai which says, "Thus says/declares the LORD..." almost as many times as there are verses. Conversely, Paul says, "It has been testified somewhere..." Does the power of God's Word come from knowing it's the Word of God, or the Spirit who testifies?

2. Amos was as far from a preacher as he could be, in his own words, "I was no prophet, nor the son of a prophet, but I was a herdsman and a [farmer]" (Amos 7:14), but God turned him into a powerful preacher who awoke many who had heaped lying messengers to themselves. If God could turn even Amos into a powerful preacher, what can he do with you?

3. Paul asks, "If a trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who will get ready for the battle?" How can you communicate the clear commands of God to obey the gospel, so that many can call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. If faith comes by hearing, who have you told? (Confer Romans 10:8-17)

4. Resources:

Parker, T.H.L. The Oracles of God: An Introduction to the Preaching of John Calvin. London: Lutterworth Press, 1947.

Lloyd-Jones, Martyn. Preaching and Preachers. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1971.

Ash, Christopher. The Priority of Preaching. Fearn, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2009.