I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
2 Timothy 4:1-4 NLT
Paul wrote these words to his son in the Lord, Timothy, whom he had left in charge of a slightly unruly congregation. This is a solemn command. There will be a reckoning before the Lord. For Timothy, the Lord will want to know what he preached. For the church, He will want to know what they did with it. The primary place of correction for the Christian is the honest and loving ministry of a pastor who preaches the Word with boldness and patience regardless of the spiritual climate. If you don’t have one, I feel sorry for you.
Thank God, its time to go to church. I am part of a church that I started and served as its lead Pastor for 15 years. The couple who now co-lead this congregation grew up in the Lord under my ministry. When I am in town, I make every effort to go to my church and allow myself to be corrected, rebuked and encouraged by the office of the Pastor. I need it. I am not designed to live the Christian life alone. I am not smart enough or spiritual enough to see everything I need to see. I’m going today because I need correction and encouragement. If you don’t think you need it, too, then you have already believed a myth. Come on, let’s go get helped.
pastorvirgil.com 