傳道的責任
提摩太後書四章1至8節
1我在神面前，並在將來審判活人死人的基督耶穌面前，憑著他的顯現和他的國度囑咐你：
2務要傳道！無論得時不得時，總要專心，並用百般的忍耐，各樣的教訓，責備人，警戒人，勸勉人。
3因為時候要到，人必厭煩純正的道理，耳朵發癢，就隨從自己的情慾，增添好些師傅；
4並且掩耳不聽真道，偏向荒渺的言語。
5你卻要凡事謹慎，忍受苦難，做傳道的工夫，盡你的職分。
6我現在被澆奠，我離世的時候到了。
7那美好的仗我已經打過了；當跑的路我已經跑盡了；所信的道我已經守住了。
8從此以後，有公義的冠冕為我存留，就是按著公義審判的主到了那日要賜給我的；不但賜給我，也賜給凡愛慕他顯現的人。
信息分享
教會的傳道要承擔很多角色，包括傳道、教師、行政管理、輔導，有時甚至要打點雜務。但他的首要職責是傳講神的道──無論何時，他都要作好準備，隨時按照聖經的教訓，用神的話語去教導人。說些無關痛痒的話，讓人人都高興而歸，這並不難。但是神只想祂的子民聽到這些話嗎？
保羅在第5節正是提醒提摩太這點。時候快到了，在末世的時候（現在豈不正是嗎？）人們只想聽傳道人說一些他們喜歡聽的話，卻未必是神的話。
保羅知道這並不容易，因此，他吩咐提摩太，也是吩咐我們，要凡事忍耐，小心教導。他還提醒我們，除了直接教導真理外，還要多加勸勉。許多參與聚會的人都需要鼓勵。他們在過去一週的生活可能很不如意，他們本身或家庭可能面對嚴重的問題，讓他們在講道的信息中得到神的應許，鼓勵他們去面對未來的日子，並將困難交給主。
「作傳道的工夫」。換言之，不要害怕傳講完整的福音。人們需要面對自己的罪，才知道自己需要救主。未必每次講道都要包含所有這些信息，但在事奉的過程中，沒有一項可以忽略。保羅還補充一句：要在事奉中「盡你的職分」。
如今，這位年邁的鬥士望向前面的時候，知道自己殉道的時刻快到。他回望過去已了無遺憾；面對前面也毫不畏懼。離世只表示回到天家，必得到基督的親切歡迎。這豈不是每個信徒最大的盼望麼？求主幫助我們至死忠心。
“I GIVE YOU THIS CHARGE…”
2 Timothy 4: 1-8
1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Message
They could be given however to any Christian worker.
A minister “wears many different hats”. He is a preacher, teacher, manager, counsellor, and sometimes church caretaker. But his first responsibility is to preach the Word - to make sure that whenever God’s people meet, he has a word for them from the Lord, based on a portion of Scripture. It is easier to give a nice talk that doesn’t bother anyone and sends them away feeling happy. But is that what God wants those people to hear?
Paul warned about this in verse 5. The time is coming - in the last days (are they where we are right now?) that people will want preachers who will tell them what they want to hear, but again it may not be the word of God.
Paul recognises it may not be easy. He tells Timothy and us too, to do it with great patience and careful instruction. He adds that we need to give a word of encouragement along with the plain teaching of the truth. Many who come to our services need that. They may have had a hard week, they may be facing serious problems themselves or in their families. Let them find in the preaching of the word of God a promise which will encourage them to face the days ahead and to leave their problems with the Lord.
“Do the work of an evangelist.” In other words, don’t be afraid to preach the whole Gospel. Men and women need to be faced with their sins and their need of Christ. All of the above may not fit into every message, but in the course of a ministry not one of these parts can be omitted. Paul adds, “Fully perform all the duties of your ministry.”
Now the old warrior takes a look at what was ahead - his martyrdom for Christ. He could look back without regret; he could look ahead without fear. A departure from this life meant arriving in Heaven and a loving welcome from Christ Himself. What more could any believer ever want? Lord helps us to be faithful to the end.