How Are You Preparing Your Sermon : Rachel Cook

Always be eager to present yourself before God as a perfect and mature minister, without shame, as one who correctly explains the Word of Truth.   - 2 Timothy 2:15 TPT 

As Christians, I believe we are missing it when it comes to the eagerness written in this verse. Are we eager for learning about and sharing Jesus with the world?  Are we eager to be corrected and made mature? Are we willing to stand up to our own fears and insecurities, people’s opinions, or going against the status quo to share about Jesus and what He has done for us?  Do we look for opportunities everywhere we go to share His goodness?

Truth? The majority of us are lacking in many of these areas.  Solution: we look at what we can do as individuals to make a difference.  If all of us focus on what we, as individuals, can do, we corporately take major ground for the Kingdom of God.

In the footnotes for this verse, it says the word eager could be translated, “Hurry and keep on hurrying,” or “Consider it a serious matter and keep on considering it something serious to present yourself before God.”

We present ourselves before God every moment of every day. Do we take that seriously? Think about conversations with co-workers, texts, social media posts, the clothes you wear…what about the things you say under your breath?  Are you eager to present yourself before God?

We are the Word made flesh. We are called to be His hands, His feet, His mouthpiece here on earth.  In 2 Corinthians 5:20 it proves this by saying, We are ambassadors of the Anointed One who carry the message of Christ to the world, as though God were tenderly pleading with them directly through our lips. So, we tenderly plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Turn back to God and be reconciled to Him.” 

As the footnotes say, “Hurry and keep on hurrying.” Living your life unto God isn’t something you want to take lightly.  You are preparing your sermon of life. People are listening to every word you say, every response you make, every smile, every eye-roll…is heard. The way we love is heard, the way we get offended is heard, the way we forgive, the way we avoid gossip, even the way we listen is heard.  People are always listening to the sermon we are preaching.

Does your life preach the Gospel, aka the Good News…or is it preaching something else?