LISTEN
NASB:
Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
NIV:
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.
Observations:
When we preach, we are to preach one thing — God’s word.
As we go about preaching the word, we should be ready to do so at all times — in and out of season. There are no off hours for God’s work.
As we preach, we are to reprove, which means pointing out and helping correct unscriptural activity. We are to rebuke, which is to bring spiritual discipline. And we are to encourage.
We do all of this with extreme patience and careful instruction, which means we don’t just haphazardly spout our own philosophies when teaching the word.
Takeaways:
Preach the word, nothing else.
Be prepared at all times for God’s calling and work.
Reprove when appropriate.
Rebuke when necessary.
Encourage constantly.
Be patient at all times with every person.
Take great pains to be careful with the instruction of God’s word.
