Sound Doctrine
Jesus said, "Go...and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that is commanded you" (Matt. 26:19-20). Paul said, "Until I come, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation and teaching" (I Tim. 4:13). "And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim 2:2). "As for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine" (Titus 2:1).
Preaching that does not strive to communicate God's truth is not sound preaching. The preacher who avoids doctrine because he thinks it is impractical shirks his biblical responsibility. He is to speak with the authority of God, and no one can do that who is not an expositor of God's Word. Moving stories, moralistic advice, psychology, comedy and opinion all fall short. Only the authoritative proclamation of the Word fits the intent of God. Those other things are tools for the kind of ear-tickling preaching Paul cautioned Timothy about:
"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Jesus Christ, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom; preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate to themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry" (2 Tim. 4:1-5).
He commanded Timothy to stick with the confronting preaching of the powerful Word, whether convenient or inconvenient, popular or unpopular. There is no closed season on the Word. We are to proclaim it constantly and incessantly.
by Tow Kelton
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