Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them. - 1Timothy 4: 11-13 (NLT)
The letters to Timothy were written by the Apostle Paul to his protege. Timothy was called to preach and be a leader in the church. Popular tradition places Timothy as a Pastor/Preacher/Teacher at Ephesus. So where Paul's letters to the various churches he started deal more with general doctrinal matters and false teachings, the Timothy letters take on a more personal tone. Paul is instructing Timothy, since he knows that his own journey on earth would soon be coming to an end. The keys verses today come from the first letter Paul writes to Timothy and these three verses outline some specifics regarding the proper role for someone who is called into these roles. I say called because it has become too frequent in these end days to see everyone jump on the preaching bandwagon without seeming to care of there actually is a calling. The Bible has also warned us about this too:
Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. - James 3: 1 (NLT)
Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. - 2Timothy 2: 15 (NLT)
Unfortunately sometimes it seems as if people skip that first instruction about working hard and never present themselves to God at all. They think if enough people show up each week that it must be favor from God. But the Lord does not measure success using carnal metrics. Preaching is not a popularity contest:
Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant. - Galatians 1: 10 (NLT)
Beloved the true Gospel offends. It often cuts deep. The very concept of seeker friendly theology dismisses the true nature of the Gospel. It is already seeker friendly for those who are ready to trade their sinful selves in for the new creation they can become in Christ. For those who are not though - the Gospel cuts them right to their hardened hearts. I have seen my share of people who can intellectually put a preaching Word together but completely lacking in the anointing of the Holy Ghost. And I do not mean the cheapened definition of anointing that has been abused in the modern churches today. I mean that the Holy Spirit is who leads us into all truths and explains the deeper spiritual things of God to us - starting with the preacher! I cannot tell you how many times I started a devotional with my own carnal thinking in mind and by the time the Holy Spirit was done with it, even I had to be amazed at what He had imparted to me. THAT is how it is supposed to work.
