Nougat 19

In seminary, the standing joke was that we should always have a sermon in our back pocket. Not many of us might have realized that it was rooted in Scripture. Consider today’s Holy Nougat

“I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Of course, if you are not a preacher, having a sermon at the ready doesn’t make sense. But Romans 12:4-5 reminds us that we have different roles within the body of Christ and thus we ought to work together. Being prepared therefore, is not so much about preaching only, as it may apply to any other facet of ministry.

Within the preaching context however, it doesn’t always mean having entire sermons prepared. We might have points on a theme or actual text on which we can rely if called. As Paul said to Timothy, we must study God’s Word (like we’re doing now). Some of us think in sermons and with a bit of tweaking are ready to preach at a moment’s notice.

At times, the requirement in a moment is not a sermon per se; but a word of encouragement. And that’s one every single one of us can do. Equipped with our trusty favorite Bible, we can also prepare ourselves to provide the encouragement others need. Studying and memorizing God’s Word helps us, whether the season is perfect or not.

So we may identify a few situations that could necessitate an impromptu Word:

Sickness

Death

Birth

Fear

Loneliness

Discouragement

Failure

New home/job/status

Promotion

Then we ask ourselves what nugget there is in God’s Word that applies

Add a prayer or make it a prayer and we’ll be ready for simple situations.

May God’s increase be upon us in our preparations.

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May all we seek be found in Christ