1. Serving The Lord or Pleasing Men 2 Timothy 4:1-4

2. Choice Preachers must choose Preachers must choose Please men or God? (Galatians 1:10) Please men or God? (Galatians 1:10) Not a hard choice (Acts 5:29) Not a hard choice (Acts 5:29) Both types Both types Unfaithful shepherds of Israel (Ezekiel 34) Unfaithful shepherds of Israel (Ezekiel 34) Self-serving (Acts 20:30; Romans 16:18) Self-serving (Acts 20:30; Romans 16:18)

3. Preach What Is Needed Paul in Ephesus Paul in Ephesus Profitable (Acts 20:20, 26, 27, 31) Profitable (Acts 20:20, 26, 27, 31) Free from their blood (Ezekiel 33:4, 33) Free from their blood (Ezekiel 33:4, 33) Preach what is wanted or needed? Preach what is wanted or needed? Isaiah (Isaiah 30:16) Isaiah (Isaiah 30:16) Jeremiah (6:14, 15; 8:11) Jeremiah (6:14, 15; 8:11)

4. Preach What Is Needed What about us? What about us? Am I preaching what is needed? (Ephesians 4:15) Am I preaching what is needed? (Ephesians 4:15) Do you, the listeners, want to hear what is needed? Do you, the listeners, want to hear what is needed?

5. Foy E. Wallace, Jr. There are always things that need to be said regardless of who likes it or does not like it, and there are always good people who will not like it because they lack discernment and do not sense the seriousness of the issues. Preachers need to be situated to say the things that ought to be said and still be able to eat; but whether they do or do not eat– they should say them.

6. Value Souls More Than Praise Value of souls Paul Value of souls Paul More than his life (Acts 16, 17) More than his life (Acts 16, 17) Suffering (2 Corinthians 11:23-33) Suffering (2 Corinthians 11:23-33) Wanted the praise of men Wanted the praise of men Preaching to please (John 12:42, 43) Preaching to please (John 12:42, 43) Ear ticklers (2 Timothy 4:3 Ear ticklers (2 Timothy 4:3

7. Value Souls More Than Praise What about us? What about us? Are you more concerned about what others think of you? Are you more concerned about what others think of you? Do you know whether they will obey? Do you know whether they will obey?

8. Preach The Whole Counsel of God “The truth, the whole truth, …” “The truth, the whole truth, …” Error from without or within (Acts 20:29, 30) Error from without or within (Acts 20:29, 30) Need knowledge (2 Timothy 2:15; 4:13) Need knowledge (2 Timothy 2:15; 4:13) Failure to teach the Truth Failure to teach the Truth Take doubts into the pulpit Take doubts into the pulpit Look for something “new” (Acts 17:20, 21) Look for something “new” (Acts 17:20, 21)

9. Preach The Whole Counsel of God What about us? What kind of preaching is being done? Are steps being taken to ensure sound preaching?

10. Conclusion Will you answer God’s call? (Jeremiah 7:13) Will you answer God’s call? (Jeremiah 7:13) The time is now The time is now