Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2
- What should you do when you know someone needs the Lord? When should you speak up?
- I have been told that I need to wait until the time is right before I mention Christ to a new friend. When does Paul say that I should speak?
- A secular thinker recently told me that speaking about my faith was disrespectful to her lack of faith. What do you think? What does Paul think?
- As Paul traveled across the Roman Empire, preaching and teaching, he felt a great urgency, because he thought that Christ was due to return any day. Should we feel the same urgency? Why? Why not?
- What is the most important teaching in this verse?
Living On Tilt 
This is a verse that touches me deeply as I am always shy about voicing my love for God. As I see other people being able to do it, I feel guilty I don’t. On the other hand I know I am not eloquent and I respect the lack of faith of the people who surround me. I trust that the Lord will let me know when I am ready to speak up and will give me then the needed courage. In meantime I share joy of living and I try to be really present to others who are in need of friendship and of an attentive ear.
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Eloquence is never required when speaking of God’s love. Honesty is far more important. I’m not sure what I means to respect someone’s lack of faith. Perhaps you mean to say that you fear they will take offense if you speak. There is certainly wisdom in recognizing when speech is appropriate, but nothing shows love for another person like sharing the most valuable thing in your own life. The apostle Paul was probably the greatest Christian missionary ever. I take his encouragement to be sure to speak up as a guide from the professional. Some people did take offense at what he said, but if he had sat silent out of fear of that reaction, the Christian church would have floundered and died out in Jerusalem.
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As we fall more and more in love with Jesus the living water will bubble up and spill over into other’s lives. My heart leaps with joy at the thought of His coming. Jesus the long awaited one.
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