1 Timothy 4:6
If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.
Paul exhorts Timothy to practice what he preached. The basis for his practice was the gospel. Timothy had to know the gospel well and how to explain it (doctrine). He was not to invent new teachings. He could find creative ways to teach but the subject should not change. A big challenge for pastors and missionaries is how to find creative and new ways to share the old time gospel. How much does the message change with the method? Method will influence the message or at least how it is received and understood by others. Must careful thought must be given to this subject. We see compromise at many levels in efforts to be contextually relevant. Do we give the truth up front or do we give it in small pieces? Do we call people to account or should we be more subtle and inviting?
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