I loved serving as the vice president of Baptist Church Planters for many, many years. I must confess, however, I never lost the love of the pastorate. Karen and I were pastor and wife for thirty-one years before we joined the BCP family. I suppose that’s one of the reasons that 2 Timothy is one of my favorite books of the Bible. The books of 1 and 2 Timothy as well as Titus are the pastoral epistles in the New Testament.

Years ago, I had the extreme honor and privilege of being invited to be the graduation speaker at one of the fine Bible colleges. Let me share the verse from which I spoke and the outline that I used.
“But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5).

Paul, nearing the end of his life on earth, passes along to his beloved son in the faith several of the necessary characteristics for ministry and spiritual life.

1. Purpose. “But watch thou in all things” (4:5a).
2. Perseverance. “Endure afflictions” (4:5b).
3. Productivity. “Do the work of an evangelist” (4:5c).
4. Proof. “Make full proof of thy ministry” (4:5d).

Want to know something? These four things are wonderful for us today. Watch and see how they can play out in your life as you ask the Lord to help you with these four characteristics.