“It’s HEART ATTACK SUNDAY! Our names will be put into a hat tomorrow and whosever name comes out, you get to preach!”

That was the text I sent at 8pm on a Saturday night. I sent it to Pastor Bill, Pastor Joe and our Apprentice/Youth leader, Cam.

Paul writes to a young pastor named Timothy to “be prepared (to preach the word) in season and out of season.” (2 Timothy 4:2) At Elim Grace we call this “Heart attack Sunday”. It’s a last minute call to preach, the goal of which is to cultivate a readiness to preach without much, if any, prior sermon preparation.

So that Sunday morning after the music portion of our service, I put all four names into my “Into the storm” hat. I had someone pick out a name and the first name chosen was Cam. Cam began to walk up. I then had a second name picked out. Pastor Joe. They both thought that Cam would preach the first service and Joe would preach the second.

But instead, I gave them each 20 minutes to preach in the first service. That meant Pastor Bill and I would each have 20 minutes to preach in the second.

It was a true joy to witness how all our “spontaneous” sermons in the end complimented one another so well. More than being “fun,” it was a very powerful demonstration and reminder that God’s Word is alive and powerful. That God anoints preachers not first for their sake, but first for the sake of His Word.

The key word Paul uses is “ready” or prepared. Paul doesn’t say “be unprepared in season and out of season,” but “be prepared”. He’s talking about more than having a sermon outline ready. 

By calling preachers to “be prepared” Paul is calling them to “be persistent”. Yes, to be persistent to preach in both favorable and unfavorable conditions. When conditions in life are fair, preach. When conditions in life and the world and ministry are unfair, preach. 

But “preach the word,” says Paul.

A preacher’s ongoing persistence to preach necessarily implies an ongoing persistence in the Word of God. I believe Paul is calling the preacher to something even more important and fundamental to their time than sermon preparation. Paul is calling them to be persistent in God’s Word. In knowing God’s Word. In studying it. In mediating on it. In hiding it in our heart. In laying our hearts open before it. Because it’s the Word of God in our hearts that gives the Holy Spirit something to land on. Even when we don’t have time to prepare a sermon.

Dear Elim Grace, the encouragement Paul gives to Timothy is one I believe extends to all disciples: Be persistent in the Word of God.

Know it and you will both prepare and be prepared for all favorable and unfavorable circumstances.

Treasure it and you will be able to bring out treasures new and old at a moment’s notice.

Meditate on it and you will be ready “to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).

So stay ready. Keep prepared. Be persistent in the Word of God and the Word of God will be alive in you.