They can’t be too hot to handle if nobody ever throws me one.

But apparently we think they are.

Because they’re likely to stick in the craws of a lot of bodies warming the pews. That’s why we never hear anybody teaching Jesus Christ’s flock about certain Bible passages. They just won’t preach.

Here’s one that’s really hard to swallow:

“Take care, brethren, lest there shall be in any one of you [an] evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from [the] living God. But encourage one another every day, as long as it is [still] called ‘today,’ in order that none of you would be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if indeed we hold fast the beginning of [our] confidence firm until the end…” [Heb. 3:12-14] [my emphasis]

[μέτοχος: (mê’-tô-kôs] one who shares in, partner, companion, comrade]

[ἀφίστημι: (â-phîs’-tā-mee]) intransitive verb; leave, go away, desert, commit apostasy keep away]

What?!

“Falling away” from God because of a hardened heart as a result of sin?! A “believer?!” Why… that’s not possible.

Or so I’ve heard…

Imagine the financial consequences of warning your congregation that becoming a “partaker” of Jesus’ inheritance from the Father when He returns is conditional—especially if you’ve been preaching for years that, even by virtue of their undemonstrated faith, their rewards continue to await some disembodied part of them in the stratosphere!

Voila! The safest way to keep the boat from rocking. After all, unity is paramount in the assemblies, isn’t it? Why sow any discord when I’ve got over a hundred years of tradition to back me up?

Perhaps what’s perceived as one of the more risky Bible texts to try to preach about today is unfolding before our very eyes:

“I solemnly charge [you], before God and Christ Jesus, who is about to judge [the] living and [the] dead [by means of] His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word. Stand firm. Be ready, whether the opportunity presents itself or not. Expose [and] warn, [yet] encourage, with great patience and instruction. For [the] time shall be when they shall not put up with sound teaching, but, [instead], according to their own cravings, shall gather to themselves a great number of teachers—having [an] itch [for] what is [being] heard. And they shall wander away to [hear] myths.” [2Tim. 4:1-4] [my emphasis]

But the sad reality is that His flock is starving for spiritual sustenance.

I believe more of us than we could ever imagine whom God has called and purchased for himself today aren’t actually buying into the false gospel of cheap grace being promulgated through the sermons spoken to tickle the itchiest of ears.

He has, instead, already given them a heart to discern the truth and they’re gettin’ really hungry.

Teachers, pastors, please just feed the flock.

Follow Paul’s instructions to Timothy. Preach the word. Expose. Warn. Encourage.

That’s it.