The whole duty of the church is to speak the truth in love. The more I read the word of God, the more I am led to see that my task as a minister, the task of leaders as well as the task of each and every member of the church is to speak the truth of God’s word in love as commanded in Ephesians 4:15.
 

1. It is so important for the church to proclaim the truth as preserved and inspired by the Holy Spirit through the ages. We need to stay close to the Bible, telling it like it is without adding or subtracting from its divine revelations.

The core of this truth is the gospel of Christ. This must not only be told, but obeyed and lived in the lives of all who embrace it. In doing so, sin must be
denounced and all wrongdoing must be called out and dealt with.

2. Just as important, this truth must be spoken in love as our passage clearly instructs. Indeed, Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 13:2, that it does not matter the extent to which we go in our effort to practice the word of God; if we do not do it out of love, for then there is no profit at all.

In the years of my ministry, I have seen people in the church - from members to ministers and missionaries who will ‘throw the book’ at one and all, without being kind, charitable or patient. As a result, the faith of many is shipwrecked and many churches divided.

It is vital that we handle the word of God with love. Just as true giving must be done cheerfully, proper preaching must be done lovingly. Every Christian must present the gospel in the way our Lord Jesus have done, with loving compassion, patient tender care so that no soul will miss heaven.

We all agree that what the world needs is the gospel of Christ. The way to proclaim the gospel is more than putting Bibles in hotel rooms or stuffing
gospel tracts in mail boxes. I believe that every person in this world needs the opportunity to hear the gospel proclaimed in love, so that they can make
a proper and heartfelt response to it.

An example of this is in Acts 17 where Paul shared the gospel to the Jews in Thessalonica and Berea. Since God has created us as free moral agents, we observe the various responses to the word of God. Given the opportunity to hear the gospel, they respond in accordance to their comprehension and
motives, and will have to answer for their decision in the final day.

In the same way, our leaders need to speak the truth in love as they lead the church and confront sin. They have to answer for each soul that has gone astray, and deal with sin in the lives of members. Patiently and lovingly, they must minister so that none misses heaven.

If I had my life to live over again, if there was anything I could change in my ministry, it would surely be in this area. As I look back over the years, I sense that on many occasions I could be more loving, kinder in speaking the truth and more patient in meting it out. Doing so would not only obey God’s command, but allow God’s will to be done instead of insisting it on my terms and my way.