What is the purpose of Preaching?

A farmer plows and prepares the ground before he plants seed. The ground is not just turned on the surface, but deep down so that the seed can have a proper foundation to take root and grow. If the seed “falls by the way side” fowls devour it. If seed falls upon “stony” ground it spouts up quickly and dies when the sun comes up because it has no root. If seed falls among “thorns” it becomes choked and withers. But when it falls into “good” properly prepared ground it brings forth fruit, thirty, sixty and some even an hundred fold. The heart of man is just the same, it must be prepared properly for the seed of God’s word to live and grow. Truth, is the only plow that properly prepares a heart for God’s Spirit. That my friend is the purpose of preaching. When done correctly, it plows up the fallow ground of a person’s heart and properly prepares them for Christ. Passive “socially correct” preaching is more like a rake than a plow. It scratches the surface but the ground is not properly prepared. Preacher’s need to be like farmers, concerned and passionate about the fields they’ve been called to labor in. If farmers approached their job like most of us preachers do, we would starve to death! Are people literally starving to death spiritually in the field you’ve been called to labor in? God help me preach the truth, in love, with boldness, plowing up the hearts hardened by sin. Strengthen me to plow my own heart first, in Jesus name. Amen.