Pastors do many things, but the thing a pastor must prioritize above all others is preaching. Jesus commanded Peter, “Feed my sheep” (Jn. 21:17), and Peter must have had that powerful moment in mind when he perpetuated the command by telling other elders/pastors to, “shepherd the flock of God” (1 Pet. 5:2).
Preaching is the essential role of an elder/pastor, for the distinguishing qualification for such a role is the “ability to teach” (1 Tim. 3:2). This includes both instruction in biblical truth and refuting error (Titus 1:9). One can hardly imagine a weightier task on planet earth, especially considering that the local church is “pillar and buttress of truth) (1 Tim. 3:15). My own pastoral shoulders are sagging as I type these words.
And yet, the noble task of pastoring beckons me (and other men like me). Like a story that must be written, a word that must be spoken, a song that must be sung… I cannot not preach. Indeed, Christ gives the gift of pastor-preachers to the local church (Eph. 4:11), and it is a humbling and emboldening thing to be counted among this gift for a time.
Since preaching is such an emphatic feature of pastoring, pastors often spend much time and effort in preperation to preach. The constant thought for any good pastor is, “How can I best prepare to preach my best?” Not every preacher will come to the pulpit with the same skills, intellect, life-experiences, or tools. But every preacher should come to the pulpit with the same fear of God (Micah 6:8-9), bold trust in God’s word (Lk. 11:28; Jn. 6:68; Acts 6:7), and love for the people God has place under his shepherding care (Heb. 13:17).
While every preacher will experience his own unique path into pastoral ministry, and every preacher will benefit from a his own preparation routine, the responsibility is the same: Prepare to preach.
Don’t prepare merely to lead, to cast vision, to entertain, to host, to provoke, to make a presentation, or to only teach.
Prepare to preach. In doing this well, you will do all that you must do before God to honor the calling to which He has called you. Whatever God chooses to do with your preaching us up to Him (1 Cor. 3:5-7).
What greater measurement of success is there than that the God of all creation who entrusted you with His Gospel would say that you have preached that entrusted word well?
May God raise up quality preachers for and from His people, and may God grant those who now serve as preachers the grace to preach well.
Holding the Line 
Thank God for preachers who prepare to preach, for without them who will hear?