Or why the preaching of the word has a divinely instituted, pivotal role in the growth of God’s people? If this is a major piece of God’s design for the discipleship of the church, then the effectiveness of a sermon should not just be the focus of the preacher but should be the concern of the whole church! And yet, how many of us only consider the sermon while we are listening to it and give little thought to it once we have left? Perhaps a change is necessary.

We must recognize that the congregation and the preacher have a shared destination, that the task of preaching, despite what it may seem, is the task of the whole church.

Therefore, we should desire to become well tilled soil. We don’t want to be Christians that are hard soil or soil covered in weeds, but soil prepared to receive the deposit of the seed of the word preached, that it might better take root, grow, and bear fruit. At this event we will hear from pastors of the Trails, Osborne Village Church, CityLight, and Trinity Fellowship, all with a focus on becoming Christians who are prepared for and invested in the preaching of the word for the growth of the body.

Topics we will cover include:

• How preaching ought to function in the life of the body
• What is really happening when the church gathers to hear preaching?
• How we better prepare our hearts to hear preaching?
• How we better understand our own hearts and better apply what was preached?
• How we better share we have heard and applied with others and especially those who have never read the Bible.