(Second of two parts; click here to read Part 1)
Then study starts to erode. You cannot go to a pulpit week after week and preach truth accurately without constant study. Our minds blur on us, and we need that constant sharpening of our minds. And without study, without the use of our mind in a disciplined way, we are sitting ducks for the culture.
This culture is an evil culture. This culture is the enemy. Through the media, through friends, through conversations we're constantly fed lies, and like most lies, they're 90 percent the truth. So you swallow the lie, and subtly, the edge of the gospel is blunted; you think you're preaching the gospel, and you're not. You don't even know it.

So the first task in providing pastoral care is to pray and to study the Word

Who's going to do that except the pastor? People in the congregation are busy in their jobs, reading their periodicals and attending their conferences. It's my job to be suspicious of the culture. I'm not a culture ...