By now you’ve seen the purpose of preaching is not to save souls, to bring about the new birth or to pressure a believer into a public confession.  The true purpose of preaching is to guide, educate, instruct and comfort God’s children.  After all, they’re on a journey here, but they are also struggling.  The old nature of sin and depravity keeps trying to pull them back to the world.  Their new nature, their spiritual mind strives for them to serve the true and living God.

Preachers and believers both are called Ambassadors for Christ.  But the goal of the American Embassy in Russia is not to make Americans out of the Russian citizenry.  It’s to serve as a rest station, a place for help for Americans temporarily in that country.   If you are hearing the truth, the true gospel, you will find a rest for your soul.  Now remember, the preaching of the gospel to them that are lost is foolishness. Gospel preaching is for those who already are born again of God.             

2Cr 5:20    Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

2Ti 3:16   All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

1Cr 2:14    But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.

Jhn 6:29    Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Which mind do the modern missionaries preach to?

If they preach to the natural mind, then the bible tells them the natural cannot know these things, and that they are foolishness unto them.  It doesn’t say they won’t know, it says “can’t.”

If they are speaking to the spiritual mind, then that’s evidence God got there before the missionary.  The important work has already been done.  What can the missionary do better than God has done?  He’s only likely to confuse the situation or mess things up.

1Jo 5:13   These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Rom 1:6    Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

Rom 1:7  To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called [to be] saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom 1:8  First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.