Making disciples is like a farmer’s work. He enters a new field, prepares the soil, sows the seed, waters and tends the growing plants, and then harvests the crops. Sometimes the new fields are “rocky” or “thorny” and would prevent the crops from growing. In disciple-making, there may be physical problems that block receiving the Word. Often, it is our job to “prepare the soil” by showing God’s love to his people first by fixing their problem.