Is preaching the primary task of a pastor?

I believe that preaching is the primary task of the pastor.  Jesus focused on preaching the Good News (Matthew 4:23), and Paul told Timothy to preach the Word (2 Timothy 4:1-2).  I strongly agree with what Charles Jefferson (author of The Minster s Shepherd) said: "In a sermon he can warn, protect, guide, heal, rescue, and nourish".  These are exactly the things that Jesus and Paul did when they preached to the people.  Pastors can do the same when they get behind the pulpit and preach the Word.  They can tell their people about the dangers of following what the world says about happiness or the meaning of life.  All of these things, when not grounded in Scripture, lead to empty feelings and destructive behavior.  So the pastor, through preaching, leads the sheep to eternal life, which is the ultimate duty for a pastor, in my opinion.

Not only that, but Jesus said that the reason that He was born was to testify to the truth (John 18:37).  The truth is Jesus (John 14:6), He is the Word (John 1:1) and the way (John 14:6).  This truth is contained within the pages of the whole Bible, not just the New Testament.  By preaching the Word, a pastor is also testifying to the same truth that Jesus was born to testify to.