God spoke the Ten Commandments to Moses at Mt. Sinai in 1446 B.C. In His speaking, God said, "Remember the Sabbath day, to . keep it holy" (Ex. 20:8) Luther asks, "What does this mean?" & answers, "We should fear & love God so that we do not despise preaching & His Word, but hold it sacred & gladly hear & learn it" (Luther's Small Catechism).
Following His Baptism & temptation in the wilderness, "Jesus began to preach" (Matt. 4:17). Jesus spent much of His earthly life preaching--preaching is that important!
St. Paul instructs us as to how God gives saving faith: "For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? . . . So faith comes from hearing, & hearing through the word of Christ" (Rom. 10:13-14, 17).
Preaching & hearing the Word of God is a most sacred event. What takes place in preaching is beyond the comprehension of this world. God's people go to church to hear God speaking to them. Martin Luther tells us that "Christ Himself is present when I preach" (AE 23:386).
This is the significance of a pastor being a called & ordained servant of the Word--standing in the stead of our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, the living Word. And so today, in 2019, God continues to preach the Word into the ears & souls of His people. Through the preached Word, the Holy Spirit is continually creating & sustaining saving faith in His dear children." --Rev. James Baneck, Lutheran Report 10/19
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