In the name of Christ Jesus, dear fellow redeemed people of God,

We all seem to be so busy these days. Pastors and teachers are busy too. Sometimes, I wonder what it would have been like to be here one hundred years ago. Back then, Pastor Heyn wanted to have Sunday evening services so that he could preach the Word in English. The congregation was not sure that they wanted to allow it, but eventually they did. Pastor Heyn was on the right track. He knew that preaching God's Word was most important. He was eager to preach God's Word in language people could understand, whether in German, English or both.

We are eager to preach and teach God's Word today too. My top two priorities today are to preach sermons and teach Bible Class. There are many other tasks, and they are important too, but nothing comes before preaching and teaching God's Word. When people wanted Jesus to stay and just be a healer, he said, {38} "Let us go somewhere else - to the nearby villages - so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." Jesus healed people, and cast out demons, but he always made this point very clear:

1. IT WAS MOST IMPORTANT IN CHRIST'S MINISTRY.

It really must have been something to be around Jesus in those days. On this particular Sabbath day, he cast out an evil spirit right in the synagogue. Then, he went to Peter's home, and cured Peter's mother-in-law of a fever. When the Sabbath was over, people brought sick people to Jesus. He healed everybody that they brought to him that evening. He cast out demons too. Jesus showed his divine power over Satan and sickness. Then Jesus got up early to pray. The disciples and others tracked him down. St. Luke reveals that the people of Capernaum tried to keep Jesus from leaving. After all, they wouldn't need doctors, hospitals, or medicine, with Jesus around! But Jesus would not stay.

He insisted that his real mission was preaching the gospel, not just in that town, but in other towns too. Wherever Jesus went, he showed that preaching the gospel was most important. It was more important than healing people and casting out demons. Jesus would not allow people to turn him into a designated healer. He came to preach God's Word. The miracles supported his preaching, but never replaced it. Preaching God's Word was most important.

Sometimes, in making this point, Jesus said or did things might seem almost rude. When people were not interested in hearing him teach them God's Word, he would just leave and ignore their requests. That's what he did here. He said, {38}"Let us go somewhere else - to the nearby villages - so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." He had come to preach God's Word. Today's bulletin insert provides the account of Mary and Martha. Martha was serving the Lord. Mary was just sitting there, listening to Jesus teach the Word of God. When Martha tried to pull Mary away from God's Word, Jesus would not allow it. We might expect that Jesus would say, "Sure, we'll cancel the Bible Class for today." But Jesus did not do that! He said, (Lk 10:41?42) "Martha, Martha, ... you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Remember that lesson. The one thing that is needed is God's Word. Preaching and teaching God's Word was most important in Christ's ministry.

2. IS IT MOST IMPORTANT FOR US TODAY?

Do we still regard the preaching and teaching of God's Word as most important in this congregation today? Do we really believe that preaching and teaching God's Word is the top priority at St. Stephen? I ask the question because only you can answer for yourself. I have already stated my view of this. The pastors have no higher priority than to preach and teach God's Word. But, do you agree with this? Do you really regard the preaching and teaching of God's Word as the most important thing at St. Stephen or not?

You know what answer God would want to hear. It is pretty easy to just say, "Yes." But how do you vote with your attitude and your actions? How eager are you, really, to hear the Word of God? Are you really interested in studying the Bible? Is it really most important to you? Or do you look at Bible study as just for kids, and that you are done with it? Do you, personally, regard the preaching and teaching of God's Word as most important?

It is good to see you here in God's house, listening to God's Word today, but will you be here next week, and the week after that? Do you regard Family Bible Hour as something that is important for your soul and your faith, or is it just for those other people? What is more important? Are these questions hard or easy for you to answer? I'm trying to get you to think about your own priorities. Is it a higher priority that you beat so and so to the restaurant, or is it a higher priority that you get all you can out of today's Scripture lessons? Are you eager to learn more of God's Word today, or are you eager to get this over with and get out of here? What is most important to you today?

I'd like to tell you a little secret. There is a reason why we are inviting our friends to church. We want them to hear God's Word. Sure, they might get to see the buildings and meet our members, but that would not save anybody. We want them to hear God's Word, because faith comes from hearing the message, and we want them to be believers. Two times will be most important next week. The #1 most important time will be when God's Word is proclaimed in worship. The #2 most important time will be when we teach God's Word in the Family Bible hour. Yes, we want to be friendly. We want to welcome people. We are planning snacks. But, we really want our friends to meet Jesus by hearing the gospel. Then the Holy Spirit will work in their hearts. That is mission work. Paul wrote, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes." The gospel is the power of God that brings people to faith. Remember what is most important!

May we never let popular opinions push us away from this clear priority, this firm resolve, to proclaim the Word. People wanted to push Jesus away from it, but he would not give in. Sometimes he refused so sharply, he almost seemed rude. There is a reason for this. Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians that God has simply decided that he is going to save people through preaching, even if people consider it foolish. God has decided that faith will be created and strengthened through the gospel in Word and Sacrament. And that is what we are all about, really.

Preaching and teaching the Word of God is most important in our church, and in our school. That's why we insist on having a Family Bible Hour. That's why we call teachers and support a school. That is why we exist as a church. We are not a country club. We are a Christian church, bound by the Word of God, determined to preach and teach the Word of God in its truth and purity to whoever will listen. That has been true all through our history, going all the way back to 1860. This church was founded to be a place where God's Word is preached in its truth and purity and the sacraments are administered according to Christ's institution. We must always hold to God's pure Word!

Yet, as we heard in our Epistle for today, we may have to adapt ourselves to reach people with the saving gospel. That's why Pastor Heyn brought up this radical idea of preaching in English, one hundred years ago. People needed to hear God's Word in their own language. But, it was all about preaching the gospel. For Paul, for Pastor Heyn, and for us, it must always be about preaching and teaching God's pure Word. Then we will be showing love for God, love for God's Word, and love for souls.

I have been hinting all along at some sins. Now, I must come right out and preach the Law. Every one of us has sinned against God. We have not always put God and his Word first. God knows it, and we should know it too. We have not always been the glad and eager students of his Word that we should be. We have sinned against the Lord. We deserve God's temporal and eternal punishment. But now, hear the word of the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Jesus Christ has redeemed us. He always kept God's Word as the top priority. He obeyed God's commandments for us. Then, Jesus died on the cross to pay for all of our sins of failing to hear God's Word, or failing to hear it gladly. He even paid for all the times that we sat here daydreaming as God's Word was read, taught or preached. He died on Calvary's cross for all of our sins, and for the sins of the whole world. We can be sure that Jesus won our forgiveness, because Jesus rose from death. You are forgiven through Christ! All of your sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ. Believe it!

Treasure that great message. Tell it to your friends, or invite them to hear it with you. Proclaiming salvation and forgiveness through Christ is the most important thing that we do here! Jesus emphasized preaching, and said, "That is why I have come." May we emphasize preaching and teaching God's Word and say, "That is why we are here as a church." Dear friends, PREACHING GOD'S WORD MUST HAVE TOP PRIORITY! May we never forget it. Amen.