The habit of prayer is hard.  And on top of that, we’ve been conditioned, by our rationalistic modern era, to only do what’s pragmatic.  Prayer doesn’t seem pragmatic.  I can fix all my problems on my own.  And so we feel ignorant, foolish, or naive if we pray anywhere else but in church.  So, to help us pray, Rev. Hendrix gives four things to know about prayer, in a sermon for Rogate Sunday on John 16:23–30

It’s been said that when you come to church, church should be a house of gifts.  God giving you His good gifts.  This is a distinction that our church, the Lutheran church, has historically tried to make clear.  We call what we do on Sunday the “Divine service,” meaning that it’s primarily God’s service to me.  God is serving me.  The primary direction is not up, but down.  Not you to God, but from God to you. 

Sermon for Cantate (Sing) Sunday, on John 16:5-15 by Rev. Jeff Hendrix

After hanging around the apostles, Mark is known for finding himself exposed in the Garden of Gethsemane. But Mark shows us who Jesus is, and who He has made us.  Though we have found ourselves exposed in our shame and guilt after hanging around the Apostles and Prophets, through the Gospel and through Baptism, Jesus clothes us and makes us a vine on the branch, a beloved son of God, in whom God is well pleased. Sermon by Rev. Jeff Hendrix for the Feast of St. Mark, Easter 4, April 25, 2021, on John 15:1-7 and Mark 1:1-11.

April 18, 2021 is the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's testimony at the Imperial Diet of Worms.  Luther was a sheep among wolves, and so are we. Sheep without a good shepherd, when confronted by a wolf, are caught off-guard and "don't know where to stand." Not us. We stand upon the Word of God because we are assured of its power and truth because our Shepherd fought the foe and won.

Sermon by Rev. Jeff Hendrix at Faith Lutheran Church, Oregon, WI

8 days after Christ first appears to the disciples, He appears to Thomas and tells him the faith he should have.  Meanwhile we are encouraged 8 days after Easter to have the same faith: faith like babies.   Sermon preached by Rev. Jeff Hendrix for Quasimodogeniti Sunday, adapted from a sermon by Rev. Nielson: “Like Newborn Infants”

Most of us are not surprised that we celebrate that Christ was risen from the dead. However, to the women and the disciples that first Easter morning, it changed everything.  It still does. Sermon (Preceded by Exordium and Festival hymn) on Mark 16:1-8 by Rev. Jeff Hendrix

The Easter Vigil homily of St. John Chrysostom, preached by Rev. Jeff Hendrix

What Jesus does for His mother on that Good Friday, His family, He does for us, His family.  Sermon on John 19:25-34 by Rev. Jeff Hendrix.

“Maundy” comes from the word for Mandate, which Jesus gives on the night of his betrayal: “A new commandment [mandate] I give you: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also you are to love one another.” Sermon on John 13:1-15, 34-35 by Rev. Jeff Hendrix

Palms and Passion.  How do these two emphases reflect the life of the Christian?  We are at the same time saint and sinner. Sermon for Palm Sunday on Matthew 21:1–11 and St. Matthew's Passion by Rev. Jeff Hendrix