Sermon for Christmas Eve (early) Vespers from Matthew 1:18-25 by Rev. Jeff Hendrix

We have pressure on us.  Sure, we blame other things like covid or the holidays, but really, we take on ourselves things we were never meant to carry.  We want our voices to be heard, when that's not what we need at all.  Our voices fade away, Christ is the Word who endures forever.  John the Baptist teaches us what a spirit of gentleness actually looks like and why we can rejoice having this pressure released from us. 

Sermon on John 1:19-28 by Rev. Jeff Hendrix, with thoughts borrowed from some other good pastors.

The coming of God in all His unveiled power at Mt. Sinai was terrifying to the people of Israel.  The thundering voice of the Lord puts sinners in fear of death (Deut 18:15–19).  He had come to test them, just as He had done with Abraham.  Just as God provided a substitute for Abraham, God also would raise up a prophet like Moses, the Messiah, the Christ. But not in all his might and glory, rather, God came to His people veiled in human flesh. As John the Baptist proclaimed, He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

John the baptist seems to be despairing in prison.  But he knows where to look:  to the word and promises of Jesus.  When Jesus sends His Word back to John, He sends comfort and joy to us as well.  Sermon on Matthew 11:2-10 by Rev. Jeff Hendrix

The one who created the heavens and all the stars, who set them in their places and sets light apart from dark is also the one who sets right apart from wrong.  And He does so for our good, and for our redemption.   

Sermon on the Ten Commandments for Advent Vespers by Rev. Jeff Hendrix.

Advent is about preparing.  Not for Christ’s first coming, but His second coming.  When He will come back in glory to judge the living and the dead.  But for Christians, this means we can lift up our heads, our hearts, because our burdens can be placed on Jesus, and we can be of great hope.    

Sermon on Luke 21:25-36 for the second Sunday in Advent by Rev. Jeff Hendrix  

#Advent #Sermon

Sermon based on the giving of the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:1-2 for Advent Vespers, 2020 "In Cloud and Majesty and Awe."

The word Advent simply means “coming,” and in Advent, we celebrate the fact that God comes to you.  You don’t have to go to Him, He comes to you.  He came 2,000 years ago when He was born in Bethlehem; He is coming again in glory to judge the living and the dead; and He continues to come to us today through His Word and Sacraments.  It is on Palm Sunday, when Jesus rides into Jerusalem, that we really get a glimpse as to what this good King has come to do.  

Sermon on Matthew 21:1-9 by Rev. Jeff Hendrix

“Concerning the times and dates, brothers, there is no need to write to you,” Paul says in our text.  Indeed, we do not need to be told that our world is in crisis.  The future is out of our control.  Like a thief in the night the Lord will come.  Can we have certainty or comfort in these times?   Sermon on 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

What comfort is there on the day of judgement?  Or what comfort is there when things don't go according to plan?  A lot, actually.     

A sermon on 2 Thessalonians 1:3–10 by Rev. Jeff Hendrix

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