Love is exhausting.  And we've made our love into the solution to all the world's problems.  But our love can't save; the law condemns; our love condemns.  The law can never be completed.  The Law says “do this, and it is never done.”  We can never love as we ought.  But God is love.  This idea, this declaration, turns love from law to gospel.  From “do this” to “it is done already.”

Many in our country are deeply hurting due to the effects of sin.  But "Oh the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!"  Only a God who knows the deep hurt that His people feel is one who can heal it.  So although the Triune God is an unminable source of riches, wisdom, knowledge, judgements, promises, here is what you should know about God.  Sermon preached by Rev. Jeff Hendrix on Romans 11:33–36 for Holy Trinity Sunday  #HolyTrinity #Romans11 #Sermon

Most Christians get the Holy Spirit wrong, and end up trying to recreate Pentecost to feel the Holy Spirit.  But the promise of Pentecost is that the Holy Spirit is with you, whether you feel Him or not.   Sermon by Rev. Jeff Hendrix for Pentecost Sunday 2020, touching on COVID-19 as well as the unjust killing of Floyd George, plus the confirmation of our confirmand.

A sermon for the vigil of Pentecost 2020, a worldwide effort from seven different churches around the world meditating on the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit from Isaiah 11:1-2.  Rev. Jeff Hendrix preaches on the gift of the "fear of the Lord."

Sermon on 1 Peter 4:7-11, which is Peter's letter to a persecuted church.  Here Rev. Jeff Hendrix preaches on Peter's words on how to be persecuted.

Sermon based on Acts 1:9-11 by Pastor Jeff Hendrix.  The Ascension isn't just an event, it's a promise.

Sermon based on James 1:22-27 + John 16:23-33.  

Jesus has told us to pray, but are we too enlightened to pray?  Do we think we can fix the world's problems by the law?  If the current world is any indication and how we've gone about fixing it, that certainly seems to be the case. We could use some help realizing that some things are out of our control.  And so we pray, because they are not out of our heavenly Father's control  He will hear us. The earth will submit to His will.  And your joy will be complete, in Jesus’ name.

Sermon preached on Romans 8:31-35, 37-39 for the Christian Burial and Committal of Gati Grundmanis on May 16, 2020

The Christian funeral and committal of our brother in Christ, Gati Grundmanis on May 16, 2020

How do we deal with the real and difficult ethical issues today?   Is it most ethical to save as many lives as possible despite the economic cost? Or is it most ethical to open businesses because there is a great cost for saving lives?  You can watch this debate play out in the halls of government and social media.    

This also affects churches.  Is it most ethical to allow churches to meet and minister to the real spiritual needs of people in large groups, or is it not, for the sake of personal physical health.  There are no easy answers to any of this.  And while on the one hand, we do want to be concerned with government overreach, we have to be very careful that we do not jump to the conclusion that someone who disagrees with our opinion must be evil, or that they are necessarily persecuting us.    

St. Peter in 1 Peter 2:11-20 has some relevant advice for us in our day.  He even would say that there can be joy, even if we have to suffer under the law.    

#COVID19 #Ethics #Lutheran #Sermon #Government #Issues #Protesting #Following