Faith Lutheran Oregon, Wisconsin

Advent lets us know we have a God who comes all the way to us.  Like an infant dependent on her mother for everything, so Jesus tells us what faith is.  He doesn't ask us to come even 1% of the way to Him; He comes all the way to us.  Sermon on Matthew 21 by Rev. Jeff Hendrix

Jesus tells a parable about some wise and foolish virgins.  Five are not let into the marriage feast.  What makes someone wise or foolish?  It isn't morality, or else no one would have been let in.  Wisdom receives Jesus in His body and blood through faith. Sermon on Matthew 25:1–13 by Rev. Jeff Hendrix

Jesus' analogy of the sheep and the goats, contrary to popular opinion, is not about works or serving the poor.  Rather, it's about faith, and hearing the message of the Gospel, preached by Jesus' "brothers." Sermon on Matthew 25:31-46 by Rev. Jeff Hendrix

The theology of Christian funerals and burials.  Planning – and singing – the funeral service. “Ars Moriendi – The Art of Dying Well” Writing to those concerned about the plague in his day, Martin Luther said, “Everyone should prepare in time and get ready for death.” From the moment we are born we are dying. We are brought into newness of life in Christ and the Church through the death...

We are all together in the fellow-ship of the Christian Church, on our way to the shores of heaven.  Sermon for All Saints Sunday by Rev. Jeff Hendrix on Matthew 5:1-12 and Revelation 7:9–17.

What to pack on your journey with death.  Preparing for this journey is a lot like preparing for battle, something done over a long time. “Ars Moriendi – The Art of Dying Well” Writing to those concerned about the plague in his day, Martin Luther said, “Everyone should prepare in time and get ready for death.” From the moment we are born we are dying. We are brought into newness of life in Ch...

Reformation reminds us that we all need to be reformed, we need to have the proper response to the things of God.  This is begun through the Law and finished ultimately, by the Gospel. Sermon on Matthew 11:12–19 by Rev. Jeff Hendrix.

“Ars Moriendi – The Art of Dying Well” Writing to those concerned about the plague in his day, Martin Luther said, “Everyone should prepare in time and get ready for death.” From the moment we are born we are dying. We are brought into newness of life in Christ and the Church through the death of Holy Baptism. Much of our Lord’s teaching and the teaching of Scripture is about learning to die well,...

We tend to not think our sin has any cost...until someone sins against me. Then someone's gotta pay!  Jesus shows to us how much our sin cost, and what He has done to forgive it.  Sermon on Matthew 18:23–35 by Rev. Jeff Hendrix

Luther says that "We should familiarize ourselves with death during our lifetime, inviting death into our presence when it is still at a distance and not on the move. At the time of dying, however, this is hazardous and useless, for then death looms large of its own accord. In that hour we must put the thought of death out of mind and refuse to see it."  In addition, he also says we should no...

Jesus deals harshly with a man who asks for what anyone might ask: for him to heal his dying son.  But He didn't come for God, he had another god.  He wanted God on his terms.  The problem was the man and his son were already dead.  Jesus deals with him according to His terms, and in so doing, makes them both alive.  Sermon on John 4:46 –54 by Rev. Jeff Hendrix

The second Bible Study in our “Ars Moriendi – The Art of Dying Well” series.  What actually is death? Writing to those concerned about the plague in his day, Martin Luther said, “Everyone should prepare in time and get ready for death.” From the moment we are born we are dying. We are brought into newness of life in Christ and the Church through the death of Holy Baptism. Much of our Lord’s t...

Jesus tells a parable of a man who is excommunicated from the church in heaven over not having the right wedding clothes.  Through this, Jesus teaches us that membership in the church is a matter of justification, of being clothed with Jesus' righteousness.  Membership in our local congregation, on the other hand, is a matter of sanctification.  Sermon on Matthew 22:1–14 by Rev. Jef...

The first Bible Study in our “Ars Moriendi – The Art of Dying Well” series.  The world's definition of a good death is very different than God's.   Writing to those concerned about the plague in his day, Martin Luther said, “Everyone should prepare in time and get ready for death.” From the moment we are born we are dying. We are brought into newness of life in Christ and the Church thro...

Some men bring a paralyzed man to Jesus.  Jesus doesn't so what they expect.  He goes for the heart.  Sermon on Matthew 9:1–8 by Rev. Jeff Hendrix

The angels rejoice when one sinner repents.  Today, they rejoice for you.

Martin Luther said that “We should familiarize ourselves with death during our lifetime, inviting death into our presence when it is still at a distance and not on the move. At the time of dying, however, this is hazardous and useless, for then death looms large of its own accord.”  That’s what was happening one day in the city of Nain when Jesus was visiting.  Death was on a move, and i...

Before 9/11 happened, we thought we were in control.  But afterwards, we realized how much we weren't.  What followed was not so much strategic preparation for tomorrow, but hysteria: fear of being attacked, fear of our way of life ending, fear of dying; fear of tomorrow, worry of tomorrow.  This worry happens on a micro scale in our lives too.  We become incapacitated by tomor...

When Jesus told the ten lepers to go show themselves to the priests in Luke 17:11–19, it sounds like someone today saying "go get a covid test before you can come here."  But when Jesus cleanses them as they go on their way, there's something much more profound and meaningful than just the healing of their disease.  Sermon by Rev. Jeff Hendrix

The martyrdom of St. John the Baptist, and really his entire life, provides a lens for us to view ourselves; our life, our accomplishments, our value, compared with the life of Christ.  That was after all, St. John’s job: to point to Jesus.  To take the focus off of himself and put it on Jesus.  John famously said of Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).  ...

We tend to equate being sick with the devil.  That to be sick, means it's the devil's doing.  Or if you are sick, that's a curse.  But God shows us that even sickness is to His glory and our benefit.  Sermon on Mark 7: 31-37 for Trinity 12, Healing, by Rev. Jeff Hendrix

Not a joke.  Two men walk into a church.  Both go in as sinners.  Only one walks out a saint.  Sermon on Luke 18:9–14 by Rev. Jeff Hendrix

The destruction of Jerusalem happened on August 10, 70 AD.  It happened just as Jesus had prophesied.  Today we hear the sad and shocking historical account from Josephus, as had been the tradition on this Sunday for hundreds of years.  It is especially appropriate as we again have destruction and plague at our doorstep.

We are all managers (stewards) of our own economies.  God has entrusted things and people to each of us, and He has called us to be faithful.  Yet, even if we are found faithless, God is faithful, who has promised to bless us in spite of ourselves.  Sermon for Trinity 9, Stewardship Sunday, on Luke 16:1–9, the parable of the unjust and shrewd steward/manager.

James' death sets a pattern.  He was the first of the apostles to be martyred, and the only apostle martyrdom recorded in Scripture.  Jesus told him he would "drink from his cup."  What did this mean for James?  What does this mean for us and our death? Sermon on Mark 10:35-45 for the Feast of St. James the Elder by Rev. Jeff Hendrix