St. James Lutheran Church - Columbus, Ohio

Join Pastor Dax as he explores the theological struggle of understanding the divinity of Christ and the relationship between Jesus and the Father. Pastor Dax argues against deism, the belief in a distant "clockmaker" God, emphasizing instead that Christianity is centered on a God who is present and active in human life. By examining the biblical claim that seeing Jesus is equivalent to seeing God, the text suggests that Christs life provides the ultimate evidence of divine love and character. Pastor Dax highlights the practical power of faith, noting how Christs inclusive fellowship challenges historical tribalism. The message concludes by encouraging believers to recognize their own potential to perform greater works through the Holy Spirit. Through this lens, knowing Jesus is presented as the only way to truly understand the God of scripture.

In this sermon, Pastor Dax uses Jesus metaphor of the sheep and the gate to warn against religious "thieves and robbers" who replace direct access to God with human-centered systems or legalistic rules. By contrasting the unsustainable "cult of personality" found in modern celebrity-led churches with a vision of a Christ-centered community, Pastor Dax emphasizes that a healthy church functions as a "family-like relationship" where the pastor remains "off to the side" while God takes center stage. Ultimately, the message invites the congregation to tune out the noise of human achievement and instead follow the voice of the Good Shepherd, finding their identity in Gods word and the shared "means of grace" that unite them as one body

In this weeks sermon from St. James Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio, Pastor Dax explores the tension between skepticism and faith through the story of Thomas and the resurrection. Reflecting on personal anecdotesfrom a "nameless" skeptical friend to conversations about the 13.8-billion-year timeline of the universe at the Natural History MuseumPastor Dax challenges listeners to consider why they might be attracted to disbelief and what it actually offers them. Rather than viewing human existence as a mere "blip" or "0.0002%" of a random timeline, he invites us to embrace the narrative of Genesis, which reveals a world created with divine purpose and order. This episode is a call to stop holding onto "impolite skepticism" and instead open your heart to the God who created you and has proven His love through Jesus Christ.

We all know John 3:16. But what about verses 14 and 15? Jesus points back to Moses lifting the serpent in the wilderness a sign that brought healing to people who had been poisoned by their own rebellion. Then He says the Son of Man must be lifted up in the same way.

Was Jesus really tempted? If He truly is who He says He is, could He have chosen sin?

Watch at: https://youtu.be/YcURWBO0HkU?si=UMsMl0aogSFHaiQR

If sin is our protest against God, what do we do to keep from creating such division between ourselves and our creator?

Watch at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HfLNPo8f0sE

Watch at: https://youtu.be/OU0zaHakgYc?si=T71eyW0NW_dJL70z

Watch at: https://youtu.be/wbjIXG2VVyU

Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWzjDhk9dZI

Watch at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N_OtCYGn_2g

Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-b8AnFOfE0&t=5s

Watch at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r8X0KY5NWEg

This is of the whole service. The sermon starts around the 19 minute mark.