Founded in 1847, St. James Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio embraces our heritage. We are joyfully building a strong church family that lives in Christ and will serve future generations.Visit us as https://ohiostjames.com
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This episode explores the transformative power of persistent faith through the biblical account of a Canaanite mother desperate to save her daughter from severe oppression. Her story serves as a profound reminder that even when God seems silent or the odds feel crushing, his pursuit of us is relentless and his love is never-ending. By examining Jesus challenging interaction with this "outsider," the message reveals a Savior who uses persistence to expose prejudice and a God who actively searches for the lostfrom the garden of Eden to modern-day addiction and struggle. Listeners are invited to
Resources for the Gospel Mission - The feeding of the 5,000 stands as a central miracle appearing in all four gospels, emphasizing its profound significance as a centerpiece of Jesus's ministry. When faced with a crowd of nearly 10,000 people in a remote place, the disciples felt inadequate and suggested sending the people away, yet Jesus challenged them to provide the meal themselves. Beyond the physical multiplication of food, the five loaves and two fish carry deep symbolic weight the essential tools and resources God provides for the mission of the church. This event serves as a powerful r
In this message, explore a powerful shift in perspective on the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price. Rather than a call for human sacrifice or effort to "buy" the kingdom, the Gospel reveals that Jesus is the seeker who sacrifices everything to redeem His most prized possession: you. Discover how Gods desire for a relationship is not based on your own goodness, wealth, or generosity, but on His choice to see you as a "treasure hidden in a field" worth the highest cost. This message invites you to move beyond the pressure of "doing enough" and instead embrace a relation
Choosing Grace Over Judgement - Have you ever felt the urge to "disinfect" your community of those who don't seem to fit the mold? This message explores Jesus' parable of the wheat and the weeds, challenging the common human impulse to "sterilize" the church by uprooting imperfections prematurely. By examining the tension between necessary discipline and radical restoration, we discover that severing relationships too soon removes all influence and can "throw the baby out with the bathwater". Rather than playing the role of the ultimate judge, learn why the church's true mission is to show the
The Practice of Faith - In this sermon, Pastor Dax explores why some things - from hit TV shows and global brands to individual faith - fail to sustain their initial momentum. Using the imagery of the birds, the rocks, and the thorns, he identifies common pitfalls that lead to a shallow or "plucked away" faith: the lack of deep understanding that makes believers easy targets for doubt, the thin theological foundations that crumble under intellectual challenge, and the social pressures to prioritize worldly "coolness" or secular ideologies over Christ. How do we move beyond a faith that merely
In the exploration of the message "Nothing is Insignificant to God," we delve into the profound truth that every detail of your lifeno matter how minor or mundanematters deeply to the Creator. While many feel the pressure to present only a curated, "Instagram version" of themselves, the gospel reveals a God who desires a relationship with our whole being, seeing us clearly "flaws and all". Drawing on the biblical imagery of sparrows and the numbering of the hairs on our heads, the message emphasizes that we are never outside of Gods attention or care. Even when external circumstances or "spiri
Firing Up the Home Team - Effective outreach is defined as a collective "team sport" where the church community builds meaningful relationships with the world. This strategy prioritizes the "home team" by first engaging the churched and rechurched to create a strong, confident spiritual base. By practicing fluid conversations about Jesus within the church "locker room," members develop the confidence and spirit needed to eventually share their faith externally. This internal preparation ensures that when the world meets the church, they encounter a genuine community rooted in the gospel messag
A Home of Redemption and Grace - This sermon explores the historical evolution of the church from a rigid institution focused on moral perfection and behavioral codes to its true purpose as a refuge for the broken. Pastor Dax utilizes the history of Marble Cliff and the rise of Prohibition to illustrate how religious communities often isolate themselves to maintain an appearance of righteousness. By contrasting the exclusivity of Amish culture and modern judgmental attitudes with Jesus' decision to dine with tax collectors, the text emphasizes that faith should not be a facade. Ultimately, the
Understanding the Triune Fellowship - This sermon explores the deep significance of the Holy Trinity and why this doctrine is essential for a vibrant, personal faith. Rather than being a confusing theological puzzle, the triune nature of God reveals a Creator who actively pursues and finds us in our most broken moments. While some may view God as distant or hidden, the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit shows a God who chooses to "show up" in the flesh and walk alongside us through every struggle. Through this intimate fellowship, we are invited into an eternal relationship
Living the Presence of Pentecost - Experience how a contagious spirit and a positive attitude can transform a faith community from the inside out. This message explores the miraculous scenes of Pentecost and the book of Numbers, highlighting how the Holy Spirit communicates through more than just spoken words. By embracing the concept of a "locker room presence," believers are challenged to be game-changers and uplifting forces for those around them. Instead of merely going through the motions, we are invited to recapture the vibrant, joyful energy that defined the early church. Learn how the
Divine Purpose from Atlanta to Eternity - In this sermon, Pastor Dax reflects on a recent trip to Atlanta, using the city's chaotic and unplanned growth to contrast the intentional architecture of Gods plan for creation.Drawing from Jesus's prayer in John 17, he explores how the church is designed to be the manifestation of God's spirit and glory in the world today. Dax shares insights from a tour of the Chick-fil-A headquarters, illustrating how a commitment to God's work can be integrated into every aspect of a person's life and legacy. Through reflections on his aunt's final days and the wo
Christ’s Gift of Easter Joy - In this sermon delivered on the sixth Sunday of Easter, Pastor Terry Worth explores the ongoing joy of the resurrection and how Christ establishes his church as a "living, loving family". He explains that the primary commandment to love one another is not a heavy burden or a means to win salvation, but a natural response to Christs selfless love demonstrated through his sacrifice on the cross. To fulfill this calling, believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit, a helper and comforter who dwells within them to guide them through internal struggles and selfish natur
The Divinity of Christ Revealed - 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 Chris
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 in
Choosing Belief Over Doubt - 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
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.
February 22nd, 2026 Sermon - 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
