Sermon — Pr. Tony Sikora — Jesus calms the storm
7/26/2015 – Proper 12 — 9th Sunday after Pentecost Sermon Text — Mark 6:45-56 Audio — Come back later for the audio of…
7/26/2015 – Proper 12 — 9th Sunday after Pentecost Sermon Text — Mark 6:45-56 Audio — Come back later for the audio of…
King Herod has his trophy. “Herod Himself sent for and seized John and bound him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother, to whom he is now married.” John sits behind iron bars because it pleased Herodias. And Herod, ever wanting to keep the marriage bed secure has triumphantly brought home his bride’s nemesis. Such is the way of the kings of this world. For they are more concerned with the passions of their flesh and the security of their indulgences than the observance of truth and the laws of nature, ignoring therefore nature’s God.
There’s nothing special about Ezekiel’s branch. It’s just a twig. And there’s certainly nothing extraordinary about a farmer sowing his seed. Farmers have done that for thousands of years. Nor is there anything especially attractive about a mustard seed. Mustard seeds are small, very small. Yet each of these are used by the Lord in our text to teach something quite extraordinary – for each of these reveal the Kingdom of God. You see the Kingdom of God isn’t about the mighty, the extraordinary or the attractive.
Nicodemus is a good, religious person. He is what most people think all people should be. He has a good reputation. He’s an upstanding citizen. He’s well respected in his religious community – a Pharisee.
May 24, 2015 — Pentecost Sunday
Sermon Text — Ezekiel 37:1-14
It is the Lord who opens eyes and it is the Lord who unstops ears. He loosens tongues and causes the lame to leap. Such is the One who brought us into being, who formed and fashioned us in the womb.
The battle for our salvation was not brought about by the forging of plowshares into swords. The war for your redemption was not waged against flesh and blood but “but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness,
For three and a half years they followed Jesus. That’s what disciples do, they follow their teacher, they go where He goes, hear what He speaks, and learn what He teaches, receive what He gives, and do what He bids. The Life of a disciple is always one of going, hearing, learning, receiving and yes, even doing.
“God is Love.” (1 John 4:8) There is no love in the world except the love which comes from the Father. Anyone who does not love does not know the Father. The Father loves the Son. The Son loves you.
The call to follow the Lord is often a call into the wilderness. Abraham was called to go from his country, his kindred, and his father’s house to a land revealed by the Lord.
The Resurrection of our Lord Sermon Text: John 20:1-18 Audio: https://steadfastlutherans.org/clips/sikora/Dr._Sikora,_Easter_Sermon_2015.m4a Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Beloved in the…
The Sabbath is past. The Sun is set. The third day is begun. The women take courage while the men cower in the upper room. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome buy spices and early in the morning make their way to the tomb. Love for Jesus compels the women to pay homage one last time.
The hour of darkness is at hand. The sun has surrendered its glory and bows before its creator. For three hours deep shadows rule over creation. Men loved the darkness for their deeds are evil. To the delight of many Jesus is crucified, hanging between two criminals, hanging between heaven and earth, hanging as one of them, as one of us.
It is the eve of our Lord’s betrayal and the night of His arrest. Soon they will strike the Shepherd and scatter the flock. The disciples are on edge. Their fellowship cannot bear the events that are about to unfold. Though each of them vehemently confess otherwise, they do not have the strength, determination, nor the moral integrity to follow their Lord into death, not yet, not tonight.
Jerusalem is abuzz with the name of Jesus. Everyone is wondering. Everyone is expecting. Everyone is asking, “could He be the Christ?” Pilgrims from all over the Empire have come to Jerusalem, come to celebrate the Passover, come today especially to select their lamb, the lamb for the sacrifice
The ways of God are not the ways of man. The thoughts of God are not the thoughts of man. No one as ascended into heaven but he who descended from Heaven. Nicodemus wants to ascend. He wants to go up from the darkness of this world and enter the light of God’s
Lent III – March 8, 2015 Sermon Text: John 2:13-25 Audio: https://steadfastlutherans.org/clips/sikora/2015-03-08_09-47.m4a Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God our…
Lent II — March 1, 2015 Sermon Text — Mark 8:27-38 Audio — https://steadfastlutherans.org/clips/sikora/Dr._Sikora_3-1-15,_Mark_8_27-38.m4a Grace, mercy and peace be unto you…
Immediately, having been baptized by John, Jesus is driven by a Dove to the Wilderness. Still dripping with His Father’s voice the Beloved One finds Himself among the beasts of the earth. This is no Eden. Everything is against Him; the ground, the animals, the devil. Only the Angels minister to Him, and this at the conclusion of His temptations.
The world is not in the market for ashes. Ashes remind us of the wrong things, things we don’t want to be reminded of, things we don’t want to think on, things we don’t want to have to deal with. The world is not interested in religion, with its doctrines, creeds, and institutions.
Where the Word of God is there is Jesus. He is the Word made flesh, the Word dwelling among us, even today, even now. The Word is a powerful Word. He is the Word with authority, authority to bring things into existence and authority to cast things out. He is the Word with authority to rebuke illness and authority to cleanse the unclean. He is the Word that works wonders and gives rest. He is the Word of God for the world, for us, for you.
Mark has set the stage for us. The Word of Jesus has authority. In the wilderness Jesus rebuked Satan. In the synagogue Jesus silenced the devil’s henchman. Now, the Word bears fruit in the home. Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever.
Mark’s gospel account is packed tight with Jesus. Every verse is full to the brim and spilling over into the heart and it’s all about Jesus. Even when it’s about John the Baptist it’s all about Jesus. Mark starts his gospel account in the wilderness with John, but John is there to introduce and baptize Jesus. Then Jesus is driven out by the Spirit. “Out there” Jesus is tempted by the Devil.
Maybe you’ve seen the latest video trending on youtube. It’s a video of two young children; a “goldilocks” about 2 years old, and her older blue eyed brother. They’re sitting at the dinner table and little sister is crying. Oh, she’s crying like 2 year olds do when they need a nap. She’s crying and she doesn’t know why.
In St. Mark’s gospel, the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ son of God begins where our Christian life begins; in the water with Jesus. For Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee to be baptized by John in the Jordan. Jesus came to John. John had been crying
Everything that happens in the gospels, everywhere Jesus goes, every word He speaks, every miracle He works, every deed done, every life touched, every prophecy fulfilled, every step taken, blood dropped, lash felt, brow pierced, nail driven, body buried, tomb sealed