Sermon — Pr. Tony Sikora — Pentecost 2

June 18, 2017 — Proper 6 — Pentecost 2
Sermon Text — Matthew 9:35-10:1-20

God’s Mission of Love

The Mission of Jesus– Preach, Teach, Heal

The savior is on a mission.  His face is set.  His eyes are fixed.  His hands are outstretched.  His voice is lifted high.  The Savior is on a mission and His mission is the salvation of the world.  He is no Moses – though many would prefer Moses to Jesus.  Moses gives you something to do, something to work for, something measurable.  The Law came through Moses.  Jesus is no Moses.  Jesus gives you something to believe.  The Law measures what you deserve.  Faith on the other hand receives what the heart knows we don’t deserve.  With Jesus it’s not about what you deserve.  With Jesus is all about what He has to give and what we are to receive by faith.  It’s not about deserving, it’s about believing.  God is love.  Jesus is God made flesh.  Jesus is love incarnate.  We are given to believe this, to believe in Love made flesh for us.

Sermon — Pr. Tony Sikora — Trinity Sunday

June 11, 2017 — Trinity Sunday
Sermon Text — Matthew 28:16-20

All Authority has been given to Me

Some worshipped and some doubted.  All were gathered on the mountain.  All saw the resurrected Jesus yet some worshipped and some doubted.  Why did some doubt?  Why, do you doubt?  What they saw with their eyes we are given to behold by faith, to see with our ears so to speak.  Yet some worship and some doubt.

While some are worshipping and some are doubting the Lord of all creation knows their hearts.  Your Lord knows your heart.  Knowing the hearts of men, women and children, our resurrected Jesus speaks.  He addresses our doubts with His Word.  His Word gives us what we need and eases our doubts intending to quicken and stir up faith.

Sermon — Pr. Tony Sikora — Epiphany 7

You have heard that it has been said.   Many of you have watched it with your own eyes.  Recorded long ago our sinful nature found animation on Saturday mornings.  You have heard his name, Carnivorous vulgaris, that wiley creature of old.  You know his tune, his constant pursuit of the elusive Acceleratii incredubis.  Will all his might and all his resources the wiley one hunts his prey.  He chases.  He sets traps.  He devises plans with His never ending gadgets and inventions.  He was a prime member of Acme international before anyone ever heard of Amazon. 

Sermon — Pr. Tony Sikora — Epiphany 5

Who are you?  That’s a good question isn’t it?  As a nation we’re going through a bit of national identity crisis, aren’t we?  Who are we as Americans? Who are we as men? Who are we as women?  Who are we as children?  Who are we?  Who are you?  Our culture doesn’t want to respond to most of those questions with definitive answers?

Sermon — Pr. Tony Sikora — Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Seeing the crowds our Lord takes His seat upon the mountain.  Like Moses long ago our deliverer is set to teach, that teaching they may hear and hearing they may believe that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has seen their plight, heard their cries, and seeks their eternal redemption through the giving of His Son.  And, it is not Sinai upon which the Savior sits.  The Law came through Moses but grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ.

Sermon — Pr. Tony Sikora — Advent 3, Facing Mortality

John is prison.  The Lord’s prophet is in the dungeon.  Darkness encompasses all around him.  The Light’s warmth is far from him.  His cell has become his tomb. He lives, yet he is destined to die.  His king has fettered his ankles so as to bind his tongue.  For John has committed no crime against humanity.  He has not stolen.  He has not murdered.  His hasn’t rebelled.  No hand was lifted up against another.  No, John is in prison for preaching about marriage, Herod’s marriage.  And if there’s one thing fallen humanity cannot bear both then and now, is someone pointing out the sin of sexual immorality. 

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