Pastor Ike

Ascension

At St. Matthew, we joyfully celebrate the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ—a glorious and often overlooked feast that proclaims His victory, ongoing reign, and abiding presence. Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus ascended not to leave us behind, but to continue His saving work as our exalted King and interceding High Priest. From His throne, He sends the Holy Spirit to empower the Church and sustains us through His Word, Baptism, and the Sacrament of the Altar. The Ascension reminds us that Christ reigns now, rules with authority, and is actively working through His people. We are His witnesses, called to proclaim the gospel in every season of life, trusting that His mission continues through us, by His Spirit, until He comes again in glory.

Easter 6: Ask!

What is the purpose of prayer?What does it mean to pray in the name of Jesus? Join St. Matthew Lutheran as we explore Jesus’ command to pray.

Easter 5: The Catechetical Heart of the Church

When our Lord Jesus stood on the mountain in Galilee after His resurrection, He gave His Church a mission—not merely to go, but to go with purpose: “Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them” (Matt. 28:19–20). This is more than a call to evangelize; it is the foundation of the Church’s catechetical life. Here, at the very moment Christ sends His Church into the world, He places Baptism and teaching—Word and Sacrament—at the heart of her work. The Great Commission is the sacred task of forming faith, grounding believers in Christ, and teaching them to observe all that He has commanded.

Easter 4: Living as Exiles

In 1 Peter 2:11–20, we’re called to live as "sojourners and exiles," shining as God’s people in a world that’s not our true home. This sermon unpacks how the Law guides us to live honorably, submit to authority, and endure unjust suffering, all while the Gospel empowers us with Christ’s transformative grace. By His wounds, we’re healed and freed to reflect His love through good deeds, not to earn salvation but as a response to His gift of faith. Let’s live boldly as witnesses to the hope we have in Jesus!

Easter 3: The Good Shepherd

You’ve heard it a dozen times, Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who lovingly seeks and saves His wandering sheep. Pastor Ike’s sermon, drawn from Ezekiel 34 and John 10, reveals God’s righteous promise to be our true Shepherd, contrasting the failure of false shepherds with the sacrificial love of Christ, who lays down His life on the cross and rises to gather one flock from every nation. Look, whether you feel lost, weary, or far from the fold, this is a place to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd calling you by name through His Gospel, forgiving your sins, and guiding you to everlasting rest. Join us to be nourished by His Word and Sacraments, and discover the peace of belonging to His flock.

Easter 2: How Jesus deals with our doubt

We all wrestle with doubt — it’s part of life in a broken world. Even Thomas, one of Jesus’ closest followers, struggled to believe the resurrection until he saw it with his own eyes. In this sermon from John 20:29, we hear how Jesus doesn’t reject us in our doubts but meets us with mercy. Through His Word and gifts, He strengthens our faith and blesses those who trust in Him, even without seeing. Come hear the promise that Christ is risen and holds you fast, even when your faith feels small.

Expecting Death, Discovering Life

Why does Easter matter? Is the resurrection for real? Can I be saved even with my doubts?—this message unpacks the hope that conquers sin, death, and despair. It’s not just a story; it’s your story, promising forgiveness, victory, and a future that shines brighter than any gloom. Christ’s resurrection is the heartbeat of hope. He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Maundy Thursday: The Sacrament of the Altar

Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter, commemorates the night Jesus was betrayed and marks the beginning of the Holy Triduum. On this night, Jesus gathered with His disciples to celebrate the Passover and instituted the Lord’s Supper—giving His true body and blood for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:26–28; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26). The term “Maundy” comes from the Latin mandatum, meaning "command," referring to Jesus’ new command: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34).This the final sermon in our Lenten series on the Small Catechism.
 

Palm Sunday: From cheers to jeers

On Palm Sunday, we celebrate the triumphant arrival of Jesus—the promised Messiah—who comes not with earthly power, but in humility to bring salvation through the cross. Today’s message, from Pr. Ike Nicholson, explores how Jesus fulfills Scripture and continues to come to us today in Word and Sacrament. As we wave our palms and sing “Hosanna,” we are invited to trust in the King who comes to save.

Lent 5 Vespers: The Office of the Keys

The Office of the Keys is the special authority Christ gives to His Church to forgive the sins of repentant sinners and withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent. It is reviled by many, misunderstood by others, but it is Biblical and it is a gift from God to His church.