Pastor Ike

Last Sunday of the Church Year

The Wise, the Foolish, and the Midnight Cry…
Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins reminds us that faith cannot run on empty. Five wise bridesmaids brought extra oil, five did not—and when the Bridegroom came at midnight, only the prepared entered the wedding feast. The oil represents Spirit-given faith, nourished by Word and Sacrament, which keeps our lamps burning through the weariness and distractions of life.
On the Last Sunday of the Church Year, we hear this call: stay awake. Christ may come at any moment, and each of us must carry our own lamp. We cannot borrow faith from others or rely on memories of past devotion; only the living grace of Christ sustains us.
Yet this parable is not a warning of despair; it is the Gospel. Every delay of the Bridegroom is mercy, every Lord’s Day a chance to receive His Word, His Supper, His Spirit. Christ has already given you the oil of faith, and He continues to fill it, preparing you for the eternal feast.
Be vigilant. Be joyful. Be ready. The Bridegroom comes.

Trinity 22: The Debt We Cannot Pay

How does the Bible talk about sin? Sin is not just about breaking "the rules," but as debts we owe, marks we miss, and obligations we fail to meet. Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant is a powerful picture of our own impossible debt and God’s overwhelming mercy changes how we relate to others, especially those who sin against us. At the center is the good news that Jesus doesn’t just cancel what we owe—He gives us His own righteousness. From that grace flows the freedom to forgive others as we have been forgiven.

The Word That Holds All Things Together

Texts: Genesis 1:1–2:3 • Ephesians 6:10–17 • John 4:46–54
From creation’s first light to the healing of a dying boy, Scripture reveals one unshakable truth: God’s Word does what it says. It is the Word that creates out of nothing, sustains all things, and brings faith to life where there was none. In this sermon, we explore how the same Word that spoke the world into being now speaks forgiveness, life, and salvation to you through His appointed means—Word and Sacrament.
Our assurance does not rest in our feelings, strength, or sincerity but extra nos—outside ourselves—in the sure promises of Christ. The Word that said, “Let there be light,” now says to you, “You are Mine… you are forgiven… you shall live.”
Key Verse: “The man believed the Word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.” (John 4:50)

For All The Saints

John’s eyes beheld what words could barely describe—a countless multitude from every nation and language, all clothed in white, all singing one song: “Salvation belongs to our God and to the Lamb!”
This is the Church Triumphant—the saints of every age, the faithful who have gone before us, and even those we have loved and lost. Yet this vision isn’t only about heaven; it’s about who we are now.
All Saints’ Day reminds us that saints are not superheroes of faith, but sinners made holy—washed in the blood of the Lamb. Through Baptism, you already belong to that multitude. You are part of the communion of saints, the Church Militant on earth, joined in worship with the Church Triumphant in heaven.

The Gospel that frees us from our own prison

What drove the Reformation was not politics, rebellion, or reform for reform’s sake—it was a troubled conscience. Martin Luther’s struggle was not with Rome first, but with himself: a sinner who could find no peace before a holy God. Yet when he discovered that “the righteousness of God” in Romans 3 was not a demand but a gift, everything changed. The Gospel turned fear into freedom and guilt into joy.
This sermon traces that journey—from the tormented conscience of a young monk to the freedom of faith in Christ—and shows how the same Gospel that liberated Luther still frees us today. In a world where guilt often hides behind bitterness and cynicism, we need the same breakthrough: the righteousness that comes not from our works, but from Christ alone.
“They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:24)

Trinity 18: The Law and the Heart

In this week’s sermon, Pastor Ike Nicholson unpacks a dramatic encounter between Jesus and the Pharisees—a moment where a seemingly simple question about the Law becomes a revelation of the Gospel. When a lawyer asks, “Which is the great commandment in the Law?”, the Pharisees hope to trap Jesus. But He turns the tables, showing that the Law’s demand to love God and neighbor points not to human achievement, but to the faithful work of Christ Himself.

Humility From Christ

This week, Pastor Ike Nicholson explores Jesus’ parable of humility at the Pharisee’s dinner table—a moment where human pride meets divine grace. The sermon opens with a scene familiar to us all: the quiet calculation of social standing, who sits where, and who belongs. But as Jesus observes the guests scrambling for the places of honor, He turns the table on pride itself.
“Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

When death meets life

On this, Trinity 16, God’s word reminds us that when the procession of death meets the procession of life, death is defeated. In today’s scriptures, we see Elijah raise the widow son from the dead, and Jesus, coming into Nain, raise the Widows son. The funeral procession meets the procession of Jesus and his followers. Jesus Christ has defeated sin, death, and the devil.
When evil and death seek to rob us of hope in this world, the Gospel reminds us that Christ is victorious.

St. Michael and All Angels

The Feast of St. Michael and All Angels dates back to the 5th century and is an Important observance in the Christian Church reflecting on God’s gift of His holy angels. Drawing from Daniel 10, Revelation 12, and Luke 10, we will see how Christ is our Champion in the heavenly battle, how Michael and the angels serve God’s people, and how we rejoice that our names are written in the Book of Life. This sermon proclaims Christ’s victory over Satan and the comfort God gives His Church through the ministry of His angels.

The Feast of St. Matthew

On the Feast of St. Matthew, we remember a tax collector who was called—not because of his worthiness, but because of Christ’s mercy. In this sermon, Pastor Nicholson reflects on Matthew’s encounter with Jesus and the truth it proclaims for us today: that Christ calls sinners, not the righteous; that the Gospel is God’s free gift, not our achievement; and that the feast of salvation is prepared for the broken and undeserving. From Matthew’s booth to the Lord’s Table, this message unfolds the heart of the Lutheran faith—grace alone, mercy in Christ alone, given through His Word and Sacraments.