Sermons 2003 - 2004
(Back to sermons Home Page)
(Back to Shultz Home Page)
Sundays and Special Days (Sacred and
Secular)
Lectionary Cycle Year C
| November, 2003 | June |
| December 2003 | July |
| January, 2004 | August |
| February | September |
| March | October |
| April | November |
| May |
Other Sermon files that you might find helpful and exciting
November
30,
First Sunday in Advent, Hanging of the Greens
Lesson: Matthew 11:20-24
Sermon Title: For Better, for Worse
The traditional marriage vows are ones that the Christian may apply to a relationship, from beginning to end, with Jesus Christ. What do we have to say now?
(Top) (Back to Sermons Home Page) (Back to Shultz Home Page)
December
7, Second Sunday in Advent
Lesson: Matthew 11:25-30
Sermon Title: Side by Side
Calm, quiet, rest, great concepts, especially in a noisy, confused and conflicted world. How may I trade hectic for cool?
December
14, Third Sunday in Advent
Lesson: Matthew 12.1-8
Sermon Title: Greater Than!
Jesus Christ is greater than... This first Sunday in Advent we are reminded of the greatness of Jesus. Greatness needs to be measured. What do we use?
December 21, Fourth Sunday in Advent
Lesson: Matthew 12.9-14
Sermon Title: Of Infinite Value!
What, of all that exists or has life in the world, has the greatest value? Will you be surprised by what Jesus values?
December 24, 6:00 pm, Christmas Eve Service
Lesson:
Psalm 96.1-6; Isaiah 52.7-10; Hebrews 1.1-12; John 1.1-14
Sermon Title: When God Speaks
I have not heard the voice of God, yet I have heard God speak. This is not a contradiction, but a fact. God has spoken. Am I listening?
December 25, Christmas Day
December 28
Lesson: Matthew 12.15-21
Sermon Title: Wicks and Sticks
The song, "Just A closer Walk With Thee" begins, "I am weak but thou art strong. Are you ever afraid of the strength of God? Why? We are the bruised reed or the smoldering wick. How will Jesus relate?
(Top) (Back to Sermons Home Page) (Back to Shultz Home Page)
January
4, Epiphany, Communion Sunday
Lesson: Matthew 12.22-32
Sermon Title: Cracks in the Concrete
"Divide and Conquer." A house divided against itself cannot stand. Must we be all of one way or another, and if so, how do we get there, wherever there may be?
January 6, Epiphany of the Lord
January
11, Baptism of Our Lord
Lesson: Matthew 12.33-37
Sermon Title: Word of Mouth
Sometimes it is accurate and sometimes not. Sometimes it inspires and sometimes it does not. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. What is being heard?
January
18, Ecumenical Sunday, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Lesson: Matthew 12.38-42
Sermon Title: Signs and Wonders
If you could ask God for a sign, what would you ask for? What danger or deception resides in dependence on signs? It is worth exploring.
January 19, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 25
Lesson: Matthew 12.43-45
Sermon Title: Cleaning House
The last state is worse than the first describes a house that is empty, swept and put in order. What if the house had been filled, swept and put in order? What is the difference between empty and filled?
(Top) (Back to Sermons Home Page) (Back to Shultz Home Page)
February
1, Boy Scout Sunday
Lesson: Matthew 12.46-50
Sermon Title: Mom and Pop, Brother and Sister
Jesus offers the invitation to join a family, but is it the traditional nuclear one?
February 8
Lesson: Matthew 13.1-3, 10-16
Sermon Title: Understanding the Parables
Parables are stories with a meaning and a purpose. How do we discover the meaning and the purpose for the story?
February 14, Valentines Day
February 15, Brotherhood/Sisterhood Week
Lesson: Matthew 13.3b-9, 18-23
Sermon Title: Seed and Soils
Four situations, only one of which describes the response of love. Which one?
February 16, President's Day
February
22, Transfiguration Sunday
Lesson: Matthew 13.24-30
Sermon Title: Rooting Out the Rotten Apples
It is said that "One rotten Apple can Spoil the Whole Barrel." What does this have to say about Christianity and the Church?
February
25, Ash Wednesday Service, 7:00 pm
Lessons:
Psalm 51:1-17; Isaiah 58:1-12; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Sermon Title: Into the Ashes or out of the Ashes?
Which would you rather have an old life or a new one? How may we achieve a new life when we are living the old one?
February 29, First Sunday in Lent
Lesson: Matthew 13.31-33
Sermon Title: All of Me!
Life is like a cake mix. It has to be thoroughly mixed and fully baked. Who wants to be half-done?
(Top) (Back to Sermons Home Page) (Back to Shultz Home Page)
March 7, Second Sunday in Lent, Girl Scout Sunday
Lesson: Matthew 13.44-47
Sermon Title: What’s It Worth?
What is what worth? That’s the question do you know the answer? Come and find the answer!
March 14, Third Sunday in Lent.
Lesson: Matthew 13.51-53.
Sermon Title: Open Sesame.
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, but then it is all done for you.
March 21, Fourth Sunday in Lent.
Lesson: Matthew 13.54-58.
Sermon Title: Rejection.
What did he think about? What did he feel? I do not know. What we do know is that rejection limits power and prevents assistance.
March 28, Fifth Sunday in Lent, Daylight
Savings Time Begins.
Lesson: Matthew 14.1-11.
Sermon Title: Off with His Head.
Herodias lost her head. Herodias’ daughter lost her head. Herod lost his as well. Thus John’s was displayed on a platter. If you lose your cool, you may lose you head.
(Top) (Back to Sermons Home Page) (Back to Shultz Home Page)
April 4, Passion/Palm Sunday, Communion
Sunday,
Lesson: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Luke 19:28-40.
Sermon Title: Rolling Out the Red Carpet.
We roll out the red carpet for Jesus. Where does it lead?
April 8, Maundy Thursday Service, 6:00 p.m.,
Potluck Supper Candlelight Communion.
Lessons: Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; Exodus 12:1-4, 11-14; 1
Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31b-35.
Sermon Title: The Festival Sacrifice.
There has to be a sacrifice. Who is it to be? It’s not you or me! Thank God!
April 9, Good Friday Service 1:00 p.m.
Lessons: Psalm 22; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Hebrews 4:14-16;
5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42.
Sermon Title: All the Way.
"When somebody loves you, It’s no good unless he loves you all the way." Words from a love song by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy van Heusen are also words from the cross from the Savior of the world.
April 11, Easter Sunday
Lessons: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Isaiah 65:17-25; 1 Corinthians
15:19-26; John 20:1-18
Sermon Title: First, Last, Always
What does it mean when we say that Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last?
April 18, Holocaust Remembrance Sunday
Lesson: Matthew 14.13-21
Sermon Title: Food!
The disciples were frustrated because it appeared that Jesus request could not be fulfilled. When doubt blocks action think alternative possibilities.
April 21, Secretary’s Day
April 22, Earth Day
April 25, Guest Speaker
Lesson: To Be Announced
Sermon Title: To Be Announced
April 30, Arbor Day
(Top) (Back to Sermons Home Page) (Back to Shultz Home Page)
May 2,
Guest Speaker
Lesson: To Be Announced
Sermon Title: To Be Announced
May 6, National Day of Prayer
May 9, Mother's Day,
Guest Speaker
Lesson: To Be Announced
Sermon Title: To Be Announced
May 15, Armed forces Day
May 16
Lesson:
Matthew 14.22-33
Sermon Title: How Would You like to Walk on Water?
It is easy. All it takes is? Well, maybe it is not so easy, but it is possible. Come and find out how!
May 20, Ascension of Our Lord
May 23, Ascension Sunday
Lesson: Matthew 14.34-36
Sermon Title: Reconsideration
The first time they drove him away, now they cannot wait to see and touch him. What is it that brought about a change of mind and heart?
May 30, Memorial Sunday
Lesson: John 14.25-31
Sermon Title: Living with Angst
Angst is possibly a word with which you are not familiar. It is a condition that impacts on each of us in a very personal way. How would you like t learn to live with Angst?
May 31, Memorial Day Observed
(Top) (Back to Sermons Home Page) (Back to Shultz Home Page)
June
6,
Trinity Sunday, Children’s
Sunday
Lesson: Proverbs 8.1-4, 22-31
Sermon Title: Pay Attention!
Happy is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. To whom are we listening, and for what reason?
June 13
Lesson: Matthew 15.1-9
Sermon Title: Obligations and Traditions
A moral obligation is some sort of necessity, imposed on the will, for doing what is good and avoiding what is evil. The word tradition refers sometimes to a doctrine, account, or custom transmitted from one generation to another. What do we do when obligation and tradition are in conflict?
June 14, Flag Day
June 20, Father’s Day
Lesson: Ephesians 6:1-4,10-12
Sermon Title: Respectfully Yours
Some say, "Its not the person, it’s the position." Well that may be true. God calls us both to love and respect. It is sometimes awkward, but necessary.
June 27
Lesson: Matthew 15.10-20
Sermon Title: Environmental Issues
We live in an environment. We are the environment. Pollution is present in both. Its not what’s made but what’s inside. How can we improve the quality of our environment?
(Top) (Back to Sermons Home Page) (Back to Shultz Home Page)
July
4, Communion Sunday, Independence Sunday
Lesson: 2 Corinthians 10.3-5
Sermon Title: Waging War
The Christian is called to fight in a never-ending war. Who or what is the enemy? What weapons does the Christian have at his/her disposal? What is the ultimate outcome? Great questions, are there answers?
July 11
Lesson: Matthew 15.21-28
Sermon Title: First-class!
We learn a wondrous lesson from the Canaanite woman. If an outcast can have great faith, may we also have a great faith?
July 18
Lesson: Matthew 15.29-31
Sermon Title: Searching for a Cure!
Jesus offers a cure for what ails us? What is he offering? How do we receive it? What will be accomplished by it?
July 25, Parents Day
Lesson: Matthew 15.32-39
Sermon Title: Not Again!
It happened once before. You would have thought that they would have learned something from the first time. Perhaps repetition is necessary for higher education.
(Top) (Back to Sermons Home Page) (Back to Shultz Home Page)
August
1, Friendship Day
Lesson: Matthew 16.1-4
Sermon Title: Red Sun in the Morning
There is an old saying: "Red Sky in Morning, Sailors Warning; Red Sky at Night, Sailors Delight" it is useful for predicting the weather. It does not work with Jesus. What does work?
August 8
Lesson: Matthew 16.5-12
Sermon Title: Sour Dough
Yeast is a fungi. It is also an agent of ferment or activity and can be understood as those who are religious or political agitators.
August 15
Lesson: Matthew 16.13-20
Sermon Title: Petros - Petra
Who has the keys? Where do we find the keys of the kingdom?
August 22, Guest Speaker
Lesson: To Be Announced
Sermon Title: To Be Announced
August 29
Lesson: Matthew 16.13-18a
Sermon Title: Building Blocks and Lincoln Logs
On the Rock the Church will be built. What is the Rock, and how is it to be applied?
(Top) (Back to Sermons Home Page) (Back to Shultz Home Page)
September
5,
Labor Sunday
Lesson: Matthew 16.13-18
Sermon Title: Victors In the Midst of Strife
The Church often appears weak, corrupt, and vulnerable. The Church is made up of the potentially invincible. How does one achieve invincibility?
September 6, Labor Day
September 12, Grandparent’s Day
Lesson: Matthew 16.13-19
Sermon Title: All Tied Up
It is not about rope, but about keys. What is bound? What is loosed?
September 17, Citizenship Day
September 19
Lesson: Matthew 16.19b (13-19)
Sermon Title: Staying Within the Lines
It is not about rope, but about discipline. What is bound, What is loosed? Where do you draw the lines, and how do you stay within them?
September 26
Lesson: Matthew 16.21-23
Sermon Title: The Human Equation
Are we a step or a stumbling stone? How may you tell the difference?
(Top) (Back to Sermons Home Page) (Back to Shultz Home Page)
October
3, Communion Sunday, World Communion Sunday
Lesson: Matthew 16.24-28
Sermon Title: Is the World Enough?
If I gained the world but not the Savior, Were my life worth living for a day? Could my yearning heart find rest and comfort In the things that soon must pass away? --Olander
October 10, Laity Sunday, National Children’s Day
Lesson: Matthew 17.1-8; 2 Peter 1.16-21
Sermon Title: An Encouraging Word
Bewildered, knowing not what to believe, one hears the voice of God with affirmation and encouragement. Will we also listen?
October 16, Boss’s Day
October 17, Pastor’s Appreciation Day
Lesson: Matthew 17.14-21
Sermon Title: Moving Mountains
I am weak, but he is strong. When I am weak, then I am strong. Is this a paradox, a contradiction, or a state of being?
October 24
Lesson: Matthew 17.9-13, 22-23
Sermon Title: By His Wounds
Betrayal, suffering, torture, death. What purpose did it all serve?
October 31, Reformation Sunday, Halloween, Daylight
Savings Time Ends
Lesson: Matthew 17.24-27
Sermon Title: Talking Out of Turn
Speaking for another person can be dangerous to your health. It can also lead to serious misunderstandings and conflict. This was a lesson that Peter needed to learn. Is it also ours?
(Top) (Back to Sermons Home Page) (Back to Shultz Home Page)
November 4, World Community Day
November 7, All Saints Sunday
Lesson: Colossians 1.3-6, 9-14
Sermon Title: For All the Saints
"For all the saints, who from their labors rest,/Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,/Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed./Alleluia, Alleluia!" Who is a saint? Who are called to be saints? How can we be numbered among the saints? Come and see!
November 8, Veteran’s Day Observed
November 11, Veteran’s Day. Arena Congregational Church Anniversary (141 years)
November 14, Stewardship Day, International Day of
Prayer for the Persecuted Church
Lesson: 2 Corinthians 9.6-15
Sermon Title: Generosity Has its Own Rewards
Sowing and reaping are agricultural terms with which we are very familiar. It works in life as it works in the fields, or in your garden.
November 21, Thanksgiving Sunday, Bible Sunday,
Christ the King Sunday, Worship after the manner of the Pilgrims
Lesson: Ephesians 1.15-23
Sermon Title: Pilgrim’s Praise
I'm a pilgrim and a stranger / Traveling through this worrisome land / I've got a home in that yonder city / And it's not (Good Lord it's not) / Not made by hand. Sometimes its tough to be a Pilgrim. The Pilgrim’s progress is made sweeter by concentrating on the goal.
November 24, Thanksgiving Eve Service 7:00 p.m.
Lesson: Luke 17:11-19
Sermon Title: Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
Why is praise so difficult? Only one in ten offered praise, and he was a Samaritan.
November 25, Thanksgiving Day
(Top) (Back to Sermons Home Page) (Back to Shultz Home Page)