Sermon Series Archive
Lenten Worship Schedule
Lenten and Easter Sermon Series
"Simply Faith: Encountering Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew"
Advent Worship Opportunities
- Saturday, December 2, 9:00 - 10:30am Pancakes With Pastors
- Wednesday, December 6, 7:00pm Advent Worship
- Thursday, December 7, 7:00 pm Hearts and Hands Christmas Program at Wixom
- Friday, December 8, 6:30pm Preschool/Kindergarten Christmas Program
- Sunday, December 10, 10am Christmas Caroling at Wixom
- Wednesday, December 13, 7:00pm Advent Worship
- Sunday, December 17, 10:00am Christmas Family Worship at Wixom (in place of 9 & 10:20am worship)
- Sunday, December 17, 4:30pm International Christmas Program
- Wednesday, December 20, 9:30am & 7pm Day School Christmas Program
Christmas Worship
www.st-matthew.org/Christmas2017
Series Summary:
Five hundred years ago, Martin Luther rediscovered a treasure that has always been available to the world, but veiled… until he began reading the Bible. God’s Word relieved his personal fears and quenched the thirst for a loving and gracious God. Luther chose to translate God’s Word from Latin into the German language so everyone could discover God’s saving Grace. Now today, the Bible has become the most translated and printed book in the world. The treasure of God’s Grace is available to you! Whether you are opening the bible for the first time or have been meditating on the Word your whole life, our series, Discovering Grace, will invite everyone to grow in God’s Grace as we read about His love in the opening chapters of Genesis and learn various methods to study and apply God’s Word to our lives.
In the latter portion of the series, we will invite everyone to join together on the same page in personal, small group and Sunday Worship as we spend 40 Days in the Word. Like Luther, discovering God’s love for him, let’s join together as a congregation in God’s Word to be reminded of God’s freeing grace for all creation.
Sign up for our 40 Days in the Word emails starting October 16:
Interested in a Small Group?
In addition to existing groups, we have new groups forming now! Email doug.slavens@st-matthew.org or smallgroups@st-matthew.org if you are interested in leading or joining a group.
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Click HERE for more information and to sign up!
The disciples looked at the enormous crowd and said, “Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But [Jesus] answered, “You give them something to eat.” Mark 6:36-37
Or said another way… “You do something.”
What followed was the miraculous feeding of the 5000. The challenge to feed so many people must have seemed impossible, but all things are possible with God!
This April 30 – June 25, we will begin a new series called, “Do Something.” In our Sunday services we will we dig into God’s Word in Acts 1-9 learning how the early church joined Jesus in His mission. Not only that, we will invite you to do something and tangible support God’s mission with others at St. Matthew.
Two times before, through the Pay It Forward and Nehemiah Project, we have raised thousands of dollars for Pastor Daniel in India, Pastor Gladden in Pontiac and Hospitality House. This time we are going to be adding more mission opportunities and want you to be a part of making a difference. See where it started in this video www.st-matthew.org/payitforwardschool
Be sure to come on April 30th to hear more information, or contact Pastor Rob at rob.nelson@st-matthew.org It’s time for us to Do Something!
Find out about the Missions Gala, June 3: www.st-matthew.org/Gala
Find out about the Do Something Bazaar, June 24: www.st-matthew.org/Bazaar
See the Do Something Booklet: 
Do Something Booklet
Lenten Worship Schedule
Lenten and Easter Sermon Series Summary
Is it time to take another look at the Gospel of Mark? It is undeniably the shortest of all the Gospels. Its language is often terse. The narrative focuses on action. It frequently lacks details that the other Gospels include. For these and other reasons, Mark has been seen as the earliest, most primitive account of Jesus’ life by critics and supporters alike. But looks can be deceiving. Recent scholarship has "increasingly placed The Gospel of Mark in an oral context, believing it to be a written document intended to be read aloud to an audience." According to James Voelz of Concordia Seminary, “Mark… provides a complex and sophisticated account of the life of Jesus, designed for rhetorical impact.” Mark is meant to be heard.
Jesus’ words always come true—especially those concerning his Passion, death, and resurrection. Yet despite all the miracles they see, the disciples repeatedly fail to grasp and trust his promises. When we are tempted to think, “My faith would be stronger if I’d been there,” Mark reminds us that seeing is not believing. We ourselves do not see Jesus risen. Instead, through rich language and masterful narration, Mark directs our eyes toward the cross, where with the eyes of faith we will truly see the Son of God in his glory. Then he invites us to take part in the story and to finally believe that “He is risen…just as he told you.”
Is there anything different or unique about generosity as God designs it compared to this holiday generosity? That is what we want to explore in this series of messages called “God-Styled Generosity.” Over the course of this two month series, we are going to unpack the longest portion of the Bible that deals with “God-Styled Generosity.”
Advent Worship Opportunities
- Wednesday, November 30, 7:00pm Advent Service
- Friday, December 2, 7:00 pm Hearts and Hands Christmas Program at Wixom
- Sunday, December 4, 6:30pm Women’s Advent by Candlelight
- Wednesday, December 7, 7:00pm Advent Service
- Friday, December 9, 6:30pm Preschool/Kindergarten Christmas Program
- Wednesday, December 14, 7pm Advent Service
- Sunday, December 18, 4:30pm International Christmas Program
- Wednesday, December 21, 9:30am & 7pm Day School Christmas Program
Christmas Worship
Don't miss this great event coming up!
Missional Lifestyle Training
with Rev. Greg Finke
November 12, 2016, 9:00am - 2:30pm Walled Lake Campus
Click HERE to find out more and to sign up to attend!
Joining Jesus Emails
Are you interested in receiving emails on the series, including devotionals? Click the button below to sign up for "Joining Jesus on His Mission" emails from St. Matthew:
Joining Jesus on His Mission
Seven Week Series
- September 11- Nov. 20
- Scriptures: Gospel of Mark Chs. 1-10
- Book by Greg Finke (suggested donation of $5)
Description:
Jesus is on a mission. He is on a grand adventure to redeem and restore human lives to His Father’s Kingdom. Jesus is already out there on the loose in our neighborhoods, workplaces and schools. He is already doing the heavy lifting of working in the lives of every human being we see. And He invites us to join Him. “Come, follow Me.” Mark 1:17
Over eleven weeks, St. Matthew will be further equipped to enter God Space entering into God led Spiritual Conversations with others. The series will used portions of the Gospel of Mark and walk through Greg Finke’s book. Everyone will be invited to read in small groups or on their own and have the opportunity to join in 50 days of devotions.
Small Group Curriculum Options
- Book Only - Read the book over 7 weeks using the guide in the back of the book.
- Video Based Curriculum - Meet with your Small Group watching the videos that correspond with the Series
Devotions:
- 50 days of devotions will begin on Oct. 10th
Joining Jesus on His Mission Series Outline
Week 1 – September 11
-
“The Kingdom has Come” – Mark 1:1-15, 38-39
Week 2 - September 18
- “Follow Me” – Mark 1:16-30 & 2:13-17
Week 3 – September 25
- “Keep it Simple”- Mark 3:1-19
Week 4 – October 2
- “Throwing Caution” - Mark 4:1-20
Week 5 – October 9
- “What’s Jesus Up To?” – Mark 4:26-34
- READ Chapters 1-2 in advance of message.
Week 6 – October 16
- “The River Moved” - Mark 5:1-20
- READ Chapters 3-6 in advance of message.
Week 7 – October 23
- “Seeking What’s Already Happening” – Mark 6:6-13
- READ chapters 7-10 in advance of message.
Week 8 – October 30
- “Simple Practices for Joining Jesus: Part 1” –Mark 7:31-37
- READ chapters 11-13 in advance of message.
Week 9 – November 6
- “Simple Practices for joining Jesus: Part 2” – Mark 8:1-10
- READ chapters 14-16 in advance of message.
November 12 – 9am-2:30pm
Week 10 – November 13 w/ Greg Finke
- “What Will Your Story Be?” - Mark 9:14-29?
- READ chapters 17-18 in advance of message.
Week 11 – November 20
- “Mission with a Little Help from Our Friends” Mark 10:13-16, 10:29-31
- READ chapter 19 in advance of message.
Joining Jesus Emails
Are you interested in receiving emails on the series, including devotionals? Click the button below to sign up for "Joining Jesus on His Mission" emails from St. Matthew:
This summer we are sharing a series of songs from the Bible, inspired by God and written between 600 and 1,000 B.C. Depicting a variety of life circumstances, these songs will give you something to sing about this summer. The mission of our church is to make Christ-followers who are growing: UP with God; IN community; and OUT with His love. This summer series on songs of the Bible will focus especially on our UP relationship with God so that we might all the more be vibrant, missional Christ-followers. We are calling this series, "Selah: Taking Pause in the Psalms" because the word selah, which occurs in the psalms or songbook of the Bible, seems to refer to some kind of musical interlude or pause; and the summer is like a pause in the otherwise busy school year.
Daily Devotions on the Previous Weekend's Psalm:
Continue your "Pause" each day of the week with our devotional booklet. Pick up a copy from the Welcome Center at either campus or click one of the links below:
Selah Daily Devotions booklet: psalms_devotional_booklet_2016_online.pdf
Selah Daily Devotions booklet form to print psalms_devotional_booklet_2016_for_printing.pdf
The seismic shift in our culture over the last generation has been documented in many places, but can be summarized with the words “Post-Christian.” That is a short hand way to say that over the last generation there has been a shift, for example:
- From a worldview in which God created all and we will all face Him and need to answer to Him when we die… to various and competing worldviews, including evolution, other religions, and atheism and agnosticism.
- From moral absolute to situational ethics to everyone doing what seems right in their own eyes
- From a nation and culture based on Judeo-Christian morality to evolving morality in which things like multiple sexual partners, living together outside of marriage, same sex relations and marriage, and putting a spin on things (once known as lying and deception) are commonly accepted.
- From Christianity being accepted and embraced by society to it being ridiculed and even persecuted.
So, how are we supposed to live as followers of Jesus in this very different spiritual and moral environment? How would God have us handle life in a post-Christian America?
We need grace in our lives during the holiday season as much as any time in our lives! But what is grace?
We once again revisit "Forward in Faith" to see what God's Word has to say about debt, and how he brings us true debt freedom through Jesus Christ!
LIFE HAPPENS...
Let’s be honest, we've all been hurt by other people, we've hurt ourselves, and we've hurt others. The result - every single one of us ends up with some sort of hurt, habit or hang-up. The question we all face is - where do we go from here?
The good news is that there are healing choices that are available to each of us that offer freedom from our hurts, habits, and hang-ups.
Using the Beatitudes of Jesus as a foundation, Rick Warren and John Baker, of Saddleback Church, developed eight healing choices that they shared in their book, Life’s Healing Choices.
Each Sunday, Pastors Paul, Rob and John, will be leading us through the eight steps that will bring healing to our lives.
Small Groups are available on Sundays and many other times to take the growth and learning to the next level. Contact Danielle at
The series will provide practical, encouraging biblical teaching and each chapter includes real-life stories of men and women whose lives have been transformed by living out eight choices.
Through making each of these choices, you too will find God's pathway to wholeness, growth, spiritual maturity, happiness, and healing. You'll find real answers, real hope, and a real future -- one healing choice at a time.
Starting September 20, 2015
The Healing begins (an 8-week series):
- Pastor lead sermons
- Weekly reading
- Sunday Classes
- 9:30 am Walled Lake Campus
- 10:15 am Wixom Campus
- Small Group studies
- Life’s Healing Choices e-mail Devotions
Reading Plan for Life's Healing Choices
- Admitting Need - The Reality Choice (9/20)
- Getting Help - The Hope Choice (9/27)
- Letting Go - The Commitment Choice (10/4)
- Coming Clean - The Housecleaning Choice (10/11)
- Making Changes - The Transformation Choice (10/18)
- Repairing Relationships - The Relationship Choice (10/25)
- Maintaining Momentum - The Growth Choice (11/1)
- Recycling Pain - The Sharing Choice (11/8)
For more information on Life's Healing Choices, please send an email to: lhc@st-matthew.org
For information on Small Groups, please go to www.st-matthew.org/smallgroups or email smallgroups@st-matthew.org
DEVOTIONS
In case you missed any of the Life's Healing Choices Devotional emails, click below!
- WEEK 1
- WEEK 2
- Monday, Sept. 21, 2015
- Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015
- Friday, Sept. 25, 2015
- WEEK 3
- Monday, Sept. 28, 2015
- Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015
- Friday, Oct. 2, 2015
- WEEK 4
- Monday, Oct. 5, 2015
- Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015
- Friday, Oct. 9, 2015
- WEEK 5
- Monday, Oct. 12, 2015
- Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015
- Friday, Oct. 16, 2015
- WEEK 6
- Monday, Oct. 19, 2015
- Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015
- Friday, Oct. 23, 2015
- WEEK 7
- Monday, Oct. 26, 2015
- Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015
- Friday, Oct. 30, 2015
- WEEK 8
- Monday, Nov. 2, 2015
- Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015
- Friday, Nov. 6, 2015
- WEEK 9
- Monday, Nov. 9, 2015
- Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015
- Friday, Nov. 13, 2015
If you would like to sign up to receive the Life's Healing Choices emails, please click the Sign Up button below:
We're continuing to explore the teachings of Jesus as we look at "Jesus Stories: Earthly Stories with Heavenly Truths." The parables of Jesus.
Join us as we explore some of the most challenging teachings of Jesus in his best known "Sermon on the Mount".
As Christians, we believe in God and all that He's done by faith, and this faith is a gift that comes from God Himself! And yet, how can we see support for the things we believe by faith in the world around us? How can we see support for this faith in our own lives? Join us as we explore "Reasons for the Hope".