Over the years, I’ve had occasion to preach a number of sermon series as a way of exploring some theme or idea over a number of Sundays. Some of my favorite series are below.
Click on the name of the series to expand the bar to see its contents
St. Matthew Wants You to Know (Fall 2020)
An exploration of the parables of St. Matthew’s gospel and the central message the evangelist wanted to convey
- St. Matthew Wants You to Know that Jesus Is Really Big on Forgiveness (9/13/2020)
- St. Matthew Wants You to Know that God’s Grace is Free (9/20/2020)
- St. Matthew Wants You to Know that Talk Is Cheap (9/27/2020)
- St. Matthew Wants You to Know that Faith is Known by its Fruit (10/4/2020)
- St. Matthew Wants You to Be Ready for Anything (10/11/2020)
Our Mission (Summer 2020)
A reflection on the mission of St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church: Inclusive Community. Connecting in Christ. Making a Difference.
Questions of Faith (Spring 2020)
An exploration of the more commonly asked questions by Christians about their faith.
- Questions of Faith: Am I Lost If I Have Doubt? (4/19/2020)
- Questions of Faith: Is the Resurrection Real? (4/26/2020)
- Questions of Faith: Why Does God Allow Evil? (5/3/2020)
- Questions of Faith: Do Non-Christians Go to Heaven? (5/10/2020)
- Questions of Faith: How is Jesus Both Human and Divine? (5/17/2020)
- Questions of Faith: Does Forgiveness Require Me to Be a Victim? (5/24/2020)
A Journey Through the Wilderness (Spring 2020)
A reflection on the wilderness experiences of our lives and where we can encounter God in the midst of the wilderness.
- The Wilderness of Want March 1, 2020
- The Wilderness of Fear March 8, 2020
- The Wilderness of Despair March 15, 2020
- The Wilderness of Tragedy March 22, 2020
- The Wilderness of Death and Loss March 29, 2020
- The Wilderness of Betrayal April 5, 2020
- The Promised Land April 12, 2020
A Dystopian Lent (Spring 2016)
Interest in dystopian fiction is at an all-time high. But is the interest in these stories a novelty or part of an ancient tradition of reflecting on the great evils we face as a people? In this Lenten sermon series, we explore some of the more popular dystopian visions and how they might help reveal a concern that is at the heart of the gospel, a gospel that does not leave us in dystopia, but calls us through the broken world into the hope of the Kingdom of God.
“The Road: All Has Come to Ash“
February 10, 2016, Ash Wednesday, 11pm
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; Psalm 51:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
“The Giver: The Absence of Free Will”
February 14, 2016, First Sunday in Lent
The Temptation in the Wilderness
Deuteronomy 26:1-11; Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16; Romans 18:8b-13; Luke 4:1-13
“Children of Men: We Are Cut Off“
February 21, 2016, Second Sunday in Lent, 7pm
Abram’s Heir & the Sorrow of Jerusalem
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35
“The Hunger Games: Sacrifice of the Innocent”
February 28, 2016, Third Sunday in Lent, 7pm
The Tower of Siloam
Isaiah 55:1-9; Psalm 63:1-8; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9
NO SERVICES—SPRING BREAK
March 6, 2016, Fourth Sunday in Lent, 7pm
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
Joshua 5:9-12; Psalm 32; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
“The Walking Dead: The Dead Among Us“
March 13, 2016, Fifth Sunday in Lent, 7pm
Mary Anoints Jesus at the House of Lazarus
Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3:4b-14; John 12:1-8
“1984: The Oppression of the System“
March 20, 2016, Sixth Sunday in Lent (Passion/Palm Sunday), 7pm
The Passion & Crucifixion
Isaiah 50:4–9a; Psalm 31:9–16 (UMH 764); Philippians 2:5–11; Luke 23:1-49
“Star Trek: The Better World Awaiting“
March 27, 2016, Easter Sunday, 7pm
The Resurrection
Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24 (UMH 839); 1 Corinthians 15:19-26; Luke 24:1-12
Lent and Easter with Game of Thrones (Spring 2014)
The Chronicles of Narnia are an overt Christian allegory. The Lord of the Rings is steeped in Christian theology, particularly in its pitting good versus evil. But what on earth could a morally complex story full of lots of gray areas like Game of Thrones possibly have to teach us about Christian faith? “Different roads sometimes lead to the same castle.”
March 5, 2014, Ash Wednesday, 11pm
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; Psalm 51:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
NO SERVICES—SPRING BREAK
March 9, 2014, First Sunday in Lent
The Temptation in the Wilderness
Genesis 2:15–17; 3:1–7; Psalm 32 (UMH 766); Romans 5:12–19; Matthew 4:1–11
“You Know Nothing, Jon Snow”
March 16, 2014, Second Sunday in Lent, 7pm
The New Birth
Genesis 12:1–4a; Psalm 121 (UMH 844); Romans 4:1–5, 13–17; John 3:1–17
March 23, 2014, Third Sunday in Lent, 7pm
The Samaritan Woman at the Well & The Fields Ripe for Harvest
Exodus 17:1–7; Psalm 95 (UMH 814); Romans 5:1–11; John 4:5–42
“I Have a Tender Spot for Cripples and Bastards and Broken Things“
March 30, 2014, Fourth Sunday in Lent, 7pm
The Healing of the Man Born Blind
1 Samuel 16:1–13; Psalm 23 (UMH 754 or 137); Ephesians 5:8–14; John 9:1–41
April 6, 2014, Fifth Sunday in Lent, 7pm
The Raising of Lazarus
Ezekiel 37:1–14; Psalm 130 (UMH 848); Romans 8:6–11; John 11:1–45
“Valar Morghulis; Valar Dohaeris—All Men Must Die; All Men Must Serve“
April 13, 2014, Sixth Sunday in Lent (Passion/Palm Sunday), 7pm
The Passion & Crucifixion
Isaiah 50:4–9a; Psalm 31:9–16 (UMH 764); Philippians 2:5–11; Matthew 26:14–27:66
“Night Gathers—And Now My Watch Begins“
April 17, 2014, Maundy Thursday, 11pm
The Agony in the Garden
Mark 14:22-49
“The Man Who Passes the Sentence Should Swing the Sword“
April 18, 2014, Good Friday, 12 noon
The Sentencing and Crucifixion of Jesus
Matthew 27:11-26
“For the Night Is Dark and Full of Terrors“
April 19, 2014, Easter Vigil, midnight
The Empty Tomb
Matthew 28:1–10
“There Is Only One Thing We Say to Death: Not Today“
April 20, 2014, Easter Sunday, 7pm
The Resurrection
Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24 (UMH 839); Colossians 3:1–4; Matthew 28:1–10
View Clips from Game of Thrones
Need to get up to speed on Game of Thrones? View our playlist of clips.
Listen to “A Game of Alleluias”, our setting of Easter Alleluias to the theme from Game of Thrones, sung as the recessional on Easter Sunday.
What Christians Have to Learn … (Fall 2013)
As a religion defined by the Great Commission to spread the Gospel to all the nations of the earth, Christianity often imagines itself as a faith from which others need to learn. But what are the things that Christians themselves have to learn from others? The following sermons are from a sermon series exploring what Christians can learn from aspects of our culture and from those around us.
9 Lies You Hear in Church (Fall 2012)
Popular Christianity has often reduced deep spiritual truths to simple bumper-sticker statements or theological sound-bites and these can change the way that people understand their faith. In this sermon series we expose some of the more unhelpful (and misleading) things Christians say and look at the deeper truth that doesn’t get said enough.
| 1. Everything Is Fine | September 9 |
| 2. If You Pray Hard Enough, God Will Answer | September 16 |
| 3. God Never Gives You More than You Can Bear | September 23 |
| 4. Christians Should Always Be Happy | September 30 |
| 5. Our Faith Gets Us to God | October 7 |
| 6. The Bible Teaches Us How to Live | October 14 |
| 7. Sacred Is the Opposite of Secular | October 21 |
| 8. It’s All Part of God’s Plan | October 28 |
| 9. Salvation is About Getting into Heaven | November 4 |
Inspired by and based in part upon Steve McVey’s 52 Lies Heard in Church Every Sunday (and Why the Truth Is So Much Better)
Lent and Easter with U2 (Spring 2011)
The music of U2 is among the best music to reflect on Christian themes. It can be argued that U2’s theological reflection surpasses all of the other self-consciously “Christian” bands. Join us this Lent as we use the music of U2 to reflect on the passages of scripture we encounter during Lent and Easter and re-encounter these texts with new power and meaning.
“Desire” (Desire)
March 13, 2011, First Sunday in Lent The Temptation in the Wilderness Genesis 2:15–17; 3:1–7; Psalm 32 (UMH 766); Romans 5:12–19; Matthew 4:1–11
“Always Pain Before a Child is Born” (Yahweh)
March 20, 2011, Second Sunday in Lent The New Birth Genesis 12:1–4a; Psalm 121 (UMH 844); Romans 4:1–5, 13–17; John 3:1–17
“No More Water in the Well” (Trip Through Your Wires)
March 27, 2011, Third Sunday in Lent The Samaritan Woman at the Well Exodus 17:1–7; Psalm 95 (UMH 814); Romans 5:1–11; John 4:5–42
“I Was Blind; I Could Not See” (I Will Follow)
April 3, 2011, Fourth Sunday in Lent The Healing of the Man Born Blind 1 Samuel 16:1–13; Psalm 23 (UMH 754 or 137); Ephesians 5:8–14; John 9:1–41
“Whose Sons Are Living in the Ground” (Peace on Earth)
Rev. J. Cody Nielsen, April 10, 2011, Fifth Sunday in Lent The Raising of Lazarus Ezekiel 37:1–14; Psalm 130 (UMH 848); Romans 8:6–11; John 11:1–45
“Only Love Can Leave Such a Mark” (Magnificent)
April 17, 2011, Sixth Sunday in Lent (Passion/Palm Sunday) The Crucifixion Isaiah 50:4–9a; Psalm 31:9–16 (UMH 764); Philippians 2:5–11; Matthew 26:14–27:66
“It’s a Beautiful Day” (Beautiful Day)
April 24, 2011, Easter Sunday The Resurrection Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24 (UMH 839); Colossians 3:1–4; Matthew 28:1–10
10 Things I Hate About Church (Fall 2010)
A sermon series exploring the things that people tend to think
about Christians and Christianity.
| 1. Boring & | |
| 2. Out of Touch | September 26 |
| 3. Homophobia | October 3 |
| 4. Judgmentalism & | |
| 5. Intolerance | October 10 |
| 6. Hypocrisy | October 17 |
| 7. Sexist Language | October 24 |
| 8. Divisiveness | October 31 |
| 9. “Are You Saved?” | November 7 |
| 10. Too Political | November 14 |
Bible Stories for Grown-Ups (Fall 2009)
A sermon series exploring the deeper meaning behind the stories you heard in Sunday School or saw on Veggie Tales.
The One with the Talking Snake
Genesis 3:1-17; Sunday, September 27, 7pm, Kay
The One with the Boatload of Animals
Genesis 7:1-24; Sunday, October 4, 7pm, Kay
The One with the Kid Who Got the Nice Coat
Genesis 37:2-36; Sunday, October 11, 7pm, Kay
The One Where It’s Good to Be the King (but Queen, Not So Great)
Esther, Sunday, October 18, 7pm, Kay
The One Where the Guy Gets Swallowed by a Whale
Jonah 1:1-3:2, Sunday, October 25, 7pm, Kay
The One with the Man in the Den of Lions
Daniel 6:1-24; Sunday, November 1, 7pm, Kay
The 7 Words You Can’t Say in Church (Fall 2008)
A sermon series exploring issues that Christians don’t normally address or are assumed to address in a particular way.
#1. Evolution Sunday, September 28, 7pm, Kay Are those little Jesus and Darwin fish on your car really enemies?
#2. (Christian) Intolerance Sunday, October 5, 7pm, Kay If Christians are supposed to be about love, why do they often act so hateful to those who are “different”?
#3. Abortion Sunday, October 12, 7pm, Kay Are “pro-choice” and “pro-life” really the only options available to people on this difficult issue? Or can Christians actually bring some measure of healing to our divisions?
#4. Sex Sunday, October 19, 7pm, Kay Why should something so natural be so often considered so sinful? Is there a way Christians can talk about sexuality that is honest and healthy?
#5. Politics Sunday, October 26, 7pm, Kay What is the proper role for faith in politics–if any? Does Christian faith necessarily tie you to one political party? Or can faith actually have something to say about the way our politics is practiced?
#6. Death Sunday, November 2, 7pm, Kay Why do people in today’s culture have such a hard time being honest about death? Can we truly have an authentic faith without being honest about the reality of death?
#7. She (God and the Feminine) Sunday, November 9, 7pm, Kay, Is God really a “he”? Or is there room for the feminine in our understanding of God?