Sermon Schedule 2017 Desert Streams Lutheran Church JANUARY 1 Luke 2:21-38 Fulfillment of a Promise RR: Psalm 131:1-3 Simeon and Anna see the Messiah a fulfillment of God s promise to them. They are now able to depart in peace. 8 Luke 3:1-22 Adopted and Sent RR: Psalm 51:6-17 John baptizes, bear fruit worthy of repentance and share what you have. 15 Luke 4:14-30 Who s First RR: Psalm 146:1-10 Jesus proclaims that Isaiah s prophecy has been fulfilled. The inclusion of all people in to God s family is foreshadowed. 22 Luke 5:1-11 Catching Fish and People RR: Psalm 27:1, 4-9 God is a God of abundance. God provides an abundant catch of fish for Peter and promises an abundant catch of people for the kingdom. 29 Luke 6:1-16 Breaking Down Barriers RR: Psalm 92:1-4, 10-15 The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath and breaks down barriers in order to achieve good. FEBRUARY 5 Luke 7:1-17 From Death to Life RR: Psalm 112:1-9 Jesus has compassion on a widow who has lost her only son. No one is able to care for her. Jesus raises her son from the dead. 12 Luke 7:18-35 Signs of the Kingdom RR: Psalm 119:1-8 John questions if Jesus is truly the Messiah. Jesus instructs John s disciples to tell John what is happening and how the kingdom is evident. 19 Luke 7:36-50 Unconditional Forgiveness RR: Psalm 119:33-40 A women weeps at Jesus feet and is forgiven. 26 Luke 9:28-45 In All His Glory! RR: Psalm 36:5-10 Jesus is transfigured before the disciples and they hear God declaring that Jesus is God s Son and that the disciples should listen to him. MARCH
1. Mark 15:37-45 "The Centurion"Luke (Ash Wednesday) The Centurion reflects on the political turmoil surrounding Jesus' execution and the impression he received seeing an innocent man die. (King through weakness and love) 5 Luke 8:1-3, Matthew 27:55-56 "Mary Magdalene" Mary talks about her relationship with Jesus that started when he exorcise a demon from her and continued through his ministry. (Changed life with Jesus, forgiveness and hope) 12 Mark 15:16-27, "Simon of Cyrene" Simon talks about what it was like o bear Jesus' cross as Jesus journeyed to Calvary. (Chance encounters, God works through coincidences) 19 Matthew 27:15-24, "Pilates Wife" Pilate's wife had a dream about Jesus and did want her husband to have anything to do with him. Her voice was not heeded and she saw the events that followed. (Lives of abundance, people matter) 26 Luke 23:50-56, "Joseph of Arimathea" Joseph, a leader of the Jewish people and member of the Sanhedrin, talks about being a part of the group that condemned Jesus to death and also being present at Jesus' burial. (Faithfulness) APRIL 2. Luke 2:25-40, John 19:25-27 "Mary Mother of Jesus" Mary remembers her feelings about Jesus' ministry and what it was like to watch her son die on a cross. (Difficult discipleship) 9 (Palm Sunday) John 3:1-15, 19:58-42 "Nicodemus" Nicodemus came to Jesus under the cover of darkness and learned what it meant to be born from above. From that time he was not only a leader of his people, but also a follower of Jesus. (New birth, freedom) 14 (Good Friday) Matthew 26:14-16, 47-49, 27:3-10, "Judas" Judas talks about his discipleship with Jesus and what made him betray Jesus. 16 (Easter) John 20:1-8 "Mary Magdalene" Mary Magdalene recalls her experience of finding an empty tomb and of realizing that Jesus had risen from the dead. (Forgiveness, Power of God s love, Resurrection)
23 Luke 24:13-35 Do You See Him? RR: Psalm 16:1-11 Jesus walks with two disciples and reveals himself to them in eating of bread and drinking of wine. 30 Acts 6:1-7 Called to Serve RR: Psalm 116 1-4, 12-19 Conflict surfaces in the church the needy are being neglected. Stephen and others are chosen to serve the needy. MAY 7 Acts 8:26-39 The Good News Spreads RR: Psalm 23 1-6 The Spirit uses both the scripture and Phillip to spread the good news of God s love and grace. 14 Acts 15:1-18 Who Can Join? RR: Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16. The council at Jerusalem concludes that grace and faith come to both Jews and Gentiles. 21 Galatians 1:13-17, 2:11-21 Lives of Faith RR: Psalm 66:8-20 It s difficult to break free of life based on works to a life based on faith. Paul confronts Peter and the Galatians. 28 Galatians 3:1-9, 23-29 Unified! RR: Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 Paul proclaims that we are all one in Christ. JUNE 4 Acts 2:1-4; Galatians 4:1-7 Part of the Family Pentecost: God pours the Spirit into our hearts so we can call on God as Father. 11 Psalm 100 Celebrate God s Love The Psalmist calls God s people to enter the courts of the Lord with singing. 18 Psalm 13, God Help Us! In difficult times, God s answers our prayers and stands with us. 25 Psalm 23, Cared For The Lord is our Shephers who provides for us and protects us. JULY 2 Psalm 30, God s Healing Power The Lord moves powerfully in our lives to heal us.
9 Psalm 150, Strike Up the Band The Psalmist calls God s People to praise God with everything we have. 16 Ephesians 1:1-14, Overwhelming Grace From the being God destined us for adoption as God s children through Jesus Christ. 23 Ephesians 2:11-22, Unified God has brought us together and made us equal. 30 Ephesians 4:1-16, Gifted Each of us have received God s grace and gifts that are to be used to God s glory and the fellowships benefit. AUGUST 8 Ephesians 6:10-20, Offense and Defense Paul instructs his readers to put on all of God s armor in order to be truly victorious is spreading God s kingdom. 13 Psalm 46; Acts 2:37-42, Baptized into God s Family (Sacarments) From the very beginning of the Church baptism has been an avenue through which God moves and adopts us as God s own. 20 Psalm 84; Romans 6:1-11, From Death to Life In our baptism we die so that we might live. 27 Psalm 65; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, Doing It Right Holy Communion is meant to bring us closer to God and to each other, and not separate us. SEPTEMBER 3 Mark 14:12-25, Encountering Jesus Friend and foe all encounter Jesus through eating the bread and drinking the wine. 10 Genesis 1:1-2:4a, It s All Good! RR:Psalm 119:33-40 (If we are still conducting only one worship service, the responsive reading will be eliminated.) God created by word light and life. It was all good. 17 Genesis 21:1-3; 22:1-14 Level of Commitment RR:Psalm 103:8-13 God gives Abraham and Sarah a son in their old age. God then tells Abraham to sacrifice his son. Preventing the sacrifice, God provides a ram.
24 Genesis 27:1-4, 15-23; 28:10-17 Unworthy Recipients RR:Psalm 145 1-8 Jacob gets a blessing by trickery, flees, dreams of a ladder with angels ascending and descending. He then receives God s promise. OCTOBER (Stewardship Emphasis Program will be October 1, 8, 15, 22.) 1 2 Corinthians 9:11-15 Praising God RR:Psalm 25:1-9 One of the ways that we respond to God s overwhelming Grace is to praise God by our words and actions. 8 1 John 4:7-12 Loving Neighbor RR:Psalm 80:7-15 Loving our neighbor (those in need) is at the center of the teachings of Jesus. God meets our needs abundantly and asks us to share those blessings and love our neighbor. 15 Romans 12:9-13 Serving Jesus RR:Psalm 23:1-6 God has equipped us with many gifts and talents so that we can use those gifts and talents to serve God and to spread the kingdom of God. 22 James 2:8, 14-17 Helping Others RR: Psalm 51:1-17 We respond to God s grace when we look beyond ourselves, see the needs of others and strive to met those needs. 29 1 Kings 5:1-5; 8:1-13 God s Presence RR:Psalm 1:1-6 Solomon s Temple is a place of sacrifice and divine presence. NOVEMBER 5 1 Kings 19:1-18 People Whisperer RR:Psalm 34:1-10, 22 Elijah is at Mount Hereb. The prophet is in despair and God speaks to him in silence. 12 Amos 1:1-2; 5:14-15, 21-24 The Cry for Justice RR:Psalm 70:1-5 Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. 19 Isaiah 9:1-7 The Birth of Hope RR:Psalm 90:1-8 The people who walked in darness have seen a great light 22 (Thanksgiving Eve) Deuteronomy 8:7-18 Antidote As the Israelites enter Canaan, God warns them not to be so lost in their abundance that they forget that it is God who gives it to them. 26 Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14 Great Expectations RR:Psalm 95:1-7a Seek the welfare of the city; God knows the plans that God has for us.
DECEMBER 3 Luke 2:8-14 The Gift of Hope RR:Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 Our first gift of Advent is the gift of Hope. The hope that we have as followers of Jesus is in the gift of Jesus to the world. 10 John 3:1-21 The Gift of Love RR:Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 The second gift of Advent is the gift of love. God s love is shown to us and given to us in the person of Jesus. 17 Psalm 96 1-13 The Gift of Joy (No responsive reading on this Sunday). The third gift of Advent is the gift of joy. We have joy the the relationship and life that God has given us in the person of Jesus Christ. 24 (Morning) Romans 5:1-11 The Gift of Peace RR:Psalm 96:1-13 The fourth gift of Advent is the gift of peace. We have peace with God through the cross of Christ. We experience this peace as we rest in Jesus. 24 (Christmas Eve) Luke 2:1-14 The Gift of Jesus Jesus is born, Alleluia! 31 John 1:19-34 Knowing Who We Are RR:Psalm Psalm 148:1-14 John the Baptist is questioned; says he is not the Christ or Elijah January 2018 7 John 1:35-51 Experiential Faith RR: Psalm 66:1-5 John points out Jesus to his disciples and says that Jesus is the Lamb of God. When John s disciples ask Jesus about this, he invites them to come and see. Faith leads us into the experience of Jesus. 14 John 2:1-11 More Than Enough RR: Psalm 104:14-16 At the wedding of Cana, Jesus changed the water into wine and provided more than enough wine for the celebrants. In the middle of our celebration of life, God provides all that we need for the festivities and then some. 21 John 2:13-25 Something New RR: Psalm 127:1-2 The temple had become a symbol of the oppression of God s people and the cruel and perverted control of the religious leaders. Into such a situation God comes and brings something new. 28 John 3:1-21 The Student RR: Psalm 139:13-18 When we come to God with an open mind and an open heart, we are able to learn about life with God and God s love for all the people of the world.