
STEFAN MATZAL'S RESEARCH PROJECT
Dear Pastor, May I conduct research at your church?
Here's what it will require of you:
-
Invite me to preach a sermon from Ezra-Nehemiah at your church some time this summer (or late spring).
-
Send an email to your congregation, inviting congregants who listened to the sermon to participate in a focus group that I will conduct on Zoom.
The sermon I would preach at your church
Your choice of one from the following three options:
-
"Neither Assimilation Nor Isolation," A Sermon from Ezra 4–6.
-
"The Problem of Shame in a Secular Society," A Sermon from Nehemiah 1–6.
-
"Covenant Renewal in Post-Christendom America," A Sermon from Nehemiah 8–10.
Click on the sermon title above for more information about each sermon.
Why It Matters (video)
The Focus Group Interview on Zoom
-
I will ask you to send this email to your congregation, inviting them to participate.
-
I will conduct the interview some time during the week following the Sunday on which I preach at your church.
-
The topic of discussion will be the application points of the sermon. I will be asking participants to discuss their street level experiences living as a Christian in a secular culture. Where do they feel pressure to assimilate to the patterns of the world?
-
My goal is to have approximately seven to ten people attend the focus group interview.
Sundays on which I'm available to preach (this list last updated Mar 7, 2023)
-
April 16
-
May 28 (Memorial Day weekend)
-
Jun 4
-
Jun 18 (note this is Father's Day)
-
Jun 25
-
July 2
-
July 9
-
July 16
How to sign up (my contact info)
-
Choose a date on which I would preach at your church and send your choice to me by text (315-480-0407) or email (smatzal@trinitysyr.org).
-
Since you don't know me personally yet, if you would be interested, prior to confirming a date, we could converse by phone or Zoom--you could ask me anything you like.
More about me and this research project
-
My bio on my church website.
-
My CV.
-
More about my research project.
-
My completed dissertation should be available in late 2024; however, prior to that time I will share a summary of my research findings with all participating churches.