Sweet Spots
Ideas and messages from Len Sweet.
Here, you can comment on any post to participate in the discussion.
It’s A Love Story
It’s a Love Story Lectionary 30 June 2019 4th Sunday After Pentecost 2 Kings 2:1-2 Psalm 16 Galatians 5:1, 13-25 Luke 9:51-62 Text to Life We celebrate the New Year in January, but a lot of big endings and new beginnings occur six months later. The month of June is…
Using Props –Preaching Tip for 30 June 2019
The more you can use props, the more people can feel/embody your message. Try to gather a plethora of touchable items, such as shepherds’ staff, hyssop, olive tree, almonds, and other biblical items, so people can see the items you are speaking about. Not only then are your metaphors visual…
Pastor’s Prayer for 30 June 2019
Medieval Morning Prayer
Jesu Lord, blyssed thou be,
For all this nyght thou hast me kepe
From the fend and his poste,
Whether I wake or that I slepe.
In grete deses and dedly synne,
Many one this nyght fallyn has,
That I my selve schuld have fallyn in,
Hadyst thou not kepyd me with thi grace.
Lord, gyffe me grace to thi worschype,
This dey to spend in thi plesanse;
And kepe me fro wyked felyschipe,
And from the fendys comberance.
Jesu, my tunge thou reule all so,
That I not speke bot it be nede,
Hertly to pray fore frend and fo,
And herme no man in word ne dede.
Cryste, gyffe me grace, off mete and drynke
This dey to take mesurably,
In dedly synne that I not synke
Thorow outrage of foule glotony.
Jesu my lord, Jesu my love,
And all that I ame bond unto,
Thi blyssing send fro hevyn above,
And gyffe them grace wele to do.
My gode angell that arte to me send
From God to be my governour,
From all evyll sprytys thou me defend,
And in my desesys to be my socoure.
Third Sunday After Pentecost
Today we start off with “Thanks” by Ceili Rain.
After you have listened to the above song, read Psalm 3.
Now Listen to this song by Keith Green—(Yes, this is a throwback)
Now, how do you feel?
Now read 1 Samuel 2: 1-10.
Now listen to “Days of Elijah”
What’s my point? No matter what we are going through, even when we don’t “feel like it”, we are His and HE will see us through. Our job is to sit back, hang on, and let God drive. Now I am not talking about a Sunday drive. I am talking about space mountain with no seat belts! Yet, HE will deliver us safe. There is no one like YHWH. He will save!
The Wild Within
The Wild Within Story Lectionary 30 June 2019 Jacob (Israel) Wrestles with God (Genesis 32:22-32) God’s Commandments (Deuteronomy 4-6) Psalm 91: Because He Loves Me, I Will Rescue Him Psalm 3: From the Lord Comes Deliverance The Righteousness of the Righteous Delivers Them (Proverbs 11) The Book of Job Hannah’s…
The Crack in the Wall
The Crack in the WallStory Lectionary23 June 2019The Story of Tamar (Genesis 38)The Story of Rahab (Joshua 1-6)The Story of RuthAll Shall Keep the Passover, one Passover for Resident and Native (Numbers 9)The Story of Bathsheba (the wife of Uriah) and King David (2 Samuel 11-12)Psalm 47: God Reigns Over…
What Happens at the Beach Doesn’t Stay at the Beach –Guest Sermon by Jesse Caldwell
What Happens at the Beach Doesn’t Stay at the BeachGuest Sermon by Jesse CaldwellLectionary23 June 20192nd Sunday After Pentecost1 Kings 19:1-15aPsalm 42Galatians 3:23-29Luke 8:26-39Text to LifeSometime this summer, I’ll bet a lot of you will be going to the beach, whether it be the ocean, river or lakeshore. The beach…
Follow the Metaphor –Preaching Tip for 23 June 2019
Follow the metaphor: Metaphors are like rabbits. You need to chase them down holes and into crevices and into the past wormholes in order to find their origins and their history. Once you understand them in their contexts, you can transport them into current context. The metaphors of baptism and…
Pastor’s Prayer for 23 June 2019
Come, O Holy Ghost, the Lord and Lifegiver; take up Thy dwelling within my soul, and make of it Thy sacred temple.
Make me live by grace as an adopted son of God.
Pervade all the energies of my soul, and create in me a fountain of living water springing up into life everlasting. Amen.
–The Catholic Church of England and Wales
Second Sunday After Pentecost
Last week we celebrated Trinity Sunday as well as the Baptism of Jesus. This week, I wanted to focus even more on Jesus. As I read through the verses and stories for this week in the Revised Lectionary and The Story Lectionary, I was overwhelmed by the presence of Jesus in each reading. So, today I wanted us to listen to some songs about Jesus. As you look, see where you find Jesus winking at you. In some of these songs, it will be apparent, in some songs, you will have focus. Either way, Jesus is waiting for you to join Him in the song!
Celtic Woman – Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring (live)
“Africa” le Toto as Gaeilge
Avicii – Wake Me Up (Official Video)
Casting Crowns – Only Jesus (Official Lyric Video)