Sweet Spots
Ideas and messages from Len Sweet.
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Scriptural Preaching –Preaching Tip for 27 January 2019
Powerful preaching does not come from you, but from the Holy Spirit. The more you incorporate scripture into your messages, the more you allow the Holy Spirit to move and relate to people. You are the mouthpiece, but Jesus is the Message. Don’t underestimate the amazing power of scripture.
Pastor’s Prayer for 27 January 2019
We beseech You, Master, to be our helper and protector.
Save the afflicted among us; have mercy on the lowly;
Raise up the fallen; appear to the needy; heal the ungodly;
Restore the wanderers of Your people;
Feed the hungry; ransom our prisoners;
Raise up the sick; comfort the faint-hearted.
St Clement of Rome, 1st century-101 AD
God Has Not Forgotten You
God Has Not Forgotten You Story Lectionary 27 January 2019 From Enoch Who Walked with God to Noah Who Walked with God (Genesis 5-8) Jacob Wrestles with God (Genesis 32:24-28) David Teaches God’s People to Seek the Lord Always (1 Chronicles 16) Psalm 35: Plead My Cause O Lord Psalm…
Letters From the Desert
Letters From the Desert
Carlo Carretto
–Review by Landrum P. Leavell III, Th.D.
Last year, in another book I came across the name and a few quotes from this man about whom I’d never heard. I read his book, The God Who Comes. I need to read Catholic mystics from time to time. Protestants have much to learn from their spirituality. This book shows the calling, sacrifice, and lifestyle that teaches us from a sobering, if not indicting, pursuit of God and neighbors that is edifying, educating, and encouraging.
To give some background on the man, born in Alessandria, Italy, in 1910, Carlo Carretto received his degree in philosophy from the University of Turin in 1932. During the Fascist era he was confined to Sardinia, and in the turbulent years following the war he served as National President of Catholic Youth in Italy from 1946-1952. At one time he held a key post in Italian “Catholic Action,” when this church organization played a frequently sinister role in anti-communist policies under Pius XII. read more…
Deep and Wide
Deep and Wide Lectionary 20 January 2019 2nd Sunday After Epiphany Isaiah 62:1-5 Psalm 36:5-10 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 John 2:1-11 Text to Life There is a new “app” you can now download that is called “Calm.” Yep. You heard that right. An “app” called “Calm.” They say there’s an app…
Hiding in Plain Sight
Hiding in Plain Sight Story Lectionary 20 January 2019 Moses’ Mother Hides Him and Moses Later Hides in Midian (Exodus 2) Jonathan Helps David Flee from Ramah and Hide from Saul (1 Samuel 20) The Lord Bids that Elijah Hide in the Kerith Ravine (1 Kings 17) Jehosheba Hides Joash…
Experiencing Jesus –Preaching Tip for 20 January 2019
As a preacher you are a facilitator, a conduit. You are not the main attraction! Sometimes, preaching might seem as if it were the “mainstay” of the service, that the message, or even more so “you” need to live up to a certain level of excellence. But the only “main…
Pastor’s Prayer for 20 January 2019
Lord, our God, you know who we are: People with good and bad consciences; satisfied and dissatisfied, sure and unsure people; Christians out of conviction and Christians out of habit; believers, half-believers, and unbelievers…But now we all stand before you: in all our inequality equal in this, that we are all in the wrong before you and among each other…but also in that your grace is promised to and turned toward all of us through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
–Karl Barth
Turf Fights and Rewrites: That’s What Stiff-Necked People Are Made Of
Turf Fights and Rewrites: That’s What Stiff-Neck People Are Made Of Story Lectionary 13 January 2019 Jesus is Named and Presented in the Temple It is Not Good for Adam to be Alone / Adam Names the Animals (Genesis 2:18-24) God Calls Himself El Shaddai and Names Jacob Israel (Genesis…
Women’s Christmas
Women’s Christmas
To most, today is the celebration of Epiphany: remembering the arrival of the Magi and the presentation of the Christ to the Gentiles. But in some circles, today is also known as “Women’s Christmas.” In particular, the Irish/Celtic tradition celebrates January 6 as the day when women gather together to relax and refresh after the busyness of the season and leave the household duties to the men. We’re told that Mary treasured up her thoughts and pondered them in her heart. What an amazing time it was for her and her new baby. I’m sure she also shared these events with her trusted friends, contemplating and conversing about all of the astonishing things that had happened. read more…