Sweet Spots
Ideas and messages from Len Sweet.
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Who Has Custody?
Who Has Custody? Lectionary 13 May 2018 Day of Ascension / Festival of the Christian Home / 7th Sunday of Easter Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 Psalm 1 1 John 5:9-13 John 17:6-19 Text to Life Want to hear a “fierce mama” story? It seems a mama possum was trundling along with…
Easter 6
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”
John 15:12-17
This week’s playlist features piano music of Bach, Chopin, Grieg, Mozart, and Gjeilo. read more…
The Marriage Metaphors –Preaching Tips for 13 May 2018
The scriptures are filled with marriage metaphors. These are the meat of the covenant in the Hebrew/Jewish understanding. We don’t understand Betrothal in the same way today. However, a betrothal was a binding contract, sealed with a covenant meal. And then there would be a time of waiting –up to…
Pastor’s Prayer for 13 May 2018
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him–since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened–so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe.
–A Prayer by Paul (Ephesians 1:17-19)
Befriend
Befriend:
Create Belonging in an Age of Judgment, Isolation and Fear
By Scott Sauls
–Review by Teri Hyrkas
Recently there were notices on Facebook encouraging people to participate in the Friends Day event on line. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO and co-founder, instituted Friends Day to acknowledge the millions of people who have connected on Facebook. It is because of Facebook that the idea of being a “friend” has expanded to include people who meet and establish a digital relationship while using a social networking platform. But here a question arises: Has Facebook widened or has it weakened the meaning of the word friend? Is it possible for digital friends to be considered real friends? read more…
Living a Jesus Powered Life
Living a Jesus Powered Life Story Lectionary 6 May 2018 The Commissioning of the Disciples by Jesus The Story of Noah’s Mission and the Rebirth of the World (Genesis 8 and 9) The Story of Tamar’s Mission to Bear a child of the Covenant (Genesis 38) The Birth and Saving…
The 10 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know
The 10 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know Lectionary 6 May 2018 6th Sunday of Easter Acts 10:44-48 Psalm 98 1 John 5:1-6 John 15:9-17 Text to Life Just as every country or region has its own historical language, so each family has its own unique thesaurus, words that derive…
Easter 5
From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him. The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD.
May your hearts live forever!
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.
For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. read more…
Mountaintop Metaphors –Preaching Tip for 5 May 2018
The metaphor of mountain typically symbolizes a place where one meets God. The mountaintop lies above or within the clouds, a place where reason and everyday “sight” don’t apply. Instead, the mountaintop is bathed in mystery, clouds, intensity of light, and a view of the world significantly different than from…
Pastor’s Prayer for 5 May 2018
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
(Ephesians 6:14-18)