Sweet Spots
Ideas and messages from Len Sweet.
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You Are Not Your Own
You Are Not Your Own 14 January 2018 2nd Sunday After Epiphany 1 Samuel 2:1-10 (11-20) Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 John 1:43-51 Text to Life Who just went on a new diet? Anyone here? . . . . . . What diet are you now on? [Make this…
Epiphany –An Exploration of Light
Arise! Shine! For your Light has come! Isaiah 60:1
Light is a mystery. From a scientific perspective, it is both particle and wave, both seen and unseen, and contains multiple components on the electromagnetic spectrum. We believe that light helps to make things apparent, that it reveals what is hidden or dark. But light itself is also hidden to the human eye. read more…
Inflections –Preaching Tip for 14 January 2018
Inflections make or break a good sermon. Make sure you are conversing with people, not just speaking “at” them. The word in scripture when Jesus speaks with His disciples is “lalein” –to chatter, discuss, chat with, converse with…. all together like “bird twitter.” Jesus’ sermons were conversational. The more monotone…
Pastor’s Prayer for 14 January 2018
You are God: we praise you;
You are the Lord; we acclaim you;
You are the eternal Father:
All creation worships you.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;
Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,
and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the king of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you became man to set us free
you did not shun the Virgin’s womb.
You overcame the sting of death
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come and be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.
-You are God (Te Deum Laudamus)
Apologetics and the Christian Imagination
Apologetics and the Christian Imagination:
An Integrated Approach to Defending the Faith
by Holly Ordway
–Review by Teri Hyrkas
While chatting with a friend recently, I mentioned the book Apologetics and the Christian Imagination by Holly Ordway. My coffee-buddy Rebecca looked at me quizzically. “Do you mean apologetics and imagination are topics in the same book?” she asked. “How odd. I wouldn’t think imagination would go well with apologetics.” Despite the apparent contradiction of terms in the title, Holly Ordway has made a compelling argument in Apologetics and the Christian Imagination for the use of apologetics, especially imaginative apologetics, to defend the Christian faith. read more…
New Year’s Blessings
It’s that time of year, again. Resolutions, Times Square, fireworks, champagne, and kisses at midnight, followed by College football. Or, maybe you prefer Chamomile tea and early to bed, with the Rose Bowl parade set on the DVR. Either way, our New Year’s Eve/Day routines can become engrained over time. One routine that I hope you’ll embrace is to start the year with a blessing.
This week’s playlist is a remarkable collection of blessings: listen closely and choose one that particularly resonates with you. Then, add it to you morning or evening routine. Let the words sink into your soul. Be reminded of God’s promises. Let the Holy Spirit stir up hope. Breathe. read more…
Turmoil Brewing, Herod Stewing, Prophecy, and Porridge
Turmoil Brewing, Herod Stewing, Prophecy, and Porridge Story Lectionary 7 January 2018 Presentation of Jesus in the Temple Cain’s and Abel’s First Fruits Sacrifice (Genesis 4) The Story of Jacob and Esau and Their Father’s Firstborn Blessing (Genesis 27) The Consecration of the First Born (Exodus 13) A Woman’s Purification…
The Year in Review
Biologos Top 20 Blog Posts of the Year
Summary: BioLogos invites the church and the world to see the harmony between science and biblical faith as we present an evolutionary understanding of God’s creation.
Read more at: https://goo.gl/jCPGv6
Digitally mined from: www.biologos.org
Christianity Today’s Top 20 News Stories of 2017
Summary: Christianity Today ranks these stories in order of which ones were read the most. Quite an interesting mix. Everything from high profile evangelicals converting to Orthodoxy to the “death of the megachurch.” read more…
Plough Sunday
Plough Sunday Lectionary 7 January 2018 The Epiphany of Our Lord Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-7; 10-14 Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12 Text to Life *NOTE: We are focusing on the text and theme of Epiphany, which is celebrated on January 6. The theme and texts for Sunday, January 7, 2018 celebrate…
Metaphors manifest within Time and Place –Preaching Tip for 7 January 2018
Metaphor is timeless. This is the beauty of metaphor. This is why the Hebrew scriptures can be so enduring and wonderful and illuminate Jesus so well! But metaphor also manifests within Time and Place. And we need to understand how and why certain metaphors were chosen for specific moments. For…