Sermons
Weekly professional powerhouse sermons by Leonard Sweet.
Lean In
Lean InLectionary11 August 20199th Sunday After PentecostIsaiah 1:1, 10-20Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16Luke 12:32-40Text to LifeIn 1962 the Newberry Medal for children’s literature was awarded to Madeline L’Engle for her novel “A Wrinkle in Time.” Her manuscript had been rejected by 26 publishers before someone decided to take a risk…
Soul Storage
Soul Storage Lectionary 4 August 2019 8th Sunday After Pentecost Hosea 11:1-11 Psalm 49:1-12 Colossians 3:1-11 Luke 12:13-21 We live in a consumer culture, and in a consumer culture the only thing better than getting “new stuff” is getting MORE “new stuff.” With all the online purchasing sites it…
God Will Take Care of You
God Will Take Care of YouLectionary28 July 20197th Sunday After PentecostHosea 1:2-10Psalm 85Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19)Luke 11:1-13Text to LifeApparently, it will be on the market “soon.” Pampers brand disposable diapers just announced that a new “high tech” version of their product is about to be made public. Yes, you guessed it.…
The Christian Moon Walk
The Christian Moon WalkLectionary21 July 20196th Sunday After PentecostAmos 8:1-12Psalm 52Colossians 1:15-28Luke 10:38-42Text to LifeBack in 1969 the television airwaves were fiercely ruled by the Big Three: ABC, CBS, NBC. There was no one else. PBS didn’t launch until a year later in 1970. In many rural areas only one…
The Samaritan Transgressor
The Samaritan TransgressorLectionary14 July 20195th Sunday After PentecostAmos 7:7-17Psalm 82Colossians 1:1-14Luke 10:25-37Text to LifeIn the aftermath of all the holiday hoopla of the Fourth of July, it is good to remember what kind of country we are celebrating, or at least what kind of “neighbor” our nation was in its…
Pomegranate Love
Pomegranate LoveLectionary7 July 20194th Sunday After Pentecost2 Kings 5:1-14Psalm 30Galatians 6:1-6, 7-16Luke 10:1-11, 16-20Text to LifeCan you see what I have in my hand? [Lift up high a pomegranate]Pomegranates are an amazing, ancient fruit. And they always surprise. Give a five-year old a pomegranate as a snack, and he or…
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…
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…
The Hineini Life
The Hineini Life Lectionary 16 June 2019 Trinity Sunday Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 Romans 5:1-5 John 16:12-15 Text to Life Part of every special childhood memory is the remembrance of a secret hide-away. We all had one, didn’t we? It didn’t really matter whether you had lots of other siblings or…
A Faith Tale
A Faith Tale Lectionary 9 June 2019 Pentecost Sunday Acts 2:1-21 Genesis 11:1-9 Psalm 104:24-34, 35b Romans 8:14-17 Text to Life Fairy tales. When we first think of them, we conjure up images of pixie dust and fairy godmothers and magical mantras that instantly change…