Sermons
Weekly professional powerhouse sermons by Leonard Sweet.
The Jesus Life
The Jesus Life Lectionary 2 June 2019 7th Sunday of Easter Jesus’ Ascension Acts 16:16-34 Psalm 97 Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21 John 17:20-26 Text to Life How many times a day do you wish you could be a planaria? Once? Twice? Never? Well, maybe you never consciously wished to be…
Ready for Rapture
Ready for Rapture Lectionary 26 May 2019 6th Sunday of Easter Acts 16:9-15 Psalm 67 Revelation 21:1-10, 22-22:5 John 14:23-29 The length of our days grows longer, as we approach the summer equinox (still three and a half weeks away). There is more sunlight and…
Lift the Dumbbell for a Smart Life
Lift the Dumbbell for a Smart LifeLectionary19 May 20195th Sunday of EasterActs 11:1-18Psalm 148Revelation 21:1-6John 13:31-35Text to LifePsalm 139 is a hymn known for its opening words. Its first few verses have been favorites of musicians ever since David first composed the song. O LORD, you have searched me and…
“A Rock in a Weary Land”
“A Rock in a Weary Land”Lectionary12 May 20194th Sunday of EasterFestival of the Christian HomeActs 9:36-43Psalm 23Revelation 7:9-17John 10:22-30Text to LifeIn Washington State several communities have recently passed new laws making it illegal to prohibit residents from having certain breeds of dogs as pets. About fifteen years ago, in response…
Blindsided
BlindsidedLectionary5 May 20193rd Sunday of EasterActs 9:1-6 (7-20)Psalm 30Revelation 5:11-14John 21:1-19Text to LifeIt is now truly, fully Spring. So it is now officially “getting stuff in the ground” time. At least, if you want any veggies, fruits, or flowers during the summer. The on-again/off-again weather of April is finally becoming…
Our Alpha and Omega God
Our Alpha and Omega God Lectionary28 April 20192nd Sunday of EasterActs 5:27-32Psalm 150Revelation 1:4-8John 20:19-31Text to LifeWe’ve all heard of “tortured artists.” We’re all got names for “tortured artists.” BeethovenVincent Van GoghJanis JoplinCharlie Parker Lenny Bruce Kurt Cobain Andy Warhol Brian WilsonAmy Winehouse Ernest Hemingway Robin WilliamsThe phrase “tortured artists”…
Ground Zero
Ground ZeroLectionary21 April 2019Easter SundayActs 10:34-43Psalm 118:1-2, 14-241 Corinthians 15:19-26John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12Text to LifeEaster Sunday is the day when everything we think we know turns upside down. Tragedy becomes triumph. Sacrifice becomes success. Failure becomes fulfillment. Death becomes eternal life. Christ crucified becomes Christ the Risen Lord. Easter…
The Home Stretch
The Home StretchLectionary14 April 2019Palm Sunday / Passion SundayLuke 19:28-40Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29Isaiah 50:4-9aPsalm 31:9-16Philippians 2:5-11Luke 22:14-23:56 or Luke 23:1-49Text to LifeWho doesn’t like a party??!! We all love “Palm Sunday” because of the parade of pomp and pageantry that accompanied Jesus as he entered into Jerusalem for that final time…
The Love Drug
The Love Drug Lectionary7 April 20195th Sunday in LentIsaiah 43:16-21Psalm 126Philippians 3:4b-14John 12:1-8Text to Life There is no doubt we are facing a towering and tottering number of humanitarian, social, economic, environmental, and political crises in this first quarter of the twenty-first century. But perhaps the one that is both…
Freedom “For”
Freedom “For” Lectionary 31 March 2019 UMCOR Sunday 4th Sunday in Lent Joshua 5:9-12 Psalm 32 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 Text to Life Human beings thirst for freedom. Human beings thrive under freedom. Human beings mess up freedom. Human beings throw freedom away. In the 1980’s Afghanistan locals,…