Sermon and Worship Resources

Psalm 23:1-6

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Liberal [London: SPCK, 1988], 177). Habgood touches another raw nerve twitching in our psychological reactions to the physical assault of the AIDS virus. By attacking our immune system, this pathogen invades that very part of our bodies specifically designed to keep the other out - to keep the self safe and intact. The awful truth about the AIDS virus is that it not only gains access to our bodies at moments of intimacy. It then makes it impossible for our bodies to ever be safe from invasion from ...

3777. Healing in His Wings

Acts 14:8-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... top of society's "most respected" list. Here are men and women who are really in control - the healers - giving us ways to keep our bodies strictly within the bounds of health and wholeness. It is little wonder then that when illness or injury invades our ... . Our penchant for control always entices us to stay longer than we should, fixing things, fussing over the other, trying to keep any more intrusive, unhealthy consequences from infringing on "our" work. But healing does not come from us, even if we are ...

3778. Help Wanted: Only Shunammites Need Apply

2 Kings 4:8-37

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... all the doors and windows, set the house alarm and notify the police. The most successful recent attempt to promote neighborliness has been through the "Neighborhood Watch" network - designed primarily to have neighbors band together to keep people out, to protect property and things. There is no neighborhood watch to keep an eye out for people who look hungry or homeless or alone. The third and most important motivation behind the Shunammite woman's hospitality was that she recognized a "man of God" in the ...

3779. Welcome Home, Joseph

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... freely offered Mary were extensive. He gave her his name - which safeguarded her reputation and welfare as well as gave the expected child the authority of a Davidic heritage. But Joseph did not just give Mary his name and then set her aside. Not only did Joseph keep Mary with him throughout the duration of her pregnancy, during this time he did not try to make her take on the intimate duties of a wife, or exercise his own "conjugal rights." Joseph's obedience to the divine message meant he had to see to it ...

3780. Holy Hocus-Pocus!

Mark 13:1-31

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... parade of pretenders that will pass before them. As Jesus' specially chosen disciples, Peter, James, John and Andrew found themselves privy to some pretty astounding eschatological predictions But even as Jesus speaks to them about the "end times," he warns these disciples to keep their wits about them. "Don't go off after everyone who claims to be the Messiah," Jesus admonishes. "Just because I have chosen to let you know these things are coming, don't stamp every crazy leader, every tragic war or every ...

3781. Hear the Vision?

1 Samuel 3:1-10 (11-20)

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... parade of pretenders that will pass before them. As Jesus' specially chosen disciples, Peter, James, John and Andrew found themselves privy to some pretty astounding eschatological predictions But even as Jesus speaks to them about the "end times," he warns these disciples to keep their wits about them. "Don't go off after everyone who claims to be the Messiah," Jesus admonishes. "Just because I have chosen to let you know these things are coming, don't stamp every crazy leader, every tragic war or every ...

3782. Five Steps to Takeoff

Mark 1:14-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... airboss is to signal the removal of the "chocks," the small clamps that lock in place the aircraft's wheels and keep them from rolling. The hand signal for removing the chocks is to put your two fists together, pinkies touching, four fingers facing ... available in print, or use an overhead and put them on a screen.] I am a man who hides his feelings. I don't think I can keep from revealing All the thoughts inside of me That are out of control. So Lord, I'm letting go. There was a time things didn't matter; ...

3783. The One and Only Original Sin

1 Peter 3:18-22

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... parade of pretenders that will pass before them. As Jesus' specially chosen disciples, Peter, James, John and Andrew found themselves privy to some pretty astounding eschatological predictions But even as Jesus speaks to them about the "end times," he warns these disciples to keep their wits about them. "Don't go off after everyone who claims to be the Messiah," Jesus admonishes. "Just because I have chosen to let you know these things are coming, don't stamp every crazy leader, every tragic war or every ...

3784. The Trace of Grace

Ephesians 2:1-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... parade of pretenders that will pass before them. As Jesus' specially chosen disciples, Peter, James, John and Andrew found themselves privy to some pretty astounding eschatological predictions But even as Jesus speaks to them about the "end times," he warns these disciples to keep their wits about them. "Don't go off after everyone who claims to be the Messiah," Jesus admonishes. "Just because I have chosen to let you know these things are coming, don't stamp every crazy leader, every tragic war or every ...

3785. Count Your Wows!

Luke 21:5-38

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... parade of pretenders that will pass before them. As Jesus' specially chosen disciples, Peter, James, John and Andrew found themselves privy to some pretty astounding eschatological predictions But even as Jesus speaks to them about the "end times," he warns these disciples to keep their wits about them. "Don't go off after everyone who claims to be the Messiah," Jesus admonishes. "Just because I have chosen to let you know these things are coming, don't stamp every crazy leader, every tragic war or every ...

3786. Soul-Scrubbing

2 Corinthians 12:2-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... a crippled Apollo 13 hobble slowly back to Earth, and see in it the prayers and the hopes of the whole country? Do we now have a glimmer of understanding, that when we are weak, we are made strong? Only when we keep our true frailty directly in front of our eyes can we keep a clear vision of ourselves and our mission. In today's text, Paul admits to having experienced one of the most exalted epiphanies anyone has ever had a personal tour of the third heaven and access to information that "no mortal is ...

3787. The Gravity of Grace

Ephesians 1:3-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... an environment of zero morality, like one of zero gravity, there is nothing to count on, nothing to hold onto, nothing to keep you from floating this way and that. One of the moments of greatest danger for astronauts is when they step outside ... grace can we experience the levity of life lived in the Spirit. And what is this great news that buoys us up even while it keeps us from drifting away? Here it is: God "destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his ...

3788. God's in Charge (so shut up!)

Ephesians 5:15-20

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , relying on hand-cut, back-hauled stones, the construction of a great cathedral could easily extend over the life spans of three or four master builders. Although the first builders knew they would never see the completion of their life's work, they were able to keep their minds open to a vision of how all the tiny pieces would finally come together to form the finished product. An open mind invites God's Spirit in and gives us a glimpse of the mansion God wants to build for all people, everywhere. Even ...

3789. Waging Wisdom

James 3:13—4:8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... parade of pretenders that will pass before them. As Jesus' specially chosen disciples, Peter, James, John and Andrew found themselves privy to some pretty astounding eschatological predictions But even as Jesus speaks to them about the "end times," he warns these disciples to keep their wits about them. "Don't go off after everyone who claims to be the Messiah," Jesus admonishes. "Just because I have chosen to let you know these things are coming, don't stamp every crazy leader, every tragic war or every ...

3790. The Great Postmodern Soul Train

Mark 13:1-8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... parade of pretenders that will pass before them. As Jesus' specially chosen disciples, Peter, James, John and Andrew found themselves privy to some pretty astounding eschatological predictions But even as Jesus speaks to them about the "end times," he warns these disciples to keep their wits about them. "Don't go off after everyone who claims to be the Messiah," Jesus admonishes. "Just because I have chosen to let you know these things are coming, don't stamp every crazy leader, every tragic war or every ...

3791. An Advent Attitude

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... parade of pretenders that will pass before them. As Jesus' specially chosen disciples, Peter, James, John and Andrew found themselves privy to some pretty astounding eschatological predictions But even as Jesus speaks to them about the "end times," he warns these disciples to keep their wits about them. "Don't go off after everyone who claims to be the Messiah," Jesus admonishes. "Just because I have chosen to let you know these things are coming, don't stamp every crazy leader, every tragic war or every ...

3792. Stable-Time

Luke 21:5-38

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... parade of pretenders that will pass before them. As Jesus' specially chosen disciples, Peter, James, John and Andrew found themselves privy to some pretty astounding eschatological predictions But even as Jesus speaks to them about the "end times," he warns these disciples to keep their wits about them. "Don't go off after everyone who claims to be the Messiah," Jesus admonishes. "Just because I have chosen to let you know these things are coming, don't stamp every crazy leader, every tragic war or every ...

3793. The Perfect Time to Lose Your Luggage

Colossians 3:12-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... parade of pretenders that will pass before them. As Jesus' specially chosen disciples, Peter, James, John and Andrew found themselves privy to some pretty astounding eschatological predictions But even as Jesus speaks to them about the "end times," he warns these disciples to keep their wits about them. "Don't go off after everyone who claims to be the Messiah," Jesus admonishes. "Just because I have chosen to let you know these things are coming, don't stamp every crazy leader, every tragic war or every ...

3794. What Are You Looking For?

John 1:35-42

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , fax number, e-mail address, web site, etc. Instead of meandering about, we have helicopter traffic watchers that report to us how to adjust our driving routes around congested intersections and clogged arteries. We have so many places to go and appointments to keep that we keep our cellular phones always at hand and personal pagers always in pocket. We don't have time to wander around, to walk about or to scratch our heads saying, "Now what was I looking for?" But this culture is looking for something ...

3795. Get Real

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... give me everything you've got with no strings attached. If you give me that $130, I promise you one thing. I'm going to keep it and use it. But you've got to trust me enough to give it up without any qualifications." She looked around at everyone looking ... you everything God has intended for your life. But you can't receive God's gifts without first freeing your hands of everything that is keeping you from receiving all that God has for you. God doesn't care how much or how little you've got. The issue is not ...

3796. B.T.D.T.

Matthew 11:25-30

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... you look at before you've seen it all? How long can you cruise the Internet before the chatlines all start to sound the same? How many times can you climb the Stairmaster before your body reminds you you've "been there, done that"? How long can you keep your finger on the remote control, only to conclude after 99 stations have flipped past that you've "been there, done that"? Jesus' invitation to rest is more than skin-deep. It is peace for the soul. Christ is our real rest. Christ is our real peace. One ...

3797. What Gift Do You Have For Us?

Romans 12:1-8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... be. Often we are conscientiously avoiding situations where our gift might inadvertently slip to the surface. Are you really a leader?...Don't you dare volunteer to help organize that new building committee. Are you really a speaker?...Don't you dare speak those words that keep leaping up into your brain. Are you filled with compassion?...Don't you dare offer to help out the homeless and hungry that populate the streets of your town and the pews of your church. Are you really a teacher?... Don't you dare ...

3798. Teamwork Works!

Judges 4:1-7

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... to drugs, alcohol, gambling or sex. Your Goliath could be the inability to make decisions. Your Goliath could be a couch-potato disengagement from the real world. Your Goliath could be your weight, height, baldheadedness or gray hairs. It only takes one problem, one impediment, to keep us at arm's length from God's plans for us. With so much at stake, is there any doubt that, like David slowly swinging his sling and taking aim, we must put all of our strength toward knocking down this enemy? The problem is ...

3799. Tabloid Testaments?

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... of the "situational causes" of low clergy morale named in this study was this: "Who can you trust any more?" is the cry of those who look to the covenant community for support and comfort in times of low morale. Fear, suspicion and mistrust keep colleagues from truly sharing their hurts and hopes in ministry. The ecclesiastical grapevine is one of the wonders of the modern world. Information passes among us at a speed which defies Einstein's long held maxim that no communication can travel faster than the ...

3800. Just Say Know

Philippians 3:4b-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... to 60 hours a week or she's going to take their baby and leave him, too. According to the program, he's undeterred. He'll keep on pushing for his slice of the American Dream. He's determined to live that Dream, whatever the price. What amazed me about the program was ... t know how to be a friend. We know what it takes to get ahead, but we don't know who we can depend on to help keep our heads above water when life becomes overwhelming. We know how to make a living, but we don't know how to make a life. Paul ...