Sermon and Worship Resources

John 21:1-19

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... a prayer of thanksgiving every time you enter into your home. It might be looking for your church's steeple from the freeway on your morning commute. It might be (you fill in something specific from your own context here). 3. Reinforcement: It is so hard to stay on a diet when you hit one of those "weight plateaus" where no matter how good you are, how many salads you eat, your scales refuse to budge. We need periodic positive reinforcement to keep the habitus of our faith renewed and refreshed. This is why ...

3777. Seeker-Friendly

Luke 15:1-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... . Volunteers fanned out to 15 sites to paint and landscape a chapel for the homeless, clean concrete blocks for Habitat for Humanity homes, wallpaper and paint an emergency shelter, feed the poor and lead devotionals at a nursing home. Senior adults and children stayed at the church to make tote bags and blankets for the homeless. The day closed with a 7 p.m. service at the church. "It became a religious renewal for our people," senior minister Allen Laymon told National & International Religion Report. He ...

3778. On Time

Matthew 24:36-44

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... simple human is likely to get a printed time sheet. Jesus' words to his disciples in today's gospel lesson urge them not to worry about God's sense of timing, but to be concerned about their own state of readiness. "Keep watch," "stay awake," "be prepared" is Jesus' counsel - not "worry," "stew," or "fret" about what you cannot control. The recent evolutions of the telephone demonstrate just how well we have enabled ourselves to be prepared for imprecisely scheduled events in our postmodern lives. It used ...

3779. Enemies of Promise

Matthew 3:1-12

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... the origination of The Fall were adequate explanations for why some people lived their entire lives on the reputation of the reputation they might have had. Pride got in the way. Why has God been able to use Billy Graham so powerfully? He has stayed humble. In fact, Graham himself has a saying that he uses over and over again with prospective candidates for ministry: "If you keep humble, the Lord will use you." The linkages between the words "hubris" (from the Greek hybris, wanton violence or insolence) and ...

3780. Do You Know Your Name?

Luke 2:21-40

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... Mary did not tuck-in to a temple lifestyle. Instead they trudged home to their ordinary life in their very ordinary town. It was living and growing up in Nazareth, learning a trade at Joseph’s side, being part of a growing family that struggled to stay fed and clothed, that allowed Jesus to grow “strong” and to be “filled with wisdom” and to find the “favor of God” resting upon him. 2) As you throw yourself into the needs of the world, throw yourself into your passion. For it is your passion ...

3781. Mark 8:31-38

Mark 8:31-38

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... years of age, had nothing else to count on but their faith in God's promise. Recognizing that his own powers could never realize the promises God had made, Abraham had to decide whether to step out in faith towards the new life God offered, or stay home and wait for his final years to end. In verse 20 Paul emphasizes that Abraham harbored no "distrust" of God. This startles us into realizing what our faithless attitudes actually infer. Shallow faithfulness not only stunts our soul, it accuses God of being ...

3782. Isaiah 50:4-9a

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... century). Conversely, the reality of Jerusalem's tragic climax to his mission could have terrified Jesus. Knowing the shallowness of the crowd's sentiments, he could have slunk off, hiding himself and letting the enthusiasm of the people harmlessly ebb away. But Jesus stayed in the midst of the crowd for a bit longer, and in doing so, he presented them with a startling image of servanthood. He proclaimed his power through the humbling act of riding on a spindly young colt, fulfilling the prophetic vision ...

3783. Acts 10:44-48

Acts 10:44-48

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... spectacle are simply "astounded." But Peter responds with a call to action. He recognizes what the Holy Spirit's presence means and so orders that these Gentiles be baptized. The newest members of the Church in turn fittingly respond by inviting Peter to stay with them. As mutual members of a faithful community, barriers between these former Jews and former Gentiles disappear. Through faith in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, now all are Christians. Relating the Texts John's epistle takes up the ...

3784. Mark 6:30-44

Mark 6:30-44

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , and apparently the enticements to enjoy royal power are beginning to tempt David. Previously David had been portrayed as a warrior, present in the battlefield, a comrade to his troops. Now, however, we see David the monarch sending out his armies while he stays in Jerusalem to reign. The image of Israel's soldiers ravaging the Ammonites and besieging Rabbah (verse 1) illustrates the active life of danger and hardship the army led for the sake of their country. The image of David languidly rising from his ...

3785. Hebrews 10:5-10

Hebrews 10:5-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... again fill the long empty throne of David (vs.32). Mary's encounter with Elizabeth moves and motivates her to articulate the stunning changes which both she and her people may now expect. In short, Mary emerges at the end of her three-month stay with her kinfolk a totally transformed person. She has passed safely through the first trimester of her problematic pregnancy and is beginning to show physically the presence of the child within her. She has also been able to articulate the spiritual meaning of this ...

3786. Luke 2:41-52

Luke 2:41-52

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... a higher moral ground. Jesus and his family are about to realize what raising their spiritual sights would demand of them. Nothing unusual occurs during this Passover rite until the family begins to journey home. Jesus separates himself from his family to stay on in the city, without his parents' knowledge or approval. Verse 44 explains to us why his parents initially did not miss him. As an annual outing, this trip to Jerusalem undoubtedly gathered together all sorts of far-flung family members into ...

3787. 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . Paul spends the first four verses citing some of the most impressive life-sustaining miracles the human race has ever known. He reminds his Corinthian listeners, so that they won't be "unaware" or "ignorant," that God's presence, as promised, stayed with the fleeing Hebrew slaves, guiding them as the pillar of "cloud" and then using that protective presence to enable them safe passage "through the sea." In verse 3 Paul uses the intriguing phrase "baptized into Moses" to describe the Hebrews' experience ...

3788. Philemon 1:1-20

Philemon 1:1-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... a fit substitute for his presence with Philemon, he also defines Onesimus now as an adequate stand-in for Philemon himself (v.13). After voicing his hope that Philemon will voluntarily respond to Paul's wishes (remember how you used to ask your best friend to stay for dinner while standing right in front of your mother, then turn to her and say, "It is OK with you, isn't it Mom?"), the apostle now suggests that Philemon consider something even more radical - the notion that his slave is now his brother in ...

3789. John 1:29-42

John 1:29-42

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... ambiguity. It may in fact stand as the initial question confronting all future disciples of Christ. That Jesus' question is a query that goes beyond this particular situation is emphasized by the apparent obtuseness of the two men's response: "Rabbi, where are you staying?" Yet in a sense, they have answered Jesus' question. These men are not yet looking for the salvation Jesus the Messiah can offer them. At this point, despite John the Baptist's witness, they are looking for a "rabbi," a teacher. They seek ...

3790. Matthew 5:21-37

Matthew 5:21-37

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , borders on the ridiculous. Jesus further emphasizes our own dependence upon God by noting we cannot even control the color of our hair. How can swearing an oath by our own heads have any validity at all? All we can claim to have power over is our own integrity - the staying power of our own simple "yes" or "no." Jesus' mandate encourages his listeners to behave with such conscientious, consistent integrity that their "yes" or "no" may never be doubted or questioned.

3791. 1 Samuel 16:1-13

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... spirit that makes possible the Davidic covenant theology that establishes David's house forever. That David's future is secured by the presence of this enduring spirit is further evidenced by Samuel's abrupt departure. Samuel returns to Ramah. He does not stay as counsel or prophet for the newly anointed David, whose intimate connection to God's spirit makes Samuel's presence unnecessary. Indeed, with the monarchy established on its right path, Samuel's active ministry is now over. His departure in verse 13 ...

3792. Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , the message of peace will be eagerly received. But to he who is not of a "peaceful" mind, the Good News will not even register. The households of those closed off to the peace message will remain in spiritual darkness. Hence these missionaries are counseled to stay in one home only without fear that their continued presence may be a hardship on their hosts. Jesus also appears to counsel a relaxing of dietary laws as part of these messengers' marching orders. This is not mere courtesy so much as it is part ...

3793. 2 Timothy 1:1-14

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... closeness of their relationship and the encouragement Timothy's friendship gives to Paul. In verse 5, Paul returns to the formal thanksgiving theme, offering thankfulness for God's work in Timothy's life. The bulk of Paul's letter will focus on an appeal to Timothy to stay loyal - and here Paul reminds Timothy that by abiding in his faith, remaining loyal to it, he not only honors God, but he also upholds the gift of faith that was passed down to him by his mother and his grandmother. Timothy's faith is not ...

3794. Mark 8:31-38

Mark 8:31-38

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... years of age, had nothing else to count on but their faith in God's promise. Recognizing that his own powers could never realize the promises God had made, Abraham had to decide whether to step out in faith towards the new life God offered, or stay home and wait for his final years to end. In verse 20 Paul emphasizes that Abraham harbored no "distrust" of God. This startles us into realizing what our faithless attitudes actually infer. Shallow faithfulness not only stunts our soul, it accuses God of being ...

3795. Isaiah 50:4-9a

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... century). Conversely, the reality of Jerusalem's tragic climax to his mission could have terrified Jesus. Knowing the shallowness of the crowd's sentiments, he could have slunk off, hiding himself and letting the enthusiasm of the people harmlessly ebb away. But Jesus stayed in the midst of the crowd for a bit longer, and in doing so, he presented them with a startling image of servanthood. He proclaimed his power through the humbling act of riding on a spindly young colt, fulfilling the prophetic vision ...

3796. Acts 10:44-48

Acts 10:44-48

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... spectacle are simply "astounded." But Peter responds with a call to action. He recognizes what the Holy Spirit's presence means and so orders that these Gentiles be baptized. The newest members of the Church in turn fittingly respond by inviting Peter to stay with them. As mutual members of a faithful community, barriers between these former Jews and former Gentiles disappear. Through faith in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, now all are Christians. Relating the Texts John's epistle takes up the ...

3797. Mark 6:30-44

Mark 6:30-44

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... , and apparently the enticements to enjoy royal power are beginning to tempt David. Previously David had been portrayed as a warrior, present in the battlefield, a comrade to his troops. Now, however, we see David the monarch sending out his armies while he stays in Jerusalem to reign. The image of Israel's soldiers ravaging the Ammonites and besieging Rabbah (verse 1) illustrates the active life of danger and hardship the army led for the sake of their country. The image of David languidly rising from his ...

3798. Hebrews 10:5-10

Hebrews 10:5-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... again fill the long empty throne of David (vs.32). Mary's encounter with Elizabeth moves and motivates her to articulate the stunning changes which both she and her people may now expect. In short, Mary emerges at the end of her three-month stay with her kinfolk a totally transformed person. She has passed safely through the first trimester of her problematic pregnancy and is beginning to show physically the presence of the child within her. She has also been able to articulate the spiritual meaning of this ...

3799. Exodus 34:29-35

Exodus 34:29-35

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the tablets God had given him and orders bloody destruction upon the faithless. In the sober, stunned aftermath, Moses returns to confer with God - seeking a way that he may right the terrible wrongs that the people have done. Moses once again climbs Sinai, this time staying "with the Lord" for 40 days and 40 nights. It is when he finally comes back to his guilt-ridden, anxious people that our text takes up the story. Verse 29 gives us a clear picture of Moses descending into the Hebrews' camp (which had ...

3800. 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . Paul spends the first four verses citing some of the most impressive life-sustaining miracles the human race has ever known. He reminds his Corinthian listeners, so that they won't be "unaware" or "ignorant," that God's presence, as promised, stayed with the fleeing Hebrew slaves, guiding them as the pillar of "cloud" and then using that protective presence to enable them safe passage "through the sea." In verse 3 Paul uses the intriguing phrase "baptized into Moses" to describe the Hebrews' experience ...