Sermon and Worship Resources

Ephesians 2:1-10

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... not out there; the truth is in here, right here, right now (lift up the Bible and point to it). The culture says that "the truth is out there," and that is why God is "hot" with antiquers. Gothic revival furniture is now all the rage, partly because the "Gothic" style connects us with a more spiritual past. It's time for the church to say, "The truth is not out there; the truth is in here, right here, right now (lift up the Bible and point to it). The culture says that "the truth is out there," and that is ...

1152. Count Your Wows!

Luke 21:5-38

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... not out there; the truth is in here, right here, right now (lift up the Bible and point to it). The culture says that "the truth is out there," and that is why God is "hot" with antiquers. Gothic revival furniture is now all the rage, partly because the "Gothic" style connects us with a more spiritual past. It's time for the church to say, "The truth is not out there; the truth is in here, right here, right now (lift up the Bible and point to it). The culture says that "the truth is out there," and that is ...

1153. The Gravity of Grace

Ephesians 1:3-14

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... lopsided clay pots, beautifully impressionistic and colorful "self-portraits" and bouquets of dandelions in leaky vases, that bear tribute to the truly "great pleasure" these loving gestures bring. Living life as adopted sons and daughters of God doesn't "cramp our style" or transform us into sour-faced, nay-saying "party poopers." When we live according to the gravity of grace, we become like little children, squirming with joy at the "good pleasure" we find we can bring to God. What this "zero-morality ...

1154. Close the Loopholes

Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... this reason, Ephesians sternly cautions us to guard against five certain behaviors, never allowing them to gain a foothold in the practice of a Christian life. Loophole #1 Lying: Lying is one of those cultural faux pas that has never gone out of style. Ephesians starts with Christians' need to close this loophole and "put away falsehood" because the pagan culture of the first century taught that lying could be a perfectly valid activity. "When telling a lie will be profitable, let it be told." (Darius to ...

1155. Waging Wisdom

James 3:13—4:8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... not out there; the truth is in here, right here, right now (lift up the Bible and point to it). The culture says that "the truth is out there," and that is why God is "hot" with antiquers. Gothic revival furniture is now all the rage, partly because the "Gothic" style connects us with a more spiritual past. It's time for the church to say, "The truth is not out there; the truth is in here, right here, right now (lift up the Bible and point to it). The culture says that "the truth is out there," and that is ...

1156. The Double Cross

Mark 10:35-45

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... moment in the sermon by having the people call out their favorites.] What's the one restaurant in which the food is just to your liking, the service gracious, and the ambiance enfolds you in comfort and well-being? Depending on your taste and style, this favorite dining spot could be an elegant, pricey little bistro or a neighborhood greasy spoon. Sometimes both types of establishments hold a particular appeal for us and the one we choose depends on our mood, our company or the occasion. As far as ...

1157. The Widow's Might

Mark 12:38-44

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... out the gift of the poor widow and find it pathetically light, virtually meaningless. We look at the amount she gave both nothing and everything and we judge it against where she gave it to a temple treasury set up to perpetuate a religious life and cultic style that Jesus declared bankrupt. But what happens if we let the scales fall from our eyes? What happens if we use a set of standards not based on monetary values or worldly success ratings to view this text? We see a devoted woman not afraid to give ...

1158. The Great Postmodern Soul Train

Mark 13:1-8

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... not out there; the truth is in here, right here, right now (lift up the Bible and point to it). The culture says that "the truth is out there," and that is why God is "hot" with antiquers. Gothic revival furniture is now all the rage, partly because the "Gothic" style connects us with a more spiritual past. It's time for the church to say, "The truth is not out there; the truth is in here, right here, right now (lift up the Bible and point to it). The culture says that "the truth is out there," and that is ...

1159. An Advent Attitude

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... not out there; the truth is in here, right here, right now (lift up the Bible and point to it). The culture says that "the truth is out there," and that is why God is "hot" with antiquers. Gothic revival furniture is now all the rage, partly because the "Gothic" style connects us with a more spiritual past. It's time for the church to say, "The truth is not out there; the truth is in here, right here, right now (lift up the Bible and point to it). The culture says that "the truth is out there," and that is ...

1160. Stable-Time

Luke 21:5-38

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... not out there; the truth is in here, right here, right now (lift up the Bible and point to it). The culture says that "the truth is out there," and that is why God is "hot" with antiquers. Gothic revival furniture is now all the rage, partly because the "Gothic" style connects us with a more spiritual past. It's time for the church to say, "The truth is not out there; the truth is in here, right here, right now (lift up the Bible and point to it). The culture says that "the truth is out there," and that is ...

1161. The Perfect Time to Lose Your Luggage

Colossians 3:12-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... not out there; the truth is in here, right here, right now (lift up the Bible and point to it). The culture says that "the truth is out there," and that is why God is "hot" with antiquers. Gothic revival furniture is now all the rage, partly because the "Gothic" style connects us with a more spiritual past. It's time for the church to say, "The truth is not out there; the truth is in here, right here, right now (lift up the Bible and point to it). The culture says that "the truth is out there," and that is ...

1162. The Family Ideal, Not Idol

Genesis 12:1-4a

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... the big "family vacation," but it is more important and more expensive than ever. The tourism industry knows that the surest way to attract more people is to offer special rates, programs and services for "families." Even Las Vegas casinos are styling themselves as "family casinos" and "family vacation" centers. Like all systems of idolatry, the family as idol is easily manipulated to serve our own selfish purposes. At the same time that incidents of horrendous child abuse are on the rise, there appears ...

1163. The Ride of Your Life

1 Peter 1:17-23

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... are out of control, the ride can become terrifying. But when you let Jesus be in control, not even the wildest stretch of white water should be feared. Only enjoyed. God wants us to get a buzz from living. Calvin Klein offers us a life-style. Jesus Christ offers us a life- substance. The gospels challenge us to give up lifestyle for life-substance. In a Christian life-substance, you can stop white-knuckling your way through life. Go through life white-water rafting with Jesus instead. Only Jesus can give ...

1164. Welcome or Warning?

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... to accept the fact that they had married in the first place. After all, what was the point? It may have been the first wedding in history greeted with death knells instead of wedding bells. Sure, Lisa Marie and Michael embody two of the most bizarre life-styles of the rich and famous ever seen on this planet. But were we really rooting against them and their oh-so-slim chance at a real relationship? Unfortunately, in some situations it is just too easy to throw ashes in other people's ice cream. Alas, it ...

1165. Anywhere Goes

Romans 14:1-12

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... that these "rockers for Christ" had become yet another popular tributary trickling into the vast American music scene. As usual, the network reporters seemed to be looking for some "dirt" to dish. But the rockers interviewed whatever their personal style of music responded to the investigation by voicing surprisingly similar hopes and concerns. Every one of them claimed allegiance to Christ. They witnessed to presenting an honest gospel message through their music. They expressed hope that it was this ...

1166. Teamwork Works!

Judges 4:1-7

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... his watery neighbors and in each case, it seems that the big intimidate, bully and consume the small. What could one tiny little misfit fish do about that? Suddenly Swimmy got a brilliant idea. It is a plan that both celebrates his own unique style his solid black coloring and depends on the cooperative teamwork of all his minnow schoolmates. Swimmy organizes the school of all his little friends so that they are swimming in the shape of a large fish. Swimmy himself, his dark body flashing, creates the ...

1167. Is There Room for One More?

Matthew 25:31-46

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... money, we can find snow somewhere. For the "have nots," Thanksgiving marks a new beginning as well. In the "have-not" culture, Thanksgiving is the first disappointment of the upcoming holiday season. For the lucky ones, it's a paper plate meal served cafeteria-style at a church or mission. The food is nourishing, the spirit welcoming. But it is surely not the Thanksgiving of anyone's dreams. One of the most disappointing things about the "have-not" Thanks- giving is there are no leftovers no left-over ...

1168. Stone Testaments

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... as stone testaments along the paths of our lives. [At this point in your sermon, make an abrupt transition that sets the rest of the sermon off from what preceded it. For example, you may want to step out of the pulpit, or change your style of delivery, or alter your speaking voice.] On February 5, 1994, the Markale Market was jammed with Sarajevens. Hundreds of women, children and men came for their weekly outing in search of food and goods. Without warning, a 120 mm mortar shell hit the crowd, exploding ...

1169. Tabloid Testaments?

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... status symbol. Desktops and briefcases of boomer and buster professionals sport these gaudy headlines with confidence as though they were the latest fashion accessory. Instead of dying like the old dinosaurs as predicted, tabloid newspapers and their tabloid reporting style are now spreading across all our media forms like one of those flesh-eating viruses. Tabloid television sells so well that the airwaves are in danger of transmitting almost nothing else but tabloidisms. At first, the tabloid TV track ...

1170. Heads Down, Thumbs Up

Philippians 2:5-11

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... to see anyone bow to another person as a gesture of humility and respect. What has always driven our culture forward is an enthusiastic "can-do" spirit that confidently looks at every obstacle as a challenge. For Americans, the body language that best suits our style is the "thumbs-up" signal. Everyone, from astronauts about to take flight to 5-year-olds about to swing the bat, knows that a thumbs-up sign means confidence. Everything is "A-OK," and "You can do it!" We encourage both others and ourselves by ...

1171. Treasure Hunters

Luke 12:13-21

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

We are called to lay up treasures in heaven, not possessions on earth. Not too long ago, small was "in." The trendy catch phrase touted "small is beautiful." Advocates of a conscientious style of eating called for a "diet for a small planet." We read bumper stickers that urged us to "think globally" but to "act locally." There is now a new housing trend that flies in the face of all attempts to cultivate the validity of those "small" notions. As we face ...

1172. The Five Adjectives of a Noun Christian

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... , will make a difference in the world. We, like Jesus, will turn things upside down and inside out. Indeed, the ultimate test of any theology is the difference it makes in the world. 3. They'll know we are Christians ... by our "make-your-day" style of living. I want to be a "make-your-day" Christian. There are too many of what I call "Toyota Christians" ("I love what you do for me" Christians) already. We need fewer Clint Eastwood Christians ("make my day" Christians) and more "make-your-day" Christians ...

1173. Luke 2:22-40

Luke 2:21-40

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... a scene that further parallels Jesus’ birth with that of John the Baptist. Zechariah’s Song (1:68-79) was also proclaimed by a righteous man, a servant of the temple (John’s father being a priest), and one whose mouth was miraculously opened by the Spirit. The style and substance of Simeon’s song also reflects both Zechariah’s song and Mary’s hymn (1:46-55). In each case the song first speaks of a promise made. For Simeon it was the promise that “he would not see death before he had seen the ...

1174. New Beginnings

John 1:1-18

Sermon

King Duncan

... lark. Even more remarkable, after a few days he observed that each chick, having started out by purely copying songs, began to develop its own variations on the original Master Song. The breeders wait until the chick musicians have developed their own styles, and then select from them the next Master Singer, and so the process continues. “Astounding!” thought Suzuki. “If a bird’s tiny, tiny brain can learn so perfectly, then surely the human brain, with its vastly superior abilities, should be able ...

1175. Mark 1:21-28

Mark 1:21-28

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

In his typically succinct style, Mark follows Jesus' pronouncement of the Kingdom of God, and the calling of the first disciples, with an immediate and bold demonstration of Jesus' power and authority. Jesus goes directly to the established center of faith in an observant Jew's life - teaching and exhorting the Torah during Sabbath synagogue ...