Sermons by Lori Leopold (Page 5)
What Is New, and What Is Old?
Jesus gives us a single sentence about bringing treasure that is new and old. Was he saying that some parables are old and stale? Is one to be preferred over another?
Tending and Tarrying
This Sunday we spend time with the parable of the wheat and the weeds, featuring a “good farmer” with “good seed” and a “bad farmer” with “bad seed.” How does this ancient parable speak to the modern church as we struggle with “good and bad” in our world, in our churches and within ourselves?
Nothing?
Join us for Pride Sunday at PB UMC! We engage with Paul’s words from Romans: Nothing can separate us from the love of God!” These are wonderful and life-giving words. But given everything our world is going through, including all that the LGBTQIA+ community endures, can we really believe that they’re true?
Flourish
This Sunday we spend time with Matthew’s version of the Parable of the Sower. What constitutes “good soil” and what conditions are necessary for us to spiritually flourish, as individuals and as a community? What is Jesus trying to tell us about discipleship and ministry?
Graceland
Join us for both sacraments of the church! What are these rituals and what do they mean? How do they connect us to the Spirit of the Living God and God’s amazing and never failing grace?
Follow-ship
This week our text from Matthew invites us to explore and learn more about the nature of discipleship. We’ll reflect on the complexities of how we are in relationship with the world and with one another.
Spirit Seeking
Today we celebrate the day of Pentecost! On this special day we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit and celebrate the birthday of the church. What difference does the Holy Spirit make in our lives and our world today? How does the Holy Spirit continue to move between and among us?
Wait
Today is Ascension Sunday and we take a look at the account of the recently resurrected Christ being taken up or ascending to heaven. We don’t like to wait, but what if that’s how we become open to blessing?
Living Love
Today we continue in what’s known as the “Farewell Discourse” in the Gospel of John, taking a deeper dive into what exactly it means to follow in Christ’s Way. Jesus had some very specifics “asks” of disciples then and now AND he offered the promise of divine presence that would remain with his followers always. What exactly does it means to follow in Christ’s Way?
Preparing a Place
What does it mean that Jesus prepares a place for us? How is that a present reality in addition to a future promise? And what difference does it make for how we think about creating place and space for one another?