Warren Swenson
The Rev. Warren Thomas Swenson is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Chester, where his research focuses on queer theology and homiletics. Warren also serves as associate priest of Southeast Tennessee Episcopal Ministry (STEM), a system of yoked congregations in the Diocese of Tennessee. He lives in Sewanee with his husband, Walker.
Sermons and Bible Studies
Things Eternal, Pentecost 10 (B) – July 28, 2024
[RCL] 2 Kings 4:42-44; Psalm 145:10-19; Ephesians 3:14-21; John 6:1-21 Note: During the 2024 Season after Pentecost, Sermons That Work will use Track 2 readings for sermons and Bible studies. Please consult our archives for many additional Track 1 resources from prior years. Today’s Collect really gets to the heart of the matter. “O God, […]
Born From Above, Lent 4 (B) – March 10, 2024
[RCL] Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21 Our Gospel passage today is the end of a conversation Jesus had with the Pharisee Nicodemus. Some might hear that Nicodemus is a Pharisee and immediately cast him in a negative light. For that reason, a hearer could be tempted to imagine his conversation with […]
Responding, Easter Day (A) – 2023
[RCL] Acts 10:34-43 or Jeremiah 31:1-6; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Colossians 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10 Easter is one of those occasions on which most folks come to church already knowing the story. Due to their familiarity with the Easter narratives, some in our number might be tempted to let their minds […]
Mining the Riches, Epiphany 6 (A) – 2023
[RCL] Deuteronomy 30:15-20 or Sirach 15:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-37 In today’s Gospel, we may be tempted to hear Jesus set aside the Law of Moses in favor of a newer, more up-to-date version of God’s teaching. His speech does have that sort of pattern to it: “You have heard that it […]
God Sent a Prophet, Proper 23 (C) – 2022
[RCL] Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7; Psalm 66:1-11; 2 Timothy 2:8-15; Luke 17:11-19 Look again at today’s collect. “Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works…” That’s a good thing to pray for— “that we may continually be given to good works.” In other […]
Love Ascending, Ascension Day (C) – May 26, 2022
[RCL] Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47 or Psalm 93; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53 When the God of heaven chose also to dwell on earth, the Word became flesh. From there the Word went around preaching and teaching. It was baptized, crucified, and buried. It rose again, walked to Emmaus, appeared to the disciples, and even ate […]
Bible Study: Epiphany 1 (C) – 2022
RCL: Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 29; Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 Isaiah 43:1-7 As we remember Jesus’ baptism in the River Jordan, the prophet Isaiah’s words speak to us about the profound faithfulness of God. In this passage, God promises his chosen people that he will be with them no matter what. During my undergraduate days […]
Baptized into Eternal Life, All Saints’ Day (B) – 2021
[RCL] Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 or Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 24; Revelation 21:1-6a; John 11:32-44 The Feast of All Saints invites us to look back. The Church has set this day apart for Christians to remember those who in their earthly labors were particularly shining examples of life in Christ and to celebrate those who in […]
Revealed, Epiphany 5 (B) – 2021
[RCL] Isaiah 40:21-31; Psalm 147:1-12, 21c; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39 Some Sundays, the lectionary readings seem to fit together better than other Sundays. Some Sundays, a coherent theme practically jumps from scriptures’ pages into our laps. On others, searching for it seems to require a magnifying glass and a fine-toothed comb. Perhaps what is […]
In the Flesh, Christmas Day (I) – 2020
[RCL] Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14 (15-20) Luke’s nativity story is familiar to most of us, whether we know it or not. That famous account of Jesus’ birth that we hear, year-in and year-out, begins with those ever-so recognizable lines, “In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all […]
Why Did You Doubt?, Proper 14 (A) – 2020
[RCL]: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33 Today, in Matthew 14, we find Jesus’ disciples terrified on the Sea of Galilee. It’s certainly not the first time. The disciples are no strangers to this lake. Actually, they’re out on it all the time. Even before Jesus called them to fish […]
Look for Jesus, Last Sunday in Epiphany (A) – February 23, 2020
[RCL]: Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 2 or Psalm 99; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9 Over the course of the liturgical year, we make our way through the Gospel, hearing the accounts of Jesus’ ministry from birth, to life, to death, to life eternal. On the first Sunday of the season after Epiphany, we encounter Jesus at […]
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