Author Archives: willwillimon

Here’s the second of my two sermons from last week at Cathedral Church of the Advent for their Lenten Preaching Series. The sermon text is Psalm 139:1-3, 7-10. “Whether he descended into hell or whether he descended to the dead, it’s still quite the thing to say about God.”

It was a joy to be back at Cathedral Church of the Advent to be a part of their Lenten Preaching Series. This was the first of two sermons I preached last week in Birmingham. The text is 1 Timothy 1:13-16. “The Church–in its wisdom–gives us forty days to ponder the trust about ourselves, toContinue reading “Forty Days to Ponder This Truth…”

A sermon for the Fifth Sunday in Lent: learning to wait for God from John 11:1-45.

In Don’t Look Back I urged United Methodists not to become distracted by the machinations of General Conference votes, the Council of Bishops, and other factors that have little to do with the mission of the local church. However, many ask, “How did we get to this point as a church?” Rev. Susan Leonard–a friend,Continue reading “The Future of the UMC: Fact or Fiction?”

“It’s a miracle if anyone hears anything in a sermon–a miracle in the truest sense of that word: that it’s something God does.” I hope you’ll find this sermon helpful as you prepare for preaching on Transfiguration Sunday!

Thanks to the folks at A Sermon for Every Sunday for including the sermon below on this week’s Old Testament text from the lectionary, Isaiah 58:1-9a(9b-12). In addition to sermons posted with A Sermon for Every Sunday, I’ve got a weekly preaching toolkit titled “Pulpit Resource” from Ministry Matters. I walk through an encounter withContinue reading “Preaching this week & beyond”

It was good to be at the church being served by my former student, David Joyner, this Sunday, preaching on the Beatitudes at Rocky Mount, UMC.

It was wonderful to be back at St. Luke’s Episcopal on Sunday with my friend, Robert Black. St. Luke’s is doing some excellent work in the community, particularly in the area of race and the church. https://www.stlukessalisbury.net/podcast/episode/22d4ced7/january-15-2023-the-second-sunday-after-the-epiphany

“It’s easy to come up with reasons for displeasure with the state of the church. Low hanging fruit. Only Christ gives us the inspiration and chutzpa to stick with the beleaguered body of Christ.” Take a minute to read and see why folks are staying in the UMC.I trust you’ll be encouraged for your ownContinue reading “Why are they staying?”

Just before Christmas, Patrick White was murdered in his law office by a client. Molly Brock White, my student, teaching assistant, Methodist preacher and Patrick’s spouse asked me to preach at Patrick’s Service of Death and Resurrection that was held at Hays Barton UMC in Raleigh on The Epiphany. Molly offered a wonderful prayer andContinue reading “A Service of Death and Resurrection for Patrick White”