Nathan Willard Public Sermons

There are many messages in the story of Jonah. But, really, how would you feel if asked to preach the message of repentance from the evil ways of deflation in Boston? Maybe just a little anxious and worried? Maybe this book is a message that God wants us to confront the causes of our anxieties […]

Jesus's baptism showed us how the Holy Spirit can come upon any one of us. The life of Martin Luther King, Jr. reminds us that the Holy Spirit's presence makes the powerful uncomfortable, and that controversy often follows it. In this time when we celebrate a memory of Dr. King that does not recall the […]

What is it that makes us feel the presence of God, or the possibility of that presence? How can we create a worship space that encourages us to feel something that leaves us different than when we arrived? Note: there was a problem with the lapel mic, so the audio is fairly faint.

As we celebrate 12 days of Christmas. Sing! We sing in celebration, and feel emotion, and give ourselves the opportunity to let loose. And when's a better time to wear sequined suspenders?

Keeping Christmas well means keeping the lights burning, even after we think there is darkness. Remember, love, and tell stories.

We celebrate the shortest day of the year by reminding ourselves to pass on the light of Christ and bask in the light that came in the darkness. The real sermon text is "The Shortest Day" by Susan Cooper.

Sometimes the burden of being perfect is a little much. Let's listen to John's words that you need not be the prophet or the king. You can just be there person in the wilderness, baking cookies.

Mark sets out showing that old words can be re-heard in new places. He reminds us that we may fulfill the prophecies in Isaiah and draw strength from the God whose love is assured. And so can we, in this world where our fear of black men remains a danger to their lives.

We are reminded in this commonly-cited passage that Christianity is a religion that speaks frequently of a judgement in the kingdom of God, even if we leave such judgements up to God. But as we try to build the kingdom of God, we also need to remember what Jesus has told us the kingdom will […]

Deborah's story reminds us that God has called men and women on an equal basis throughout history. For this reason, we try to train our mouths and brains to remember that through the use of inclusive language. We are also reminded that the challenges laid before God's servants in earlier eras are no less than […]

We talk about exploring Progressive Christian Theology every week in Ankeny UCC. What does that mean? What does that look like? It looks like expanding the kingdom of God and looking for expansive views of forgiveness and love even when we could find ways to shut the door on others. note: I'm a little unfair […]

A celebration of All Saints' Day.

Jesus was an interpreter of Hebrew scriptures in the tradition of sages and scholars of the past. His innovation was to interpret those scriptures through a lens of love, setting an example for us all to follow. In this sermon, I somewhat anachronistically speak for Hillel's opinion on God's love. It was an overstatement on […]

How do you know that you have been in God's presence? Moses tried to convince God to manifest in the presence of Israel. But God challenged Moses as God challenges us, to figure out the meaning of God's presence. We are challenged as Moses was challenged, to change our world as God changed the world […]

Sermon Text: Matthew 21:33-46 We have the choice every day to steward better and live better. Jesus's parable of the vineyard and tenants reminds us that it's easy to mistake the story that God writes for one that we write. In worshipping God, we remind ourselves that we are not the owners of the world. […]

Philippians gives us insight into Paul's beliefs about the nature of Christ for the continuing community of Christ's followers. Jesus found his unique nature in community with other humans. Jesus's divinity and humanity were both located in relation to other humans. How do we keep relating and committing to one another, so we can find […]

Matthew 20:1-16 I don't usually offer commentary on the sermons I deliver to churches I serve. But this sermon starts slowly and not particularly well, and there's a reason for that. Fred Craddock, one of the great preachers and teacher of preachers in the United States, tells us that certain sermons should be preached from […]

Preached September 14, 2014 in Ankeny UCC Romans 14:1-12

Preached September 1, 2014 in Ankeny UCC Matthew 18:15-22

Preached in Ankeny UCC August 31, 2014 Exodus 3:1-15

Preached in Ankeny UCC, August 24, 2014 Exodus 1:8-2:10

Preached August 17,2014 in Ankeny UCC Genesis 45:1-15

Preached August 10, 2014 in Ankeny UCC Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28

Preached July 27, 2014 in Ankeny UCC Genesis 29:15-28 Note: I had a slip that was repeated throughout the sermon: where I say Rebekah, I mean Rachel

Preached July 20, 2014 in Ankeny UCC Genesis 28:10-19a

Preached July 13, 2014 in Ankeny UCC Genesis 25:19-34

Preached July 6, 2014 in Ankeny UCC Genesis 24:34-67

Preached June 15, 2014 in Ankeny UCC 2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Preached in Ankeny UCC June 8, 2014 Acts 2:1-21

Preached June 1, 2014 in Ankeny UCC John 17:1-11