The Rev. Dr. William H. Willimon, Bishop in the United Methodist Church, Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry at Duke Divinity School, and one of the most effective preachers in the English-speaking world says of today’s texts, Psalm 23 and John 10:11-18, “As a Sunday, Good Shepherd Sunday is…not my favorite.” It sounds as if Jesus is doing all the work. He’s the Good Shepherd. What are we? Sheep? And what do sheep do? Lie in green pastures Drink from still waters? Aren’t we supposed to DO something? Aren’t we supposed to be out there bringing in God’s Kingdom? Well, maybe not, Willimon says. Or at least, not always.
Note: This sermon was originally released as B22: The Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year B (2015)
Amy Butler, is a former Senior Minister of the Riverside Church in New York City, Founder of Invested Faith, and author of Beautiful and Terrible Things.
Michael Curry is the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church (USA), and the author of Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times
Brian McLaren is a speaker, an activist, and bestselling author of We Make the Road by Walking, Faith after Doubt, and his latest, Do I Stay Christian?
Will Willimon is a retired bishop in the United Methodist Church, a powerful preacher, and a prolific author. Click HERE to see his available books.