Podcast
The Sunday Sermon
Hosted by Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church · EN
A weekly sermon podcast by Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, located in Wilmington, North Carolina. For more information, visit our website at www.welcometowesley.com
38episodes
Episodes
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Holy Discontent: Part 6 - Don't Worry. Really.
Mar 2900:27:45Tap to summarizeThis week, Pastor Becca continues our Holy Discontent journey through the Sermon on the Mount with a message titled “Don’t Worry—Really.” In Matthew 6:25–34, Jesus speaks directly to one of the most common struggles we face—worry.But this isn’t a simple command to “just stop.” It’s an invitation to examine what’s shaping our lives and where we’re placing our trust. As Jesus calls us to seek first the Kingdom of God, we begin to see how worry pulls us away from the present—and how trust re-centers us in God’s care.If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, anxious about the future, or like everything depends on you, this message offers a better way—the way of trust, presence, and Kingdom living.
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Companions Season 3: Episode 13 - 1 Samuel (God's Still Working)
Mar 2601:01:03Tap to summarizeThis week on Companions, we step into the story of 1 Samuel—a world filled with leadership failure, spiritual confusion, and people grasping for control. From Hannah’s quiet, costly faith to Israel’s demand for a king, we see what happens when trust in God gets replaced with the desire for something more predictable.Along the way, we wrestle with big questions: Why does God sometimes give people what they ask for—even when it’s not what they need? What does faithfulness look like when everything around you feels unstable? And how do we navigate the tension between Saul’s fear-driven leadership and David’s imperfect but trusting heart?This episode is a reminder that God’s work doesn’t always show up in obvious ways. Sometimes it looks like quiet obedience. Sometimes it looks like failure and second chances. But through it all, one truth remains: the lamp of God has not gone out (1 Samuel 3:3).If you’ve ever felt the pull to take control, or wondered whether your small acts of faithfulness really matter, this conversation is for you.
Transcribe →Holy Discontent: Part 5 - Practicing The Faith
Mar 2200:27:16Tap to summarizeThis week, we continue our Holy Discontent journey through the Sermon on the Mount with a message from Matthew 6:1 called “Practicing the Faith.” Jesus offers a surprising warning: it’s possible to do all the right things for the wrong reasons. What happens when our faith becomes more about being seen than being formed? And how do we shift from performing righteousness to actually living it? This message invites us to take an honest look at our motives and rediscover a faith that is grounded, authentic, and rooted in grace.
Transcribe →Companions Season 3: Episode 12 - The Book of Judges (Listener Discretion is Advised)
Mar 1900:57:15Tap to summarizeThis week, we step into one of the most unsettling sections of the Bible. The Book of Judges is raw, chaotic, and at times deeply troubling—so much so that listener discretion is advised. But beneath the violence and confusion, there’s a pattern worth paying attention to: a downward spiral where God’s people drift, cry out, are rescued, and then slowly forget again (Judges 2:16–19).Joined by our guest Dawson (St. Mark’s UMC, Raleigh), we explore what this cycle reveals about human nature, leadership, and the subtle compromises that pull us away from God over time. From Gideon’s doubt to Jephthah’s tragic vow to Samson’s unraveling life, we wrestle with a hard truth: just because God works through someone doesn’t mean God approves of everything they do.And yet—right in the middle of all that chaos—we find Ruth. A quiet, beautiful story of loyalty, faithfulness, and everyday obedience that reminds us God is still at work, even when everything else feels out of control.If Judges shows us the danger of drifting, Ruth shows us the power of staying rooted.Listen in and reflect with us. 🎧
Transcribe →Holy Discontent: Part 4 - Be Perfect. Don't Panic.
Mar 1500:24:30Tap to summarizeWhat did Jesus really mean when he said, “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect”? In this message from Matthew 5:43–48, Pastor Angelo explores Jesus’ command to love our enemies and the surprising way it reshapes how we understand faithfulness. Rather than demanding flawless perfection, Jesus calls his followers to grow into a mature love that is active, intentional, sacrificial, and purposeful—a love that refuses to stop at the borders of friendship.
Transcribe →Companions Season 3: Episode 11 - Joshua and Courage
Mar 1200:59:21Tap to summarizeThis week on Companions, we journey through the book of Joshua and reflect on what courage really looks like in the life of faith. When God tells Joshua to “be strong and courageous,” it turns out the courage he’s talking about isn’t primarily about winning battles—it’s about remaining faithful to God’s word. Along the way we explore unexpected characters like Rahab, difficult stories like Achan, the importance of remembering what God has done, and Joshua’s powerful challenge at the end of his life: Choose this day whom you will serve. As the story moves toward the chaos of Judges, we ask what it takes to stay faithful when the path forward isn’t easy. Join us as we keep reading the story together.
Transcribe →Holy Discontent: Part 3 - Jesus is the new Moses
Mar 800:24:20Tap to summarizeIn this week’s message from our Holy Discontent Lenten series, Pastor Becca Detterman continues our journey through the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:17–20, Jesus challenges us to move beyond surface-level obedience and into deeper transformation. The life of faith isn’t just about avoiding the wrong things—it’s about allowing God to shape our hearts. As Jesus speaks about fulfilling the law, he invites us into a righteousness that goes deeper than appearances and begins to transform who we are becoming.
Transcribe →Companions Season 3: Episode 10 - Completing the Torah!
Mar 500:51:32Tap to summarizeThis week on Companions, we reach a major milestone: the end of the Torah. After journeying from Genesis through Deuteronomy, we pause to reflect on what this foundational part of Scripture is really trying to do. Along the way we explore how the end of Deuteronomy echoes the beginning of Genesis, wrestle with some of the most challenging laws in the Torah, and consider why, in Jesus’ day, some groups believed these five books were the only Scripture that mattered.As Moses’ final words call Israel to choose between life and death, blessing and curse, we’re reminded that Scripture is never just meant to be heard—it’s meant to shape the way we live. Join us as we reflect on the story so far and prepare to step with Israel into what comes next.
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