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We Celebrate the Light of Christ: Epiphany 3a

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Since we are not gathering in person to worship I am sharing the notes that I would normally carry into the pulpit with me. Normally, what I post here is the manuscript of the sermon after it has been preached. Let us pray… God of light and truth, as we prepare to hear your word proclaimed, open our ears to hear, our minds to understand, and our hearts to receive what you would say to us this day. Send your Holy Spirit to illumine the Scriptures and speak through your servant. By your Spirit, give us wisdom to discern your will, courage to obey your call, and grace to live as your faithful people. Help us not merely to hear words, but to encounter the living Word, Jesus Christ. May your truth penetrate the darkness within us and guide us in the way we should go. In Christ's name we pray. Amen. Light (a sermon for Epiphany 3a) Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1,4-9; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23 When Darkness Meets the Light We don’t have to look far to see the dark shado...
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Behold the Lamb of God that Takes Away the Sin of the World

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This was one of those weeks when the lectionary texts are incredibly full of possibilities. We could look toward Isaiah’s call for us to be a light to the nations or follow the invitation of Jesus to “come and see.” But my heart has been especially moved by John the Baptist’s profound declaration: “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” It feels like a text that belongs to Holy Week. It reminds us that from the very beginning Jesus is focused on his mission. Behold the Lamb of God that Takes Away the Sin of the World Author:   Alan Swartz Churches:   Ebenezer UMC and Black Creek UMC Date:   January 18, 2026 (The Second Sunday after the Epiphany) Scripture References:   Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42 Introduction: The Abundance of the Word The lectionary texts for this Sunday presented a unique challenge for me. There are some weeks when I look at the lectionary texts and pray, “Lord, what in the world do you want...
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Baptized. Beloved. Belonging.

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Our Christian identity comes through God’s grace rather than human achievement, performance, or labels. Being baptized, evidences God’s “prevenient grace” and his initial claim on a person’s life, which is a divine initiative that precedes any human performance, merit, or even the ability to understand. Secondly, recognizing oneself as beloved establishes the core truth that God’s love and delight are given freely before any mission or service begins, providing the spiritual armor necessary to face life’s difficulties. Finally, to belong to Christ means being marked as his own together, with the church, where “sanctifying grace” transforms believers into the body of Christ for the world, leading us to lives of forgiveness, service, and holiness, Collectively, these three movements ensure that the believer is claimed, loved, and sent by God to fulfill his mission. Preacher:   Alan Swartz  Congregations:   Ebenezer UMC and Black Creek UMC  Occasion:   The Bapt...
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What is Baptism?

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This coming Sunday is The Baptism of the Lord on our church calendar. As I start my preparation I have come across a sermon I originally preached at Horne Memorial in Clayton, North Carolina. If I were to use it again I would certainly go through it making some changes. But here it is, in the form I preached it in 2006. What is Baptism? Alan Swartz, Horne Memorial UMC, January 7-8, 2006 Horne Memorial UMC is a church that is made up of people from many backgrounds. We have people who grew up Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Pentecostal, and some who grew up without any religious background whatsoever. There is considerable agreement between these different denominations in what they believe. But, there are then the differences. I feel it is important to lift up our unique teaching on some distinctive matters because these distinctive qualities often define the kind of people we believe ourselves to be and strive to be. For example, i...
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Grace Upon Grace

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 The scriptures this week invite us to move beyond a simple admiration of the Christmas story toward an active participation in the life of Christ , drawing from his endless and lavished fullness . This Christian journey is characterized by a three-fold movement of grace that replaces a life of scarcity with one of abundance. It begins with prevenient grace , which is the initiating work of God that seeks and “goes before” individuals even before they are aware of his presence. When one responds to this seeking, justifying grace saves them, providing not only forgiveness but the power to become a new creation. The process continues through sanctifying grace , the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit that shapes and conforms a believer’s character to the image of Christ over a lifetime. Ultimately, we are invited to cooperate with the Spirit and live fully into this grace that never runs dry as we enter a new year. Grace Upon Grace -  January 4, 2026, Ebenezer & Black Creek...
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