Discipling Life

 Sermon preached 2/22/2026 - Lent 1a - EUMC & BCUMC by Alan Swartz 1. Introduction: The Call to the Wilderness We begin our Lenten journey not in the dust of the desert, but in the lush abundance of a garden. It is a common misconception to view Lent merely as a season of arbitrary deprivation. In truth, Lent is a strategic “journey into the wilderness” designed for the restoration of the soul. To understand our need for this season, we must look back at the paradise of provision in the Garden of Eden. There, humanity was entrusted with the dignified vocation of serving and guarding that defined the first human work as priestly stewardship. Adam and Eve were not merely gardeners; they were the first liturgists, tending to the world as a sanctuary of God’s presence. However, we must reckon with the gravity of the fracture that occurred in that original sanctuary. This Lenten journey is a rescue mission because the death warned of in Genesis was not merely the stopping of ...

If you have been reading my posts each day this week, you have been traveling with me as we moved from the Transfiguration through Ash Wednesday to the temptation of Christ in the wilderness. In reviewing the lessons , I am struck by how our story moves from the lush abundance of a garden to the stark testing of the wilderness. The experience of Jesus in the wilderness begins the way back from the fracture that began when we first reached for what was not ours. In the Garden of Eden, God provided a paradise of abundance, setting a single boundary not as a restriction, but as a loving safeguard defining the space for trust and holy obedience. The tragedy of the Fall began when the serpent twisted this truth, casting doubt on God's character and suggesting that his boundaries were meant to keep us small. When we chose self-sovereignty over trust, our innocence was replaced by a stinging weight of shame. We have been sewing "fig leaves" of self-justification ever since, tryi...

What does Lent mean to you? Is it simply a time to make a sacrifice that provides a minor inconvenience? Give up chocolate or some other treat? For some, Lent may be a time to take back up one of those New Year’s resolutions that has already fallen by the wayside. But to be honest, I would often spend too much time thinking about what I was giving up rather than focusing on why I was giving it up. A couple of times in past years I gave up meat for Lent. Truth be told, that was more effective than giving up a treat like chocolate. Giving up meat required more of me. I did tend to be more reflective on my choice of deprivation. Now, that has been my experience. As it is often said: “Your mileage may vary.” During my Ash Wednesday sermon this week I suggested giving up certain types of behaviors. Harmful behavior. Behaviors that do not reflect the values of Christ. This week we have looked at the texts for the First Sunday of Lent: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32, Romans 5:12-19, a...

As we approach the first Sunday of Lent, we turn to this Sunday’s Gospel lesson: the story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. It serves as a reminder of the spiritual battles we face in our own lives. Matthew 4:1-11 describes how, after his baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. As this story unfolds, we see the character of the Christ who is God’s chosen to announce the Kingdom of Heaven. Reflecting on Jesus’ experience may provide insights into our own faith journey. The Wilderness Experience The wilderness is often portrayed in Scripture as a place of testing and transformation. It is also associated with the number 40 [ read more here ]. In Matthew 4:1, we read, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” This leading by the Spirit underscores the necessity of finding that quiet time for reflection in our lives, especially during Lent. It is in the quiet, and often uncomfortable, places...

Several key biblical stories link a wilderness (or desert) experience with the number 40, often marking a season of testing, transition, or preparation. Major Wilderness “40” Stories The number 40 is often associated with testing and preparation in the Bible. It is especially associated with the wilderness where people learn to trust in their Lord. Israel in the wilderness – 40 years After the exodus, Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years as a time of judgment, discipline, and formation before entering the promised land (for example, Deuteronomy 8:2–5). This extended “wilderness forty” becomes the backdrop for how later texts understand testing and trust. Moses on Sinai – 40 days and nights Moses remained on Mount Sinai, in a harsh, mountainous wilderness, for forty days and forty nights when receiving the law from God (Exodus 24:18; see also Exodus 34:28). This is a period of fasting, intense encounter, and covenant revelation. Elijah to Horeb – 40 days and nigh...

Today I gave an Ash Wednesday message before our first Lenten Luncheon this year. I focus on the assigned texts for today from Isaiah and Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel. A Lenten Journey Becomes a Life Journey Grace and peace to you in the name of Christ our Lord and Savior. So good to see you and have you with us today. In many churches, Lent begins with a smudge of ash on one’s forehead. It’s a reminder that we are all dust and to dust we will return, and yet we are dust that is beloved of God. Ash Wednesday ushers us into a season of holy honesty, inviting us to name our brokenness, our limits, and our longing for renewal. It is not a journey of shame, but of grace—a time when we turn again toward the God who meets us in our mortality and leads us toward life. Lent calls us to slow down, to repent, to realign our hearts with the way of Christ, trusting that every step taken in humility opens us up more fully to the transforming love that prepares for Easter’...