Discipling Life

Paul’s Letter to the Romans is a favorite of many. It was instrumental in the lives of Augustine of Hippo, Martin Luther, and John Wesley, just to mention a few. The 8th chapter is often referred to as influential to people who love the letter. In fact, N. T. Wright has written an entire book on this one chapter titled, Into the Heart of Romans: A Deep Dive into Paul’s Greatest Letter .   The letter continues to be a strong influence in the church. Readings from Romans appear more than 30 times during our three-year lectionary cycle. A powerful passage sits at the heart of Paul’s letter to the Romans . As we examine our lives and follow Christ toward the cross, these verses are a balm and a summons. Paul pushes us to face the hard facts of life—suffering, loss, fear—and then to stand firm in the truth that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. First , there is God’s gift and assurance to us. Paul begins with a simple but life-changing question: If God ...

In the quiet of the Garden of Gethsemane, the night air was suddenly torn by the noise of a crowd. They came with swords and clubs, led by one of Jesus’ own friends. This moment, described in Matthew 26:47-56 , is one of the most painful in the story of our faith. It’s a scene of betrayal and confusion. It is a stunning revelation of God’s character. As the armed crowd approaches, one of Jesus’ companions reaches for his sword, striking out in defense. It’s a natural human reaction. When we are threatened, our first instinct is often to fight back, to meet violence with violence, to protect what is ours. But Jesus stops it immediately. He says, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?” (vv. 52-54). Here, Jesus shows us a different kind...

When John Wesley gathered the first Methodist societies in the 1730s and 1740s, he wasn’t trying to start a new denomination. He was trying to form a people who took the gospel seriously enough to let it reshape their daily lives. Wesley believed that God’s grace is always moving—awakening, justifying, sanctifying—and that Christians grow best when they pay attention to how grace is at work within them. One of the most practical tools Wesley used for this spiritual formation was a set of self-examination questions. These questions did not appear in a single moment but grew out of the early Methodist “bands,” small groups of three to five people who met weekly for honest confession, encouragement, and accountability. The goal was not guilt but growth. Wesley wanted believers to cultivate a life that was awake to God, honest about sin, and open to the transforming work of the Spirit. The “22 Questions” were compiled for these band meetings and reflect Wesley’s deep conviction that ho...

In Matthew 27:15-23 , we see a strange and unsettling custom. To celebrate the festival, the governor would release one prisoner chosen by the crowd. Pilate gives them a choice that seems obvious on the surface. On one hand, there is Jesus Barabbas , a “notorious prisoner.” On the other, there is Jesus, the one called the Messiah , who had spent his days healing the sick and preaching about the kingdom of God. Now, let me make a note about the names. Barabbas (or Bar Abbas ) means son of the father. So, on the one hand you have Jesus, son of the father, and on the other hand you have Jesus, Son of the Father.  So, which ‘hand’ do you choose? Which Jesus do you choose? It is a heartbreaking moment. The crowd, stirred up by leaders who felt threatened by love and mercy, chose the way of violence over the way of peace. They shouted for Barabbas to be set free and for Jesus to be crucified.  This act represents a rejection of Jesus’s peaceful message in favor of a figure w...

The prophet Isaiah provides us with several passages that describe the one we often call the “Suffering Servant”. Beginning with the New Testament itself, the church has traditionally identified Christ as the Suffering Servant (e.g., Matthew 12:18-21; Acts 8:26-35 ).  In today’s text Isaiah speaks of a servant who wakes each morning ready to listen, to speak, and to endure. The servant’s strength does not come from stubborn self-reliance but from a daily yielding to God’s call. The image of setting one’s face “like flint” shows a determination rooted in trust: God helps, so there is no need to be ashamed. In our Wesleyan tradition, we talk a lot about “prevenient grace”—the way God is already working in our lives before we even realize it. Here, the servant recognizes that his ability to speak comfort to the weary isn’t something he came up with on his own. It is a gift. But notice that before the servant has a “tongue of a teacher,” he must have the “ear of a learner.” Mornin...

This sermon was preached on March 22, 2026, at Ebenezer UMC and Black Creek UMC for the Fifth Sunday of Lent. The scriptures of the day are: Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 130, Romans 8:6-11, John 11:1-45 . 1. Being Stuck Have you ever felt truly stuck? It is a sensation that defines so much of our human condition. We often use the word metaphorically—we are stuck in a career, stuck in a grief that won’t lift, or stuck in an old pattern of behavior. But whether it is emotional, mental, or physical, being stuck is a form of paralysis. It is that heavy, suffocating moment when something wraps itself around your heart or your spirit and simply refuses to let go. This state of being bound creates a barrier between the person you are and the life God intended for you to live. I remember when I was at Duke Divinity School and I was serving as a student pastor for three churches in Sampson County. It was a long two-hour drive between the two, and to maintain my sanity amidst the rigors of study...