Discipling Life

John begins his first letter with a joyful and deeply personal witness to Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that Jesus was not merely an idea, a spiritual vision, or a distant teacher, but the living “word of life” whom the disciples personally heard, saw, and touched. Christ entered fully into human life so that people could truly know God. John’s testimony reminds us that the gospel is rooted in real relationship and lived experience. The eternal life of God was revealed in Jesus, and through him we are invited into fellowship not only with other believers, but with the Father and the Son themselves. This passage reflects the gracious heart of God, who reaches out to humanity and invites all people into a restored and life-giving relationship through Christ. John proclaims that “God is light and in him there is no darkness at all,” (v. 5) revealing God’s pure and holy nature. This truth invites a response: those who claim fellowship with God are called to walk in the light, living w...

Here we are amid our celebration of the 12 days of Christmas, but not all is peaches and cream. Today’s texts present the dark side of the Incarnation. December 28, 2025 – EUMC & BCUMC – Christmas 1, Year A Today's Scriptures:  Hebrews 2:10-18; Matthew 2:13-23 1. Introduction: Lingering in the Glow On the first Sunday after Christmas, we find ourselves in a peculiar space between celebration and memory. The decorations are still up, the last of the cookies are being eaten, and the melodies of familiar carols still echo in our minds. We want to linger in that warm glow—the candlelight services, the children’s pageant with shepherds in bathrobes, the joy of “Silent Night,” and the comforting hum of the season. Many of us have deep-rooted memories of this time. Perhaps you recall a childhood ritual of venturing into the woods with your father to find and cut down the perfect tree. Today, the process may be simpler, but the act of setting up and decorating the tree r...