Discipling Life

Think about those moments of uncertainty, when the ground beneath us shifts and we are not quite sure what comes next. Maybe you wake up, the world is still dim, and before your feet even touch the floor, your mind begins to race. There are bills to pay, conversations you have been avoiding, decisions you are not sure how to make. Even on the good days, there can be a low hum of uncertainty beneath the surface. Maybe you wonder what today holds (what less the future) and whether you will have what you need to make it through. In our text today ( John 14:1-14 ) the disciples are feeling confused and anxious because Jesus has said that he is leaving them. I think I can say that we have all experienced feelings of confusion and anxiety. In those moments, the words of Jesus in John 14 meet us right where we are: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me” (v. 1). What follows is one of the most beloved and sometimes misunderstood passages in all of scriptur...

This is my sermon for April 26, 2026, at Ebenezer and Black Creek UMCs. The texts I used today include Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-26, 31; Psalm 100; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10. 1. Introduction: The Familiarity of the Voice In an era defined by a relentless cacophony of digital alerts and competing narratives, the act of spiritual discernment has moved from a quiet luxury to a strategic necessity. Recognizing the voice of the divine is to be a practiced familiarity. It is akin to the immediate, instinctive recognition of a loved one’s call across a distance. To hear the voice of Jesus is to identify a singular frequency amidst a noisy world that constantly seeks to drown it out. In the Gospel of John in the 10th chapter, it says that the sheep hear his voice and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all of his own, he goes ahead of them. And the sheep follow him because they know his voice. What does it mean to know that voice? To re...

There are days when the world feels heavy. News headlines, personal struggles, and uncertain futures can stir up anxiety in our hearts. There are moments in life when the heart feels crowded with questions. What will happen next? How will this turn out? Where am I going, and how will I get there? Sometimes those questions are small and everyday. Sometimes they come in hospital rooms, at kitchen tables, or in the quiet of the night when sleep will not come. Into that very human space of worry and uncertainty, Jesus speaks these words: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me” (v. 1). [ See all of John 14:1-6 here .] Jesus speaks these words to his disciples on the night before the cross. They sense that change is coming, and not the kind of change they want. He has just told them that he will be leaving them, and their hearts are shaken. Yet Jesus does not scold them for being afraid. Instead, he invites them to trust. Our faith in Christ does not re...

This week we have been looking at the scripture texts assigned by the lectionary for this Sunday — the Fifth Sunday of Lent. Ezekiel 37:1–14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6–11; John 11:1–45 Each of these scriptures points us to the heart of God’s promise: death does not have the final word . Lent leads us through times of emptiness, confession, and longing, but always with the whisper of resurrection waiting ahead. In Ezekiel’s vision, God brings the prophet to a valley full of dry bones. It is a place that once held life but now lies silent and bare. God asks, “Can these bones live?” Only God knows the answer. Then the breath of God moves through the valley, and the bones rattle together, rise, and live again. The Spirit brings life where there was only death. The breath of God brings renewal. What seemed hopeless is restored. Psalm 130 echoes that same cry—from the depths of despair, the psalmist waits for God’s mercy. “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.” Even...

In the middle of one of the most powerful miracles in the Gospel of John , we find two simple words: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). It is often known as the shortest verse in the Bible, yet it carries a profound truth about the nature of God. Before Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead or calls him out of the tomb, he stands beside his grieving friends and lets his own tears fall. When Jesus arrived in Bethany, his friend Lazarus had already been dead for four days. Martha and Mary were heartbroken, and the crowd was grieving. Even though Jesus knew he was about to bring Lazarus back to life—knowing the ending would be one of joy—he still stopped to weep. He wept because he loved Lazarus, because he saw the pain of those he cared for, and because he recognized that death is real and grief is heavy. These two words tell us something essential: God is not distant or unmoved by our suffering . In Christ, God feels what we feel, knowing the ache of loss and the heaviness of sorrow. The hu...

While I prepare these devotions each week, I am also praying over the texts for sermon preparation. This week I have been praying over and studying these texts: 1 Samuel 16:1‑13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8‑14; John 9:1‑41 During Lent, we often pray for clearer vision—eyes to see God, ourselves, and our neighbors with honesty and grace. The scriptures for this week invite us into that kind of seeing. They remind us that God’s light exposes what is hidden, heals what is broken, and calls us into a new way of living. Seeing as God Sees (1 Samuel 16:1‑13) When Samuel is sent to anoint the next king, he looks at Jesse’s oldest son and thinks, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord” (1 Samuel 16:6, NRSVue). But God gently corrects him: “the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (v. 7). David is chosen not because he looks the part, but because God sees something deeper. God’s anointing rests on those who are...

John 9 is one long story told through a series of conversations. Each one reveals something about Jesus, something about the people around him, and something about what it means to grow in faith. As we walk through these interactions, we begin to see how grace works—quietly, patiently, and sometimes in ways that surprise us. Let us look deeper into this story where physical blindness reveals deeper truths about faith, fear, and authority. Let’s walk through four key encounters: 1. Jesus and the Blind Man (John 9:6–7) Jesus heals a man born blind by making mud with saliva, anointing his eyes, and sending him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man obeys without hesitation—and receives sight. Notice Jesus’ compassion: he initiates healing before the man even asks. This isn’t about merit; it’s grace in action.  2. The Healed Man and the Pharisees (John 9:13–34) The Pharisees interrogate the healed man, dismissing Jesus as a “sinner” for healing on the Sabbath. The man’s testimo...