Discipling Life

We are living in difficult and divided times, where politics, religion, and faith can pull people apart instead of bringing them together. Many of us feel the weight of that strain in our conversations, our communities, and even within our own hearts. Yet Christ meets us right here, not with more noise, but with a quiet and steady presence. He reminds us that we are not alone, and that his peace is still available to us, even when the world feels unsettled. As we lean into his love, we are gently shaped into people who can listen with care, respond with grace, and carry a calm spirit into anxious places. In this way, even in a divided world, we can become small signs of God’s healing and hope. In his first letter, the apostle Peter speaks directly to people living in difficult times. He encourages them by saying, “Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be int...

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...

This is a manuscript of the sermon I preached on March 15, 2026 (Fourth Sunday of Lent) at Ebenezer and Black Creek. The scripture lessons for this are: 1 Samuel 16:1–13, Psalm 23, Ephesians 5:8–14, and John 9:1–41 . As we move deeper into the season of Lent, the focus shifts from the internal discipline of the wilderness toward a profound revelation of the character of Christ. This sermon weaves together the anointing of David, the guidance of the Good Shepherd, Paul’s call to live as children of light, and the healing of the man born blind. We see how God’s vision redefines our own reality and our own way of seeing God, ourselves, and others. The intent is to move the listener from a surface-level perception of the world toward an “anointed” vision that recognizes the image of God in all people, particularly those whom society—and our own prejudices—would prefer to overlook. Introduction: The 40-Day Journey Toward Clarity I was talking to someone recently during an Emmaus weekend, ...

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...

The narratives in John’s Gospel are lengthy, so I am breaking them up into two parts when they come up in the lectionary. Today we continue our look at John 9 . Yesterday we looked at the encounters and conversations that we encounter in John 9. Today we look at some of the themes. Lent calls us to confront darkness—within and around us. John 9 masterfully weaves themes of blindness and sight, light and darkness, sin and restoration, inviting us to see ourselves in the story. 1. Blindness vs. Sight (John 9:39–41) The chapter’s core question isn’t “Who sinned?” (v. 2) but “Who truly sees?” The blind man moves from physical darkness to spiritual sight: he worships Jesus (v. 38). The Pharisees, though physically sighted, are spiritually blind, trapped by rigid tradition. True sight begins when we admit, “I don’t see everything.” 2. Light vs. Darkness (John 9:4–5) Jesus declares, “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As lo...

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...

“For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light—for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, ‘Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’” Ephesians 5:8–14 (NRSV) Paul’s words remind us that discipleship is more than believing—it’s living differently because of what Christ has done for us. Once, says Paul, we were   darkness —not just walking in it, but part of it. But now, through Christ, we are light. Lent invites us to remember that transformation and to ask whether our lives still reflect that new reality. Lent invites us to be honest about the shadows in our lives—the habits, fears,...

In this message, I invite you to explore the Transfiguration of Our Lord, a profound event that reveals God’s radiant glory and challenges us to follow Christ into the heart of our daily lives. Drawing from my own memories of a confirmation retreat in State College, Pennsylvania, under the mentorship of Dr. Nelson Frank, I reflect on the Celtic concept of “thin places”—those sacred moments where the boundary between heaven and earth becomes porous and the divine presence feels especially near. By examining the experiences of Moses on Mount Sinai and the eyewitness testimony of Peter, we see how these mountaintop revelations are not meant for us to hide away in “shelters,” but to transform and equip us for the journeys through the valleys. Ultimately, I want to emphasize that our spiritual life hinges on the Father’s singular command to “Listen to him,” a call that requires us to pay attention to Jesus’ teachings and find direction in His Word even when the world feels chaotic. The Tran...

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...