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 ...

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...

Today we read how Paul says that “while we still were sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). That is the heart of the gospel, and it’s the heartbeat of Lent. Christ did not wait for us to be ready, perfect, or spiritually strong. He met us in our weakness and gave himself for us. That is grace—pure and undeserved. During Lent, we remember that grace again. We remember that nothing we do can add to or take away from the love God has already shown us in Christ. And we remember that this grace holds us steady when life feels uncertain. Paul gives us a clear and simple word in these verses: because of what Christ has done, we have peace with God. That peace is not something we earn; it is a gift received through faith. Verse 1 says, “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Justified—made right; faith—the way we receive it; peace—the new relationship that follows. Lent is a season that helps us notice what separates us from Go...

As I said last week, Paul’s Letter to the Romans holds a special place in the lives of many. The epistle lesson this week comes from the fourth chapter of Paul’s letter. In the Wesleyan tradition (my own faith tradition) this chapter is significant for the following themes: Prevenient grace — God’s initiating action prior to human response. Justification by faith — being set in right relationship with God through trusting reliance upon divine grace. The universality of grace — the promise extends beyond ethnic Israel to all who share Abraham’s faith. Faith as living trust — not mere intellectual assent, but relational reliance that leads to obedient participation in God’s mission. In Lent, as we journey toward the cross, this passage reminds us that salvation originates not in human striving but in the gracious initiative of God in Christ. Wesley himself preached extensively on justification by faith and understood it as the graciou...

Today we consider the epistle lesson for this coming Sunday (Lent 1a). It is Romans 5:12-19 . Martin Luther referred to the Epistle to the Romans as the “purest gospel” and the “clearest gospel of them all” in his “ Preface to the Epistle to the Romans ” (1522). Of course, Luther is using the word gospel in the sense of the Good News and the message of salvation. Grace Greater than Our Sin Romans 5 can feel a bit heavy. Paul draws a direct line from Adam to the reality of sin and death in the world. He argues that “sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin” (v. 12). This is not meant as a history lesson; it is a diagnosis. Paul is describing the spiritual atmosphere we are born breathing. In the Wesleyan tradition, we often talk about this as “original sin.” We don’t mean that we are personally guilty of eating a piece of forbidden fruit thousands of years ago. Rather, we mean that we are born into a condition of separation and brokenness. We are born w...