Discipling Life

The historical context of Paul’s imprisonment in 2 Timothy is vastly different, and much more grim, than his first Roman imprisonment recorded at the end of the Book of Acts. The letter reads as a deeply moving spiritual testament written from a cold Roman prison cell. Facing imminent martyrdom, the aging apostle writes to Timothy, his young friend and ministry partner serving in Ephesus. The letter is intensely personal yet profoundly pastoral, filled with raw emotion, urgent advice, and a vivid sense of passing the torch of gospel ministry to the next generation. Paul knows his time on earth is short, and this reality infuses every sentence with an uncompromised focus on what matters most. Paul writes to Timothy as a beloved spiritual son, encouraging him to remain faithful in the midst of hardship, opposition, and discouragement. Throughout the letter, Paul emphasizes courage, perseverance, and trust in the power of the gospel, reminding Timothy that “God did not give us a spirit ...

In Epistle to the Colossians 1:24, Paul writes one of his most challenging and easily misunderstood statements: “I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.” At first glance, it can sound as though Paul is saying Christ’s suffering on the cross was somehow incomplete. But throughout his letters, Paul consistently teaches that Christ’s saving work is fully sufficient. Just a few verses earlier, Paul says that through Christ, God was pleased “to reconcile to himself all things” through the blood of the cross (v. 20). So Paul cannot mean that Jesus’ atoning sacrifice was lacking in saving power. Instead, Paul is speaking about the ongoing suffering connected to the mission of Christ in the world. Christ’s redemptive work is complete, but the church continues to carry the message of the gospel into a broken world, and that mission often involves hardship, sacrifi...

But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them. ’  After he had said this, he died. (Acts 7:55-60) There are moments when standing for what is right feels costly. Maybe it is a quiet conversation where you choose truth over comfort. Maybe it is a decision to love when resentment would be easier. In those moments, we often wonder if faithfulness is worth it. Stephen’s story meets us right there, in the tension between cour...

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...

Today I gave an Ash Wednesday message before our first Lenten Luncheon this year. I focus on the assigned texts for today from Isaiah and Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel. A Lenten Journey Becomes a Life Journey Grace and peace to you in the name of Christ our Lord and Savior. So good to see you and have you with us today. In many churches, Lent begins with a smudge of ash on one’s forehead. It’s a reminder that we are all dust and to dust we will return, and yet we are dust that is beloved of God. Ash Wednesday ushers us into a season of holy honesty, inviting us to name our brokenness, our limits, and our longing for renewal. It is not a journey of shame, but of grace—a time when we turn again toward the God who meets us in our mortality and leads us toward life. Lent calls us to slow down, to repent, to realign our hearts with the way of Christ, trusting that every step taken in humility opens us up more fully to the transforming love that prepares for Easter’...

This was one of those weeks when the lectionary texts are incredibly full of possibilities. We could look toward Isaiah’s call for us to be a light to the nations or follow the invitation of Jesus to “come and see.” But my heart has been especially moved by John the Baptist’s profound declaration: “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” It feels like a text that belongs to Holy Week. It reminds us that from the very beginning Jesus is focused on his mission. Behold the Lamb of God that Takes Away the Sin of the World Author:   Alan Swartz Churches:   Ebenezer UMC and Black Creek UMC Date:   January 18, 2026 (The Second Sunday after the Epiphany) Scripture References:   Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42 Introduction: The Abundance of the Word The lectionary texts for this Sunday presented a unique challenge for me. There are some weeks when I look at the lectionary texts and pray, “Lord, what in the world do you want...

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...