Category Archives: Discipleship
The Integrity of Our Witness
In my message at Avenue last week, I said that apprentices (followers/disciples) of Jesus Christ will do what Jesus did. Even a cursory reading of the Gospels will give us clues about what Jesus did during his lifetime: proclaim the … Continue reading
Beyond the Ten Commandments
In 2005, The United States Supreme Court heard the case of Van Orden vs. Perry. What was disputed in the case was a monument of the Ten Commandments that was on the grounds of the Texas state capitol building. The … Continue reading
Seek Jesus, Not Experiences
There is a scene in the Gospel of John that has me reeling this week. In John 11, Jesus raises his friend Lazarus from the dead. John tells us that many people put their faith in Jesus because of this … Continue reading
Not Safe, But Good
The Chronicles of Narnia had played a significant role in my life. I’ve read them several times, along with many other of the writings of C.S. Lewis. Narnia was a world created by Lewis to tell the story of Jesus to … Continue reading
Answering the Call
This past Sunday, in my first message at my new appointment, I preached on Genesis 12 which is the account of God calling Abram to leave his country, his kin, and his father’s house to go to the land that … Continue reading
You Are What You Eat (Spiritually, too!)
As I get older, I am trying to eat better and live a more healthy life. This means I can no longer consume Mountain Dew like it was oxygen or eat pizza three times a day. I’ve been cutting my … Continue reading
New Series: Pray Like Jesus
The Lord’s Prayer is a beloved part of the Christian life. I can remember growing up in the Presbyterian Church in the small town of Hadley, PA reciting The Lord’s Prayer each Sunday. As child, when I memorized The Lord’s … Continue reading
Discipleship and the Family Meal
Yesterday, I shared some thoughts from Eugene Peterson in Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places about the importance of the dinner table in living out the Eucharist in our everyday lives (Read it here). Today, I want to explore the … Continue reading
The Future of The United Methodist Church: Real Discipleship
This spring, delegates from The United Methodist Church will gather in Tampa, Florida for General Conference, which is held every four years. It is a time of conferencing and legislation which will affect the people of the denomination for years … Continue reading
Sunday Follow-Up: Jesus and the Blind Man (John 9)
Sunday’s message focused on Jesus’ encounter with the blind man in John 9. This man was blind from birth. Blindness is the inability to perceive light. While this man was unable to perceive physical light, he clearly “saw” Jesus, who … Continue reading
Exiled Community 