Celtic Preacher

Just like our emotional lives, our spiritual lives are not static. There are many highs and lows in our relationship with God. God does not change, but we certainly do. There are times when you wonder if you have lost your faith altogether. Jesus addresses this phenomenon in the Parable of the Sower. Text Matthew 13     Podcast 135    

It's bound to happen. There will come a time when you are rejected, misunderstood, or criticized. How do you deal with that? Will you react with anger and hostility, or will you respond by staying on track? It's easy to be derailed by the wrong people. Jesus teaches James and John and us a better way to respond when people come against us or don't understand us at all. Podcast 134  Text Luke 9:51-...

A part of spiritual maturity is learning to speak the truth even if people disagree and criticize you. It's not easy because sometimes it's easier not to get involved. Today, we look at the life of the first followers of Jesus, who model for us a courageous boldness when speaking out truths that need to be said. The text is Act 2. The day is Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit came in a new and vis...

Yes, my life might be a drop in the ocean, but Jesus says, "Your life is a world changer, Oh and by the way, it's really not all up to you; It's the Holy Spirit that changes your life; those around you, your circumstances, and the world."  Don't get bogged down by asking the wrong questions. The first task is learning how to wait. The text is the Book of Acts 1: 1-11, commonly known as  The Ascens...

Can you get in God's way? "Yes," Peter, the prominent leader of the early church, would say. Peter knew what it was like to resist what God was doing. We can waste a lot of time and energy insisting things have to be done in a particular way and fail to see the new way God is showing us. Acts 11:1-18 Podcast 129

Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice; they don't follow the stranger's voice." Following Easter, the disciples/students of Jesus had to learn how to listen in a new way. Jesus would no longer be there to guide them in face-to-face conversation. Like us, the first students had to figure out what is God's leading and why is my idea? Today our topic is guidance and how God communicates with us. Gospel...

Like most emotional/spiritual healing, it takes time to forgive yourself. If we get stuck, you can be sure the Spirit of God has a way of getting our attention so we can carry on the process of finding complete freedom. Today, we look at Peter after he failed Jesus, and we listen in on their conversation. The conversation gives us insight into how God meet us. Gospel of John 21 Pod 127

Every one of Jesus' disciples doubted he was alive following his death. Can you blame them? It's not just doubting Thomas that has trouble trusting God; we all do. Lessons from Thomas, the disciple who had many conditions that needed to be met before he could follow Jesus once more. Jesus wisdom when we doubt. Text John 20

It took more than an empty grave to help Jesus' first followers to believe he was alive after he died on the cross. No one was convinced that the open grave was good news. Jesus had to go out looking for the disciples, and everyone needed different things to help them trust. Isn't that the same as us? No one found Jesus; he found them. The same is true today. Matthew 28

Good Friday Jesus’ Death and Mine.  (The Sign of Jonah)   Jesus was never hesitant about discussing his death. The disciples thought it would be disastrous if Jesus died, but God had another plan. The only way to get to life is through death. It's the same in our lives—Jesus models what happens in death. We have to learn how to release it before we can receive it. Matthew 12:38-42  

One of Jesus' closest friends, Mary, never let the disapproval of others hold her back. She moved ahead despite people's misunderstandings and criticism. Mary didn't feel the need to defend herself. She was too busy doing what she knew she should be doing. We can learn a lesson here when tempted to protect ourselves or our actions. Text John 12:1-11

Jesus spends a lot of time correcting our view of God. Our default understanding of God is incomplete and often just out and out wrong. In the Parable of the Lost Son, Jesus gives us a new way to think about God. Luke 15  

Jesus never sugar-coated truth. People, from the beginning, have asked why bad things happen to good people. That's the wrong question, Jesus teaches. You are looking at suffering wrongly; as usual, Jesus takes us in an entirely different direction. 

Temptation isn't always about doing something you know you shouldn't do. It's more likely to be tempted not to do what I know I should. Jesus faces a test to not move ahead in today's text. He shows us how to move ahead despite obstacles. Lukes 13:31-35

Testing will happen to us all. Living in this world is challenging enough, and then something happens, and it tips us over. It's just too much. How will we navigate times of testing? Jesus shows us the way when he is tempted in the desert. Luke 3 

How do we know God's voice from all the other chattering voices within us and around us? Lessons today from Jesus' students who have a lot of trouble listening to what Jesus is saying. Luke 9:28-36 Pod 118

Call them enemies, antagonists, bullies, or opposers. You can't avoid them. Jesus spent a lot of time teaching about relationships and conflict. "Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you" sounded as unrealistic to the first listeners as it does to us. Luke 6

The temptation with any loss is to try and get over it quickly to get on with life. Jesus teaches that grief and sadness are a part of living and should not be avoided. Since we cannot prevent mourning, take your time and don't minimize your sadness. Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn.  

Learning how to love has got to be one of the hardest life lessons as we follow Christ. However, loving well doesn't mean we will not offend others. The response of Jesus' listeners to his first teaching made them so furious they wanted to hurl him off a cliff. Jesus infuriated people because he insisted on telling the truth. Love never compromised truth. Luke 4 and 1 Corinthians 13 

God's primary way of communicating is through the Scripture (Bible). How do we know the difference between God leading us and other people's personal opinions on what we should do and how we should live? Lessons from Nehemiah 8

The first miracle recorded in John's gospel (book of good news) is Jesus' changing the water in wine. Of all the things Jesus did, why begin with that? I wonder if John is saying, "Listen, if he can change water into wine, think what he can change in your life." Text John 2

 I think the Holy Spirit is the most neglected aspect of God, Jesus; we have heard of, God, yes, we have an idea about God, but the Spirit not so much. It's intriguing to note that Jesus didn't begin his teaching, healing, nor outreach of any kind until he was sure the Spirit-empowered Him. Today we are looking at Jesus' baptism and the difference  Spirit baptism makes in our lives. The text is Lu...

Joy to the world. While reading the Christmas story in Luke 2 this year, it struck me isn't that easy to make any sense out of the reading. The shepherds didn't seem to have trouble making sense of it all. What do we need a Savior for, and what do we need to be saved from?

If you have trouble trusting, God you are in good company. From the beginning chapters of the Bible throughout the book, people tend to question, argue, doubt, and even laugh at God's promises.  Today we look at Zechariah's story, which indeed must confirm that God has a sense of humor.   This teaching will begin the Christmas series, part 2, next week.   The text can be found in Luke 1 

We have to learn how to live in this world with a degree of detachment, Jesus teaches; otherwise, we will forfeit our inner peace. Common ways of coping with life's stresses are not always the most helpful way.  Text is Luke 21:25-36 Advent 1