Celtic Preacher

It's when we are under high stress our weaknesses show. It's under increased pressure when God meets us in powerful ways to free and heal us so we become stronger through what we call "our failures." Text John 21:15-20

Following Jesus' resurrection, life does not return to life as usual for Jesus' students. Much like us, the first followers of Jesus had to learn how to pick up the pieces when their hopes and dreams were shattered. The text is The Walk To Emmaus—Gospel of Luke 23. Podcast 171

Jesus didn't just teach about courageous living. He modeled it. He didn't avoid the difficult things to say or do and expected us to do the same. Avoidance holds us back and keeps us trapped. Face the difficult thing, and I will be with you, He promised. The text is Matthew 21:1-11. Palm Sunday Pod 170

God uses dreams, visions, friends, coincidence, circumstances, music, scripture, and a hundred other things to communicate with us. The ancient people were familiar with God using visions and dreams to speak to them. Today we will look at Ezekiel's vision of The Valley of the Dry Bones and hear a timeless promise we all need to hold onto, especially when we find ourselves in a place or position we would rather not be. Pod 169

We Can't Rush Spiritual Growth.
Understanding ourselves and God's work in our world is a lifetime endeavor. We will go through times of questioning, and the answers will not be forthcoming. Rather than ask why something is happening, Jesus teaches us to ask, "Where can I see God work in this situation?" Insight is needed to bring new clarity to everyday conflicts and dilemmas. The text is the Gospel of John Chapter 9. The Healing of the Blind Man. Pod 168

It's helpful to recognize our personal biases. Jesus never used such language, but he constantly models the need to go toward people, conflict, or suffering we would rather avoid. He dragged his reluctant students more than once into uncomfortable situations where they felt pretty out of their depth. It's during times when we lack confidence clarity is found. The text is John 4, The Women At The Well Pod 167

It doesn't seem fair that you can do all the right things and still be left wanting. You can't entirely secure what you think you need and want. Jesus taught that trying to do the right thing isn't the primary thing. Developing a trusting relationship with God is the first concern. Trust is the foundation for transformation and inner change, and God oversees that life project. Nicodemus tried to live a good life; he wasn't a bad person but was still unsatisfied. Like, Nico, we can spend a lot trying to do the right thing and be a good person while feeling like it's getting us nowhere. Pod 166 John 3

Yes, we will be tempted because we are human. Even Jesus was tempted. Being tempted isn't always an enticement to do something wrong it could just as easily be avoidance, denial, minimizing, withdrawing, or procrastinating. Subtler forms of temptation are equally effective in breaking relationships, causing us to doubt God and giving us much inner turmoil. The text is Matthew 4. Which covers Jesus' response when being tempted. Pod 165

One of the main struggles Jesus' disciples (and us) have is fear stops us from living the way God desires us to live. Fear of loss, change, health, dreams, death, and countless other things are familiar to us. Fear has a debilitating effect. Jesus addresses this in today's teaching. Matthew 16 The Transfiguration POD 164

Since Jesus spoke a lot about relationships, he had to cover the topic of anger. We cannot live in this world without getting angry, nor would we want to, but there is a particular anger that is destructive to ourselves and others. We get stuck carrying anger when we excuse ourselves, deny it, or are unaware of our offense. Today we cover Jesus' wisdom on anger and what to do with it. Sermon on the Mount Part 3. Matthew 5:21-26 Pod 163