Celtic Preacher

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 of John 10:27. Podcast 128

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