Celtic Preacher

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.  

Even when we want to move ahead and begin something new, take another direction, or make a significant life change, sometimes our sense of inadequacy stops all forward movement. Simon Peter (JC's right-hand man) would say, "Yes, I had that, but you have to push beyond it." Feeling insecurely unqualified for the task is part of the experience. Faith moves ahead, and God is always there to meet us and give us exactly what we need at the right time. Luke 5

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 Luke 3:21

Joy to the world.