Celtic Preacher Podcastleri

Peace is something we all want. No one likes to be stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed with life. Jesus taught us a lot about our inner peace and our capacity to bring peace to those around us. Peace is certainly not something that drops from the sky. To be at peace with ourselves, other people, and our circumstances take intentional living. The tex…

Did Jesus get tired, hungry, or sad? Did he go through the assault of feelings we go through each day? Yes, the Scriptures teach us; however, unlike us, Jesus was very good at knowing how to replenish his energy. He taught that we could learn to do the same, but first, we need to know more about the Holy Spirit. John 1:29-42. Pod 159…

One theme that runs throughout the entire scripture is the promise of provision. It's the promise that God can be trusted and will not let you down. You will get what you need. The caveat is that the help does not come in advance, so an element of trust is involved. When we find ourselves in a place of unmet need, could it be that our timing is not…

Guidance from God doesn't necessarily have to be full of mystery and confusion. In the Christmas story, Joseph changes his mind, taking his life in an entirely different direction. He is open to change. He's flexible, and he is not afraid to reconsider his decisions. When you begin to second guess a decision, could this be God nudging you to recons…

We filter everything through our perspective. It's a habit that comes naturally to us, and it's a habit that needs to be broken, according to Jesus. We can second-guess ourselves and doubt our actions and decisions even when we are right on track. The greatest prophet that ever lived, Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist, struggled with self-doubt. Jesu…

Certain things happen in our life, and they often take us off guard and become teaching moments we never forget. It can happen during a time of transition or a time of loss. Teaching moments can come on the heels of significant failure or confusion. They are events that stop us in our tracks and cause us to reassess our lives. In Jesus' day, this w…

Pondering how you live and what you are spending your time on is a worthwhile practice. Jesus teaches us that since it is so easy to get off track and get bogged down by all the wrong things, it's good to reassess and make necessary changes when we sense something is either missing or out of balance. The text is Matthew 25. It's the first Sunday of…

Unsurprisingly, healing people was a big part of what Jesus did in the short time he spent here on the earth. He healed people physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I think it's safe to say that whatever brokenness we have, God desires to address the multiple levels of brokenness in our lives and our world. In today's teaching, Jesus reminds us…

Worrying about the future begins at a young age. No matter what century you are born in or where you live, this is an inner battle we all face. Today, Jesus advises his first students and us how to live in an insecure world and not allow worry to overwhelm us. The text is The Gospel of Luke 21 Pod 152…

It makes little difference to Jesus which side of the line we put ourselves on. We all know people who are quick to give their opinions whether we want them or not. We also know people who are so quiet we have no idea what they think. Some of us chastise ourselves because we should have spoken up, while others cringe when they play back a conversat…

A true authentic spiritual life leads to inner freedom, Jesus teaches. This kind of inner freedom draws out the very best of us. From experience, we know we don't suddenly get freed up from all our fears, anxieties, and bad habits overnight. However, Jesus insists, "I've come that you might have life," and it's a better life than we ever dreamed po…

We criticize others because we are impatient. We don't tolerate those who behave differently from us. We expect people to act as we would, and when they don't, we become angry. Getting stuck in the endless loop of criticism and anger is easy. It often begins in small ways, but before long, it takes on a life of its own. Jesus addresses criticism in…

Yes, there will be times of discouragement, Jesus teaches. There will be times when prayers and heart desires are unfulfilled. The good of prayer is not dependent upon the outcome. If you pray so that circumstances will change, you set yourself up for discouragement. Luke 18. Pod 148

Yes, it is possible to live without resentment, Jesus teaches. You have what it takes to learn how to live without carrying around a lot of past offenses, betrayal, and disappointment. It's about learning how to use your faith to propel you forward. Life was challenging for the first listeners, who complained they needed more faith. More faith isn'…

Elusive contentment, why is it so difficult to find? The apostle Paul would say, "it's a learned state of being." We are not naturally born content. Most of us are restless and want more than we think we need. No, that's not the answer, Paul would say, and it only leads to disappointment. There is a secret to finding contentment. The text is 1 Timo…

There is a tendency in people to allow money to influence us, lead us and ultimately dominate us. There is something about money that has a power of its own. Do you know how to handle this power? Jesus teaches us we need to be shrewd when managing money and our possessions otherwise money will surely dominate us. The Parable of the Shrewd Manager G…

Jesus, on several occasions, teaches about the reality of finding ourselves lost. It's no surprise to God we find ourselves in situations and messes we cannot fix. We may feel spiritually lost, without a place to belong, and with people who don't know us. We may be in circumstances that cut us off from joy. Sometimes, we make choices that lead us i…

We are living in times of unprecedented change. Sometimes it feels like everything is spinning out of control. "Hold on to that image," Jeremiah the prophet would remind us, because the Divine Potter has a hand in all of this. Any kind of massive change may certainly feel out of our control but there is One shaping us and guiding us through it all.…

We want to matter, be noticed, be liked, admired, and appreciated don't we? Surely, there is nothing wrong with that? Jesus' wisdom is, Yes, it can be problematic if we look to others for something we already have and yet are quite unaware of. Text. Gospel of Luke 14 Pod 142

Trouble in the family or conflict at work or with friends? The division is necessary and expected. Jesus taught that if you are committed to living a life of integrity (wholeness) and being true to yourself you will divide away from anything or anyone that hinders you from moving ahead. Growth of any kind often causes division. The text is Luke 12 …

Trusting God has nothing to do with being some kind of goodie-two shoes, Jesus teaches. Off course, you will make mistakes and sometimes they will be massive ones but that doesn't mean you are not a person of great faith. Trust moves ahead despite fears and mistakes and takes the next step. That's great faith. Hebrews 11. Pod 140…

Money is not the problem for most of us, Jesus teaches. Greed is the problem and we can be unaware of it. When we lack contentment and always want just a little bit more, when we spend our time and energy pursuing more, chances are, greed is urging us forward. Today we look at Jesus' wisdom on money and possessions in the Parable of the Rich Fool. …

Have you ever wondered if your prayers make any difference? Today, we look at Jesus' advice when he is asked by a student, "Teach us how to pray." If we look at prayer as a way to guide God into acting, Jesus' corrects our understanding and reminds us God doesn't need help knowing what we need. Prayer isn't about encouraging God to do anything. Pra…

Jesus uses life's daily irritations in his students' lives to encourage them to step into a new way of relating to people and each other. We can forget we have a choice, especially when certain situations, circumstances, and people ruffle our feathers. The text is Luke 10. Podcast 137

Chances are, you don't need a teaching or a parable telling you that God desires you to love and care for people. We already know this, but do we know what to do when we can't love someone? Rather than rationalize and make excuses for ourselves, Jesus teaches another way to live when love is beyond us. Luke 10:25-37 Pod 136…

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 …

Nicodemus thinks that his religion is all about rule-following. "No," Jesus said, that's not enough, and it will never bring you peace. Trying to do the right thing doesn't change you; what changes you is developing a trusting relationship with God. Trust is the foundation for transformation and inner change. Nicodemus tried to live a good life; he…

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 Acts 2. The day is Pente…

You have plans, it's a great idea, you think, yet you are blocked. You can't move forward after all your time and energy. Has it all been a waste of time? "No," the early followers of Jesus would say, "That may be a sign God is blocking you from taking the wrong direction." Acts 16:6-15 Pod 131

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 Bo…

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…

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 …

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 lots of 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 …

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 12:1-1…

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. Text Luke 13 Episode 121

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 back off and 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 when two or more meet. "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…

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…

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, or outreach of any kind until he was sure the Spirit-empowered Him. Today we are looking at Jesus' baptism and the difference Sp…