Rev Bill

I have posted yesterday’s sermon on my sermon blog. It’s the third in my Easter series of sermons — based on John 10:1-10 — and entitled “An Easter Church Follows The Leader”.

Here’s a portion of it:

A popular idea – or popular trend — these days is having a “personal trainer” – or a “life coach” — someone who helps people get their lives in order and be more productive – or happier – or whatever they are trying to be.
I recently read an article where the TV Talk Show host Oprah Winfrey said that her personal trainer gives her the help she needs to make the best of life she can.
She says that her trainer helps her with meal plans – helps her take off the weight she needs to lose – and suggests exercises that can strengthen her heart.
On the surface, having a personal trainer – or a life coach – sounds like a pretty good thing to have.
We all know that what we eat is important –
“You are what you eat”
they say.
Some of us – and I add myself to this list — also know that losing weight might be a good thing for us to do.
We also know that exercise – especially exercise that strengthens our heart – is a good thing – something that many of us don’t get enough of.
So – maybe a “personal trainer” – or a “life coach” – would not be that bad of a thing to have.
The problem is that they are expensive, and we may not know whether they know more about what they are talking about than we do!
So – life coaches – or personal trainers – for our physical lives might be good – if you can afford it and can find one that you can trust. If not, you may need to just buckle down and do it yourself instead of following someone else’s plan or have someone you are accountable to.
But – what about a personal trainer – a life coach – for our spiritual lives?
O – you can find them also.
Spiritual Directors – Counselors – whatever you want to call them – are readily available – and some have great advice – but again most of the time you have to pay — and you have to be sure you can trust them.
But – you know what?
We are called to be God’s people – and – as God’s people – don’t we already have a life coach – a personal trainer – a spiritual director – a counselor?
Sure we do!
It’s Jesus!

You can read the sermon here.

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