For over thirty years Alan Neale has spoken with passion, relevance, authenticity and humor of themes that are profound and pressing; the profound he makes simple and accessible, the pressing he makes immediate and welcoming. All these years past have provided little time for Alan to write extensively and so now he begins a long-postponed desire and there are many themes waiting to be translated into books; the task is daunting and enthralling and he longs to begin in 2015
Mark 9:33-35 (The Message) 33 They came to Capernaum. When he was safe at home, he asked them, “What were you discussing on the road?” 34 The silence was deafening—they had been arguing with one another over who among them was greatest. 35 He sat down and summoned the Twelve. “So you want first place?… Continue reading
Mark 9:7-8 (The Message) 7 Just then a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and from deep in the cloud, a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love. Listen to him.” 8 The next minute the disciples were looking around, rubbing their eyes, seeing nothing but Jesus, only Jesus.
Mark 9:2-6 (The Message) In a Light-Radiant Cloud 2-4 Six days later, three of them did see it. Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. His clothes shimmered, glistening white, whiter than any bleach could make them. Elijah,… Continue reading
Mark 8:34-37 9The Message) 34-37 Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is… Continue reading
Mark 8:31-33 (The Message) 30-32 Jesus warned them to keep it quiet, not to breathe a word of it to anyone. He then began explaining things to them: “It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the elders, high priests, and religion scholars,… Continue reading
Mark 8:27-32 (The Message) 27 Jesus and his disciples headed out for the villages around Caesarea Philippi. As they walked, he asked, “Who do the people say I am?” 28 “Some say ‘John the Baptizer,’” they said. “Others say ‘Elijah.’ Still others say ‘one of the prophets.’” 29 He then asked, “And you—what are you… Continue reading
Mark 8:22-26 (The Message) 22-23 They arrived at Bethsaida. Some people brought a sightless man and begged Jesus to give him a healing touch. Taking him by the hand, he led him out of the village. He put spit in the man’s eyes, laid hands on him, and asked, “Do you see anything?” 24-26 He… Continue reading
The sermon text is below the sermon video… Sermon preached at St. Stephen’s, Goldsboro, NC ; Sunday March 7 2021 The Reverend Alan Neale, “I got ZEAL!” As the service was continuing, the minister was becoming more and more anxious. Somewhere, out there in the congregation, there was someone who kept murmuring “Praise the… Continue reading
Mark 7:32-35 (The Message) 31-35 Then he left the region of Tyre, went through Sidon back to Galilee Lake and over to the district of the Ten Towns. Some people brought a man who could neither hear nor speak and asked Jesus to lay a healing hand on him. He took the man off by… Continue reading
Mark 6:39-44 (The Message) 39-44 Jesus got them all to sit down in groups of fifty or a hundred—they looked like a patchwork quilt of wildflowers spread out on the green grass! He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the… Continue reading