Podcast
Castlebar Christian Fellowship
Hosted by Castlebar Christian Fellowship · EN
Welcome to the Castlebar Christian Fellowship podcast, where we bring you inspiring Sunday sermons from our vibrant faith community. Each week, we dive deep into Scripture, exploring the teachings of Christ and how they apply to our daily lives. Whether you're seeking encoura
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Episodes
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Abiding in the Vine
3d agoTap to summarizeIn this inspiring Youth Sunday message, John Burke dives into John 15 to examine what it truly means to abide in Christ and bear fruit that lasts. Drawing from local connections – like the Mayo motto Críost Linn ("Christ with us") and the flags we raise to represent our identity – John illustrates how our lives are meant to wave as banners showing that King Jesus resides within our hearts. Through practical illustrations of soil, tomato vines, and a glass of settling water, John unpacks how stepping out of life's busyness to sit at the Savior's feet transforms our character. From the contrast between Martha’s frantic serving and Mary’s devoted focus, to David’s growth from a sling and stone to the full armour of God, this sermon serves as an encouraging call for young and old alike to prioritise intimacy with God, embrace His loving pruning, and step out in authentic faith.
Transcribe →Scandal of Redemption
1w agoTap to summarizeIn this gripping message, PJ Sexton unpacks "Part Two" of the Tola Worm story, diving into the strange and intricate cleansing rituals of Leviticus 14 to reveal the relentless heart of our great High Priest. PJ bridges the gap between ancient law and the finished work of the cross, illustrating how the physical reality of leprosy perfectly mirrors the spiritual numbness of sin – and how Jesus stepped outside the heavenly tabernacle to meet us in our deepest brokenness.Our journey through the messy, scandalous family lineages of Judah and Tamar, the miraculous birth of twins, and the ultimate rescue of Rahab the prostitute in Jericho brings us face-to-face with the scandal of redemption. PJ delivers a powerful reminder that no mistake, no failure, and no worldly scandal is beyond the reaching power of the blood of Jesus. If you are ready to break free from performance mode, silenced condemnation, and the fear of a looming judgment, hit play to discover how God is masterfully weaving a redemptive masterpiece out of your broken pieces today.
Transcribe →Lost and Found
2w agoTap to summarizeIn this deeply encouraging message on Luke 15, Jim Duffy unpacks the three famous parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son to reveal the true heart of God toward those who are hurting and disconnected. Jim reminds us that whether someone is lost through outward rebellion like the younger brother, or lost right inside the church through cold self-righteousness like the older brother, Jesus remains the relentless, seeking Savior who never stops pursuing us. Highlighting the beautiful truth that grace always runs faster than guilt, this sermon is a powerful reminder that the Father is actively watching the horizon for you, ready to run, embrace you, and completely restore your life with celebratory joy. If you are ready to quiet the noise of the world, break free from performance mode, and experience the radical, welcoming love of a faithful God who has been seeking you long before you ever sought Him, hit play and listen to this life-changing message today.
Transcribe →One Day in Your Courts
3w agoTap to summarizeIn this powerful message on Psalm 84, guest speaker Mark Horgan reveals how a single day spent in the presence of God carries the power to deliver, restore, and completely revolutionise your life. Exploring the journey of the sons of Korah, Mark reminds us that while our earthly pilgrimage will inevitably take us through difficult terrains like the Valley of Weeping, God is a specialist in turning our deepest places of loss and struggle into refreshing springs of unexpected blessing. If you are ready to break free from the noisy distractions of the world, discover the protective power of God as your sun and shield, and drink deeply from the life-giving rivers of the Holy Spirit, this message is exactly what your soul needs to hear today.
Transcribe →He Calls You Friend
Jun 28Tap to summarizeIn this message from Romans 5:1–11, Pastor Cathal Duffy shares a powerful illustration from the American War of Independence involving a preacher named Peter Miller, who walked 60 miles to secure an execution pardon from George Washington for his "worst living enemy"—a local man who bitterly hated and persecuted him. While a noble act of mercy, Pastor Cathal shows it is only a faint shadow of what Jesus did for us: Christ did not merely walk for His enemies; He died in their place on the cross to secure their full pardon and make them friends of God. Moving from the foundational reality of being justified by faith alone, the message highlights how the wall of partition and the fear of judgment have been permanently removed, leaving believers with absolute peace with God and open access to His presence. Pastor Cathal challenges the church to be the most positive people in the world, rejecting a legalistic mindset or a "hang-dog expression" that relies on performance or assumes God's love grows hot and cold based on human behavior. Using the analogy of a tea bag that reveals its true strength only when landed in hot water, he explains that biblical hope is not fragile wishful thinking, but an unshakeable guarantee that allows us to actively rejoice in life's pressures, knowing that suffering produces endurance, sterling character, and a deeper confidence in God's promises. Through the Holy Spirit, an abundant, unrationed stream of unconditional love has been poured into our hearts, reminding us that we are loved with an everlasting love and called to live out our obedience as a joyful response of pure gratitude for a completed rescue that allows God to look at us and call us friend.
Transcribe →The Father of Faith
Jun 21Tap to summarizeIn this Father's Day message from Romans 4, Pastor Cathal Duffy uses a humorous rhyme about a frog paddling out of a bowl of milk to dismantle the deeply flawed idea that we can somehow rescue ourselves or earn our way to heaven through hard work and performance. Unpacking the accountancy term "credited," Cathal explains that biblical justification means God takes the flawless righteousness of Jesus Christ and deposits it directly into our empty accounts as a completely free gift of grace. While historical culture often airbrushed figures like Abraham and King David into perfect superheroes, scripture shows they were highly flawed men who were accepted purely because they cast themselves on God's unmerited mercy. Quoting C.S. Lewis to demonstrate that faith is the art of holding onto truth despite shifting moods, Cathal challenges the church to look past impossible circumstances – just as Abraham looked past his own "dead" body and Sarah's dead womb – and fully trust in the resurrected power of a great God.
Transcribe →The Solid Rock
Jun 14Tap to summarizePreaching from Psalm 33, Cathal Duffy delivers an encouraging message titled The Solid Rock, focusing on God's sovereign rule over a chaotic and shaky world. Drawing a parallel to the uncontainable excitement seen in football stadium crowds, Cathal highlights that a redeemed and forgiven church has the ultimate reason to fill God's house with vibrant, joyful, and fresh praise. The sermon breaks down exactly why we can completely trust the Lord:His Reliable Word & Creative Power: God's words perfectly match His works, holding the creative authority to speak creation into existence.His Superior Plans: While human schemes, political shifts, and military might inevitably fail, the eternal gospel plan of God's heart stands completely firm across all generations.His Perfect Knowledge: God's thorough understanding of our lives translates into complete, loving pastoral care and protection. Ultimately, the message moves the believer from an enthusiastic shout of praise into a state of quiet, active Christian confidence—fully resting on the character of the Giver rather than the stability of our circumstances.
Transcribe →The Rock Christ Jesus
Jun 7Tap to summarizeGuest speaker David Stevenson brings an incredibly liberating and encouraging word from Matthew 16:13–20, unpacking what it truly means to be used by God. Set against the highly superstitious, pagan backdrop of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus presents His disciples with the ultimate question: “Who do you say I am?”. David unpacks Peter’s landmark confession—"You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God"—and clarifies the vital text that follows. In the original Greek, Peter is called Petros (a small stone), while the church is built upon Petra (a massive rock structure)—meaning the church is not anchored on a flawed human being, but constructed on the immovable rock of Christ Jesus Himself.David uses this framework to directly tackle the lie that we must be flawless or "special" to have a purpose in God's kingdom. He fires off a rapid list of heavily flawed, ordinary Bible characters—from Noah’s drunkenness and Moses’ stutter to Elijah’s deep depression, Rahab's prostitution, and Peter’s own volatile temper—proving that God consistently chooses the unqualified and qualifies them through grace. David powerfully notes the stark difference between the enemy and the Holy Spirit: the devil acts as the accuser who throws past, forgiven sins in our faces, whereas the Holy Spirit convicts us solely to draw us up closer to Christ. Comparing believers to distinct, hand-chosen building stones rather than mass-produced bricks, David concludes with a passionate altar call. He reminds the congregation that Jesus did not just conquer the gates of Hades to save us by the skin of our teeth, but to completely smash the chains of past trauma, addiction, and shame, launching us into a victorious, abundant life.
Transcribe →Stand Firm
May 31Tap to summarizeContinuing the series in Ephesians, Cathal Duffy delivers a realistic and encouraging message on the spiritual battles embedded in ordinary, everyday Christian living. Cathal addresses two common extremes – being completely obsessed with the enemy or dismissing spiritual warfare entirely – and calls believers to take the biblical reality seriously.Using the historical framework of World War II, he compares the cross to D-Day: the decisive, ultimate victory over Satan has already been won, even though fierce skirmishes continue until Christ returns in judgment. Believers live in the tension between the "now and the not yet," but they are never left without resources. Cathal breaks down the command to “be strong in the Lord,” explaining that this continual empowering is something God does to us as we draw close to Him. He walks through the pieces of the full armour of God – truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God – showing how they shield our minds and lives. Ultimately, the message concludes with an urgent call to persistent prayer, highlighting that while prayer is not listed as a weapon, it is given the greatest prominence as the ultimate expression of our dependence on God.
Transcribe →Staying Sane in a Chaotic World
May 24Tap to summarizeIn a world plagued by division and conflict, guest speaker Mark Horgan walks through Psalm 46 to show how believers can stay grounded. He breaks down the passage into three sections: the global and personal "earthquakes" that cause us to panic; the Holy Spirit’s internal "river" that provides supernatural peace regardless of our circumstances; and God's final justice over a rebellious world.Mark highlights the famous command, "Be still and know that I am God," clarifying that in context, this is a commanding decree for the raging nations to drop their weapons and surrender to the true King of Kings. Ultimately, the message is a comforting reminder that if God is sovereignly navigating human history, He is fully in control of the chaotic details of our individual lives.
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