Columbanus (12)

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father…that He would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man… Ephesians 3.14, 16

Christian growth is bi-directional. That is, it occurs from the outside-in and the inside-out. As for the former, when we impose disciplines on our bodies – for reading and prayer, fasting, bearing witness, and so forth – we engage our bodily members in deliberate actions which, continued over time, will have their effects on how we think, what we desire, and what we value.

Outside-in change is important, but it’s not complete without inside-out change, change that begins in the inner person and works its way out in our words and deeds.

As Columbanus put in his Sermon II, “For of what use is the religion of the outward man, if there is not also shown an improvement in the inner? That person can be false and a thief, that person is false and a hypocrite, who displays one quality in his bearing and another in his character.”

In “bearing” a man might look like a true minister of the Word. But in “character” – in the inner man – he might be something completely other. This was a jab at the local preachers Columbanus and his students encountered as they worked in Gaul, where the faith had been long in decline. The local ministers there were respected, relatively wealthy, and they “dressed the part,” so to speak. But they were empty within, and Columbanus was not shy about confronting them or complaining to the Pope in Rome about their laxity. One can go through the motions of being a man of faith, and not be a man of faith at all. True piety begins within, and we must work hard to sustain it there always.

Columbanus: “Then let us not be like whited sepulchers, let us study to show ourselves splendid and adorned within and not without; for true religion resides in lowliness not of habit but of heart.”

Resources for revival
We have prepared a copy of Columbanus’ Sermon II in PDF form, and I’d be happy to send you one if you’ll write to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Sermon I is also available if you wish to request it. You’ll find that Columbanus was a master at economy of words, beauty of format, and complexity of meaning – all in an 8-10 minute presentation.

New Men’s Book Groups are now on the calendar for late winter/spring. First up, our new Lewis Readers’ Group. Ailbe Board Chairman Charlie Hammett and I will be leading a series of discussions on the works of C. S. Lewis. We will begin with his collection of essays and speeches, Weight of Glory. We’ll be meeting every other Friday afternoon at 3:00 Eastern via Zoom, February 10 through June 16. We have room for twelve men, so if you’d like to be part of this group, write to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Our second group will be reading the book, Redeeming Our Thinking about History by Vern Poythress. Given the tenuous state of historical thinking and writing in the world today – and the near absence of it among Christians – this is an important study. Poythress leads us to discover what Scripture teaches concerning how to understand and make good use of history. We will meet via Zoom, every other Friday at 3:00 Eastern, February 17- May 12. Again, twelve’s the limit, so let me know if you’d like to participate (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

From the Celtic Revival
Here’s an excerpt from Crosfigell, our twice-weekly teaching letter featuring insights from the writers of the Celtic Revival:

Happy, righteous, blessed, and perfect is the man on whom is the fear and dread of the mighty Lord, and who desires greatly to fulfill the command and teaching of God, as it is laid down in the canon of the Old and New Testaments.

  - Anonymous, Vita Brendani, Irish, 17th century, from an earlier ms.[1]

We don’t hear much about the fear of God these days, although it is plainly taught, as our anonymous writer knew, in both the Old and New Testaments. As Moses understood, we’re not likely to love or obey the Lord if we don’t maintain a healthy fear of Him (Deut. 10.12-21). Jesus taught us to fear God as well (Lk. 12.4, 5), as did the apostle Paul (2 Cor. 7.1). Must be something to it. 

Check out our Celtic Legacy podcast and the other resources available on our dedicated Celtic Revival home page.

In every age, the Church is in danger of falling captive to cultural diversions, just-off-target views, and outright lies. In our book, The Church Captive, we explore some ways this has happened in the past and raise the question as to whether we have become captive in our own day to something other than the mind and will of Christ. Learn more about The Church Captive and order your free copy by clicking here.

T. M. Moore.

Please pray
Pray that God will bring to our Fellowship men who are committed to realizing more of the presence, promise, and power of His Kingdom. If you’d like to learn more about becoming a Brother in The Fellowship of Ailbe, click here to watch a brief video. If you’d like to talk about Membership, write to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and I’ll send you some additional information.

Please pray that God will move many of those we serve through this ministry to share with us financially in its support. If the Lord moves you to give, you can use the Contribute button at the website to give with a credit card or through PayPal or Anedot, or you can send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 360 Zephyr Road, Williston, VT 05495.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

[1] Plummer, p. 44.