I flew out on the 16th October, not really sure what I was flying to and not knowing what to expect.

Our translaters were excellent! Obed and Songom. The first thing that struck me after a few days with these two men was their deep, abiding and passionate concern for what we were there to do. They wanted to see the Gospel spread throughout Nepal. We wanted to see the Christian leaders of Nepal equipped to do so!

Which is exactly what we were there to do. To teach the people we were working with how to study and interpret the bible for themselves, to equip them for leadership, and to help these disciples of Christ Jesus go out and make more disciples of Christ Jesus!

The trip over all was great. Although my primary reason for going to Nepal with TBW was to serve, God was definately challenging me in several areas while I was there.

There’s far too many exciting stories to do one ‘blog’ about… but there’s a more detailed account of each day on the TBW blog. (linked above)

1) Teach. TBW teaches others how to read, study, interpret and apply the Bible in a simplified way. It is aimed toward uneducated, indigenous people creatively using their local learning styles and culture.

2) Equip. TBW equips believers for the work of influence through a committment of a personal servant leadership lifestyle.

3) Duplicate. TBW duplicates duplicating disciples worldwide through easy to learn biblical methods based on accountability and intentionality.

In Nepal we will do this by putting on 2 three day conferences, teaching local church leaders who have little to no education and zero biblical training. My role will involve preaching, lectures, small group studies and discussions. It is also likely we will be involved specifically in local church ministries.

There will only be 3 people on team, including myself. I’ve been given the heads up that these trips are: “low on information, high on flexibility, tough on the body and good for the soul!”

I’d like to ask you first and foremost to support me in prayer: for a fruitful, opportunity-filled, God glorifying trip. And secondly to prayerfully consider financially supporting me. I need to raise funds amounting to around 1500 pounds to cover the costs on putting on the conferences/flights/transport/etc, in a very short time frame.

If you are interested in hearing more – before, during and after- about Nepal, or you would be interested in financially supporting me, please drop me an email/facebook message/letter/text/phonecall.

Cheers.

- Mark

Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

By way of introducing the introduction that is verses 1 and 2, this letter is written to the Christian churches, or the wider Christian community. Where 1 Peter was written to encourage and strengthen the scattered groups of Christians who were facing seasons of suffering, 2 Peter was written to encourage Christians facing 2 dangers: (1) false teachers who were spreading false teachings and encouraging immorality (2:1); and scoffers who were using the fact that Christ had not returned as their excuse for immorality (3:3).

As in 1 Peter, Peter begins by introducing himself in the way followed by letter writers of the day. The way Peter does this is important. “servant and apostle to Jesus Christ”. Peter’s ‘office’ of apostleship carries the authority of one who represents and speaks for the living Christ. But it’s not like Peter is throwing his heavy weight class status about  in people’s faces. “Apostle” is second, no first. “Servant” comes before “apostle”.

There’s humility there. That same humble emphasis is carried on… “To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours…”. What Peter is doing is addressing the believers he’s writing to on the same spiritual playing field that he and the other apostles are on. By showing equality with the believers he’s writing to, he’s encouraging them.

We shouldn’t rejoice or find joy in our positions of authority, or titles, or spiritual weight class… but in the faith that is ours through Jesus Christ.

“To those who have OBTAINED a faith of equal standing with ours…” I think the word “obtained” is really important here. This “faith of equal standing” wasn’t something we obtained by our own efforts, but by God’s choice. How pointless sand silly it would be for us to boast of our authority, or faith as if it was something we earned by our own efforts.

The Christian faith is “obtained”, not by us, but “by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ”. When I went camping with my friend Gordon to the Island of Rum (I can highly recommend bible reading on remote Scottish Islands… little room for distraction), he had a look at this passage … one of the things he pointed out was that the word “obtained” seemed to suggest “something precious”. – something that can only be “obtained by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ”. It is a gift given to us. It is a gift shared equally by Peter the apostle and the Christian believers he is writing to.

And the “Righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ”. It is in Jesus’ final suffering and death, and in his whole life of suffering and righteousness, he becomes our perfection… he gives us faith.

“Obtaining” faith in Jesus Christ is only possible because of his death being the climax of a perfect life of righteousness – God’s righteousness – imputed to us.

So what does that mean?

The righteousness we have is not our own, it comes as God’s gift in Christ. We are declared, or made righteous, and obtain faith, only through Christ’s righteousness.

(Verse 2). “May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord”. We tend to gloss over this part, usually, when we read it? Don’t we? But it’s important. This is what Peter really wants to see happen because of his letter! It’s how the letter ends in Ch 3:18… “But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”

Grace and peace… something that comes to us from God. Again, not something we earn by our own effort.

He stresses, “May grace and peace be multiplied to you… HOW?… in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord”.

This knowing God is the means by which grace and peace manifest themselves in our lives. If you want to enjoy and live in the grace and peace of God… your knowledge of him has to grow.

We study the scriptures because through it comes the knowledge of God, and through that grace and peace are multiplied in your heart… and wherever you are…in your work place…and in your churches… and in Scotland…

I’m aware that I come across pretty serious some times. I’m aware that my passion for the truth can some times come across like you’ve just insulted my family, and I’m verbally beating you to death. But I’ve come to a conclusion, which is by no means supposed to come across as me bigging myself up, or whatever… but what I honestly believe and ‘feel’.

Since last year I lived in a city where every time I took out the rubbish, I smashed a glass bottle that the kids who skipped school used as a bong to smoke cannabis from; there was regular drunkards walking up and down the streets at various times of the day; women would stop me outside the local shop to ask me to buy lighter fluid for them to inhale; I’d walk into a pub and literally feel the agression in the air; I’d encounter guys who’d “taken too many pills, and just wanted to talk for a few minutes” because they were scared; I’d see guys clearly taking advantage of drunk girls; and have to step over the pools of vomit in the morning. All in all, it was hopelessness, everywhere.

Just a few months ago, I met a homeless heroin addict, who ended up sharing his story with me. His mother committed suicide. His dad drank himself to death shortly afterwards. One of his brothers overdosed on heroin and died, the other brother overdosed on methadone and died. And his sister was a heroin addict, going out with a heroin addict.

Within the last two days… I’ve talked to a Christian whose faith is on the rocks because a few years ago his mother died of cancer, and his father got super ill. I’ve talked to a girl, on the street, who randomly told me she is on anti-depressants, and on top of that, smoking hash and taking cocaine. Why? Because within the last year her ‘boyfriend’ got her pregnant and she had an abortion.

Here’s what kills me. I am so overwhelmed by the sheer hopelessness in Glasgow, the utter wreckage that you’re average person on the street’s life is in, and the utter lack of the presence of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I literally sat in my room tonight, praying… “What’s the plan here, God?”.

I’m sick of the fact that I’ve spent more time watching dvd’s this past week, when apparently right now I can’t even leave my flat without being presented an opportunity to share the gospel with the lost. I’m furious with the idea, that we ‘Christians’ can sit comfortably in our pews, talking about serving Jesus, when all it takes is a half hour walk in the west end to tell a broken hearted girl who’s had an abortion, that Jesus, not only took the punishment for our sin, but cleansed us from our sin, and the shame, bitterness, hurt, brokenheartedness and guilt that accompanies our sin. That he died to redeem us from our sin. That his death was victory over sin. That he who knew no sin, became sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God.

Go for a walk. Courageously share the gospel. Glasgow needs it.

First of all, I will no longer be going to Multnomah Bible College. Initially, this decision was down to a huge lack of support and the large amount of finances required in order for me to go. It was definitely an ‘open door’ possibility that I pushed, and prayed over – however, it would seem it firmly shut. This means that any financial support that was sent to the college itself will be returned to those that supported me.

My calling however to become a pastor is still my number ONE priority. I really struggled over the end of last year/beginning of this year with a lack of progress and vision of what the next few years looked like for me. Having been dead set on Multnomah (and obviously being closer to some close friends!) and seeing little to no response at all, progress kind of came to a standstill. Over the last month or so, I have been praying through other options and came to a decision of doing a course called the Cornhill course. This would be a 1 year full time course in Glasgow. Basically, the course’s aim is to teach men how to preach, as well as teach people how to understand the Bible accurately, teach the Bible effectively and apply the Bible appropriately. It has a lot of recognition worldwide, and great commendations by guys such as Dr D A Carson, David Jackman, Tim Keller, and Alistair Begg. Ideally, this would be a great stepping stone into further studies, because unlike the majority of bible colleges, this course has a huge emphasis on actual practical preaching and teaching. The course starts on September this year, and hopefully next week I’ll be going in to sit in on the classes for a day or two to get a taster of what Cornhill is like.

Although, it’s probably worth pointing out: I’ve met with a guy and chatted through some Cornhill stuff, and he strongly recommended attending some classes for free, as a ‘taster’. Hopefully, I’ll be doing that over the next couple of weeks, and following that, applying for the course.

As of October last year I have been working in a Christian Youth Outreach Organisation called the Ark (www.Ayrark.co.uk). My job is basically youth outreach on the streets of Ayr, where I engage young people who are hanging around on Friday and Saturday nights. It’s pretty exciting. It involves everything from engaging young people as young as 12 who are involved in underage binge drinking/drugs issues, to dealing with just down right hurting/broken young people. The last 6 months have been extremely fruitful – having seen a lot of progress with individual young people, being able to share the gospel, and build genuine, healthy relationships with kids who come from pretty messed up backgrounds.

Right now, I am looking to find a new flat in Glasgow. This will allow me to spend more time working with Re:hope, and hopefully I can get another job on top of the Ark to raise finances for Cornhill.

You can take a look at the Cornhill course more fully, at www.cornhillscotland.org.uk.

I’ll also be taking a trip to PA during the summer to visit some friends I know, so for those of you in Ohio… I might give you a call!!!

Anyhoo, that should probably do it. ;-p

www.biblereadinggroups.com

This is the ‘format’ that I work with, and the website should have pretty much everything you need/want to know! Enjoy.

- Mark

General Harrison was a soldier’s soldier who led a busy, ultra-kinetic life, but he was also an amazing man of the Word.

When he was a twenty-year old West Point Cadet, he began reading the Old Testament through once a year and the New Testament four times. He did this until the end of his life. Even in the thick of war he maintained his commitment by catching up during the two- and three-day respites for replacement and refitting which followed battles, so that when the war ended he was right on schedule.

When at the age of 90, his failing eyesight no longer permitted his discipline, he had read the Old Testament 70 times and the New Testament 280 times.

From this, we see that it is possible, even for the busiest of us, to systematically feed on God’s Word. General Harrison’s associates say that every area of his life (domestic, spiritual, and professional) and each of the great problems he faced was informed by the Scriptures.

Who thought that ‘bible read-through’ was a new thing?

We are required to read the Scriptures regularly because we cannot be profoundly influenced by that which we do not know. If we are filled with God’s Word, our lives can then be informed and directed by God – in relationships, raising children, careers, ethical decisions, and interior moral life. In other (better) words – it is by reading the Scriptures in such a manner, that we truly become who we are supposed to be – a people of the Word, who love the Word, who live the Word.
(Along with that, I personally believe we ought to be reading good books!

To deny ourselves the wealth of the accumulated saints of the centuries is to conciously embrace spiritual anorexia – a loss of appetite for growth in Christ. Great Christian writing will magnify, dramatize, and illuminate life-giving wonders for us. Although be careful in your choice of books!)

Paul talks about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus as the most important event in all history, and the verification of the truthfulness of all Scripture. (That’s right… the Old Testament is all about Jesus too!). He then talks about this being the ‘good news’ – that Jesus died because of our sins. It was our sins, but his death.

From pretty much the beginning of Scripture (Genisis 2:17) to the end (Revelations 21:8), the penalty for sin is death. In other words, if we sin – we should die. But it was Jesus, the son of God, sinless, who died in our place for our sins – He took the penalty for our sin.

This means that Jesus’ death was substitutionary.

In good old Leviticus (one of my favourite books), we read about the day of atonement – which was the most important day of the year – the day in which the ’sin problem’ between humanity and God was ‘dealt’ with. On the day of atonement, two goats without defect (perfect little hooves shining) were selected to represent sinless perfection. The first goat was a sin offering. The first goat got slaughtered (sorry vegans!), which acted as a substitute for the sinners who, according to what we see all throughout scripture, deserved to die. The head priest (who had the joy of slaughtering goat number 1) then sprinkled some of it’s blood on the seat ontop of the Ark of the Covenant inside the most holy place. The goat was no longer innocent when it took the guilt of the people’s sin, and it was a sin offering for the people (Lev 16:15). The goat’s blood represented life given as payment for sin. The dwelling place of God was thus cleansed, and God’s just and holy wrath was satisfied.

The high priest, acting as a mediator between the sinfil people and God would take the second goat (drum role please for goat number 2), lay his hands on it and confess the sins of the people. Goat number 2 (called the scapegoat) would then be sent away to run free in the wild (no doubt to be eaten by a lion or something) away from the sinners, symbolically taking their sin with it.

This is like one giant foreshadowing of the coming of Jesus, our High Priest who mediates between us and God, the sinless substitute who died in our place for our sins, and the scapegoat who cleanses us of our sin to be remembered by God no more.

You have to understand the function of the two goats in order to appreciate the atonement.

“The concept of substitution may be said, then, to lie at the heart of both sin and salvation. For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be; God sacrifices himself for man and puts himself where only man deserves to be. Man claims prerogatives which belong to God alone; God accepts penalties which belong to man alone.” – John Stott

Substitutionary Atonement is Jesus taking our place on the cross, cleansing us from our sin, and restoring the relationship between God and man.

If I’m honest – this was a direct copy and paste from my old blog, and will probably only serve as a ‘first’ of many blogs on a subject which recently, I’ve felt very strongly about. My new job, as a youth outreach worker, involves a lot of walking around. The benefit of it being winter, and there not being a huge amount of young people on the streets because of the weather, is that I have plenty of ‘thinking’ time, as well as time to chat with my collegue.

What I’ve come to realize is this: many who believe and ‘know’ the reality of the cross, refuse to accept it. There are many, who have plenty of knowledge regarding what Jesus done on the Cross, who by their own lives, what they believe about themselves, and the sin/shame/hurt/bitterness that they constantly carry around, reject the ‘atoning’ work on the Cross. I count myself among them.

Too often have I seen believers continue to carry around the ball and chain (which has been dealt with on the cross) that is sin, and the shame that accompanies it. Too often have I heard believers speak of their past, as if they have not been forgiven.

I fully believe, that one of the most damaging things, is for a believer to continue to carry around their ‘ball and chain’, allowing it to shape who they are, and “stop them from being ‘well’ “.

Specifically, I think of the person who doesn’t think they’re worthy of the Godly spouse they deeply desire based on a damaging relationship from the past. I think of the people who refuse to let go of their failings, sin, brokeness, pain, shame, hurt, anger, bitterness, pride, despite it being dealt with on the Cross.

A friend recently asked me, ‘Mark, do you want to be well?’. There is so much I understand, and claim knowledge of, which I reject simply by denying the full atoning work of Jesus, who dealt with Sin, by cleansing us from it, and along with it: the shame, the bitterness, the hurt, pain, brokeness, etc, etc, etc.

You Are Forgiven. It has been dealt with. Let go, and be ‘well’.

Discernment intersects the Christian life at every point. And God’s Word provides us with the needed discernment about every issue of life. According to Peter, God “has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3). You see, it is through the “true knowledge of Him,” that we have been given everything we need to live a Christian life in this fallen world. And how else do we have true knowledge of God but through the pages of His word, the Bible? In fact, Peter goes on to say that such knowledge comes through God’s granting “to us His precious and magnificent promises” (2 Peter 1:4) – John MacArthur

Discernment is the skill of understanding and applying God’s word with the purposes of seperating truth from error and right from wrong. It is a task in which we attempt to see things as God sees them. People who are discerning have a heightened ability to see and understand issues from God’s perspective. Empowered by his Spirit, they strive for and are given and understanding of what is pleasing to God and what is not. They do this by understanding God through his Word, the Bible, and by applying the wisdom of the Bible to their lives. All the while it is God who gives the motivation, the desire, the ability, and the power to both know and discern.

One of the reasons why I believe reading the bible is fundamentally important in a Christian’s life is because without doing so, they lack discernment. They lack the ability to differentiate between truth and error, right and wrong, good and evil, false teaching and biblical truth. To clarify, I’m not talking about a daily devotional where you read a verse and meditate, or even a couple of chapters. The bible read through groups that we do at Re:hope are hugely important because we want to be a people of the word. We want to be a people who not only know the word, but by knowing it, live the radical lives the bible calls us to live.

It is easy to recognise the Spiritually mature Christian who knows their bible, and who lives a ‘biblical’ life, from the immature Christian, who does not know God’s word, who in their immaturity samples everything, cannot tell right from wrong, or tell truth from error.

Mature Christians have learned (through scripture) to differentiate between what is pleasing to God and what is not, between what is consistent with Scripture and what is not. The Bible places great emphasis on spiritual maturity because, like children, immature believers are prone to sample anything, (or quote anything on their facebook profiles). They are attracted to what looks good to their untrained eyes. Only as they grow in maturity are they able to differentiate between what pleases God and what does not. There cannot be growth in spiritual maturity without discernment, and there cannot be discernent without reading and learning scripture, continuously, over a lifetime.

If you desire Spiritual maturity (something that God demands of us), the pursue discernment. If you want to pursue discernment, and grow in Spiritual maturity, then read you bible. Learn. Grow. Move from milk to solid food.

It’s called Bible read through.