Category Archives: Spirituality
The Hard-Working Servant Messiah: Why Study the Gospel of Mark – Part 01
GOSPEL OF MARK
It was the first of the four gospels to be written; it is also the shortest. Yet the Gospel of Mark is an indispensable account of the life, ministry, and death of Jesus the Messiah. It is very action packed; indeed, Jesus is rightly seen as a hard-working, active Messiah who preaches to the poor, heals the sick, casts out devils, raises the dead. As the Gospel of Matthew initially reached out to the Jewish people, with a great emphasis on fulfilled prophecy, Mark targeted the Romans – who respected power and action rather than Greek-style philosophising.
GREEK NAME OF MARK
Kata Markon – According to Mark. ‘
AUTHOR OF MARK
‘Mark’ may have been his Roman surname, since he was known as Yohannan or ‘John Mark.’ He was from Jerusalem and his mother Mary had a large house where believers met for prayer and fellowship. Mark may have been the young man in who followed Jesus to Gethsemane with a bed sheet wrapped around his body. Once discovered, he fled from the scene naked (Mark 14:51-52).
Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey, but deserted them and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). When the second missionary trip was being organised, Paul and Barnabas disagreed so vehemently over the inclusion of Mark that they split (Acts 15:36-40).
John Mark was blessed with high-profile mentors: first it was Paul (Acts 13:1-13), then Barnabas (Acts 15:39), and finally he found a father figure in the apostle Peter, who refers to him as his ‘son’ (1 Peter 5:13). Even Paul had a change of heart over John Mark; in his last recorded words, he wanted the very one he rejected for the second missionary journey … to be brought to him, since Mark was ‘profitable for the ministry ‘(2 Timothy 4:11).
Despite his set backs, John Mark persevered and became the true ‘comeback kid.’ His greatest contribution was writing the gospel that bears his name. Because of Mark’s very close association with Peter, who would have shared with him many things, his Gospel is considered ‘the gospel according to Peter’ – what Peter would have written if he wrote a gospel. Church tradition says that he became the great apostle to Egypt and Africa.
PORTRAIT OF CHRIST IN MARK
The four gospels have ‘metaphors:’ Matthew is a lion, representing the kingly Messiah;
Luke has the ‘perfect man,’ John is the eagle, emphasising the heavenly and spiritual of his Gospel. Mark is the ox, representing a strong, energetic, hardworking servant of the Lord.
THEME OF THE BOOK OF MARK
To present an active, robust, dedicated-to-duty Messiah; when Jesus comes into the picture, things get done quickly. The key word of Mark is eutheos (Greek), used 42 times, which means ‘immediately’ or ‘straightaway.’ Jesus is shown as a Man on-the-move in teaching, preaching, moving in spiritual gifts, and faithful to the end.
Because Mark is targeting the Romans, there is less emphasis on Jewish things like reference to the Law, holy days, fulfilled prophecy, and genealogies. The portrait of Christ in Mark is one to whom the Romans could relate to and respect.
KEY VERSES OF MARK
And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? — Mark 8:34-37
But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many — Mark 10:43-45
TO BE CONTINUED
The Eighth Commandment: More Than Ever – Part 03
The Eighth Commandment is so central to living a God-honoring life. It simply tells not to steal. Yet, stealing is practiced more and more, by the poor, the powerful, and those in-between. Theft is now on an industrial scale and uses variety of methods.
Covetousness can lead to stealing (we will learn more about this in the Tenth Commandment); defrauding people of what is rightly their’s is also stealing. Stealing does not merely involve the tangible; theft of intellectual property is just as real as taking any three-dimensional object. Large governments can cast an envious eye on private property wondering how to extract more revenue to pay for pet projects or a growing bureaucracy. While the Bible does accept taxation as an accepted practice of human government (give unto Caesar what is Caesar, Christ said in Matthew 22:21), there is a reason tax-collectors were despised in His day; they took more than they required and kept the difference. That’s why a penitent Zacchaeus offered to restore foretold to anyone he defrauded (Luke 19:8).
Other things to consider in upholding or violating the Eighth Commandment include:
Failure to pay: Failing or refusing to pay what one owes is theft. It’s one thing to be unable to pay and work out a repayment plan; it’s another thing to refuse payment altogether. Psalm 37:21 tells us the wicked borrow and do not pay again.
Co-Signing, guarantor or suretyship: If there is one thing that the Book of Proverbs warns against is surety or co-signing a loan (Proverbs 6; 22:26). Never agree to take responsibility for someone else’s debt; the horror stories of what follows are endless.
Contentment: We are commanded to be content with what we have (Hebrews 13:5), for godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6). The lack of contentment leads to covetousness, theft, and sorrow.
Get a job: The New Testament tells us to steal no more, but do an honest day’s work and you will have something to give to the needy (Ephesians 4:28); stated more starkly, … if any would not work, neither should he eat’ — 2 Thessalonians 3:10. Imagine how much better off things would be if those who are able to work would do so.
Key to All Ten Commandments
How central is the prohibition against stealing? Does it really contain the other nine commandments? See for your self.
First Commandment: We are to worship and serve no other gods, except the Lord God Himself. Violating this steals the primacy that the Lord our God deserves in our lives; in other words, God should be Number One, period.
Second Commandment: The prohibition on idolatry. Worshipping the creation or a created thing steals the focus and glory which belongs to the invisible God.
Third Commandment: God’s Name is higher than any other and brings salvation (Acts 4:12). Using God’s Name in vain is stealing the reverence and awe it rightly deserves.
Fourth Commandment: Desecrating the sabbath steals the rest and refreshment intended for the individual. The focus on God, faith, and family, which should be our highest priority, is taken away, too.
Fifth Commandment: Dishonoring your parents, whom you can see, mirrors and amplifies dishonour of the Heavenly Father, whom you cannot see. Both the earthly and heavenly are denied the respect, gratitude and credit they rightly deserve.
Sixth Commandment: Murder is the stealing the life of another person.
Seventh Commandment: Adultery is the theft of someone’s intimacy, trust, virtue, vow. It is the vile breaking of the holy covenant and commitment that was promised on the wedding day. Marital love is stolen and carnal lust is put in its place.
Ninth commandment: False witness is another form of lying, and a major form of betrayal, stealing one’s reputation, dignity, livelihood, and peace.
Tenth commandment: Covetousness is the down payment for possible theft, defrauding another and endangering one’s soul, as do the violations of any of the other commandments.
If we will remind ourselves that theft in all its forms is wrong, and teach others likewise, think how much better off this world would be.
NEXT TIME: We will learn about the Ninth Commandment – and how precious truth really is.
Female Christ figures
Acts of remarkable grace occur in the strangest places. Female Christ figures challenge the male saviour complex so embedded in patriarchal thinking.
The Grace and Grief of Grandparenting
The grace and patience shown by grandparents can have a significant impact on the lives of their grandchildren.
Overcoming Trials and Temptations
That is the kind of outcome we all want.
Here are a few practical tips of coping with and overcoming trials and temptations.
1. Grace Milepost: In the trial, God may give early on and periodically along the way ‘grace milepost,’ which are a reminder of God’s presence, mercy, and care for you. It is an immediate ray of hope in the midst of enveloping darkness. Like Rahab’s scarlet cord, this grace milepost will be your lifeline to which you hold onto until victory.
2. Past Victories: It is always good to remember how God was faithful in the past. Since He never changes, God will be faithful today, tomorrow and forever. The same God who delivered you yesterday is there to deliver you again and again.
3. Present Biblical promises: There are numerous Scriptural promises of answered prayer, deliverance, and victory. Identify these promises, write them down, confess and meditate on them. They deliver.
4. Keep going: Don’t let the trial knock you off track. Keep doing what you are called to do. Nehemiah did. Galatians 6:9 says that at the right time you will reap, if you do not give up. The enemy would dearly like to stop you from exercising your call and give up; don’t let him succeed!
5. Prayer unto peace: You should pray and it will deliver peace. So pray until you receive the peace; come boldly to the throne of grace (Philippians 4:6-7; John 14:27).
6. Meditate on the Word: This is a powerful practice that guarantees success (Joshua 1; Psalm 1). While you’re doing that, confess the Word aloud, again and again. It is a real faith-builder and victory-snatcher.
7. Faith instead of sight (2 Corinthians 5:7 – For we walk by faith, not by sight): Don’t be moved by what you see; respond to what you believe. What you see is temporal and what you don’t is eternal — 2 Corinthians 4:18
8. Distress brings enlargement: Like labor pains before the birth and tribulation before a Millennium, trials are allowed by God to help the righteous grow. David knew all about it: Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer — Psalm 4:1; Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer — Psalm 18:18-19 (emphasis mine).
9. Be strong: This is not just a good idea – it’s a divine command. Three times, God told Joshua to ‘be strong and of a good courage’ (Joshua 1:6,7,9). It’s not just a ‘good idea’ – it’s a ‘God-idea.’ The Lord will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:12-17: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. If you’re trial is strong, it means you are also strong … strong enough to handle it by God’s grace.
10. Face it now: John Loeffler says deal with the situation now or it gets harder. Sam Sorbo says the second crime scene is worse than the first. It is understandable to run and hide from the challenge, but often God wants us to face it with Him. Jehoshaphat was victim of an unprovoked attack by three nations, but God wanted him to go to the wilderness and personally witness His miraculous hand at work – 2 Chronicles 20:16-17: God will fight for you but he wants you to see the victory. Psalm 91:7-8: A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
11. Power of faith: 2 Chronicles 20:20: The trial is the gymnasium of faith. Just like resisting heavy weights causes you to grow stronger, so does standing with God in faith makes you an overcome. When you believe in God and His prophetic word, you are established and prosper.
12. Power of praise and worship: Continuous, not just seasonal, praise and worship in the Spirit reconfigures the heavenliness, which brings down blessing to the earth. In addition to honoring the Name of the Lord, it is a potent spiritual weapon – 2 Chronicles 20:21-22.
In the midst of the trial, when you continue to seek the Lord and stand strong, make no mistake about it: you are honouring Him more than in normal times. By His grace, you will pull through and end up on the mountain top.
The season of trial will pass … and better days lie ahead … but you will be a bigger, stronger, and more victorious person as a result.
Then go, help others in their affliction. You’ll have much to offer.
Brian Darnton Bayston OAM Minute of Appreciation
The Board, Faculty, Staff and Students of Melbourne School of Theology give thanks to God for the longstanding and faithful service of Brian Darnton Bayston OAM as a Board member of MST for over thirty years.
It is impossible to do justice to the enormous contribution that Brian has made to the governance of MST during his tenure on the Board, and indeed to the wider work of the Gospel in a myriad of ways over so many years.
Brian had been a partner at McCracken & McCracken lawyers from 1959, a Board member of Scotch College and Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Law Agent for the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, Session member at Scots’ Church Melbourne, a voracious reader with a keen intellect and an inexhaustible memory for history. He also had an abiding interest in genealogy, having family roots himself to the father of Sir Francis Drake, Richard Cromwell, Glanville (of ‘Laws of England’) and Sir John Browne, past Lord Mayor of London.
Brian’s first contact with MST was at Melbourne Bible Institute (MBI), where CH Nash, its founding principal, was taking a series of Bible studies for Crusader Senior Fellowship in its room at 174 Collins Street, Melbourne.
Although Brian had signalled in 2018, aged 88, his intention to retire from the Board, the Board could not easily let him go, and he felt happy to stay on until the partnership with Eastern College Australia was bedded down. Brian has had his wish fulfilled, by the grace of God. On 3 October 2020, Brian wrote in an email to Rosemary Wong, Chair of the MST/Eastern Board …
“It goes against the grain to step down from institutions that have occupied a major role in my Christian ministry … but I loiter … As they say of some old soldiers: he died with his boots on. The shape of my Christian faith has developed over the years. I like to see myself as a mainstream evangelical. With MST and Reformed Church evangelicals the intellectual powerhouse of that mainstream. So long as my mental powers remain, I may be of use.”
What a beautiful expression of the heart of a servant. For all of us on the Board of MST, and more recently, Eastern College Australia, Brian’s wisdom, incisive intellect, and heart for Christ were both infectious, and formative. It was no accident that when it came time to close a particular Board meeting in prayer, there was a collective glance in Brian’s direction. His closing prayers for us were profound and memorable, not only for their beautiful paraphrase of Scripture and prayer book liturgy, but his humility in worship.
“We stand on the shoulders of giants, and Brian has been one of those giants that God has blessed us with.”
In Brian’s own words, he had been, “there during the three manifestations’ of the College; MBI, BCV and MST.”
As Brian penned in one of his emails to Dr Rosemary Wong, the Chair of the Board, “I will always have MST close to my heart.”
So also, we will always have a special place in our hearts at MST for Brian and Helen. We stand on the shoulders of giants, and Brian has been one of those.
To God be the glory!
As Brian penned in one of his emails to Dr Rosemary Wong, the Chair of the Board, “I will always have MST close to my heart.”
So also, we will always have a special place in our hearts at MST for Brian and Helen. We stand on the shoulders of giants, and Brian has been one of those.
To God be the glory!
Serving in Unexpected Places
Ask almost anyone in the church about why someone would study at Bible College, and you’ll likely hear an expectation that they might end up in vocational ministry, perhaps in a local church, mission or parachurch organisation. But often, we find students working and serving in the most unlikely places.
One of our students, Callum Mansfield, is studying a Bachelor of Theology at MST. But rather than serving in ‘vocational’ ministry, Callum is a seasoned theatre director, choreographer and performer, immersed in the world of the performing arts. His resume is fascinating, having worked on many large scale productions over the years, including the 2018 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, the national tours of Mary Poppins, The King & I and Dirty Dancing. He began his career in the industry performing as the Young Peter Allen in the original tour of The Boy from Oz.
In 2020, while AFL fans from around the nation, and indeed the world, watched the Grand Final in Queensland for the first time, little did they know that the half time entertainment was choreographed by a bible college student!
“The entire entertainment industry had come to a grinding halt (in 2020), so when I was approached to choreograph the AFL Grand Final with a colleague of mine, there was no other option but to dive in head first!”
Callum reflects on his AFL grand final experience, and how it nearly didn’t happen.
“Although I was soaked to my knees as I swept a muddy river out of the flooded dressing room for 300 people just 10 minutes before the game began after being hit with the biggest storm Queensland had received all year, the skies cleared as the National Anthem was sung at the top of the game and we were given the all-clear that the half-time entertainment would go ahead.”
Callum and his wife, Jasmine, met while performing together and now have a young family. Callum says it was Jasmine who stirred him to reflect on how he might bring glory to God through his unique vocation. “She helped awaken my faith to be more than just head knowledge, but a heart and affection to bring Him glory in all areas of my life.” He describes how God “stirred up a thirst and hunger in my heart to know Him more and worship him more deeply.”
“He stirred up a thirst and hunger in my heart to know Him more.”
This reinvigoration of Callum’s faith has led Jasmine and their family to join an Acts 29 church plant, and for Callum, to commence studying a Bachelor of Theology at MST as a part-time, online student.
Juggling all of these commitments during this COVID season has been tricky to say the least. “To say it was crazy was an understatement. But the Lord is gracious and drew near in this busy time. My incredibly supportive wife held the fort at home.” Callum, like so many of our students, has had to work through balancing his desire to study with the day to day needs of work and home. He remembers that after he’d sent an email to his Greek lecturers at MST about his capacity to cope, they quickly responded, offering greater flexibility for his study hours and, more importantly, praying for him.
“I was encouraged and uplifted as God worked through his people as I continued to try to glorify Him in ALL areas of my life.”
From BCV to Helping the Hungry Through Science
There are some remarkable stories over the years of how God uses the unique gifts and skills of women and men to bring His message of hope and transformation to those most in need. The lives of Bruce and Deb French are just one of those fascinating stories.
Deb French was originally a teacher living in Launceston, Tasmania. While there, she became a Christian, and felt a deep call to cross-cultural ministry. “I thought that people in other ethnic groups should have a chance to discover this good news,” she says. “So, I resigned from teaching and went to BCV with a view to becoming a Bible translator.”
“Suddenly I was sitting at a desk and taking it in. It was a relief to be doing that. It was a relief to be with a group of adults who were on the same page.” “Hearing each other’s stories and dreams – it’s what Bible college is all about.”
“I did an Associate Diploma in Theology in 1994-95,”
she says. “I particularly remember doing missiology with Harold Taylor and how he expanded my worldview.” At the end of her studies, Deb travelled to Papua New Guinea. “I felt called to the disaster zone where the (1998) Tsunami had killed many people along the north coast. I became involved in a multi-language translation project.”
Before Deb left Tasmania in 1998, she had met Bruce French and his wife Helen. Bruce is a Tasmanian agriculture scientist who, after thirty years of research into nutritional plants, founded Food Plants International (FPI) in 1999. FPI’s purpose is to explore for innovative ways to inform people about what Bruce calls the ‘bountiful food market that is God’s earth.’ Their motto is “Helping the hungry feed themselves.”
After the death of Bruce’s first wife, and upon his return to Tasmania, Deb and Bruce became reacquainted, discovering that they both shared a deep love of Christ, a heart for mission, and desire to serve people through transformational service. Bruce and Deb became friends, and eventually married in 2003.
Since then, Bruce and Deb have become the backbone of FPI, which has now collated one of the most unique global databases of consumable plants of the earth, numbering over 32,000 entries.
“I grew up on a farm where there was a mission focus,” Bruce says. “As a young man I decided to go to Papua New Guinea to stimulate my Christian involvement. Later I was told directly that the locals didn’t want our agriculture. They wanted to know about their own crops, and how to grow them.”
That was the catalyst for Bruce to research, record and eventually publish, his findings for the PNG community.
“After the first book I thought about neighbouring lands like the Solomon Islands and Timor,” he says. “It wasn’t long before people were raising questions about other countries.”
“Your resources have equipped us for a lifetime.”
The staff at FPI are volunteers. Their passion is to make a difference to the world’s three billion people whose most important daily concern is having enough food to eat. Deb says it is reassuring to know that God already has the concerns of the world in His heart and has provided all the food plant resources for everybody, in every location.
“In the last 12 months, under-nutrition killed more children than Coronavirus – but you don’t hear about it,” Bruce says. “Commercial science is only interested in making money. But I believe elements of the scientific community are against this, saying ‘we have gone the wrong way’.”
In 2016, Bruce was made an Officer in the Order of Australia for his work in setting up the Food Plants International website. Yet fame and fortune are not the driving forces behind Deb and Bruce’s lifework. Bruce says it’s pleasing enough to receive feedback from various communities they’ve helped and to see how the Lord’s work has been fruitful across the nations.
Deb and Bruce have worked side by side in this act of service, aimed at ultimately seeing the world’s hungry fed. Their commitment to the Gospel and message of Christ has been unwavering. “Early in our marriage we discussed what our understanding of the Christian faith meant for our lives,” Deb says. “With God at the centre, we drew a diagram that embraced God’s word as the foundation for our life’s values and concerns.” “It also includes an increasing commitment to all ethnic groups in the world, and a genuine willingness to put our faith into practice – helping the hungry and malnourished.”
Deb now helps illustrate Bruce’s books and monthly newsletters, as well as assisting with numerous practical and administrative tasks.
Bruce has lectured at the Baptist College in Queensland and has, among other things, worked in schools, universities, at the CSIRO and in churches. But his passion is in making the world aware of the amazing resources God has provided.
“I make God’s resources known on every page,” he says. “Just in case anyone missed it!”
MBI – The Birthplace of MAF Australia
Few missionary organisations can claim to have originated as a result of armed conflict, but Mission Aviation Fellowship is certainly one.
Long before World War II was over, Christian military aircrew in the USA and UK were actively laying plans for the formation of a new ministry that would harness the unique capabilities of aircraft to serve the Gospel of peace in remote places. All had flown the new generation of high-performance fighters and bombers. They’d used aircraft to kill and destroy. Now they wanted to see them used to build God’s Kingdom, to bring new life.
“They’d used aircraft to kill and destroy. Now they wanted to see them used to build God’s Kingdom, to bring new life.”
Three Australians in particular, serving overseas, had caught this same vision. Flight Lieutenant Bruce Morton had flown Curtiss Kittyhawks in New Guinea, Halmahera and Borneo. Pilot Officer Harry Hartwig flew many dangerous, night-time missions in Coastal Command Liberator bombers from bases in the UK. And there was Flight Sergeant Ken Cooper – pilot and wireless/air gunner. Ken was the first to associate himself with this new thing God was doing and joined the American organisation that would become MAF-US, while still in California at war’s end. Similarly, Harry Hartwig made contact with the pioneers of MAF in London before boarding ship to come home to Australia.
Having given years of their lives to serving their country, 1946 brought them together as first year students at Melbourne Bible Institute (MBI), keen to now be equipped to serve the Gospel of Christ. That year’s intake, 104 students, was the highest on record, marked by the fact that most were ex-servicemen and women. When pilots get together, they talk aeroplanes and flying. It wasn’t long before those three – Ken, Bruce and Harry – met up and discovered their mutual interest in ‘mission aviation,’ still a novel concept in the minds of most people. MBI now filled with motivated young students, turned out to be the ideal place for such dreams to become reality.
Early in 1947, while with a friend on St Kilda Beach, Harry Hartwig felt the overwhelming call of God to launch a home-grown, Australian MAF. The discussions and prayer times back at MBI suddenly became more focused, and the three were joined by others – Howard Barclay and Ewan Lumsden, also former RAAF men. When principal John Searle got wind of these things, he was more than pleased, offering his wholehearted support, as did A H Hawley, the College’s business manager.
Things were taken to the next level when, on 30 June, a public meeting was called to officially establish an Australian MAF. Chaired by Leonard Buck (a member of the MBI Executive Committee), a resolution was moved by Ken Cooper and seconded by Bruce Morton that “we form an autonomous body called Missionary Aviation Fellowship, and that we request affiliation with the Fellowships in England and America.” Unanimously passed, a new MAF in the southwest Pacific had arrived.
Leaving College at the end of 1947, Harry Hartwig went on to spearhead MAF’s work in Australia and New Guinea. Bruce Morton returned to Borneo to fly, not Kittyhawk fighters, but Austers and Pipers for the Borneo Evangelical Mission. Ken Cooper also joined BEM, but later returned to MAF as a flight instructor.
Later still, when MBI had become BCV at Lilydale, an aviation department was formed, ultimately leading to the establishment of the Australian Centre for Mission Aviation (ACMA) at Coldstream Airport, providing training for a new generation of missionary pilots and engineers. Today, the stamp of MBI/BCV/MST can still be seen in the MAF base at Mareeba in Far North Queensland, as it serves the needs of mission aviation far into the future.