Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 5

Strawberry Fest - July 27th

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - KNOWLEDGE-WISDOM

KNOWLEDGE-WISDOM

Probably the first decision man ever had to make was when mankind was tempted by Satan who asked the question:

“Has God indeed said?” 

(Genesis 3:1)

The answer mankind gave to the question of God’s authority at that time has reverberated through history, for man is continually confronted by that same question. Is man to follow God’s instructions or has he the right and freedom to choose his own path and therefore control his own destiny? History has shown that for the most part we have chosen the latter course of action.

This has taken place in spite of warnings to the contrary in Scripture. We are told to:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding.

(Proverbs 3:5)

Thus mankind, as a whole, developed and progressed and seemed to do more by himself. Through discoveries and invention, there seemed to be less need for God and His help and so we relied more and more on our own knowledge and ingenuity rather than following the directive of the Bible. As countries become more sophisticated and advanced, it seems that they needed to rely less and less on God and more on their own abilities. But as their knowledge increased, it has become apparent that their wisdom did not keep pace with what they know. Knowledge is an acquaintance with facts, truths or principles;* whereas wisdom implies a knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgement as to action.* Again we are told that:

The fear of [or trust in] the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…

(Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 9:10) 

…But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

(Proverbs 1:7)

So the Bible, without stating it directly, implies that we are fools to rely on our own understanding and knowledge rather than trusting in God. And after all, how much do we really know? How accurate is our knowledge? Every year, what is true seems to change and is replaced by a new truth. The Bible itself implies this when it states:

…We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up…

And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, 

he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.

(1 Cor 8:1-2)

We don’t know all that we think we know or that we ought to know. As Thomas Edison stated:

We do not know one-millionth of one percent about anything**

This may have changed a little from when it was first stated but it still indicates that using incomplete knowledge without wisdom is far from ideal and certainly, to at least some extent, is responsible for the mess the world is presently in. 

Certainly something to think about.

*from dictionary.com

**The Evidence Bible, p.g. 1499

 

Pastor Matthew Trott July 13, 2025

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 4

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - RELATIONSHIPS

RELATIONSHIPS

In Genesis, we read these words:

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother 

and be joined to his wife, 

and they shall become one flesh. 

(Genesis 2:24)

In Canada, the Christian religion is believed to be the religion of greater than 50% of the population. Worldwide, about 29% of the population identify as Christian whereas almost 26% identify as belonging to the religion of Islam.

However, true Christianity is really a relationship and not a religion, so the true question is how many nominal Christians have that relationship and not just a religion? A religion is a group of beliefs and practices which people utilize in an attempt to reach and please God. A relationship, on the other hand, implies God reaching down to meet man and man accepting what God offers instead of man’s attempt to please a divinity.

In the past, religious activity has often been associated with a sacrifice on the part of man to placate or to please the gods. This could take the form of anything from child or youth sacrifice, to duties one had to preform, or chores that a person had to undertake to fulfil the requirements that please the gods. The Christian relationship, on the other hand, means fully accepting the grace and mercy [gifts] offered by God to us - an entirely different situation.

The Bible essentially begins with the relationship between two people who become as one and ends essentially with further relationship between God and man [the church] in what is referred to in this manner:

Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, 

for the marriage of the Lamb has come, 

and His wife has made herself ready. 

(Rev 19:7)

…Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb… 

(Rev 19:9)

The entire Bible, in one way, is about the relationship between God and man[kind] as represented by the relationship between a man and woman in a courtship and marriage. How do you develop a relationship with God? The same way a relationship develops here between people - you fall in love and want to know about the other.  You want to understand their likes and desires, to do or encourage them in what they want to do, to go where they want to go, and to suffer their sorrows with them. It’s the same with God. To get to know Him, you have to understand what He likes and do what He wants you to do. You develop a relationship with God the same way that you develop a relationship with your betrothed here. If you are truly in love, it’s not a sacrifice, it’s not a trouble but pure joy.

A relationship with God is something we should not just think about; but truly develop.

Steve McCabe July 6, 2025

Pastor Caroline Barclay July 6, 2025

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 3

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - LIGHT

LIGHT

The world is full of colour. Light bathes everything in its rays and that which is not absorbed by an object, is reflected and gives that object its colour. Thus, the colour of any object is that part of the light spectrum that the object does not take in but gives back so that the eye can receive it. Therefore, a red object is so because the red part of the light spectrum is not absorbed while the other parts are. So, it is with other colours. A white object reflects all light and a black one none of the light that hits it.

Now the Bible tells us that:

…God saw the light, that it was good,
and God divided the light from the darkness.

(Genesis 1:4) 

In a way, God made the world so that it would reflect all his being and not just part, but even though…

The people who walked in darkness 

Have seen a great light… 

(Isaiah 9:2)

Unfortunately, the result often is that…

this is the condemnation, 

that the light has come into the world,

and men loved darkness rather than light, 

because their deeds were evil.

(John 3:19)

Again, the result of loving darkness instead of the light is that…

those who leave the path of uprightness

walk in the ways of darkness… 

(Proverbs 2:13)

eats in darkness… 

(Ecclesiastes 5:17)

[and comes] and departs in darkness, 

and its name is covered with darkness. 

(Ecclesiastes 6:4)

Now, if darkness results from all the light that falls somewhere being absorbed, then those who walk in darkness are those who absorb all and give little and end up having little. If one never gives out the love that resides in them, then love will likely not be given to them. A person will never be rich if he holds all that he has and never shares wealth to some extent. And a person will never be blessed or happy if he never gives blessing and happiness to others. A flower is only admired for its beauty if it reflects at least some of the light that shines upon it.

This is why Jesus said that:

 

…I am the light of the world. 

He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, 

but have the light of life. 

(John 8:12)

…whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 

(John 12:46)

For you were once darkness, 

but now you are light in the Lord.

Walk as children of light… 

(Ephesians 5:8)

He also said that:

As long as I am in this world, I am the light of the world.

(John 9:5)

And, referring to His followers, He also said

You’re the light of the world… 

(Matthew 5:14)

and so…

Let you light so shine before men, 

that they may see your good works

and glorify your Father in heaven. 

(Matthew 5:16)

If we are to let our light shine, we must try to give back much of what God has given us; only then will we be walking in the light and not immersed in darkness. It's only what we give away of ourselves and our abilities that make us truly healthy, wealthy, and wise. By doing that, we walk in the light of the world and not in its darkness. 

Something we all should think about. 

 

Blake Storey June 29, 2025

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 2

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - TWO VISIONS

 TWO VISIONS*

In the book of Daniel, we are told of two visions which were revealed to the prophet. In the first, Daniel interpreted the meaning of a gigantic statue that came in a dream to Nebuchadnezzar. He revealed the statue’s form to the king:

 

[T]his image’s head was fine gold,

its chest and arms of silver,

its belly and thighs of bronze,

its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and…clay.
(Daniel 2:32-33)

Each piece of the statue’s form represented, in turn, a different kingdom. The head of fine gold was Babylon, the chest and arms of silver a second kingdom, the belly and thighs of bronze a third empire, and the legs of iron and a fourth kingdom respectively. These in turn apparently represented the empires of Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome with the feet of iron and clay indicative of a future kingdom yet to come.

This vision was felt to portray the future of human history, as it tended to show the major players in coming world events with the ten toes of iron and clay indicating the strength and weakness of the end times of a future type of Roman Empire. We do not hear as often the end of the prophecy where a…

…stone cut out without hands, 

which struck the image on its feet of 

iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 

(Daniel 2:34)

This stone is believed to refer to Jesus, who will come back at the end of time and topple the last empire. It also tends to show that man’s dominion on earth began more as gold and ends with dust.

But there was also a second vision as recorded in Daniel 7. In this case creatures came from the sea.

The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings…

And another beast, a second, like a bear…

and there was another, like a leopard, 

which had on its back four wings like a bird… 

…a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. 

It had huge iron teeth…and had ten horns. 

It was different from all the beasts that were before it… 

(Daniel 7:4-7) 

Again, the creature like a lion was felt to represent Babylon, the second creature to represent Persia, the third - Greece and the fourth, the old Roman Empire and a civilization in the future. But no shattering of this last civilization in this instance.

It is interesting that Daniel used the names of familiar animals to describe the first three creatures but not the last. The word he used to describe the final beast is the Hebrew word “shainah” which means different or altered or changed. 

Does this then mean that the civilization of the end time will be different or altered from those of previous times, that it will be more unnatural? That it will be a civilization, at odds with the normal creation and so, then, with God’s creation. Those, then, who live in those times must be willing and able to stand against this altered creation and creature if one is to survive. And this all must come before the stone, cut without hands, breaks into pieces the civilization at the end times.

If one looks around, it is not hard to see that right now we are living in a civilization at odds with creation and God’s order. And that should be enough to make us all concerned.

Certainly something for us to think about.

*Adapted from The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn, p.g. 114 

Pastor Matthew Trott June 22, 2025

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 1

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Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - APOSTASIA

                                                                                                

                                                                                                       APOSTASIA

The above word is from the Greek language and is composed of two root words “apo” which means “to depart from” and “stasis” which means “the stand or state of.” So, apostasia means to depart from one’s stand or state. In the Bible, it is translated as “falling away.”

In 2 Thessalonians, it is written:

 

Let no one deceive you by any means; 

for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, 

and the man of sin is revealed… 

(2:3)

This falling away is often considered to refer to the abandonment of faith and the Word of God with ramifications that are mentioned in other parts of Scripture.

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:

For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, 

boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, 

unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, 

slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 

traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than 

lovers of God. 

(2 Timothy 3:1-4)

And for these reasons, we are told to:

…take up the whole armour of God, 

that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, 

and having done all, to stand. 

(Ephesians 6:13)

But the falling away does not just mean the departure from the faith in the moral and spiritual sense but it also refers to the falling away from ones’ state or stature. Our place in creation has been defined by God as revealed in His Word and, therefore, as we fall away from the Word we also tend to fall away from our state in creation. As the Bible states:

…God created man in His own image; 

in the image of God He created him; 

male and female created He them. 

(Genesis 1:27)

Thus, the further we fall away from the word, the further we fall away from the state in which we were made. As Jonathan Cahn puts it:

“…there will not only be a falling away from faith, but a falling away from being…

the departure of men from the stasis or state of manhood, 

the departure of women from the stasis or state of womanhood, 

of fathers from the state of fatherhood, of mothers from the state of motherhood, 

and of man from the stasis and state of humanity.”*

Man was created by the Word and is supposed to live by that same Word. As we fall away from the Word, we tend to lose our state and become among other things - more lovers of ourselves and money; lacking in self-control and morality. A true apostasia.

When you look at today’s world, it is not hard to see how we are fast approaching the falling away mentioned in scripture.

That should be enough to make us think seriously about it.

*The Apostasis, The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn (p.g. 270)

 

Peter MacLaren June 15, 2025

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - BREVITY

BREVITY

There are many passages in Scripture which emphasize the brevity of life. For example, Psalm 90 states that:

The days of our lives are seventy years; 

and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, 

Yet their boast is only labour and sorrow;

For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 

(Psalm 90:10)

So teach us to number our days,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom. 

(Psalm 90:12)

Similarly, Job and Samuel say:

Oh, remember that my life is a breath! 

(Job 7:7)

For we will surely die 

and become like water spilled on the ground, 

which cannot be gathered up again. 

(2 Samuel 14:14)

There are many other verses revealing just how short life is on this earth. Yet consider just how much effort we put into planning just what our life here might be like. If we consider the five years or so we live as children, then we spend, on average, between 18 and 23 years getting prepared for doing what will be our life work.That leaves about 55 years left, of which approximately one-third is spent in sleeping and eating, leaving, on average, 38 years to work, play, have a family and recreational time, and retire as we get older. Much of the time we do spend working seems to be to gain houses which are too big, cars that are too expensive, and toys which are rarely used. And often this is financed by debt which turns out to be too much for too long.

Is this really what life was meant to be? We spend all this time and effort for an existence which may last 70 or eighty years and then it’s over.

But what about eternity? If we really believe what the Bible tells us, then a long time awaits after we die here if we have the faith to believe it. But how much time do we take to prepare for eternal life? If we take about 20-25 years to prepare for a job that may last 30 years, do we do anything to prepare for what eternity may offer?

Life here may be just a breath but what comes after lasts much longer. And did not Solomon say after all he had done and accomplished in his life that:

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God, and keep His commandments:

for this is the whole duty of man. 

(Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV) 

For we are His workmanship, 

created in Christ Jesus for good works, 

which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 

(Ephesians 2:10)

It is really not possible to fear God and keep His commandments or to do good works if we are not prepared to know Him, His words, and at least do what is needed to prepare for eternity - just we tend to do for our life here on earth. And also, we never know when our time for eternity may come, for, as James states:

…you do not know what will happen tomorrow. 

For what is your life?

It is…a vapour that appears for a little time 

and then vanishes away. 

(James 4:14)

So, let us prepare for what is eventually coming. For any of us, it may be sooner than one may realize.  And it is truly something we all should all be thinking about.  

Pastor Matthew Trott June 8, 2025

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Book of Ephesians Part 24

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - FELLOWSHIP

FELLOWSHIP

Fellowship is defined in dictionaries as: companionship, an association of persons having similar interests, feelings, the condition or relation of being a peer (Dictionary. com)

It is certainly implied, if not overtly stated therefore, that any degree of such association requires the coming together of peoples and the familiarization of one with another so that similar feelings and interests can be identified. By so doing, such interests can be expounded and extended as people become more familiar with and relate more intimately with each other.

And, even more importantly, each can support and help one another more as familiarity and common interests become more evident.

This is undoubtedly a major reason why the Bible states that:

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, 

as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, 

…and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 

(Hebrews 10:25)

It is difficult to get to know others or to support and exhort others if a relationship is based on no more then one or two meetings or interactions a year. Additionally, if we do not intermix with those with whom we have interests in common, it is likely that we will start having a sort of fellowship with others of different persuasion. Thus, Scripture has stated:

…I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 

(1 Corinthians 10:20)

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness… 

(Ephesians 5:11)

…For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? 

(2 Corinthians 6:14) 

Everyone has fellowship with someone and that is why the statement is made that we are to assemble ourselves together for support and common good. After all…

 

…if we walk in the light as He is in the light, 

we have fellowship with one another… 

(1 John 1:7)

If that is the case, we get to help and to know each one better for support and interest. But the best part of all, is that we get to know both the Father and Son more intimately for…

 

…truly our fellowship is with the Father and His Son 

Jesus Christ. 

(1John 1:3)

Knowing God and knowing each other better is truly something worth thinking about. 

 

Pastor Jasmine Trott June 1, 2025

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Book of Ephesians Part 23

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - CRUCIFIXION

CRUCIFIXION

    Crucifixion was a method of capital punishment used by a number of cultures in antiquity; primarily the Persians, Carthaginians, and Romans. The latter are the peoples for whom this method of punishment is the most widely known, primarily because it was the method by which Christ suffered and died.

Crucifixion was a particularly cruel type of punishment; a person essentially died from suffocation because of the way in which they were suspended. But it was also noted for three other aspects.

First. It was an individual punishment. It was done to each, one at a time; no mass executions as by means of gas or poison. Each individual suffered as an individual.

Second. It was painful, excruciatingly so, and often prolonged. Crucification was one of the most painful means of execution known to man and, in fact, it is from the word crucification that the word excruciate has been derived.

Third. It was permanent. Essentially few, if any, at all survived crucifixion especially during the times of the Romans, where specially trained solders were used to ensure that each one was dead before coming off the cross.

Now we are told in the Bible that we are to:

Go your way…take up the cross and follow me [Jesus]. 

(Mark 10:21)

We are also told that:

 

…our old man was crucified with Him… 

(Romans 6:6)

and that 

…those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh… 

(Galatians 5:24)

Indicating that something very definitive has happened when we compare our following Christ to that of one bring crucified.  And, in fact there are similarities in some aspects.

First. Following Christ is an individual decision. No one can make it for you or stand in your place. It is a choice that each must make for themselves and even God Himself will not force it upon you. Each person stands or falls alone.

Second. It may be a painful choice in that old friends, old haunts, old practices have to be abandoned. It is a short lived pain, if at all, for the benefits soon start too far outweigh any initial discomfort that may be felt. But following Christ is not without its’ difficulties for the Bible tells that:

…all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

(2 Timothy 3:12)

Remember…if they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you… 

(John 15:20)

Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. 

(1 John 3:13)

Third. If one does decide to take up their cross and follow Christ it should be considered a permanent decision. For it states in Hebrews:

…it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, 

and have tasted the heavenly gift, 

and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 

and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 

if they fall away, to renew themselves again to repentance, 

since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, 

and put Him to an open shame. 

(Hebrews 6:4-6)

So, in following Christ, there are similarities, at least in thought if not in action, of picking up ones’ cross and the actual crucifixion. But it also has to be remembered that, in any case, it is actually Christ’s cross we carry and even then the lighter end. Christ still carries most of the burden for us.

And that in turn should give us something to think about.