Pastor Jasmine Trott - Dec. 28, 2025

Pastor Matthew Trott Dec. 21, 2025

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 25

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - ADVENT

ADVENT

The Advent season is one recognized by many churches throughout the Christian world, but not all. The word advent means “coming” or “arrival” and when Roman Christians first tied it to the coming of Christ, it was not to Christ’s coming as a child in the manger but to His second coming as a judge of the world.* However, now it is more recognized as relating to Christmas as well as to future revelation. Each of the four Sundays of Advent refers to one aspect of the faith and each follows upon the previous.

The first aspect is “hope” and represents what we all need - hope for our health, our families, our country, and our future. We need to have hope that our present existence with all its trouble, turmoil, anger, and distress is not all there is; and to those who follow Christ we have the hope, really the certainty, that it is not. The Bible states that:

…Our days on earth are as a shadow, 

and without hope. 

(1 Chronicles 29:15)

But,  

Be of good courage… 

All you who hope in the Lord. 

(Psalm 31:24)

There is hope in your future, says the Lord… 

(Jeremiah 31:17)

[for] if we hope for what we do not see, 

we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. 

(Romans 8:25)

And…

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, 

we are of all men the most pitiable. 

(1 Corinthians 15:19)

Therefore,        

…sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, 

and always be ready to give a defence 

to everyone who asks you a reason 

for the hope that is in you… 

(1 Peter 3:15)

Without hope how can anyone expect to have peace which is the second part of Advent. If there is no prospect of a future, how can anyone have true peace when only blankness and darkness lie ahead of them? But hope in Christ confers just the opposite for He said:

…Peace be with you. 

(John 20:19)

These things I have spoken, 

that in Me you may have peace… 

(John 16:33)

Peace I leave with you, 

My peace I give to you; 

not as the world gives do I give to you. 

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

(John 14:27)

And if you truly have hope and peace then you are more likely to be content and therefore have true joy in your being, and that is the third part of Advent. The Bible mentions happiness only once for that is an emotional response to external influence and can come and go as the mood strikes. But the Bible mentions joy almost 160 times for that is an internal influence from God and one can still have joy even in the most trying circumstance. So the Bible says:

…Weeping may endure for a night,

But joy comes in the morning 

(Psalm 30:5)

Those who sow in tears 

Shall reap in joy.

(Psalm 126:5)

And Jesus said:

These things I have spoken to you, 

that My joy may remain in you, 

and that your joy may be full. 

(John 15:11)

And only when you know you have hope and peace and joy can you really appreciate the true love of God. That is, after all, the true end of Advent and the true hope of all who believe in His second coming. For He said:

…I have this against you, 

that you have left your first love. 

(Revelation 2:4)

So,

keep yourselves in the love of God, 

looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 

(Jude 1:21)

For after all…

…God is love, 

and he who abides in love abides in God, 

and God in him. 

(1 John 4:16)

Just something else to think about this Advent season.

 

*taken from Christianity.com

Blake Storey Dec. 14, 2025

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 24

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - BETHLEHEM

 BETHLEHEM

    The town of Bethlehem has become an inherent part of the Christmas story, and has become immortalized in the carol O Little Town of Bethlehem. But its history goes back much farther than the time of Christmas. For it was back in the time of Jacob and Rachel that the place is first mentioned in the Bible, although it was called by a different name in those days.

So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath 
(that is, Bethlehem) 
(Genesis 35:19) 

It was from Bethlehem that one came to judge Israel in the time of the Judges

After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. 
(Judges 12:8)

    And of course, it was from Bethlehem that Elimelech and his wife Naomi set forth to Moab when a famine swept through Judah. It was to Bethlehem that Naomi would return with Ruth after the death of her husband and sons and where Ruth would meet and marry Boaz beginning the line from which David, and later Jesus, would come.

    It is interesting that Bethlehem literally means “House of Bread” and perhaps this is significant in that Jesus later became known as the “Bread of Life.” Of course, the best known way in which the town became acknowledged is in the prophecy of Micah.

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me 
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from old,
From everlasting. 
(Micah 5:2)

    Now, Micah lived and prophesied around 720 to 698 BC, approximately 700 years before the birth of Christ. Since there were 12 tribes of Israel and about 2000 villages and towns in Judah at the time this was written, the chance that this prophecy would be true was at least 1 in 2500*. And yet, we are told that Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea at the appointed time; centuries after Micah gave this prophecy. At the same time, this is only one of about 300 passages that refer to the coming Messiah and are fulfilled by the birth of Jesus. Still, we tend to ignore the fact that He came because we get so wrapped up in details over which people want to dispute and disagree. 

    The main point is that He was born according to the prophecies and died according to what had been prophesied; fulfilling much more that could ever be done by mere chance alone. If we don’t know the exact time of His coming, or the location of the true stable or cave in which He was born makes little overall difference. What is important is that He was born in or around the location that the prophets foretold and that He came in fulfillment of multiple Old Testament prophesies. 

    The fact that He came is what we should be thinking about.

*The Signature of God by Grant Jeffrey, p.g.,172-173 

                

Pastor Daverro Smith Dec. 7, 2025

Pastor Matthew Trott Dec. 7, 2025

Christmas Eve Service

 

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 23

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - HELL

HELL

It is generally accepted that most people believe in a heaven and that most also hope to go there after death. But fewer appear to believe also that there is a hell awaiting those who do not make the proper arrangements for heaven. And in the Bible, the prophets and Christ  apparently speak more about hell than about heaven.

There are three words translated as hell in the Bible. The greek words:

Gehenna: the place of punishment 

Matthew 5:22,29; 10:28 and James 3:6 (YLT)

Hades: the abode of the dead

Matthew 11:23, 16:18, Luke 16:23, Acts 2:27

Sheol: a Hebrew word meaning the grave

Psalm 16:10, 18:5

Scripture does not describe a situation in which a person ceases to be aware or to have a conscious existence. If there is no awareness after our death, then what Jesus stated about punishment makes no sense when He referred that it would be better to live life handicapped than:

 

to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-

where [the] worm does not die, 

And the fire is not quenched. 

(Mark 9:43-44)

And the Bible refers to the fate of those unsaved with the following words and statements.

…many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,

Some to everlasting life,

Some to shame and everlasting contempt. 

(Daniel 12:2)

…He will answer them saying,

‘Assuredly, I say to you, 

inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, 

you did not do it to Me.’

And these will go away into everlasting punishment, 

but the righteous into eternal life. 

(Matthew 25:45-46) 

[T]he master of that [evil] servant 

will come on a day when he is not looking for him 

and at an hour that he is not aware of, 

and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. 

There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(Matthew 24:50-51)

His winnowing fan is in His hand, 

and He will…gather the wheat into His barn; 

but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.

(Luke 3:17)  

…the righteous judgement of God, 

who “will render to each according to his deeds”: 

eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good 

seek for glory, honour and immortality; 

but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, 

but obey unrighteousness—

indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish…

(Romans 2:5-9)

…those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

These shall be punished with everlasting destruction 

from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power… 

(2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)

…the Lord, having saved the people out of Egypt, 

afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 

And the angels who did not keep their proper domain…

He has reserved in everlasting chains…for the judgement of the great day; 

As Sodom and Gemorrah… 

having given themselves over to sexual immorality 

and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, 

suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 

But these speak evil of whatever they do not know. 

These are spots in your love feasts…

wandering stars for whims reserved the blackness of darkness forever. 

(Jude 1:5-7; 10-13) 

…If anyone worships the beast and his image…

he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God…

He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone…

and the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; 

and they have no rest day or night. 

(Revelation 14:9-11)

A lot has been said regarding those who do not believe and accept the gospel. It certainly should be enough to give one something to think about.

Adapted from The Evidence Bible, p.g. 1659

Pastor Caroline Barclay Nov. 30, 2025

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - FAITHFUL

 FAITHFUL

The dictionary defines faithful as: true to one’s word, promises, vows; reliable, trusted,  believed; adhering or true to fact.*

Are we always faithful to what we say or pledge or are we often more indifferent to what we say and pledge? It is often easy to take short-cuts in life rather than aways do or follow the correct path. Most people tend to veer off course at least once and awhile, if not frequently. 

At times, it may be that one is not faithful to a pledge because of uncertainty or poor memory, but it often happens as well that one may be trying to alter facts to accommodate present circumstances. In such circumstances, one could be referred to as an unreliable or inconsistent witness.

Throughout the Bible, situations are often referred to as being a witness. For example, in Genesis 31:44 we are told that Laban said to Jacob:

“…let us make a covenant, you and I, 

and let it be a witness between you and me.”

In Exodus 20:16 Moses received the commandment:

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

 

Which obviously indicates that not all witness will be true.

In Leviticus 5:1 we are told:

 

If a person sins in hearing the utterance of an oath, 

and is a witness, whether he has seen or known of the matter—

if he does not tell it, he bears guilt.

Perhaps it is for that reason that James 5:12 states:

But above all, my brethren, do not swear, 

either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. 

But let your “Yes” be “Yes” and your “No,” “No,” 

lest you fall into judgement.

Without care, a witness may not be everything that is expected of him, But isn’t it good to know that a witness can be true and accurate all the time and so can be faithful to the purpose for which they are a witness? Such is mentioned in the Bible only twice and only toward two people.

So they said to Jeremiah, 

“Let the Lord be a true and faithful witness between us, 

if we do not do according to everything which the Lord your God 

sends us by you. 

(Jeremiah 42:5)

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead… 

(Revelation 1:5) 

…And you hold fast to My name, 

and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas 

was My faithful martyr [witness]… 

(Revelation 2:13)

Isn’t it good to know that when we may need a witness,        and be certain that what we are told is true, we can depend on Christ as being a faithful purveyor of the truth and for us a faithful witness?

Just something more to think about.

*Dictionary. com

Pastor Matthew Trott Nov. 23, 2025

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 21

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - PURPLE

 PURPLE*

It is said that in the Bible there are few, if any, details which are not of some significance. In that case, one has to wonder why the colour purple is used so frequently; is it just because we consider it to be the colour of royalty?

Purple is really the combination of two primary colours - blue and red. It is mentioned 26 times in the book of Exodus alone and always in association with both blue and red or scarlet. In the New Testament, the colour purple is used either by itself or in association with scarlet but never with the colour blue.

So does this little detail have any real significance or not? In Exodus, the instructions for the curtains in the tabernacle were given.

Moreover you shall make the tabernacle 

with ten curtains of fine woven linen, 

and blue, purple, and scarlet thread; 

with artistic designs of cherubim you shall weave them. 

(Exodus 26:1)

The purple colour would come about because the blue and scarlet threads would be so tightly woven together that it would appear as purple thread. Thus, the two other colours meeting together would produce the third colour.

In the times of the Exodus, the tabernacle was the tent of meeting; the place where the two main entities of life at that time, God and man, could come together. In such a place and time, blue represented the heavens, i.e.: God, and so was always stated as coming first. And of course, red represents the colour of the earth of the Middle East and it was from earth man came and it was to earth he would return. In addition it should be noted that the Hebrew word for man is Adam which derives from another Hebrew word meaning red.

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground… 

(Genesis 2:7)

In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread 

Till you return to the ground, 

For out of it you were taken; 

For dust you are, 

And to dust you shall return. 

(Genesis 3:19)

As a result, scarlet not only represented the earth but also the sin and guilt of the earthy life. Thus, from the very beginning, existed this symbol of the desire for there to be a reconciliation between God and mankind. So, as it is only by a tight union of the blue and scarlet threads that one can obtain a purple colour, likewise it is only by a tight relationship that a true reconciliation can be achieved between God and man.

The possibility of this was realized at the time of the crucifixion and was in turn symbolized when a purple robe was placed on Christ.

…and they put on Him a purple robe. 

(John 19:2)

Then Jesus came out, 

wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe.

And Pilate said to them “Behold the Man!” 

(John 19:5)

Not only behold the Man but also behold God, for man and God had again become one; reconciled at last. The blue of heaven and the crimson of earth had become joined in the purple of eternity - man and God reconciled.

Surely something to think about.    

 

*The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn, p.g. 289.

Blake Storey Nov 16, 2025

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 20

Just a Shoebox Reminder

 JUST A REMINDER

The shoeboxes need to be in by Sunday November 16th.

Thank-you

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THE SCARLET CORD

THE SCARLET CORD*

In the book of Joshua, there is the story of Rehab, a harlot, and of two spies sent into Jericho by Joshua. In essence, when the king of Jericho sent men to search for the spies, Rehab hid them and helped them escape. In return, the spies promised to help and protect Rehab and her family when the forces of Joshua invaded the city. However, this would only be done if she would identify her house by a scarlet cord.

…when we come into the land, 

you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down,

…and whoever is with you in the house, 

his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 

…And she bound the scarlet cord in the window. 

(Joshua 2:18-19,21)

So, it was because of the identification by the scarlet cord that Rehab and her family were saved.

Apparently, in the Talmud, it is recorded that on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, in the time of the Second Temple, a scarlet cord would be tied to the Temple doors and when the ordinances of the day were completed, the cord would turn from scarlet to white.

…Though your sins are like scarlet,

They shall be as white as snow… 

(Isaiah 1:18)

This apparently was a sign that the ordinances of Yom Kippur had been accepted and that the sins of the people had been covered. This evidently occurred each year.

The Temple, however, was destroyed by Roman armies in the year AD70. But the rabbis apparently noted a change about 40 years before this when the cord no longer continued to change. This was at the time of Christ’s crucifixion and was felt, by many, to mean that the old sacrifices of the temple were no longer needed because a different sacrifice had been made, one that by the atonement or sacrifice of the Messiah took away sin and saved those who accepted the sacrifice of Christ. As a result, God has cleansed us once for all - all our scarlet sins have been made white as snow. It is now up to us to live, as much as possible, a scarlet free life.

For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days…

I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 

then He adds, “Their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

(Hebrews 10:14,16,17)

Just as the men of Joshua remembered and saved Rehab and her family because they obeyed instruction and were identified by the scarlet cord, so too are we remembered by Christ when we follow His word and accept His sacrifice.

Just something further to think about.

Adapted from The Book of Mysteries p.g. 209 by Jonathan Chan 

Pastor Matthew Trott Nov 9, 2025

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 19

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - SAVED

 SAVED

In many churches the term “saved” is one to which there is often reference. People may be asked ‘Are you saved?’ or ‘Were you saved?’ or ‘Do you wish to be saved?’ or some other similar phrase. Perhaps the more important question to ponder would be ‘Why are you saved?’ or ‘From what are you saved?’

Being saved really means being in a right relationship with God. And the only way that can come about is through faith. It is said that:

…without faith it is impossible to please Him, 

for he who comes to God must believe that He is… 

(Hebrews 11:6)

For by grace you have been saved through faith… 

(Ephesians 2:8)

This principle has been consistent since the book of Genesis. At the time of the slaying of Abel by Cain, Cain offered a sacrifice indicating less faith than that of Abel.

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain… 

(Hebrews 11:4)

So again, if you have placed you faith in God, so that you may be saved, what was the reason? Why is it important to be saved? From what are you saved?

We often hear of the goodness of God, of the love of god, and of His grace and mercy. We hear of this verse frequently:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son… 

(John 3:16) 

…and as a result come to believe that God is only a God of love, grace, and mercy. But while those attributes are true, we often don’t consider that He is also a God of wrath to those who reject Him, who do not have faith in Him.

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; 

and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life,

 but the wrath of God abides on him. 

(John 3:36)

Because of these things 

the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience… 

(Colossians 3:6)

…Go and pour out the  bowls of the wrath of God on the earth. 

(Revelation 16:1)

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

(Hebrews 10:31)

So, avoiding the wrath of God is one reason to be saved but there is also another. One of the primary problems in life is finding one’s purpose in being alive. And that brings up the second point in salvation for which we are saved - to do good works.

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)

Let your light so shine before men, 

that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 

(Matthew 5:16)

To do good works in His name and to avoid the wrath and anger of God which otherwise might come our way - two good reasons to be saved.

Just one more thing to think about.