How do you spend your time? Do you spend it wisely for the Lord and eternity or waste it on trivial and meaningless things? As the next most precious thing to life itself, how we spend our time speaks volumes about us.
​
In English we have a phrase ‘redeem the time.’ It comes from Ephesians 5:16 (c.f. Colossians 4:5, “Making the best use of the time”). It is a command of the Lord’s. To redeem means to buy out of the market (i.e. to purchase a slave), or more simply to rescue. Time means not quantitative chronological time but qualitative time like an opportune moment, critical juncture or a strategic period. Because the “days are evil” to walk in wisdom means not to waste our time in sin or meaningless activities.  These are dead ends. To redeem the time means to spend our time in ways that honour the Lord, have eternal significance, help others and enrich our lives. We redeem the time by putting the Lord first in our week (the Lord’s Day), prioritizing His will in our lives (“seek ye first” Mt 6:33), doing all that we do out of a biblically and prayerfully rooted life, being productive (Christian work ethic), planning out our weeks, engaging in wholesome and meaningful activities, etc.

Two giants of church history and the evangelical revival stand out to inform and inspire us.

Jonathan Edwards (1703–58)
Evangelical minister of Northampton, MA. He not only witnesses and was part of revival but through his prolific writings helped to spread revival.

Early in his ministry he crafted his 71 Resolutions, which reveal a Puritan-evangelical piety.  One is to “Never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.”[1]

William Wilberforce (1759–1833)
Evangelical Anglican and Parliamentary abolitionist of slavery.

Saved from a wasteful life Wilberforce went on to say in his best selling book, Real Christianity (1797), "No man has a right to be idle. Where is it that in such a world as this, that health, and leisure, and affluence may not find some ignorance to instruct, some wrong to redress, some want to supply, some misery to alleviate?" He devoted himself to two great aims, “the abolition of slavery and the reformation of manners [the Gospel]” In the 1790s he kept a ledger in which he noted how he spent his time. If he wasted 15 minutes in a day he would lament![2]

God calls us to redeem the time. Will we heed his call?


[1] George Marsden, Jonathan Edwards (2003), 51; Edwards, J., The Works of Jonathan Edwards, vol. 1, Banner of Truth Trust, 1974, lxii.

[2] This may give the impression that rest is wasteful, but this couldn’t be further from the true. Both men remembered the Sabbath day and took restful delight in many other areas of life. It does mean that they were intentional about how they incorporated rest into life, it was meaningful rest vs. pure amusement (amuser in French means to not think). 

I actually have no Dutch blood but this winter I read the Three Forms of Unity of the Dutch Reformed Church (accepted in 1619), and generally read them with great approval.[1] They stand as time tested expressions of biblical Reformed orthodoxy.

The Three Forms of Unity is made up of:

• The Belgic Confession (1561)
  • History: Rooted in a French confession it was drawn up to convince the Spanish King (who owned the Low Countries at the time) that the Reformed Christians there were not heretics. It follows a traditional sixfold order of: God, man, Christ, salvation, church and last things.
  • Impression: While theological, it is warm, experiential and devotional. It frequently speaks personably using ‘we.’
• The Heidelberg Catechism (1563)
  • History: Elsewhere in Europe the prince of the German Palatinate province requested his university in Heidelberg to produce a catechism (teaching tool) to help young people, families and preachers. It contained 129 questions that followed the book of Romans: true comfort, faith in Christ (Apostle’s Creed and sacraments), true gratitude (10 Commandments and Lord’s Prayer).
  • Impression: Next to the Bible, Pilgrim’s Progress and Imitation of Christ, the Heidelberg Confession is said to be the next popular Christian text, available in numerous languages. It exudes a warm piety. My favourite is #27 & 28 on Providence.
• The Canons of Dort (1619)
  • History: These were written in response to the Remonstrants (Protestors) who were followers of Arminius and who rejected key aspects of Reformed soteriology (sovereign grace; salvation). It was produced by the international Synod of Dort held in the Netherlands. From this comes the Reformed acrostic TULIP. In each article the Synod affirmed biblical teaching and rejected key tenets of the Remonstrants.  
  • Impression: The responses were highly biblical, thoughtful, irenic and devoid of any negative caricatures. They bring clarity to confusion and are most edifying.  The truly are a life-giving and beautiful tulip.

Taking a high view of these historic Protestant Reformed confessions, continental companions of the British Westminster/2nd London Baptist Confession, makes me almost Dutch, but with one major difference, I’m an English Baptist!

​STAY TUNED FOR PART II


[1] I had read portions of them before but this was the first time I read them all. 

In Eph 4:12, the office and gift of pastors (shepherds)/elders/overseers[1] is charged with this task: “to equip the saints for the work of the ministry.”[2] While other Scriptures note other activities of this office, this is important. What does this rich phrase mean?

Firstly, notice that it is an every member ministry. While pastors used to be (and sometimes still are) called ministers, every member of the church is indeed a minister (servant) to be involved in a ministry as Christ has gifted them. Neither should the pastor tightly guard ‘his ministry’ nor should members consign their work of the ministry to the pastors. The Reformation, and indeed Baptist thought, recovered and advances an every member ministry. The elders are involved in ministry (and can have a ministry) but their specific ministry is equipping the saints for the work of the ministry. Ministry is service, or the work Christ is calling His church to do in the Great Commission and Commandment. Ministry is multiplied when many are involved. (Saints are those who’ve been made holy through faith in Christ, which through membership and baptism make up the Ephesian church). Every saint has a gift and is called to use in both in the gathered and scattered sense of the Church.  Then and only then can the local body be as effective as possible.

To equip, their calling in this verse, is why they were gifted with teaching (v. 11). To equip is a rich word (translated complete in the KJV, which links it also to the idea of holiness, something mirrored in the character qualifications for elders and deacons). In the ancient world one would equip (outfit) a ship for sailing, equip (supply an army for battle); one might even think of equipping (furnishing) a store to open. Equipping means providing someone what they need in order to do their job. Leaders provide members with teaching, by telling and showing, in order that they may be healthy, fit and able members of the body.  

Teaching binds the wider list of gifts/offices together and is emphasized in “the shepherds and teachers;” with even shepherds feeding their sheep (i.e. or elders ‘being able to teach’). Teaching is not just about knowledge transfer but teaching that sustains and matures and enables. It appeals to the head and the heart. The primary teaching tool in the church is the preached word on the Lord’s Day. There are other teaching opportunities as well from literature, Bible studies, focused workshops, etc. Through these members are fed and their gifts enabled as they apply the wider teaching to their specific giftings.

However, there are other forms of teaching, which fall more into a showing vs. a telling category, or are more pastoral. Shepherds not only feed (teach) but care, guide, discipline, encourage, etc. Here the sheep are taught through prayer, example, visitation, counsel or one-to-one ministry. He helps them to recognize their giftings and then encourage and develop them. Being with the sheep also helps the shepherd better apply teaching to the congregation.
​
But not only are these leaders called to ‘equip the saints’ the saints are called to take advantage of the leaders whom the ascended Christ has gifted to its church. The success of the church does not only depend on leaders equipping but the extent to which members take advantage of their leaders. Do they sit under God’s Word, attend core events, ask their counsel, etc. The whole body must equip for and take advantage of the gifts Christ has given.


[1] While the immediate context speaks of gifts the use of the definite article along with other parallel lists of officers conveys that this lists gifts and offices. Truly, these ought to go together, as the church should only appoint to its offices those she believes have been gifted by God.

[2] Their teaching also has the effect of producing maturity that leads to unity. 

Today is sunny and mild, the birds are singing and the sap is dripping. Spring is on the way! What a wonder and wisdom is there in our Creator God in making the seasons. Truly, Ecclesiastes is speaking about seasons in life, however, God has demarcated those with natural seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall. These seasons divide the years that make up our lives. Now, we may gripe and complain—too much snow, it’s too hot—however, truth be told, we’d complain if we lived anywhere else than the northern hemisphere with its seasons. Every season is unique. We anticipate a season coming, dwell within its presence and then long for its end. It is impossible to tire of the wonder that God in His wisdom has imparted to us. Let us praise God together as the season changes. 

Acts chapter six is a famous passage about the appointment of the first deacons to serve the church’s practical needs.
​
The church had been growing and growing fast. Acts 6:1 recaps this by saying, “Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number…” However, this growth was producing growing pains (much like our children when they grow so fast!). The verse goes on to say, “a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.”

The cultural Greek believing Jews were coming into conflict with the culturally Hebrew believing Jews over alms to the poor widows. The Greeks felt they were being neglected. This almost certainly wasn’t a sin issue but one of oversight. Rather than seeing this as a crisis the matter was resolved constructively—deacons were appointed and all the widows were cared for.

Luke then tells us about the result in v. 7, “And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.” Overcoming the growing pains led to greater witness and growth!

In recent years, as part of this quiet revival, MBC has grown. In fact, all of the association churches have grown. Our attendance has about tripled and we have about 100+ people regularly worshipping with or connecting with us. Many of the questions that face us—like in Acts— are not sin issues but growth and size issues. I’m heartened to know we are not alone—all of the association churches and many others across the West are experiencing the same growing pains! Addressing those growing pains effectively is key to growing numerically and spiritually.

On this point FEB Central passed along a helpful article to the Elders, which we’ve reflected upon and want to share with you. The article is called “Leadership and Church Size Dynamics” by the late Timothy Keller. In it Keller points out that the change brought about by church growth can feel even greater than the difference between changing denominations! He offers 6 things that are generally needed to grow from a small church (30–100 in Canada) to a medium church (100–250 in Canada).

You’ll notice we are right on that boundary. Those 6 things are:

1. A willingness to embrace necessary change: By necessity a church of 100 is not the same as a church of 40. Change is difficult because it entails loss. However, change is also necessary if we wish to grow.

?-   The elders believe this is in process.

1. A willingness to pay the cost of more staff: One full time lead-elder cannot cover all that is needed in a church of 100+, even if there are other committed leaders and volunteers.

N-   The elders believe this is a short term need, which we’ve already begun to address by discussing an intern.

1. A willingness to let some power shift away from the membership to leaders: Less people can be in the know as the church grows this big. It requires trust of leaders to make day to day decisions.

?-   The elders believe we already have this biblical structure in our elders-led congregationalism model that balances the best of both worlds,  but need to fully embrace it.

1. A willingness to become more formal in their communication: There is a move from word of mouth to the use of a website, newsletter, etc.

Y- The elders, confirmed in the recent survey, believe we are already doing an excellent job here!

1. The ability and willingness of both the pastor and people for the lead-elder (pastor) to do shepherding a bit less and leading a bit more: Like Jethro’s advice to Moses, the pastor will always be available but must make a multiplying investment in other leaders who care for smaller groups, all the while leading and teaching.

X   -The elders believe this is possible but requires more of a culture shift and also more leaders and volunteers.

1. A willingness to consider new or expanded facilities: One needs to have space to grow otherwise people won’t feel welcome and you’ll literally have no where for people to go.

Y- The elders believe this is not a present need thanks to the existence of our wonderful facility.
So we would score 2/2/2. That means we still need to focus on 4 areas.

Our church has been growing, praise God! To avoid bouncing off the glass ceiling and instead moving beyond it, these are some wise considerations we should think about. We want to be like the church in Acts and constructively address matters so that we can continue to be effective witnesses. 

Theology is the knowledge of God, both factual and experiential (Ps 34:8- Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good…). It also includes everything He has revealed about faith and practice. Theology is not boring, it is the foundation of Christian life and inspires worship and holy living.

Sadly, however, many people get bored of God and plateau or ‘fall away’ after an initial interest. Such can be the case with some children raised in the Church. Such people inevitably grow out of theology. Why does this happen? This happens when people have not embraced true theology but rather manmade or partially true theology. You see, humans are finite—limited. Any theology based on man will invariably be able to be exhausted. Once we’ve reached its limit, we tire of it, stagnate or move on. How sad! We grow out of theology when we have a small view of God and a big view of man.

True theology is based upon what God has revealed about Himself and His ways in the Bible. Because He is infinite—limitless—we can never exhaust true theology. Seeing the big God of the Bible is key to never growing out of theology but always having more to grow into; more to discover, more to experience, more to learn! True theology provides us with an inexhaustible pursuit that we will enjoy, not only today, but for eternity. The believer has an eternity to get to know God! True theology inspires love and service and growth.

Bored with theology? Try switching to a theology that you can grow into, not out of! 

​​Our steeple represents a big picture overview of the life of MBC. While a small but growing church, the Lord has continued to use us in mighty ways. This has also produced growing pains, which we are seeking to constructively surmount with God’s help. In this it is good to know that as part of the quiet revival, many churches are sharing similar experiences.  
Highlights of the year include:

• Our 30th Anniversary, with a formal celebration in May, along with other events and videos
• Our two main weekly Lord’s Day gatherings, a.m. (60–70+) and p.m. (40+).
• A journey about ‘standing firm’ from 1 Peter, Daniel, some summer Psalms, 2 Peter and Malachi.
• In intergenerational worship the children learned from CAT, Christiana (Pilgrim’s Progress part two), and the ABC’s of the Reformation (we’re blessed to have 18+ children worshipping with us).
• 6 new members: 3 by baptism and 3 by joining.
• 41 in membership (+7 formal adherents); as of August, which along with adherents totals 110 worshipping with us altogether (as of Dec the number was around 99).
• The death of three members and one adherent
• Many new visitors, some who stay and some who don’t. We hosted our first newcomers luncheon in September with 31 present. There have been 29 who’ve stopped coming. May we all see to reach out to them.
• A fall Foundations I class with 14 who crammed into pastor’s office.
• Three community outreach flyers to 3700 homes in 20 min radius around Markdale. Themes included hope, stability and light. Together with our other exposure ministries (website, newsletter, Youtube, etc) ensure we have a strong exposure ministry in the community and plant many seeds.
• Supporting those in our midst with dementia + their carers.
• A summer VBS with 65 children and family fun night with 150 people.
• Our pianist stepping down but us gaining a guitarist. We are grateful for Sue’s service.
• The existence of various ministries: prayer central(s) (30), Life Groups (30+), Ladies Coffee Hour (12+), King’s Kids (20+), Fabulous Friday’s (70+), men’s breakfast (15+), Merry and Mature (high 20s), social (e.g. fellowship meals, games, funerals), missions (see report), benevolent and meal ministry (see report) and Grey Gables chapel. Many others help support aspects of worship (i.e. music, A/V, parking service, nursery) and the general life of the church (i.e. property, kitchen coordinator, etc).
• Extra gifts to missions: New Life Camp, Pastor Henry, Christian refugees
• Property upgrades: a pavilion and a cleaned steeple
• A fall survey, which revealed many strengths as well as some areas for improvement.
• Christmas outreach: 1000 candy invites, a walking parade, & carol service.
• Fellowship meals and socials (a.m. and p.m.) and spring and fall games nights
• Welcomed many guest preachers and visiting missionaries

With a growing church it is difficult to capture everything that took place throughout the year.

​From my basecamp I’ve engaged in numerous activities over 2025:
 

• General oversight/vision and leading the Eldership.
• Regularly present with my family at our morning and evening worship gatherings.
• Preaching: I regularly preach twice each Lord’s Day and lead the children’s time. Over 2025 we learned to stand firm in our series through 1 Peter, Daniel, some summer Psalms, 2 Peter and Malachi.  
• Life Groups: Write the weekly questions, which are part of our sermon book studies.
• Blog: publish a weekly blog, Drippings, that covers a variety of subjects. Please check them out.
• Music: I regularly lead music in the evening service and upon occasion in the morning.
• Visitation: I regularly seek to visit at least 2 individuals/families, make phone calls and receive visitors who pop into my study. Much visitation time was taken up connecting and discipling visitors/new believers/those being baptized and joining the church. I also engaged in some hospital visitation and crisis counselling.
• Funerals: 2025 was a big year for funerals, I conducted 5 in the early fall and one community funeral in the winter.
• Fabulous Fridays: I’ve taught one chapel each month to 70+ moms and children
• Hospitality: We host a weekly Life Group in our home. We’ve also had some guests over from church, though not as much as we’d like given Rebekah’s health.
• King’s Kids: Regularly teaching these precious young souls.
• VBS: enjoyed teaching and leading music at our weeklong VBS.
• Discipleship Ministries: I led a fall newcomers’ luncheon and the fall Foundations I class.
• Community: Food Bank board member; bi-monthly chapel services at Grey Gables.
• Church Health: We held a round table in May. With the input and help of the Elders, Deacons and communication’s team, I helped to craft and present our fall Church survey.
• Association/Denomination: Coordinate the Barnabas program. This entails coordinating instructors and doing some teaching. I’m grateful for the administrator, Val, who takes care of the majority of the day to day work.  I’ve also sought to attend our Bluewater Association meeting and attended/led a workshop at the FEBC Stronger conference. With the Elders’ support, over the summer and fall, I was also part of a national grassroots team that has sought to keep our Fellowship complementarian.
• Other related duties (largely administrative and property based)

 
Beyond MBC I’ve taught 2 courses at Toronto Baptist Seminary: Church History B and Baptist History and Thought. I also continue to edit the seminary’s Gospel Witness journal that produces scholarship for the church. You may find copies in our library.
 
I have many research and writing interests that time doesn’t wholly allow me to pursue. However, I did present a paper at the Canadian Baptist Historical Symposium in April. Also, my book Drippings from the Honeycomb is finally in the final stages with the publisher and should be out in late 2026. I also spoke at a pastor’s retreat and co-taught at a summer Chinese Baptist church retreat. I’m also preparing a book chapter titled, “Ontario Baptist Confessionalism” (2026) for a Canadian Baptist Historical Society volume. Into 2027 I will also be the coordinating editor of various Ontario scholars to produce the 100th history of Toronto Baptist Seminary.
 
As a family we took a summer trip around the world’s largest lake—Superior. Despite having caught the plague at VBS it was a beautiful journey. We were grateful to finish our major renovations at Orange Valley Acre too. Please continue to pray for various health concerns and Digory’s spiritual well-being. 

We are certainly transitioning from a smaller to a more medium church. This brings with it growing pains. As we grow the truth remains that the “harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few” (Mt 9:37). I want to thank our core members who serve sacrificially and encourage others to join the church and experience Acts 20:35, which says, “it is more blessed to give than receive.” As we rally around God’s word, we’re also seeking to turn harmony into unity as we all mature in the faith together. 

I’ve visited some wonderful libraries in my day. The library in my home town was the old Victorian town hall; a majestic building that inspired the love of reading. I’ve also been able to visit the world-famous Bodleian Library at Oxford. Perhaps my favourite library, built in the 1920s, but designed to look much older, is the Bristol City Centre library. Quite romantically it has three side levels that you access by iron spiral staircases!
​
Sadly today, though, because of funding cutbacks, woke ideology, shallow books, etc, many libraries are not what they once were.

However, there is one library, which while not large, is impressive. God’s library! Throughout the Bible several precious books of God’s are mentioned Here is a library catalogue of God’s library:

1. God’s book of general revelation—Creation (Ps 19:1)
   1. Creation is one big book in which we can learn about God. While limited (Ro 1), it nevertheless impressively points us to God.
2. God’s book of special revelation—the Bible (2 Ti 3:16)
   1. If we want to know God, self and salvation, we can’t remain content with God’s book of creation, as wonderful as it is. We need the Bible.
3. The Book of the Law
   1. The Law of Moses was a good gift (Dt 6). It set Israel apart as God’s people and revealed Himself to them. However, it was never meant to save but rather drive to the promise (Galatians).
4. The Book of Sorrows, Ps 56:8
   1. Beautifully, in His compassion, God stores up the tears of His people in a bottle and writes them in a book. They are not forgotten and one day we will be vindicated.  
5. The Book of Remembrance, Mal 3:16
   1. Like how King Xerxes wrote down the good deeds of Mordecai, only to remember them later (Esther 2:23, 6:1–3). God remembers the faithful words and deeds of His people. While it may appear like the wicked prosper today (c.f. Haman), one day a distinction will be made and we will be rewarded for our faithfulness.
6. The Book of the Lamb, Rev 13:8, 17:8, 21:27
   1. This is the book, written before the foundation of the world, in which all of the elect’s names are written, who God will save through faith in Jesus Christ.
7. Books of Judgement, Rev 20:12a
   1. While it is true we will be judged because of faith in Christ (Jn 3:18), our works do follow us. On Judgement Day we will also be judged based upon what we have done, good or bad, faithful or faithless.

Seven amazing books, each unique, each with its time and place. Whether we visit libraries or not, let us take note of the books in God’s library. 

Ref: Proposed Affirmation of Faith; March 12, 2025 e-update from Steve Jones
*I’ve bolded the points I feel are more major. I’ve underlined personal implications.
*If you are a church member, don’t read this until you’ve first read the proposed AoF for yourself. 

I was born into a Fellowship Baptist church in Springfield, ON. It was my grandmother’s church near the family farm. Thankfully it continues to be a faithful and robust Christian witness. 

“His body, that is the Church” (Col 1:24)
​
The Church is the body of Christ, universally made up of all true believers and made visible locally by members of local churches. The Church ministers to its own and represents Christ to the world, both in Christ’s humility and authority.

As such, there are those who take advantage of the Church.

There are two ways that phrase could be used. The first is positive, seizing hold of the blessing which is the Church of Jesus Christ. The second is negative, abusing or one-way benefits from the Church. In the examples and questions below, which best characterizes you? Are you taking advantage of the Church?

Questions to Ask
-Do you take advantage of evangelistic opportunities and resources made available by the Church; including speaking with Christians, participating in courses on the Christian basics, sitting under sound preaching?
-Do you take advantage of the flagship Christian gatherings on the Lord’s Day, morning and evening worship, sitting under the sound of God’s Word?
-Do you take advantage of discipleship opportunities to grow and be equipped in the Faith: Bible studies; special events; men’s, women’s and children’s ministries, relationships?
-Do you take advantage of your Elders, including your Pastor, their spiritual wisdom, counsel and oversight, including taking their biblical teaching and advice seriously, reading their blog, publications, or asking their advice?
-Do you take advantage of the ordinances of Baptism and Lord’s Supper, God’s means of grace?
-Do you take advantage of corporate prayer meetings, to experience the power of prayer together and learn how to pray?
-Do you take advantage of the opportunities for Christian fellowship, to be ministered to and to receive ministry and care?
-Do you take advantage of membership, actually joining and being a committed part of the local body of Christ, expressing and having affirmed your faith in Christ?
-Do you faithfully attend the life of the Church or might you miss what God is doing?
-Do you—through membership—take advantage of Christ’ call to serve Him by serving His Church as you are physically able (“Ask not what the Church can do for you, but what you can do for the Church”).
 
The Church is a blessed tool in the hand’s of her Lord. Take advantage of her!
​

* I am indebted to the late John MacArthur who used this analogy when preaching on 1 Cor 12. Though a seemingly harsh illustration, a benign tumour fits the body analogy of those who derive life from the organism of the church but never give to it through commitment and service.