A recent study in the UK has coined the phrase ‘quiet revival.’ Historically revivals—periods where the Holy Spirit has wrought great repentance and faith in Jesus— have seen 100s, 1000s, indeed whole communities and nations transformed for Christ. What the study observed in the UK was not such a revival, more quiet, yet a revival nevertheless. It observed that since 2018 church attendance has doubled, especially amongst youth. This is quite something in a country so impacted by secularism that, despite being twice the population of Canada, has had half the church attendance.
Yet this ‘quiet revival’ applies not only to the UK. Arguably it describes a phenomenon across the West, including right here in Canada. Culturally it may be linked to Covid or the wackiness of wokeness. Religiously it is a quiet movement of the Spirit of God. It does appear that the Lord is watering the root of His faithful remnant (Job 14:7–9).

This study helped give words to something we have been witnessing across Ontario amongst faithful churches. A church in Windsor that was 150 is now 300+. A church in Timmins was 75 and is now 150+. This past Passover (Easter) many churches experienced countless baptism, not 100s but in the 2s and 12s. Some of this growth represents seekers, brand new believers, sometimes migrating Christians from mainline churches or lapsed Christians. Closer to home in our own Association, the past few years have proven a similar trend. The church of 15/50/75/100/150/200 is now 30/100/150/300/400, etc. None of these churches have done anything ‘special’ apart from faithfully existing but the Lord has quietly been sending people to them.

We have experienced this here at MBC. Just prior to Covid we hadn’t had a recent baptism, had 26 members and about 40-50 people who regularly connected with us. Since then we’ve had 9 baptisms, 38 members (in spite of natural losses) and have well over 100+ people regularly worshipping and connecting with us. Measured financially, our budget has nearly doubled and we've invested surpluses in local and foreign missions. (Yet, there is still more to do. Higher numbers require more work. We long to see the sinners amongst us saved and baptized, saints join in membership and together to worship and serve the Lord. Then there is still the vastly unreached population in our community).

Yet, we would not boast in ourselves or our techniques. We haven’t done anything extraordinary, and most people have simply found us. One young man is an example. He attended our church out of the blue and simply felt prompted to Google ‘church near me.’ Our website came up since it is very active. All we have done is seek to be faithful to God’s commands for a church: gather regularly on the Lord’s Day (a.m./p.m.) in worship; preach the Word; pray; provide opportunities for discipleship; seek to make Christ known in our community; visit and care for each other; invest in our facilities, etc. (1 Cor 3:6).

We rejoice at what the Lord is doing—however quietly!

Would you join us in what He is doing?

 
QUESTION- Who here likes doughnuts? Who has a favourite doughnut?
(My favourite are chocolate knots with sprinkles-yum). 

​Did you know they have found doughnut-like foods in archaeological digs from Bible times? The modern doughnut, however, came from the Dutch in the 1700s- oly koeks- oily cakes. However, it wasn't until the 1850s and a Capt. Gregory from the USA that doughnuts lost their middle. Originally, they were dough knots, a knotted dough ring. Perhaps Gregory took them out to fit on his ships wheel, or to allow the centres to cook more easily, or maybe to save money! At any rate, by the 1920s there was a doughnut machine and their popularity in WWI and WWII with soldiers helped to bring them into American culture: Krispy Cream, Dunkin Donuts (and Tim Hortons in Canada). 

Let's learn a funny song about doughnuts and Jesus.

 Let me explain that song.

God created us to know Him. Just like Lego, a puzzle or a craft has the grand design that we build, we were created to know God. Mt 4:10 says we were created, to worship (love) and serve Him. When God first created us, our ancestors (Adam and Eve) were in a perfect garden. There was only one negative command, not to eat of a certain tree lest they died (Gen 2:17). The moment they ate of it, the greatest tragedy happened: they spiritually died and began to physically die. In their rebellion they were cut off from God.

QUESTION- Who knows the central letter in the following words: sIn and prIde?

"I"- destroyed the peace and purpose and friendship and fullness we were created for. Like a doughnut, we were no longer whole, we had a hole in our heart. 1600 years ago Augustine said, "Our hearts will go on being restless until they fine their rest in You." Similarly, 400 years ago Pascal said, "Our hearts are a bottomless cavern."

QUESTION- Without God, what sorts of substitutes do people try to fill their lives with?

Pascal also said, "We have a Christ shaped hole in our hearts." Because we were made for God, only a restored relationship with Him through faith in His Son, Jesus, will make us whole again.

Let me tell you part of my story of becoming whole. When I was young I believed in God. Life was good. I was getting on being a child. Then two things happened that made me realize I wasn't whole. The first was when I was 5 and my parents stopped taking me to church. I knew that wasn't right, so I pestered them until we returned. But still, there was something missing. Then one day about 7 I entered a store with my father and I stole something! (Drum roll) Can you guess what it was? A paperclip. Yes, I stole a paperclip. I felt so guilty that I walked out of the store and through it in the grass beside the sidewalk. However, I still felt guilty. I was aware of a whole in my heart. 

I'll tell the rest of that story at our next campfire together, but let me tell you how we can fill that hole and become whole. When we turn from our sin and trust in Jesus, Eph 4 says, "Christ comes to dwell in our hearts by faith." Forgiven and assured of life eternal, He helps us worship and serve Him forever, just as we were created to. YUM.

[distribute doughnuts and ask children if they think they know what sweet treat I'll bring next time]

…on a Sunday. (I seldom eat out otherwise because food is so expensive!)

I don’t eat out on the Lord’s Day, and haven’t since I came of age in high school, because it is God’s special day of rest built into the fabric of the universe at Creation. This includes not causing others to work. Ex 20:10b tells us, “On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.” This includes restaurants, pizza, Tim Horton’s drive through, [online] grocery shopping, etc.

And even if someone is not a Sabbatarian in a classic Christian sense, even if you only believe the Lord’s Day is a New Covenant ordinance for worship, does not the principle of Ex 20:10b compel you? I mean, isn’t it hypocritical for you to have the day off and to go to church but by purchasing one small thing or eating out, rob the employee of that same blessing? (Here I find it ironic that in England it is the socialist parties that still favour Sunday trading laws because they protects workers!).

Things never used to be open on Sunday and shouldn’t be open today. Alas, we live in a post-Christian world, and like most ethical area’s, we don’t have the godly law of the land to guide us. Everything is a test. Everything is an opportunity to trust the Lord’s ways and be a witness in the darkness, including keeping one day in seven as special.
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Instead of eating out, plan ahead, make freeing others to worship part of your worship, invite brothers and sisters or an unbeliever or a new couple at church over for a meal—show Christian hospitality. Enjoy the freedom that the gift of rest brings.

Life 100.3 interviewed Pastor Chris, interested in our evening service. It aired several times in late June, 2024.

Every age has a counter message that seeks to shroud, confuse or combat, the true Gospel. Our age is no different.

When in the city recently I came across a large mural on the glass of a leading Canadian bank. It read, “There’s no better feeling than being accepted for who you are.” Such a slogan is riddled with faults.

Firstly, expressive individualism rooted in subjective feelings (and not objective truth) is not a sure guide.

Secondly, total-acceptance (or the intolerance of ‘tolerance’) is as ridiculous. Sure, we respect people as being created in the image of God on the one hand, but we embrace others, not based upon who they put themselves forward as, but whether they, in truth and goodness, are nice and useful people.

Thirdly, the message is clearly ideological (cultural-marxism or woke), where if someone doesn’t agree with you on your terms, then they must be a bad oppressor and must be shamed and re-educated.

Beyond mere virtue signalling, much of our society seems to have bought into the anti-Gospel, lock, stock and barrel. No longer is it about LGBT, it has become the flag, or mantra of our day. It is the anti-Gospel. Embrace your sin, relish in it and demand others do too.

The true Gospel proclaims that we are sinners. That we are accepted by God only when we’ve been accepted by Christ through repentance and faith. That joy only begins when we receive grace and the Holy Spirit works to renew us into the people God wants us to be.
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I wouldn’t want to be accepted for who I am—what a hideous thought! Rather, my sole hope is being accepted before God by virtue of who Christ is—and has applied to me—through the imputed righteousness and imparted Sanctifier. It is only when I become a new creation and am transformed and await my glorification as a saved sinner that there can ever be a true feeling of joy, even jubilee.

​Christian, even yet-to-be-Christian, do not be fooled by the anti-Gospel of our age. It doesn’t satisfy or save. 

This is a bookend to last week’s blog, ‘A Pastor’s Lament.’
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Like Jesus’ ministry experienced highs and lows in relation to others, pastoral ministry likewise, comes with it’s valleys and mountains. The low points lead you to the Lord in prayer. The high points are reminders of why you do it and pointers in the valleys.

God is sanctifying His people. That means that sometimes I will see sin and other times saintliness. Sometimes I’m privileged to be able to catch glimpses of transformation, and in general oversight, witness it in the congregation mature. I rejoice that Jesus has promised to complete the work He began in me (and in us) as He sanctifies individuals and churches.
I’m encouraged:

• When our worship gatherings have many worshippers who desire to glorify the Lord
• When we have visitors
• By the faithful core who are regular in our all of our worship gatherings, morning and evening
• By those who could be called ‘my right handers’
• When I see our many vibrant ministries in action, and the role they are playing in unbeliever’s and unbeliever’s lives (e.g. LGs, KK, FabFri, VBS, M&M, Meal Min, Comms, etc)
• By the faithful core who will serve no matter what, even if its not their calling
• When people believe and are baptized—obviously!
• Through our outreach (e.g. flyer ministry [3600 each mailing], Christmas parade, VBS)
• By the fact that we keep our property neat and up to date for the glory of God
• When people are giving to the Lord of their time, finances and prayers
• When I see people welcoming others, ministering to each other, being hospitable, inviting or encouraging people to ministries, etc
• When people get excited about sermon series or discuss the Word of God
• In community roles such as the Food Bank, services at Grey Gables or hospital visitation
• In my preaching, discipleship, counselling and visits
• When people say they pray for me/our family, or value our presence and ministry

When I will stand before God and give an account for my people on Judgement day (Heb 13:17) these are the sorts of encouraging things that come to mind.

We’ve been studying Mark’s Gospel. In it we see Jesus lament, groan and ‘sigh deeply in His spirit’ (Mk 8:12). He did this over human sin and the follies and blindness this produced in the crowds, leaders and disciples. In His divinity Jesus is forbearant (though even God’s patience can run out); in His humanity, Jesus was very much like us, those who can become frustrated, though of a rather gracious sort.
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I am a sinner saved by grace. I am not perfect. Yet as an under-shepherd of the great Shepherd sometimes I too sometimes groan (Heb 13:17) when shepherding the flock of Christ (or seeking to reach the lost generally). Sometimes there are joys but equally there are inevitably sorrows working with sheep. I seek to point them toward what I believe God has revealed as greener pastures, but am ultimately powerless to force them to go there. I preach and pray, like the early Elders and Apostles (Acts 6), yet lament when they don’t aspire to God’s standard and what is ideal.

Here is a pastor’s heart, a welcome to my soul moment. If I didn’t love truth or those I oversee I wouldn’t ever lament, however, because I do, lament is part of life. Here are some things I’m burdened by:
Those who profess Christ but won’t be baptized or join the church
When we don’t pray together or attend the monthly prayer meeting.
When we don’t keep the Lord’s Day holy, putting family, leisure or work ahead of the Lord.
When we don’t delight in the public worship gatherings of the church.
When we do something else when the church is gathering.
When we listen to the Word but not hear and do it.
When we don’t participate in the governance of the local church by attending members’ meetings.
When we burden our brothers and sisters by not serving in the body ourself.
When we neglect opportunities for fellowship or jet out of church so quick we can’t benefit from this.
When our joy is not complete.
When it becomes a chore to connect with people or have calls returned, etc.
When people fail to see the importance of hospitality and encouragement.
 
In all of this I remember how the Lord is being patient with me and how, unlike physical projects, discipleship and sanctification are never complete in this life. I also remember how Jesus suffered and their is glory in being like Christ. And while these are burdens, it I s likewise a great consolation when the sheep seek to live out the elementary aspects of the Christian life in faithfulness and joy.

In 1998 there was a country song called “Ordinary Life” by Chad Brock. Now I don’t listen to country music anymore, save for some classics—I prefer classical. However, the message of this song bears sketching. In the song, a man grows tired of going to church, cutting the grass, going to work, etc. He tires of his ordinary life. So he leaves his family only to realize his ordinary life was pretty good and he missed it.

Some Christians tire of the ordinary life in following Jesus. They long for something great or some great extraordinary experience. Someone once said, “unlike those most useless persons in Christian circles who are always waiting for great things to do, and who neglect the opportunities which lie to their hand, …let us do the little which lay to hand, and find that by doing the ‘next thing’ life becomes rich in opportunities for usefulness.”

Now to be clear, Christianity is by nature extraordinary, conversion is a miracle, our life is lived by the Spirit. Yet at the same time, following Jesus is a cumulation of ordinary things. Even Jesus, when instituting the Lord’s Supper, took bread and the cup and gave an OC festival (itself instituted on ordinary things), new meaning. We call these ordinary things like Baptism and the Lord’s Supper ‘means of grace.’ In them the Lord has taken something ordinary and clad it with meaning so when we in faith do them we are blessed. The Lord’s Day, prayer, reading the Bible, pursuing holiness, serving, fellowshipping with believers, etc, these all are ordinary and yet yield much fruit over time.

A recent question by a guest preacher reminded me of this growth. He asked what the church had looked for when they called me. Only one couple could answer because everyone else had come during those 5 years. One by one, ordinary growth, preaching 100 sermons a year and other ordinary ministerial duties of our people.
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So do not tire of the ordinary means of grace. They are how the Lord ordinarily works and blesses His Church. Let us do them faithfully and regularly and see what the Lord will do.

Procrastination is when we put off something we know we should do, even when we know we will suffer as a result. It could be something as simple as not wanting to put out the garbage in the rain, then we miss the garbage truck and have to latter take it to the dump, but concerned about the cost of the dump we store it up at home and in time our house becomes a dump!
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Psychologists note a variety of reasons why people procrastinate (low self [God]-confidence, anxiety [fear]). Some have even created two general behavioural types of procrastinators: anxiety and boredom/rebellion (that is they procrastinate so they get a thrill at the last minute or rebel and don’t want to do it).[1]

We can procrastinate in coming to know and follow the Lord too, all to our harm.

Why do people spiritually procrastinate? Why do they put off going to church, trusting in the Gospel, being baptized, joining a church? Why do they put off responding to a leader, calling to encourage someone, having that difficult conversation? Why do they put off reading their Bible, praying or any number of spiritual disciplines? Why do they put off killing that known sin in their life? Why do they do these things when they know they are wrong and they know they will harm them? It comes down to faith vs. fear and pride vs. humility in some form.

God asked Cain a timeless question, “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” (Gen 4:7) What is the spiritual reason for procrastination? The reasons may be complex but the Lord calls us to overcome them by rising to obedience in faith. How can we rule over procrastination or help others to do so?
How to fight procrastination?

• Grow in our knowledge of who God is
• Know what God has said (including the consequence)
• Turn and trust
• Trust the Lord the moment the inclination is fresh, don’t delay
• Resolve to do right before the test of circumstance.
• Learn more about what causes your procrastination
• Remember the gracious Lord not only calls but equips us by His Word and through His Spirit, yield to Him.
• Seize hold of the means of grace, including prayer. Rely on the Lord.
• Find those who will help keep you accountable

How to handle a procrastinator?
The same way the Lord deals with us, in grace and truth. We need to be gracious with procrastinators (remembering when we have and learning from this). We must be sympathetic and willing to listen for the reasons why someone might procrastinate so we can help address these. We need to seek to encourage folks to do right and offer any help we can in this regard. However, grace alone is not sufficient. We must also be truthful. We must seek to teach and spur and call and guide the procrastinator. All this is done in prayer. Truth graciously administered is the best medicine.

So let us rise to trust the Lord and walk before Him in obedience and so overcome procrastination.


[1] https://umsu.unimelb.edu.au/news/article/7797/The-Psychology-Behind-Procrastination/#:~:text=Psychologists%20have%20found%20various%20reasons,is%20emotion%20and%20mood%20regulation.