40 Days Blog - Day 17

Mark 7:1-23 - Jesus Teaches

Our passage today seems to be strange to our 21st Century Stra’ven mindset. There is a discussion going on here about laws and customs that existed in a different world and different time. Questions from Jewish leaders, responses from Jesus. At this stage, the discussion seems to be genuine. In later chapters, we will see these same leaders setting traps as the downfall of Jesus is plotted. But in these verses, we see Jesus answering questions with a clear knowledge of the Hebrew scriptures and the Jewish traditions. We see His understanding of how these things should work together. The response of Jesus is clear and direct as He speaks truth to the hypocritical powers that be. Yet we also sense He is being patient with those who are asking genuine questions.

As the passage moves on, we find Jesus doesn’t mince His words with the disciples either – He calls them ‘dull’! Despite sounding a bit exasperated with the disciples, we sense He is still showing patience to the disciples. Jesus understands they are also trying to make sense of what Jesus is saying! As Jesus responds, He speaks words that make us all sit up. We’re all aware of the unwelcome thoughts and feelings that come from within. Sometimes, I am appalled at a surge of anger when someone cuts across me on the motorway. I have to resist strongly a dark urge for angry words and a shaking fist! Sometimes, I sense temptation lurking in my heart, just waiting for a careless (or Godless!) moment to emerge and defile myself – and others. Sometimes I find myself actually holding onto wrong thoughts- nursing them to keep them warm when I should be seeking God for help to let these thoughts go.

This passage reminds us that God invites us to ‘reason together’ with Him. There are no questions to which God will not listen. There are no doubts that we cannot bring to Him. He will never mock us for speaking to Him about the dark thoughts of sin we find lurking inside our mind and heart. But we need to understand. If we genuinely seek God, then sometimes we will find ourselves grappling with uncomfortable truths. We may find ourselves on the receiving end of the searching light of the Holy Spirit. Convicting us about our thoughts, our attitudes or our actions. And what needs to change to bring us into a closer relationship with God.

The good news is that a closer relationship with God will bring us into a continuing and exciting adventure – like the adventures we will find in the next section of Mark’s narrative!

A Prayer

Father, thank You that You invite us to speak to You and bring our deepest doubts and questions to You. Thank You that You answer us with patience and understanding. Help us to be patient when it seems Your answer is a long time coming. Please tell me when my thoughts are wrong and my actions don’t honour You. Thank You for the sacrifice of Jesus which covers over all my sins. Help me to live a life more worthy of You.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Listen to today's reading and blog post below...

Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Visitors click here.

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning.

Where and When

The church meets every Sunday at 9.30am at Drumclog and 11am at Avendale.

Sunday worship continues to be live-streamed from Avendale each Sunday at 11am on the Avendale & Drumclog YouTube Channel.

At Drumclog we meet at:
Drumclog Memorial Kirk
Drumclog
South Lanarkshire
ML10 6QG

At Avendale we meet at:
Avendale Old Parish Church
59A Kirk Street
Strathaven
South Lanarkshire
ML10 6LB

For your first visit, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to ensure you get a parking space and find somewhere to sit before the service begins. When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone on our Welcome Team.

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access, and a sound loop for anyone who needs it at both Avendale & Drumclog. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up and show you where the disabled toilet is located if required.

Our Service - Drumclog Memorial Kirk

Drumclog

At Drumclog, the service begins at 9.30am with a warm welcome from our Minister, or the person leading the service. During the service we usually sing 2 or 3 songs/hymns. The Minister or a member of the Worship Team will usually read aloud from the Bible and lead the congregation in prayer. This might seem strange the first time you hear it but it’s all part of our connecting with God. The Minister, or person leading the service, will then give a sermon that is Bible based and that we can apply to our everyday life. We then share news and notices, usually about what’s going on in the life of the church.

The service lasts approximately 45 minutes. Sometimes there is an opportunity to receive prayer at the end of the service. After the service we serve refreshments (tea, coffee and biscuits) in our church hall. This is a great way to meet people and enjoy fellowship together. We would love to chat to you there!

Our Service - Avendale Old Parish Church

Avendale Wide

At Avendale, the service begins at 11am with a warm welcome from our Minister, or the person leading the service. Before the service begins, we will show a loop of news and notices on the screens in the church. This is a good way to find out what's going on in the life of the church. During the service we usually sing 3 or 4 songs/hymns, often led by our church praise band 'The Elastic Band'. The Minister or a member of the Worship Team will usually read aloud from the Bible and lead the congregation in prayer. This might seem strange the first time you hear it but it's all part of our connecting with God. The Minister, or person leading the service, will then give a sermon that is Bible based and that we can apply to our everyday life. Throughout the service, we may also show videos on the screens in the church to help us reflect on what is being shared during worship or in the sermon. We then share news and notices, usually about what's going on in the life of the church.

The service last approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. After the service we serve refreshments (tea, coffee and biscuits) in our church hall. This is a great way to meet people and enjoy fellowship together. We would love to chat to you there!

images: Services

What about my kids?

At Avendale, we have a great programme lined up for kids of all ages:

Creche (0 months to 4 years). Children under 6 months are welcome but must be accompanied by their parent/carer at all times.
His Kids (5-10 years)
Yoof (11-18 years)

Children stay with their parent or carer at the start of the service for the welcome, songs and short Children's Talk. We really value worshipping God all together as a family. At the end of the Children's Talk, someone will announce that it’s time for the younger members to go to their various groups. You will need to go with your children to their groups and register them as part of our child safety policy the first time you come along to church.

The kids group activities vary depending on the age but usually there is a friendly welcome, Bible stories, testimonies, praying, music, craft, drama, fun games and free play. Please pick your children up as soon as the service finishes.

For more information about what happens in the children's and youth work please visit the Children's Ministry page and/or the Youth Ministry page.

N.B. - there is no children's programme or youth programme during the service at Drumclog.

Getting Connected

Home Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our Home Groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, some afternoons and some evenings. Check out our Home Groups page and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a Home Group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group. If you would like us to put you in touch with a Home Group leader, please let us know via our Contact Us page.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team here.

Other Ministries

We also run the following ministries:

Other Groups in the Avendale & Drumclog Community

The following groups are also part of the life of our church:

Get in touch with us to plan your visit

If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.

Name:

Telephone:

Email Address:
Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.

Leadership


Rev Calum Stark - Minister		David Moreland - Session Clerk

To find out more about our staff and leaders, please visit our Staff & Leadership page.
We hope that whoever you are, you will feel at home at our church.

Best Wishes

Calum Stark - Minister