No.57 12th September 2025
Hi, hope this finds you well.
The Tea Break this week has a link to another talk the late Tim Keller gave from Hebrews. At the Home Groups last week, as we looked at Acts ch17 and Paul's experience in Athens, there were questions about idols that we see around us today. Keller really cuts to the chase when he talks about the idols we have around us today and how we find ourselves relying on them...he takes us to the sort of question we can ask ourselves, or even to ask at home around the dinner table, to see whether or not even a good thing we have in our lives has become an idol - we should ask 'What happens when that particular thing is taken away' - is your life 'shaken'? Worth listening to.
This week saw the brutal murder of Charlie Kirk. As a debater and online 'influencer' he reached millions - in particular young people. His political views, and even his style of debating may not have been to your taste but Kirk was someone who was clear about being a Christian and his faith in Jesus and commitment to the Gospel was something that he spoke about regularly. This short
video is one of many of him preaching the Gospel. When asked recently what was the one thing he would he liked to remembered for in terms of what people would talk about if he was to die he answered 'that he had been courageous anough to talk about his faith'. (watch
here.)
Enjoy the Mag.
MB
Saturday Morning
Sat 13th Sept ....9am - 10am
at the Smiths, Eaglesham
All welcome !
Sunday 14th September
Morning service - 10.30am
Rev Scott Kirkland
Mark 6: 45-56
Sunday Evening
with Newton Mearns Baptist Church
Rev David Lazenby
"Letters to the Churches in Revelation"
From The Manse
Dear Congregation,
We are now well and truly into our Autumn church season.
We began our new Home Groups last week. We have five groups meeting fortnightly on Sunday nights, Monday lunchtimes (ladies only) and Tuesday nights. We have general pattern for Sundays that runs like this;
- 1st and 3rd Sunday evenings of the month = homegroups (7pm)
- 2nd and 4th Sunday evenings of the month = joint evening worship at NMBC (7pm)
There are fifty-five participants. Would you like to join one of the groups? It is still timely as we are not too far into the studies yet.
We shall meet this coming Sunday evening at NMBC for joint worship at 7pm (6.30pm for refreshments). Scott Hamilton is leading worship.
This coming Tuesday we recommence our Café Connect group at 2pm at NMBC. Although we use the premises of NMBC, this is very much an MFC gathering. Know any neighbours or friends who would like to come along? They will be more than welcome. Speak with Elizabeth Smith for more details.
I have included a prayer based on the next chapter of the Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 4; Of Creation. You will find it here.
(The first three prayers can be accessed by going to the most recent magazines and using the links there.)
Warmest Regards,
Scott
Pray for Mearns Free Church
You don't need to have set or organised times for prayer (Pulse, Monthly Prayer Meeting, Pray Now etc) as important as they are, in order to bring all that is going on at MFC to the Lord... but how can we learn to pray more fervently and consistently for our own local church, especially when we see it as a pattern throughout Paul's epistles?
Jonathan Leeman suggests 18 prayer points for our church to encourage this.
"...here are 18 things you can pray for your church. They aren’t as rich as Paul’s since I wanted to keep them simple and Twitter-length. (Also because I’m not inspired.) Still, perhaps you could print out this article and pray two or three of the points below per day for the next week—maybe in your quiet time, maybe at the family dinner table. Who knows? One day in glory, perhaps we’ll see all the good accomplished from believers being more deliberate about praying for their churches.
What to Pray For
1. That we would have unity amid diversity—loving those with whom we have nothing in common but the gospel.
2. That a culture of discipling would form in which making disciples is viewed as an ordinary part of the Christian life.
3. That faithful elders would use Scripture to train members to do the work of ministry.
4. That a hunger for studying the gospel would form among members so that they can guide and guard one another in it.
5. That transparent, meaningful relationships would become normal and remaining anonymous strange.
6. The preaching of God’s Word—that it would be biblically careful and Holy Spirit imbued.
7. That elders would remain above reproach, kept from temptation, complacency, idols, and worldliness.
8. That the church’s songs would teach members to biblically confess, lament, and praise.
9. That the church’s prayers would be infused with biblical ambitions, honesty, and humility.
10. That adult members would work to disciple teenagers and not just leave it to programming.
11. That the church’s primary teachers grow in dedication to God’s Word even when no one’s watching.
12. That it would grow in being distinct from the world in love and holiness, even as it engages outsiders.
13. That members would share the gospel this week—and see more conversions!
14. That members would be prepared for persecution, remembering to love, not curse, their persecutors.
15. That hopes for political change would be outstretched by the hope of heaven.
16. That giving would be faithful, as well as joyful, consistent, and sacrificial.
17. That more members would use their careers to take the gospel to places it’s never been.
18. That members would be good and do good in their workplaces this week.
Can you think of something I didn’t include? Then pray it and share it! This is hardly the “official list” of the 18 most important things to pray. They’re simply what one guy thought of while sitting in his office chair.
The point is for all of us to start praying more intentionally for our churches, and to encourage others to do the same.
J. Leeman
Don Carson’s excellent book on the topic, Praying with Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation gives a great overview of prayer for churches and those in our church.
“effective prayer is the fruit of a relationship with God, not a technique for acquiring blessings.”
“If we harbor bitterness and resentment, praying is little more than wasted time and effort.”
These prayer points for the Youth were in the magazine last week - let's add them to the list above...
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Please pray that the teenagers will continue to bond, that parents will continue to meet up with one another.
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Please pray that the parents will see and understand the significance of what we’re doing with the young people.
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Please pray that all of the above will lead to both young people and parent confessing that Jesus is Lord and following Him all their days.
Ladybird Book of Mearns Free Church
Can you help on a Sunday?
We are looking to grow our team of helpers with our under 5s and P1-P7 groups to ensure those currently in the teams and parents can get into church more regularly. Most of the time it will be supporting a leader to run the sessions e.g. helping children with craft, tidying up, cuddling a baby or giving some 1-1 support for those children who need it. People of any age (14 to 114) can volunteer to help but you will need to have a Free Church PVG or do the application to get one of these - it isn't an onerous task and someone from the safeguarding team will guide you through. Please get in touch with me to find out more.
Pauline
What's On This Week?...
The Cafe Connect starts again this Tuesday
We’re looking forward to welcoming guests and Scott K will bring the Bible Connect message.
Please get in touch with the office if you need more info: office@mearnsfree.org
Lifts can be arranged too.
We meet on Wednesdays at 7.15pm for one hour.
For September we will be meeting at the McDougall's house.
Speak to Scott about being added to the 'Signal' app for getting PULSE messages.
Marking one year
Lynne Paterson emailed news this week about her work and the work of EA in Scotland - you can read more below and view the Scottish page of Evangelical Alliance here.
Lynne writes:
Today marks one year since I stepped into the role of head of the Evangelical Alliance in Scotland. In that time, I've been doing a lot of listening to get a sense of what God is doing in the nation. It's been a joy to meet up with many leaders over coffee, with lots more of those insightful conversations still to come.
We have also hosted leader gatherings in seven areas across Scotland so far - spaces to connect, share, listen and pray together. We have three more coming up this year in Renfrewshire, Aberdeen and Dundee.
Finally, it's been a privilege to have had several opportunities to speak at various churches to share about what I�m hearing, seeing and sensing God doing in this season. Please get in touch if you would like me to speak at your church or event in 2026.
Policy and voice
With Holyrood back in session, we continue engaging in public policy. Last week, Chris Ringland represented our members at the Scottish Government's Faith and Belief Representatives Group annual roundtable, hosted by the minister for equalities, Kaukab Stewart.
Discussions centred around community cohesion, hate crime and countering the negative narrative towards refugees and those seeking asylum. These are complex issues, and we seek to speak into them with hope and truth. The minister emphasised she is in listening mode, and Chris will be responding to her request for contributions. If you have a perspective for Chris to raise, please get in touch by emailing scotland@eauk.org.
Alongside other Christian representatives, Chris requested further discussion on abortion law and also raised the issue of advancing support for people with disabilities.
Public Leader programme 2026
Applications are open for the Public Leader programme - a one-year journey for emerging leaders following Jesus in every sphere of life. Please consider who you might encourage to apply.
NEW PARTNERSHIP and OPPORTUNITY
We are partnering with Govan Free Church which will be a blessing to both congregations.
As part of the relationship there is an opportunity for one or two of volunteers to help out with their weekly foodbank.
This runs from 12:30-13:30 each Thursday and if you are interested it would be helpful if you could pick up some of the food each week before going along to help out. As well as helping distribute the food there is an opportunity to have a coffee and chat with those who come to the foodbank.
David MacPherson, the minister gives a Word each week along with prayer.
Please email Jack (jgeddes0802@gmail) if you are interested in getting involved.
Details of the Food Bank can be found on their webpage
here
This Sunday is a Joint Evening Service
This is the second in the series and will be looking at the Church in Smyrna.
Revelation ch2:8-11
These
Tea Break suggestions are designed to flag up helpful or interesting Christian content which you can make part of your week.
You might find reading a Christian book is something you struggle to do, but listening or watching something is easier...below is another Tim Keller talk - about being 'shaken' when our idols are challenged or fall.
Last week's Tea Break pointed towards a Tim Keller talk from Hebrews ch11 and what Faith is - how it makes sense, and there can be a sure footing for those who believe in the unseen world - we are not just 'matter' in a universe which is here by chance.
Do you have a space in your day for some really helpful thoughts on what Faith really is.
You can listen to it
HERE .
This week's Tea Break follows last week's with a talk about not being 'shaken' - 40 min talk...maybe do in sections? Listen
here - It's very accessible and helps us understand where we get our identity from. Great for young people to listen to as they navigate their way through Uni or as they enter the working world, or for adults who have so many things which can easily become our hope and ultimate place we go to for happiness or satisfaction.
'What happens when an idol is taken away' - is your life 'shaken'? Unlike Paul in Athens we won't see things like stone images of Zeus or Aphrodite... maybe idols of salary, and our standing with the boss...are we being 'shaken' when someone more capable than us is added to our team at work...or idols of getting 'A's in exams , or living in the right postcode, or our trophy children/spouse?! A really interesting talk about what we love or hold on to the most.
"Hebrews was written to people who have been shaken by life. Difficulties and sufferings have shaken them to the core.
The writer is trying to help them find ways to face the brutal realities of life, to stand solid when everything around them is falling apart.
The writer pulls together all of the threads and says, “In an unstable world, here is how you can live an unshakeable life.
This passage depicts 1) the shakable life, 2) the unshakeable life, and 3) how to receive that unshakeable life."
Hebrews 12:18-29.
ETS 2025 Annual Conference
Saturday 27th September
St Columba's Free Church, Edinburgh
The Great Commission: Ordinary Means, Extraordinary Ends
Just before the ascension, Christ told his disciples: 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age' (Matt 28:18-20).
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What do these 'marching orders' mean?
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How does the church relate to common social concerns—and how do individual Christians?
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How, in fact, are disciples made?
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What significance does this have for church planting and revitalization today?
Join us as we take up these questions as part of our theme on the Great Commission, the mission of the church, and the ministry of the gospel. Speakers include Michael Brown (Milan, Italy), Fikret Böcek (Izmir, Turkey), and ETS Faculty with Q&A discussion. The event is open to the public. Please spread the word! Register online
HERE in advance:
Follow us on Free Church social media
Do encourage your congregations to sign up to the Free Church of Scotland’s social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube) to receive latest updates and hear what’s happening in Free Church congregations. Regular news and a wide range of information is also available on the Free Church of Scotland website freechurch.org.
Mearns Free Church also has a What's App Group for Prayer
The "PRAY NOW" Group
Purpose: A platform to share information regarding a sudden and crucial need for prayer.
How to connect: Speak or email Margaret (mandmboyd@hotmail.co.uk) if you would like to be added to this WhatsApp group.
LARGE PRINT - SONG WORDS
If you find viewing the song-words on the screen in Sunday worship a problem, we currently print a limited number of large-print song sheets for specific people.
We don't want to print unnecessary copies so please speak with the door team and we will begin to make these available for you each week.
Emailing The Minister
Please be careful when emailing Scott that you are using the correct current email address minister@mearnsfree.org. A number of emails continue to be sent to accounts no longer in use. Please be doubly careful when sending from a device that is not your normal communication device (like a phone) or if you use “reply to all”.
Email Addresses For Mearns Free Church
Please make sure you change your email address list now we are part of the Free Church.
Tom Brown (Office): office@mearnsfree.org
Scott Kirkland (Minister): minister@mearnsfree.org
Scott Hamilton (Associate Minister): associate@mearnsfree.org
Sandy McDougall (Treasurer): finance@mearnsfree.org
Pauline Forster (Children and families worker): children@mearnsfree.org