Stonehaven Baptist Church

Stonehaven Baptist Church Meets Sundays 11:00am for worship at The Old Courthouse, Dunnottar Avenue, Stonehaven. We also have various zoom meetings during the month.

Stonehaven Baptist Church [Scottish Charity Number SCO55324] is a Bible-believing church that endeavours to glorify God by loving God above all else and by caring for people life-on-life.

07/09/2026

Baptist Buzz 6.9.26

Our speaker today was Ian Sanders- the Port Chaplain. He told us of some of his experiences since he saw us last then continued to talk about today’s passage in Mark 9:14-29.

He said that crowds are nothing new. We can think of the crowds that turned out to celebrate Aberdeen’s cup victory, but in our passage this morning there was another crowd gathered around Jesus. They were arguing with the religious leaders, and the disciples had apparently been unable to help a troubled boy. There was plenty of noise and confusion, but everything changed when Jesus arrived.

A desperate father had brought his son to Jesus. The boy had been tormented by an evil spirit from childhood, and the description is distressing. It reminds us that Satan’s desire is to spoil and destroy what God has made in his image. Yet Satan is fighting a losing battle. He knows that he is defeated, but he will still do everything he can to disturb our peace, discourage us and turn us away from Christ. As Peter reminds us, we are to be sober and vigilant because our adversary the devil is constantly looking for someone to devour.
The disciples had tried to help the boy but had failed. Jesus expressed his frustration: “O faithless generation… how long shall I bear with you?” The father, however, came to Jesus in desperation. “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” There was hope in those words, but also doubt.

Jesus challenged him: “If you believe, all things are possible.” The father’s response is one that many of us can identify with: “I believe; help my unbelief!” What an honest prayer. He believed, but he knew that his faith was far from perfect.

And perhaps that is an encouragement to us. We sometimes imagine that our faith must be strong and unwavering before God can work. But even a tiny amount of faith is enough when its object is Jesus. We can come to him honestly, admitting our doubts and weaknesses and asking him to help our unbelief.

The father had prayed for his son’s healing, but we were reminded that God does not always answer prayer in the way we expect. Healing may come in this life, but sometimes God’s answer is to take his child home to be with him. That does not mean the prayer has failed. God remains faithful, even when his answer is different from the one we wanted.

Jesus then commanded the evil spirit to leave the boy, and the child was restored. Satan’s spoiling work was reversed. The boy was restored and the father’s faith was strengthened. The demons recognised Christ’s authority and had to obey him.

But the disciples were left wondering why they had failed. Jesus’ answer was simple: “This kind can only come out by prayer.” They had forgotten the most important thing. They had been attempting the work without depending upon God.

Jesus himself repeatedly withdrew to pray. If the Son of God needed time alone with his Father, how much more do we? C. H. Spurgeon described the prayer meeting as the “boiler house” of the church—the unseen place where power is generated. It may often be the least attended meeting, yet it is one of the most necessary.

The message is really very simple: we cannot depend upon ourselves. We need Christ, and we need prayer. Whatever our circumstances, whatever our doubts or difficulties, we have the privilege of bringing everything to God. As the old hymn reminds us, what a privilege it is to carry everything to God in prayer.- G

Craft Group. Our first meet after the summer break and it seemed good to make these lovely sunflower cards ( sorry they ...
31/08/2026

Craft Group. Our first meet after the summer break and it seemed good to make these lovely sunflower cards ( sorry they are sideways on!) Thank you Donna yet again for bearing with us as we stitched them.

30/08/2026

Baptist Buzz 30.8.26

Our preacher today was Dick Taylor who continued our series in Marks Gospel. He explained that Ch. 9 really follows on from what Jesus had been teaching in chapter 8. He had been telling the disciples that he would suffer, be rejected, be killed and then rise again. Peter had already declared that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the living God, but he simply could not accept that the Messiah would suffer and die. In Peter’s mind, the Messiah was coming to conquer and rule. Death, and especially death on a cross, looked like complete defeat.
It was against this background that Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain. What happened there was extraordinary. Jesus was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, and his whole appearance revealed something of his heavenly glory. This wasn’t simply a light shining onto Jesus; it was an outward revelation of who he really was.

The disciples had already worked out who Jesus was from what he said and did, but now they were given the privilege of actually seeing something of his glory. Mark struggles, understandably, to describe a heavenly reality using earthly words. It leaves us wanting to know more, but perhaps earthly language simply cannot capture what the disciples witnessed.

Then Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus. Luke tells us that they were talking about his “departure” – his coming death and resurrection. This is significant. Moses and Elijah represented the Law and the Prophets, and here they were effectively confirming that Jesus’ suffering and death were not a failure or an unexpected turn of events. They were part of God’s plan.

Peter, as usual, felt he had to say something! “It is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters.” He seemed to want to preserve the moment and keep Jesus, Moses and Elijah there. But then a cloud appeared and a voice came from heaven: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” That is the really important message. Peter’s idea was not God’s plan. Moses and Elijah disappeared, and when the disciples looked around, there was no one with them except Jesus.

As they came down the mountain, Jesus told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until he had risen from the dead. Why wait? Because they still didn’t understand the significance of the cross. They knew Jesus was the Messiah, but their message would have been incomplete without his death and resurrection. They needed to understand that his death was not defeat; it was the means by which salvation from sin would come.
Perhaps the Transfiguration was given to these three disciples at precisely this point because Jesus knew they were going to need it. The road ahead would be difficult, but they had now seen his glory with their own eyes. They had been reassured about who Jesus really was.
And yet, they were still trying to work out the details. They questioned Jesus about Elijah and the timing of the prophecies. They were concentrating on how everything fitted together, while missing what Jesus had plainly told them about his suffering.

And perhaps that is where we can learn from them. We have much more of the picture than they did, and yet we can still try to fit God into our own plans. The first step is to listen. But listening also means responding – accepting what Jesus says and trusting him when life doesn’t go according to our plans. The voice from heaven still speaks to us: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Above everyone else, above everything else, see the majesty and glory of Jesus – and listen to him. -G

23/08/2026

Baptist Buzz 23.8.26

Our speaker today was Charlie Webster from Broughty Ferry who spoke on Philippians Ch. 4 which reminds us that our salvation is a gracious gift from God in Christ. It is a treasure freely given to us, but it isn’t something to be wrapped up and put away in a drawer like a precious ornament. No! It is an instrument to be used — and used fully — in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are therefore told to “work out” our salvation with fear and trembling. Notice that it says work out, not work for, our salvation. We already have salvation as God’s gift. We are to put it to work, seriously and energetically, trusting in the Lord who provides both the motivation and the means.

Before looking at Philippians 4, we need to remember three great truths from chapter 3:
Christ is our righteousness. When we trust Jesus as Saviour, we stand before God clothed in Christ’s righteousness Christ has risen. His resurrection guarantees our future resurrection, but resurrection power also gives us new life, energy and strength now. Christ is returning. The Lord Jesus is coming again. As we say at Communion, we proclaim His death “till He comes!” With these three truths in mind, Paul applies them to three areas of Christian living: commitment within the congregation, contemplation within our minds, and contentment in all circumstances.

First, commitment within the congregation. We are rooted together in Christ, committed to Jesus, to one another, and to rejoicing in the Lord. Paul deals with Euodia and Syntyche, two women who had fallen out. Paul doesn’t take sides. Instead, they are urged to put things right because Christ is their righteousness. God has accepted them in Christ, and therefore they must work at accepting and being reconciled to one another. We are not to keep going back over the old records — “You did this to me!” “You said that about me!” — No! Love “keeps no record of wrongs.” If God remembers our sins no more, how dare we keep an inventory of each other’s failures? And Christ has risen. Resurrection power is available through the Holy Spirit to enable us to live obediently. Finally, Christ is returning. As James says, “Stop grumbling against each other — the Judge is at the door!” Get right with one another before He walks through.

Second, contemplation within our minds. Paul tells us to “think on these things.” What we feed our minds upon matters. Everything that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy finds its ultimate fulfilment in Christ. Paul could say, “What you have learned and received and heard from me — practise these things.” He lived what he preached. Like an ambassador, he represented his King, conveyed his King’s message and lived in a way that commended his King. That is our calling too. What do we feed our minds on? What about our television programmes, books and magazines? Do we measure them by Christ’s standards, or settle for something inferior?

Finally, contentment in all circumstances. Paul had learned to be content whether circumstances were good or bad. Worldly contentment says, “If only I could get this, obtain that, win the next thing, then I’d be happy.” But contentment isn’t found through getting. For Paul, it was found through giving. He gave his life in the service of Christ and discovered that God would supply every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Again, the three truths apply. Christ is our righteousness — nothing can take Him from us. Christ has risen — therefore we have the sure hope of resurrection and the riches of heaven. The things of this world are useful and enjoyable, but they must never become our treasure. And Christ is returning — coming as Saviour and Lord, and as Judge.

So the ending of Philippians is far more than an apostolic “love and kisses.” It is a confident affirmation of the saving, keeping, preserving and glorifying grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our salvation, from beginning to end, from eternity past to eternity future, is entirely through the undeserved and unmerited favour of God in Christ. To Him be all the glory, on earth and in heaven! Amen.- G

16/08/2026

Baptist Buzz 16.8.26

Our preacher today was Matthew Spandler-Davison, one of our ‘old boys’ and now a pastor in Kentucky. His title was ‘Seeing Jesus Clearly and Following Him Fully’

There are moments that change everything. Moments when what came before suddenly makes sense and everything that follows takes on a new direction. Mark 8:22–9:1 is one of those moments in the Gospel of Mark. Everything before this passage has been pressing toward one great question: Who is Jesus? Everything after it begins answering another: Why did He come?

Mark brings those questions together through two remarkable scenes. First, Jesus gives sight to a blind man. Then, having revealed who He is, Jesus tells His disciples what it means to follow Him.

The disciples had seen almost everything. They had watched Jesus heal lepers, cast out demons, raise the dead, calm storms and feed thousands. They had been eyewitnesses of glory. Yet they still didn’t understand. Jesus confronts them: “Having eyes do you not see?” That is the human condition. It is possible to be near Jesus, hear about Jesus, even observe what Jesus is doing—and still not truly see Him.

Then Mark introduces us to a blind man. People bring him to Jesus, and Jesus takes him by the hand. The image is beautiful: the Son of God gently leading a man who cannot see where he is going. The man cannot fix his own condition. He cannot make himself see. Jesus must do it for him. We do not reason our way out of spiritual blindness. We do not make ourselves worthy of God. The holy God moves toward us. Jesus takes us by the hand and opens our eyes.

Interestingly, He heals this man in two stages. At first the man can see, but everything is blurry. Jesus touches him again, and then he sees clearly. Why? Because the miracle is also a picture of the disciples. They can see Jesus—but not clearly. That becomes obvious when Jesus asks them the most important question any human being will ever answer: “Who do you say that I am?”

Peter answers, “You are the Christ.” He sees! But not completely. Peter understands who Jesus is, but he doesn’t understand what Jesus has come to do. Jesus tells them plainly that He must suffer, be rejected, be killed and rise again. Peter immediately objects. He wants a Messiah—but not a suffering Messiah. He wants the crown without the cross. Jesus then explains that the cross is not only central to His mission. It will shape the lives of everyone who follows Him. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

This is what it means to be saved. We sometimes create two categories of Christianity. There are ordinary Christians who believe in Jesus, and then there are the “radical” Christians who sacrifice everything for Him. Jesus recognizes no such distinction. To follow Jesus is to deny yourself. It means stepping down from the throne of your own life and putting Christ there. It means accepting that obedience may cost you comfort, reputation, relationships, opportunities, money—and sometimes much more. And to follow Jesus is exactly that: to follow Him.

Christianity is not ultimately about what you give up. It is about who you gain. Jesus then gives us one of Christianity’s great paradoxes: “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” The way to life is through death. The way to gain is through surrender. The way to the crown is through the cross. And Jesus does not call us anywhere He has not already gone.

The One who calls us to deny ourselves denied Himself first. The One who tells us to take up our cross carried His cross first. The One who calls us to follow has already walked the road ahead of us.

He suffered. He was rejected. He died. And He rose again. Mark 8 leaves us with two questions. Have you seen Jesus clearly? And if you have: Are you following Him fully? Because true sight always leads to surrender. Christianity is more than knowing who Jesus is. It is seeing Jesus for who He truly is and responding to Him rightly.
Jesus opens our eyes. Then He says: Follow me. Will you follow him? -G

10/08/2026

Baptist Buzz 9.8.26

Our preacher today was Rev Dr Alistair Cuthbert who took us through the firs part of Mark Ch. 8, beginning with the question; how many of you like action movies? He certainly did! His favourites were the Jason Bourne and and Equalizer trilogies – plenty of action, plenty of excitement, and not much time for hanging about.

That is rather a good way of describing Mark’s Gospel. It is the “action Gospel”, using the Greek word euthus, meaning “immediately” or “straight away”, again and again. We are moved rapidly from one scene to the next. This also fits rather well with the traditional understanding that Mark had recorded Peter’s account. Peter had been a man of action himself – often acting first and thinking afterwards!

The passage was headed “The Bread of Life”, and bread appeared in three different ways. There was literal bread, as Jesus fed the four thousand; metaphorical bread, represented by the “yeast” of the Pharisees and their false understanding of Jesus; and, finally, the spiritual meaning of bread – Jesus himself as the Bread of Life.

First came the feeding of the four thousand. This happened in a largely Gentile area, and the disciples had already witnessed Jesus feeding five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. Yet, when faced with another hungry crowd, they asked where they could possibly find enough food. It was almost as though they had suffered a temporary memory loss! Perhaps the circumstances had seemed more urgent, but whatever the reason, they had forgotten what Jesus had already done.

That raised a question for us: do we sometimes forget the times when God had answered our prayers or worked in remarkable ways, and then struggle to believe that he could do it again?

The feeding of the four thousand also pointed beyond the bread itself. Jesus had met the physical needs of the people, but the miracle was also helping the disciples to understand who he was. The miracles and healings in Mark had been showing them what the real Messiah was like – although it was certainly not the kind of Messiah anyone expected.
Then came the Pharisees, demanding a sign from Jesus. They wanted proof that he was the Messiah, but they were really looking for a Messiah who fitted their own ideas. Jesus warned his disciples about their “yeast” – a picture of teaching that could spread and influence everything. The question for us is whether our own lives and words had sometimes presented a version of Jesus shaped by our own ideas rather than by who he really is.
Finally, the disciples got into a boat with only one loaf of bread. Jesus warned them about the yeast of the Pharisees, and they immediately assumed he was talking about their lack of bread! Jesus was understandably frustrated. After everything they had seen – including two miraculous feedings – they still did not understand.

Yet perhaps we could sympathise with them. We too may have followed Jesus for years and still have much to learn about him.

The great message of the passage was that Jesus is the Bread of Life. He is the one who truly satisfies our deepest hunger. Even when our understanding of him had been incomplete or sometimes mistaken, he remained our spiritual nourishment. The more we came to know him, the less hungry we became – because in Christ we have all we really need.-Gill

02/08/2026

Baptist Buzz 2.8.26.

In these closing verses of Mark 7, we're introduced to a miracle that only Mark records. Jesus has travelled back into the Gentile region of the Decapolis, where some unnamed friends bring him a man who is deaf and has a serious speech impediment. They don't make a long speech or offer clever arguments. They simply bring their friend to Jesus and plead with him to help.

Isn't that a wonderful picture of what Christians are called to do? We may never stand behind a pulpit or become well known, but we can all bring people to Jesus in prayer. These friends remain anonymous. We never learn their names, but God knows who they are. That's a comforting reminder that much of God's work is carried out by ordinary people whose faithfulness is seen by heaven, even if unnoticed on earth.
Jesus' response is striking. Rather than making a public display of the man, He gently takes him away from the crowd. Everything Jesus does reflects tenderness and compassion. He enters into the man's silent world. Since the man cannot hear, Jesus communicates through actions rather than words. He touches the man's ears and tongue, showing exactly what He intends to heal.

Then comes one of the most moving details in the whole account. Jesus looks up to heaven and gives a deep sigh before speaking the single command, "Ephphatha!"—"Be opened!"
Why the sigh? Surely because Jesus sees, once again, the heartbreaking effects of sin in this fallen world. Deafness, disease, suffering and sorrow were never part of God's perfect creation. Standing before this man, Jesus feels the weight of humanity's brokenness. His compassion is genuine. He is never detached from our pain.

Immediately the miracle takes place. The man's ears are opened, his tongue is loosened, and for the first time in who knows how long, he speaks clearly. There is no delay, no gradual improvement. Christ speaks, and everything changes.

The crowd can hardly contain themselves. Although Jesus tells them not to spread the news, they cannot stop talking about what they have witnessed. Their verdict is beautifully simple: "He has done everything well." Those words take us right back to Genesis, where God looked at His creation and declared it "very good." Here is the Creator Himself restoring what sin has damaged.

Yet, as wonderful as this physical healing is, it points to something even greater. Throughout the Bible, deafness and blindness are often pictures of our natural spiritual condition. Left to ourselves, we are deaf to God's voice and unable to speak his praise. We may hear sermons and read the Bible, yet remain spiritually unmoved.

That is why every genuine conversion is a miracle. Just as this man's ears had to be opened by Christ, so our hearts must be opened by him. Only then can we truly hear the gospel, believe it, and gladly confess Jesus as Lord.

There is also a gentle challenge for us. Jesus met this man where he was, communicating in a way he could understand. We should ask ourselves whether we are learning to speak about Christ in ways our friends and neighbours can understand, without changing the message but making it clear and accessible.

Finally, this passage encourages us to be content with quiet faithfulness. The heroes of the story are simply "some people" who cared enough to bring a needy friend to Jesus. Their names are forgotten on earth but remembered in heaven. May we be willing to serve in the same humble way, trusting that whenever we bring people to Christ, He is still able to do what only He can do—to open deaf ears, soften hard hearts, and transform lives for His glory.
-G

26/07/2026

Baptist Buzz 26.7.26

In this second sermon on Psalm 139, Alistair Begg focused on two concluding sections of the psalm: verses 13–18, which celebrate God as Creator, and verses 19–24, which reveal God as righteous Judge. His central message was that a biblical understanding of humanity begins with God: God made us, knows us, sustains us, and searches our hearts.

He contrasted the Christian worldview with secular perspectives that see human existence as accidental or purposeless. While some thinkers admit they cannot explain why we exist, Scripture declares that every person is intentionally created by God. David’s words, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made,” affirm that human life is neither random nor meaningless but the result of God’s deliberate design.

Alistair stressed that Christians should interpret the world through Scripture rather than allowing current culture or news to shape their understanding of God. Science and faith are not enemies; rather, scientific discoveries reveal the orderly processes through which God governs creation. Biological development, genetics, and natural laws do not replace God’s activity but demonstrate the means by which He accomplishes His purposes. Every human life, from conception onward, reflects God's creative work and unique purpose.

Because God creates each individual intentionally, every person possesses inherent dignity and value. Our appearance, abilities, and circumstances are not accidents but part of God's wise design. Alistair encouraged gratitude for life itself, urging believers to begin each day thanking God for creating them. David’s praise flows naturally from recognising God’s craftsmanship, and his confidence extends even beyond death, hinting at the hope of resurrection: believers fall asleep in death only to awaken in God's presence.

The sermon then turned to the difficult final section of Psalm 139, where David calls upon God to judge the wicked. Rather than seeing these verses as inconsistent with God's love, Alistair argued that they express a longing for God's justice. David is not taking vengeance himself but praying that God would deal righteously with evil. This distinction is crucial: the psalm is a prayer, not a command for believers to execute judgment.

We are cautioned against ignoring difficult biblical passages simply because they challenge modern sensibilities. Scripture consistently teaches both God's love and His justice. Christians rightly long for a world free from sin, suffering, and evil, but such a world can only exist if evil itself is finally judged. David’s hatred is directed not by personal revenge but by zeal for God's honour and His righteous purposes.

At the same time, we are also warned against self-righteousness. Modern believers often struggle to see the seriousness of sin because they have become desensitised by culture. Before condemning evil in the world, Christians must honestly examine their own hearts. David ends the psalm not by congratulating himself but by praying, "Search me, O God, and know my heart." He recognises that the seeds of sin exist within every human heart and asks God to reveal, forgive, and correct whatever is displeasing to Him.

The sermon ended by emphasising humility and dependence upon God's grace. True faith acknowledges both God's holiness and human sinfulness while trusting in the salvation found through Jesus Christ. The appropriate response to Psalm 139 is therefore one of worship, gratitude, repentance, and a continual prayer that God would cleanse, guide, and keep His people on the path of everlasting life.-G

19/07/2026

Baptist Buzz 19.7.26

Our sermon by Alistair Begg explored the opening twelve verses of Psalm 139, focusing on two central truths: God knows us completely and God is always with us. It began by reflecting on humanity's timeless search for identity and purpose. Questions such as "Who am I?", "Why do I matter?", "Where do we come from?", and "Where are we going?" have been asked throughout history. While philosophers and artists have wrestled with these questions, Psalm 139 provides clear and comforting answers by directing us to the character of God.
The first section, verses 1–6, emphasised God's perfect knowledge of every individual. David declared that God has "searched" and "known" him. Unlike human knowledge, which is limited and often incomplete, God's knowledge is comprehensive. He knows every action, every thought, every word before it is spoken, and every place we go. Nothing in our lives is hidden from Him.

Rather than presenting this as a frightening truth, the sermon highlighted it as a source of reassurance. God knows us better than we know ourselves. We may deceive others or even deceive ourselves, but God sees our true hearts with complete clarity. This perfect knowledge means He understands our fears, failures, hopes, and deepest needs. His awareness is not detached or critical but personal and loving. David's description of God "hemming" him in behind and before is interpreted not as confinement but as divine protection. God's hand surrounds His people, guarding and caring for them in every circumstance.

David concluded this section by admitting that such knowledge is beyond human understanding. God's omniscience is too wonderful and too vast for us to fully comprehend.
The second section, verses 7–12, shifts from God's knowledge to His presence. David asks, "Where can I go from your Spirit?" This is not a desperate attempt to escape God but a joyful recognition that escape is impossible because God's presence extends everywhere. Whether in heaven, in the depths, at the farthest reaches of the earth, or in the darkest places, God is already there.

Throughout Scripture, people such as Adam, Eve, and Jonah attempted to hide from God, yet none succeeded. Their stories demonstrate that no one can outrun God's presence or His purposes. For believers, this is deeply comforting. God's presence means He continually leads, protects, and sustains His people. Even in life's darkest moments, His hand remains upon them.

The sermon also stresses that darkness cannot hide us from God. While people may conceal themselves from one another, nothing is hidden from the Lord. His sovereignty extends over every place and every moment of our lives. Therefore, Christians need not fear being abandoned or forgotten. God's faithful presence guarantees that He will guide His people safely through every stage of life until they are finally with Him.

In concluding, the preacher contrasted the biblical worldview with many modern beliefs that deny God, reject absolute morality, and question objective truth. Psalm 139 offers a radically different foundation by reminding believers that they are created, known, loved, and continually accompanied by God. Through Jesus Christ, the separation caused by sin has been overcome, allowing believers to enjoy a personal relationship with the God who knows them completely and never leaves them.

The sermon ends by encouraging Christians to face each day with confidence, resting in two unchanging truths: God knows me, and God is with me. -G

13/07/2026

Baptist Buzz 12.7.26
Our speaker today was Andrew Young from Fraserburgh who spoke on Mark 7:24–30 where we come across a passage that can leave us scratching our heads. Jesus, who is known for His compassion and kindness, seems to call a desperate woman a "dog." At first glance, it sounds harsh, especially since "dog" was a common Jewish insult for Gentiles. So what is really happening here?

The story begins with a woman whose daughter is tormented by an evil spirit. She has heard that Jesus is nearby and comes to Him in desperation. There are plenty of reasons why she might have given up before she even started. She is a Gentile approaching a Jewish teacher. She is a woman in a male-dominated society. Her family is under attack from demonic forces, and even the disciples want her sent away so they can enjoy some peace and quiet. To make matters worse, Jesus initially says nothing at all.

Many of us know what it feels like when God seems silent. We pray, we wait, and nothing appears to happen. Yet this passage reminds us that silence does not mean indifference. God is still at work, even when we cannot see it. The woman's response is a wonderful example for us. Instead of looking inward at her fears or outward at her circumstances, she looks to Jesus. Her persistence shows real faith.

The passage also reminds us that spiritual evil is real. The Bible doesn't ignore the reality of Satan and his influence, but it also makes it clear that Jesus is completely in control. Rather than living in fear, Christians are called to rely on God through prayer, His Word, righteous living, and the support of fellow believers.

Then comes Jesus' surprising reply about feeding the children before giving food to the dogs. The "children" represent Israel, God's chosen people, while the "dogs" represent the Gentiles. Jesus isn't expressing prejudice. Instead, He is testing the woman's faith and revealing something much bigger. His mission begins with Israel, but it will not end there. The blessing of God's kingdom is about to overflow to the nations.

The woman's reply is remarkable. She doesn't argue or demand her rights. She humbly accepts the picture Jesus paints but gently points out that even the dogs under the family table receive the crumbs that fall from it. She isn't asking for special treatment. She simply asks for mercy, trusting that even the smallest expression of Jesus' power is enough.
Jesus is delighted by her response. He commends her faith and tells her to go home because her daughter has been healed. Without even visiting the house, Jesus defeats the evil spirit. When she arrives home, she finds her daughter safe and well.

This beautiful encounter shows that God's grace is not limited by nationality, background, or status. The Gospel was never meant for one people alone but for everyone who comes to Jesus in humble faith. Like this woman, we are invited to bring our deepest needs to Him, trusting His power, His compassion, and His perfect timing. Even when the road is difficult or God seems silent, we can keep coming to Him in confident, persistent faith.-G

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The Old Courthouse, Dunnottar Avenue
Stonehaven
AB392

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Monday 2pm - 4pm
Thursday 7:30pm - 9pm
Sunday 9:30am - 1pm

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