Blantyre Baptist Church

Blantyre Baptist Church 1st Service 7am
2nd Service 8:30am
3rd Service 10:30am

Where everybody is somebody and Jesus Christ is Lord (ROMANS 12:5)
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YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE ASKINGMark 10:38-39But Jesus said to them, You do not know what you are asking. Are you able ...
27/08/2026

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE ASKING

Mark 10:38-39
But Jesus said to them, You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? And they replied to Him, We are able. And Jesus told them, The cup that I drink you will drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized,

In response to James and John, the sons of Zebedee of being granted seats at the right hand and the left hand of Jesus, He told them that they did not know what they were asking. They did not know the cup of affliction that Jesus would drink. They had no clue as to what kind of baptism this was. It would be a baptism or immersion of suffering Jesus would be subjected to. Although he had just told them, it is obvious they dismissed it and it did not sink yet.

While salvation is by grace, true following of Jesus is costly. There is a price to be paid. It is a high price too. This price is not what earns us a place in heaven. All who truly believe in Jesus, are born again, and they are children of God. They have entered the kingdom of God. The Father who is the righteous judge will reward each one in accordance to what they invested in the kingdom and the sacrifices that go with it (v40).

It is one thing to make the team. But to win the trophy is another matter, altogether. It is one thing to be included in the Scothers squad. The experience of reaching the finals and becoming the runners up is a gruelling experience. There were injuries, humiliation and tears. Put simply, there is suffering before the glorification.

PROMINENCE AND POWERMark 10:35-37And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Him and said to Him, Teacher, we de...
25/08/2026

PROMINENCE AND POWER

Mark 10:35-37
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached Him and said to Him, Teacher, we desire You to do for us whatever we ask of You. And He replied to them, What do you desire Me to do for you? And they said to Him, Grant that we may sit, one at Your right hand and one at [Your] left hand, in Your glory.

It is incredible that Jesus receives this request after he has just spoken about his impending, betrayal, humiliating and horrible death. There is nothing like questioning to understand why this must happen and a reaction of shock and sadness about this whole issue. Instead what we have is jossling for positioning. And positioning implies authority and power.

This is typical human nature and desires. Feelings of entitlement, prominence and calling the shots. The desire for power is not from God. It is a selfish and egotistical. It is not about serving others but it is about self- serving. It is about seeking glory. It runs contrary to the spirit of sacrifice.

Lord help us overcome the spirit of selfishness and lust for power.

23/08/2026

BBC 10:30AM SERVICE

23/08/2026

BBC CHICHEWA SERVICE

23/08/2026

BBC 7:00AM SERVICE

BETRAYAL, DEATH, RESURRECTION PREDICTED.Mark 10:33-34Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be tu...
22/08/2026

BETRAYAL, DEATH, RESURRECTION PREDICTED.

Mark 10:33-34
Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be turned over to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn and sentence Him to death and turn Him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock Him and spit on Him, and whip Him and put Him to death; but after three days He will rise again.

Jesus informed his disciples about his impending death. The sequence of events was clear: Betrayal , condemnation and a death sentence by the chief priest and the scribes. He would then be turned over to the Roman authorities who would facilitate his being put to death through crucifixion after being abused like a criminal. He was going going to be buried and in three days he would rise from the dead.

The whole experience would not be an accident. Jesus as God knew what was going to happen to him and wanted to prepare his disciples for the experience. Jesus would voluntarily subject himself to this in order to be the atonement for humanity's sin.

THE SHIFTMark 10:31But many [who are now] first will be last [then], and many [who are now] last will be first [then].Th...
20/08/2026

THE SHIFT

Mark 10:31
But many [who are now] first will be last [then], and many [who are now] last will be first [then].

The context for this verse is about those who were following Jesus. History bears witness to the shift that has taken place over time. Nations and continents that were once hotbeds of Christianity have changed. It alighns up to what Jesus said.

The first recipients of the gospel were Jewish people. Some embraced Him but many rejected Him preferring to stick to Judaism. The Gentiles make up the vast majority of believers today while Christianity is a minority religion.

Although some parts of Europe like Greece, Italy, Turkey, Macedonia, had churches that were strong during the life of Paul, the development of the gospel and theological studies shifted to were dominant in North Africa with countries like Egypt, Libya Algeria and Tunisia before they were conquered by Muslim forces. The great theologians in the first and second century were from North Africa. Later Europe became the seat of the gospel proclamation, theology and sent many missionaries to different parts of the world including central and southern parts of Africa in the 17th century. Today Christianity is struggling in Europe as forces of secularism abound.

North America became a seat of Christianity in the 17th to 20th century and it sent more missionaries than any other country to South America, Africa, and to the East. Secularism and materialism continually threatens Christianity in North America.

Christianity is now growing more in the Southern Hemisphere compared to the Nothern Hemisphere at the moment. Nigeria and South Korea are sending a lot of missionaries to different parts of the world.

We do not know if the Lord tarries what

TRADE-OFFSMark 10:28-30Then Peter spoke up, "Look we have left everything and followed you." “Yes,” Jesus said to them,...
18/08/2026

TRADE-OFFS

Mark 10:28-30
Then Peter spoke up, "Look we have left everything and followed you." “Yes,” Jesus said to them, “and I tell you that anyone who leaves home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and for the gospel, will receive much more in this present age. He will receive a hundred times more houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields — and persecutions as well; and in the age to come he will receive eternal life.

It is possible that just as the rich person who wanted to follow Jesus but failed on account of the proposition of giving up all his wealth, Peter was wondering about himself and the other disciples that they had also left everything (financially productive pursuits). What was there to be gained for this apparent loss? Jesus assured them that there was a lot materially to be gained in this life and relationship networks (through the body of Christ) in this life.

But these things (gains) are not without persecutions. Followers of Christ must be ready to face opposition and real attacks from Satan and all his agents. As for the afterlife, there is eternal life. Every follower of Jesus will be more than adequately rewarded. None who sacrifices for Jesus will fail to be enriched abundantly.

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Near Independence Arch, PO Box 1283
Blantyre
00000

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