Not just idle words

IFES Athens small groups have been studying passages from Mark since late October. I've loved being involved. No matter how many times I take part in a Mark series (and there have been plenty since Beeston Free and UCCF's Identity a decade ago) I've not even gotten close to being bored, not even gotten close to being able to say 'got that one ticked off'. Such a privilege to be given time and opportunity to mine the inexhaustible depths of the the very words of God.

There's another 65 books to mine, however, and we're about to start a series in Malachi with the students in Athens. It won't be the first time here either - thanks to Nottingham CU in 2001 and the students here in 2008. Just begun preparation this morning and it's like seeing an old friend for the first time in a while, and remembering just how good that friendship is for your heart. Just the first five verses are packed with rebuke, encouragement, hard truth, humbling truth, light and life.

It's not rocket science is it.

They are not just idle words for you – they are your life. (Moses, circa 1400BC)