Church, Leadership, Personal Reflection, Spiritual Thoughts

Building a monument

March 3, 2026 Mark Edwards Leave a comment

I was watching a show on a streaming service the other day and it was a random series I can’t even remember the name. One of those mindless series which you probably shouldn’t watch as your mind disengages from anything important. However in the middle of what would be the last episode, a key character, a wealthy real estate mogul was being confronted by someone. The mogul was about to lose his main property, a large impressive skyscraper, the largest in the smallish city. It was in his own words his ‘monument’ of life achievement and it was about to be foreclosed. The grief and loss he was about to face made him a mixture of angry, sad and melancholic.

God spoke to me so clearly in that moment. I was jolted from my relaxed state. I had been stressing about some people moving on from Kew. We are in the midst of a growth cycle, the like of which I’ve rarely experienced. So much so that we are rapidly running out of room in both services. That is great right? God is doing something and I am humbled and grateful. But in the midst of that, someone, for good reason, is moving on. God made it so clear to me, this church is not my monument. It never has been and it never will be. In fact Pastors like myself need to remind their own heart that every pastor is temporary. Even if we get carried out in a pine box, one day we will no longer be leading this church. And like a AFL coach every season, our time might come quicker than we thought.

I must admit I do watch and see the culture in some churches and am glad we do want to grow, and are growing, because God is Ruach, Spirit, moving, growing, empowering. But I also want to make sure that it is not my kingdom we are building. Or my monument. Thats a ridiculous and frankly idolatrous thought. But if I am holding on to either the growth, or the losses, that is slipping into that territory.

Jesus will build His church, and the gates of Hell won’t win.

Lord……thank you so much for the incredible privilege of being your servant as you build your Church.

Personal Reflection

Australians all let us rejoice

January 27, 2026 Mark Edwards 1 Comment

Rejoice is such a biblical word. It looks out of place to me personally when I see it being used in secular contexts. Thats not a value judgement, it is just a word that as Christians we so often use. It means to be at peace, to have joy, despite the circumstances. It is different to being happy. Being happy nearly always means a sense of happiness because of outward circumstances, and most of us realise it is temporary. Being joyful is different. It is a sustained sense of inner peace because of who you are, and who you believe in, perhaps even a sense of being able to look beyond the present circumstances.

For many of our Indigenous brothers and sisters it is hard to sing this song and believe it. For many the day we choose to celebrate Australia Day signifies something else for them. That is without dispute whether you think we should celebrate Australia Day on January 26th or not. For many something is not right, and needs to be made right.

For myself I love Australia and love being Australian. But I have visited the indigenous museum in Hobart. I have read ‘One Blood’ which details our mixed response as Christians to First Nations people. Something does not sit right with me about celebrating our nation on a day that for so many of our sisters and brothers brings about a deep sense of pain.

Some would say, if you change the date it wont stop people being upset. That is valid. We cannot control what other people do, we can only control what we do. Maybe changing the date won’t change anything for some. The deep pain and memories wont go away with a date change.

But.

Maybe the day is better as a day of lament. I think even as Churches we don’t do lament well, and we certainly don’t do it well as a nation. Maybe we can leave Australia Day as a day for remembrance and change our celebration to a date where we can all rejoice.

While we may want to be young and free, it is hard to be free when you don’t recognise the past, accept it for what it is, and find a way to rejoice, together. Because our nation is great and is worth celebrating.

I actually don’t think it needs to be that difficult.

(This is not the official view of Kew Baptist Church, just some personal reflections)

Personal Reflection, Spiritual Thoughts

Scott Adams and Jesus

January 14, 2026 Mark Edwards Leave a comment

Scott Adams has passed away. His last public statement is freely available on his socials. Here is part of what he has said.

Can the part about him being a believer be resolved when he wakes up? Has he really made a statement of belief here?

Let us think about the thief on the cross.

But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:40-43

His life stands as a beautiful example of someone who had very little time to be discipled, baptised or taught much about Jesus at all. He did have the rare opportunity to actually speak verbally to Jesus, and he is certainly with Jesus now. It is clear that the thief’s brief and last minute statement was accepted by Jesus as sincere. So let us know that many peoples death bed confessions and belief will be taken seriously by Jesus. I believe many people will come into heaven by the skin of their teeth. I’ve been involved pastorally in these moments and they give me great hope and comfort.

Scott has said here, “I am not a believer” but he then goes on to make a statement as though he is one. I know we cannot judge his sincerity or his heart and mind attitude. We can try and discern this, but ultimately Jesus will judge, and decide. I think people making such a statement will in time come to understand Jesus is real and they will believe. I really hope Scott is with Jesus.

If it was me, and thank God it is not, I would want more than a perfunctory statement. I prefer the heart cry of the thief.

Church, Leadership, Personal Reflection, Spiritual Thoughts

Not Yancey

January 9, 2026 Mark Edwards Leave a comment

From the very beginning of my ministry life I have sought out examples of spiritual leaders and pastors. Unfortunately in my life a common thread has been their failure to keep the covenant of their marriage pure. The Pastor who inspired me to be a pastor failed in this area. One of my key mentors and examples failed in this regard. I’ve watched others like Bill, Brian and now Phil fail. They have all been sources of inspiration to me at certain points in my ministry life. But in this key area they have failed.

Yancey is not a fancy sneaker wearing mega-church Pastor. He is a winsome, wise author whose journey from a legalistic church background to one of our most significant popular theologians was significant. How at such an elderly age, when the finishing line was approaching, could he fail so significantly. His books and thoughts have helped the church in generation altering ways. It is personally sad to see his legacy unwind.

What I have seen in this area of failure is there is no ‘brand’ of Christian leader who is more vulnerable. From the reformed conservatives to pentecostal attractional churches we can list a litany of leaders who have failed. It would be easy to categorise this as a style issue, it is not, it is clearly a spiritual one. While the reasons and conditions that allow it may vary, one element is the same. It is a sin. A breaking of the covenantal promise you made before God and community.

Marriage is a covenant, a promise you make, for life. Marriage is not easy. The person you marry is not the same person they were 30 years ago, and neither are you. Marriage is at its best is when you grow together, observing and witnessing the other person, encouraging them and cheering them on. Anyone who has been married for over ten years, twenty or thirty years will tell you it comes with equal measures of challenge, joy, commitment and strength.

Most pastors and spiritual leaders do not fail in this area. Most pastors are wonderful and authentic examples of long term commitment to one person for life. I have many great examples of this in my life.

Here are some thoughts in brief

You are only as accountable to any system, mentor, net nanny, as you allow. No system will stop you if you truly want to sin in this area. It is your choice.

I don’t understand how someone can effectively minister if they are continually sinning in this area. However there are many examples of Pastors who have been sinning significantly and yet at the same time continue to minister with ‘success’. I don’t understand this personally but I acknowledge it happens. To preach and share and lead I need the presence of the Holy Spirit. Without Him I am not able to minister effectively.

Those of us in leadership are more accountable to the church and community. There is a higher standard we have when we choose to teach and lead. If you don’t want this, don’t lead. I also acknowledge that some Pastors have unrealistic scrutiny and lack of support. This is unfortunate and may contribute to a spiritual failing. I have observed this in a church setting. It is not an excuse but may be a contributing reason.

Those of us in leadership are also more targeted in the spiritual realm. The Devil is real and works against us.

I believe and hope that staying close to Jesus, reading your bible prayerfully, singing and worshipping Jesus and daily meditating on God’s grace helps you stop sinning. The weekly rhythm of church helps us in spiritual discipline.

I think honest and open confession with a trusted friend, pastor, mentor, peer group, connect group will help. Openly sharing what is actually going on in your mind helps. A true friend will correct, rebuke and bring reality to you.

Church, Personal Reflection, Spiritual Thoughts, Stuff I don't know much about but rave on about anyway

Hope

December 18, 2025 Mark Edwards Leave a comment

Every time someone decides to have a child they show radical hope.

At my Church there has been something of a baby bonanza this past year with many babies welcomed into church life and family. It makes me happy. The sound of a baby crying in church is a good thing. It signals hope for the church.

As I have watched the various couples happily show up at church with their new born I am reminded that babies don’t come with a manual or a warning. Cause they come into and are welcomed into our lives, and we have no idea how much change they will bring about.

It is important to take in as a principle that they come into a family that already exists. They don’t rule or reign from birth, it is the parents role to guide them into adulthood. Yet they do shape us. They change us forever. They are significant. The choices they will make will cause us joy and pain.

As we approach Christmas I can’t help but be reminded again, as we read the Nativity story, that babies are about hope. Jesus was born into uncertain political times under the rule of a tyrant to a poor family who could not afford or influence their way into decent accomodation. Yet his parents had hope. As we absorb all the stories of a confused, politically unstable and selfish world, parents still choose to have babies. Because we hope, hope for a better day. Our children will shape the world.

As a parent myself I can say it is hard to raise children. My guiding principles have always been…

Make choices for them, that is your role, until it isn’t.

Take them to church whether they want to go or not, that is your family value

Pray for them, by name, daily. Hoping that they will make good choices when finally it is not your role to make choices for them anymore.

Bible, Church, Leadership

Nonsense

November 29, 2025 Mark Edwards Leave a comment

“But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it.”

(Luke 24:11)

This little snippet from the Gospel of Luke highlights one of the themes flowing through Lukes Gospel and indeed his writings about the early church in Acts. The role and place of women in the kingdom and mission of Christ. These men display similar characteristics to some we see in the church today. The women had seen and testified of the Risen Christ yet they thought their words were nonsense. How wrong they were. How upside down Kingdom like that it was women who were the first evangelists in the Church.

In the world Jesus came into women’s stories were largely not told. This is because women were seen as irrelevant to the important matters of state and polity. They were not encouraged to learn because there was a general perception that there was no point. They wouldn’t do anything with the knowledge. Luke consistently breaks this mould with intent.

The story of Mary and Martha is often told in a sentimental way. Like Mary is choosing the worship path. A quiet submissive woman sitting in the glow of being in Jesus’ presence. Perhaps the reality is far more radical. While Martha took the ‘correct’ place in the kitchen, Mary was having her mind expanded. And Jesus, shockingly, was going against societal norms. Mary chose the better. She would be educated and learn the mysteries of this upside down kingdom.

In the early church one of the most inspiring stories is that of Lydia. Who came to faith, opened her home and planted the first church in Europe. It wasn’t a Pope, it wasn’t even a man! Some suspect the letter written to ‘my true partner’ (fellow worker) was indeed written to Lydia.

I watch with distress as we in the church turn from these early breakthroughs that Jesus implemented and return to a kingdom more resembling the power driven world we find ourselves in. It’s a shame because we may again call something nonsense which is instead a message from Jesus.

Bible, Church, Spiritual Thoughts

The best preacher I know

November 18, 2025 Mark Edwards Leave a comment

Recently a friend annoyed me with the comment, ‘this is the best preacher in my city”.

What does that mean to be the best preacher? My friend, who I greatly respect and like, comes from and exists in a certain segment of church life. Not surprisingly the preacher he referenced was from that same segment. I am not going to say what type of segment! That is not the point. But I do want to challenge anyone who thinks good preaching only comes from certain styles.

But here is what I think about preaching. It is not as important as what some think, neither is it as unimportant as some think. Furthermore there is no type of preaching that is better than other types. I realise that is where some will disagree, and perhaps my good friend.

I do think there are certain principles in preaching that matter.

It should be transformative. There is no gain if preaching is merely information transfer which does not lead to transformation. Transformation means something changes. It could be an attitude, a belief, a behaviour. It might free someone, it might challenge them, it might encourage or exhort them. But at its heart good preaching changes things. It transforms us.

The Word and the Spirit both need to be present. The Holy Spirit uses the Word to bring about change in someone’s life. Both need to be present. A preacher should have the Word at the heart of the message. What does the Bible say, present, inform, exhort, encourage us towards. The Spirit takes this word and pierces the heart, transforms and renews the mind, rebukes a lie, changes a behaviour, brings about a resolve to be more like Jesus, to say YES to Jesus.

Should it be expositional, topical, current, narrative, liturgical….

That is up to you, your personality and your context. These are not the point. The point is transformation.

So often when I hear someone say, this person is a good preacher, it is because they align with what the person themself likes. What aligns with their culture, with what they resonate with. It has nothing to do with what is good preaching at all, it is about preference. Which by the way is okay, just own that. And don’t say someone is not a good preacher because you don’t like their style.

In their context, to the people they are speaking to, are they bringing about transformation and fruit? Are lives being changed? That is what makes them a good preacher.

Someone said to me once, maybe more than once, I get nothing out of your preaching. Ouch. In one case it was because they didn’t like me. Fair enough. I don’t even like me sometimes! Other times it is because how I preach doesn’t resonate with them. Fair enough as well. There are hopefully preachers that will resonate with them.

I see deeply exegetical, thorough and ordered preachers who are incredibly effective. I also see some exegetical preachers who would bore the socks off a turtle.

I see deeply passionate spirit filled pentecostal topical preachers bring something out of the text in a way I never could, and people are saved and transformed by the power of the Spirit. Amen! I also hear some passionate preachers who would make good laundry detergent salespeople.

It is not about which style or personality is better, it is about what God wants to do, in this moment, to these people.