This term at The Globe Church we have started a monthly gathering called Globe Equip. It’s part of our vision to be a discipling church, one which equips a generation to live the whole of life for Jesus. Clare, an English Literature student in London, reflects on Globe Equip in January as we looked at Mark’s gospel together…

I will send my messenger ahead of you,
Who will prepare the way –
The voice of one calling out in the wilderness,
“Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”

What is our place in God’s mission? How can we use our God-given gifts to prepare the way for the gospel? As Christians, we have a message, a message more wonderful than any other, and God has made us messengers of his good news.

Being at Globe Equip last month gave me a great encouragement and motivation to continue using all that God has given me for His glory. As a large group we dug into the Mark’s gospel, we were taught through it’s context and began to explore some of the themes. We talked in groups together of the many ways we can use God’s word for the benefit of others, and as a creative writing group of the many ways we could take Chapter 1 and write creatively in response. I was struck again at how amazing each part of the Bible is itself.

Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

These aren’t just empty words, the language isn’t a dry historical retelling. At the beginning of Mark’s account we see that Heaven itself is “torn open” and ends with heaven being torn open again, torn open for Jesus, torn open for us. The words which Mark uses are alive and purposeful, they paint a vibrant picture of the beauty of the gospel story.

With words so full and verses so awe-inspiring we talked together of how much there was to communicate and how much digging deeper could be done. And we thought about how much these words resonated with society today; ‘A voice of one calling out in the wilderness…‘ In the bewildering crowds of London, God has blessed us with the same task calling out the good news of Jesus Christ.

So why has God given us such gifts as writing, speaking, music, leading and countless more? One of those reasons; that we can use them to further his good news. So that we might reach out and touch the lives of those around us, sharing with them the truth of what Jesus has achieved for us on the cross.

Our job is not just to tell the story but to announce the good news. At Equip I was challenged– God has given me so much, how much do I use what God has given me to point to him and his message? He has made each of us messengers and has given us all that we need. How can we be using our gifts to prepare the way for the gospel today?

This month at Globe Equip we’ll be looking at wisdom literature, focusing on Ecclesiastes. During the session we’ll break out into smaller groups to work out how to apply that to specific areas of our life or ministry. Join us at 10.30 on Sunday 11 February at Willcox House, 140-148 Borough High Street.