BITS and PIECES
288th Edition – March 29, 2026
A random collection of news and views compiled by Frank McClelland for the Toronto Free Presbyterian Church.
VISIT OF DR. JOHN McKNIGHT
All our readers are encouraged to attend our Easter Convention with Dr. John McKnight. Dr. McKnight is a well-known preacher and a good friend of the Free Presbyterian Church. He is the pastor of Reformation Bible Church in Maryland.
The Convention will start on Good Friday (Friday 3rd. April) at 11.00am. followed by lunch and a further service at 2.00pm. There will be a dinner on Saturday at 5.00pm with a service at 7.00pm. The Sunday services will be at the regular times of 11.00am. and 6.30pm.
Dr. McKnight will focus on a timely subject for the five services, ‘What happened on the day of Pentecost?’ Don’t miss a meeting if you want your soul to be stirred.
HABITUAL HOLINESS
“Ye shall be holy men unto me” [Exodus 22:31].
There is no argument for the message of the Gospel like a holy life. The children of the world may never take time to listen to the loudest and most eloquent professions of faith, but they cannot fail to be impressed by a clean, Christlike life. It is no surprise that the counsel of the Lord to each one of His disciples is simply, “Be ye holy” [I Peter 1:16].
A holy life will tell in our habits. There will be no place in our daily behaviour for those practices which are out of step with a testimony for Christ. We will not indulge the flesh, even in those areas that are considered legitimate for a man of the world.
Life is made up of habits – mundane, routine, everyday actions. We must be careful to see that they are all consistent with our profession of Christ.
A holy life will tell in our speech. The Bible warns against the use of “filthy communication.” [Colossians 3:8]. As Peter was betrayed by his Galilean accent, so the Christian should be betrayed, in a positive sense, by the language he uses. Our speech should be pure. Christ was commended to the crowds by His speech. “Never man spake like this man” [John 7:46].
A holy life will tell in our thoughts. The mind is the ground on which many a battle is fought. Temptation will assail us. When it comes, we must turn from it, pleading all the help of Christ. If we are to cultivate the fruits of the Spirit, then we must keep the seedbed clean.
Christian living is holy living. Holiness for the believer is not an option, but an obligation. [Rev. Timothy Nelson, Whitefield Collage]
THE ATONEMENT TYPIFIED
The Lord did not study attractive aesthetics; He did not prepare a tabernacle that should delight men’s tastes; it was rich indeed, but so blood-stained as to be by no means beautiful.
No staining of glass to charm the eye, but instead thereof the inwards of slaughtered bullocks. Such sights would disgust the delicate tastes of the fops of this present age.
Blood, blood on every side; death, fire, smoke and ashes, varied with the bellowing of dying beasts, and the active exertions of men whose white garments were all crimson with the blood of victims.
How clearly did the worshippers see the sternness and severity of the justice of God against human sin, and the intensity of the agony of the great Son of God who was in the fullness of time by His own death to put away all the sins and transgressions of His people!
By faith come ye, my brethren, and walk around that blood-stained altar, and as you mark its four-square form and its horns of strength and see the sacrifices thereon. acceptable to God, look down and mark the blood with which its foundations are completely saturated and understand how all salvation and all acceptance rests on the atonement of the dying Son of God.
[From Spurgeon’s ‘Flashes of Thought].’
NEW WHITEFIELD COLLEGE BUILDING
The Whitefield College of the Bible celebrated the 75th Anniversary of the Free Church by opening a new school building in Tandragee on March 13. The Principal, Rev. Timothy Nelson, will head up the training of ministers and missionaries for full-time service. The Tandragee congregation very graciously donated the site adjacent to its church for the excellent purpose building.
Please pray for the college.
