To God's Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
Jesus loves the church! This week I am working on an article for The Gospel Coalition Canada, on the Church. When we see how much Jesus valued the church, and its deep and organic connection to Him, we also will love the church! Sunday we said goodbye to Dean, and what stood out in his sharing personally, and with all of us was his deep love for Cloverdale Baptist Church and her family. Thank you for continuing to seek to be Free in Christ, marked by a God Centeredness; a Gospel Love, and Growing Service. As the song says, we long to be a place where Freedom Reigns, and although we are far from where we should be, we are moving there, and I praise God for each of you that is working personally, and with us to accomplish this! Jesus loves this church! Thank you for your part in building her up, and helping us to be who God wants us to be. May this continue and increase (1 Corinthians 15:58).
One of the things we are seeking to build at Cloverdale Baptist Church is a CULTURE OF EVANGELISM. Last week we saw that this will include each individual that calls our church home knowing and experiencing the Gospel richly. Knowing it well enough to share it simply, and experiencing it richly enough that our story is authentic and one we are ready to share. A culture of evangelism will also include seeing people with new eyes (2 Corinthians 5:16). This means that when we walk by people, when we look at friends and family we see them through eyes that have been impacted by the grace of God! We see them as brothers or sisters, or fellow beggars who need to know where to get food. We love, as we have been loved, and seek to find ways to display this love to them in practical ways, always ready to give an answer for the hope that we have in us. When you see people around you, what do you see? Our challenge is to more and more shape how we see with the glory of the greatness of Jesus and what He has done, and the utter helplessness of those in sin. Will you help us build a deeper and more effective culture of evangelism, by knowing His story, experiencing it in your story, and seeking to see the world around you, and especially the people in it, from God's perspective. People need Jesus, and we who know Him, are the avenue He has chosen to show them through our life and lips how great His salvation is!
We are changing the day that we celebrate communion this month, and moving it to EASTER WEEKEND. So this Sunday, we will not be celebrating communion, as we usually do on the first Sunday of the month.
Baptism: We have a baptismal service planned for April 30, and many have already expressed interest. Please take the time to pray for others who have not yet been baptized by immersion as believers, and if this includes you, please talk to one of your pastors, and we would love to help you take this step of obedience in your spiritual journey.
Sunday Is Coming:
Encourage you to use your books to interact with your own heart and life and others to apply God's Word to your life this week. Seeking to live in freedom is not easy, and He has set us FREE FOR FREEDOM (Galatians 5:1)
Title: Learning To Walk
Galatians 5:16-26
Sunday we begin our interaction through what is probably the best known passage of Galatians. It is about how to live victoriously when the battle's are raging around us, and what this victorious life in the Spirit will look like. Take the time to read through this passage and to understand it in a way that will impact your life in a deeper and more meaningful way than ever before. Come prayerfully, and God will change your life with His Word!
We are commanded to walk by the Spirit in this passage, what do you think you must do to obey this command?
Why do you think that this is sometimes so difficult?
How does the Spirit of God lead the children of God?
What are some ways you can choose to live in freedom this week by:
- God Centered
- Gospel Loving
- Growing Service
Covet your prayers this week, as my privilege is to continue to serve you, and lead you
Pastor Rob