To God's Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
500 years ago, imagine what must have been going through the mind of Martin Luther. We know as he prayerfully worked up the courage to seek to engage in a discussion on the health of the church and things that needed to change that he must of been a little aware as to what his questions might produce in term of response, but he could not have known the reverberating impact they would still have. His Biblical fidelity and courage changed the world as a part of God's plan (Ephesians 2:10).
On October 31, we will celebrate this historic event, and long for it to still help us seek constant reformation to God's Word. Encourage you, if you haven't already to sign up for the conference that is happening at our church (sign up at tgc-bc.com). We have the amazing privilege of seeing scholars from around the world join us in a study of God's Word that will seek to understand what happened in history through the lens of Biblical texts and apply it to our lives today. Encourage you to take the time to come to the entire conference, but if you can't be there during the day, then join us in our time of worship and preaching on the evenings of October 31 and November 1.
We have been discussing the impact of the Reformation, and many would say that the most important change that this movement brought to the church was the rediscovery of the PRIMACY OF PREACHING. When Martin Luther started to try to define what a true church looked like his first exclusive mark was biblical preaching. As he matured this expanded to other marks, like church discipline, proper administration of sacraments and more, but where he started and stayed was the importance of Biblical preaching to true churches. Many churches (like ours) marked this with the pulpit being moved to the centre of the church and preaching given the place of priority when God's people gather. Luther stated, "Now wherever you see or hear this word preached, believed, professed and lived, do not doubt that the true Christian holy people must be there...this chief holy possession of the church purges sustains and nourishes, strengthens and protects the church"
This rediscovery of the Reformation marks Cloverdale Baptist Church, and it is our joy to follow in the footsteps of the Reformation fathers, and more importantly God's Word with this priority in our own gathering times! May our God use His Word at CBC to purge, sustain, nourish, strengthen, and protect us as God's people here!
Reminder:
Sunday School This Week: A missions report. Join us as we hear what God is doing through our missions effort in Spain.
Lunch to get to know Ray and Robin better as we seek God's will on their call to ministry in our family. I have really enjoyed getting to know them and look forward to seeing what God has in store for us in the future together. Please take the time to get to know them, join us for lunch, and in seeking God's best God's way with us!
Mark your calendar: our AGM is coming, October 19, 2017 at 7. We need you to join us in humble pursuit of God's will together. We will only find unity God's way when we are all seeking together to be on His side, His way!
What In The World Is God Doing:
Was a joy to hear God's Word preached on Sunday with the perspective of what He is doing in Korea. The five marks of revival (Dr. Kim's full sermon) include PRAYER, Biblical PREACHING; PURITY, PRAISE & PERSECUTION. It was exciting to hear how God is at work in another country and the impact that His people are having on this culture! May God grant us the passion as His people to pursue this in Canada as a local church! If we want revival, it must start with each of us willing to evaluate our lives, pursue God in purity and prayer and humbly engage in one another's lives! He is ABLE, we are DEPENDENT, oh God send to us a new devotion to you and love for one another!
Please be in prayer for the Neiderhouser family and Madagascar. They are in the midst of a huge health problem and our missionaries there need to be ministering effectively to a hurting nation! Pray that the Gospel would be moving forward in the midst of a very difficult environment and that God would give them great wisdom!
Sunday Is Coming:
Sermon Series Review: Trusting God: He Is Looking To Help! He Is ABLE! He Is ALL WISE!
Sermon Title: Trusting God: He Is Loving!
Text: Exodus 33 & 34
Why is this passage both sad and happy?
Why do you think God chooses to reveal Himself in this way?
How does knowing the love of God help us to trust God?
Meditate on Romans 8:28-39...how does this show us the importance of experiencing God's love in our lives?
Pray Ephesians 3:14-21 for yourself and five other people (feel free to include me)
Privileged To Call CBC my family,
Trusting our God who is ABLE, ALL WISE, LOVING
Pastor Rob