To God's Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
This week I am on holidays with my precious wife. Holidays have never been easy for me...partly because I love what I do, partly because I know how precious the church is, and partly because it is hard to stop what I do. This week I have tried really hard not to answer emails (okay answered a few, but most will wait for next Tuesday), and just rest with Lori, enjoy walking, biking, reading, listening to great sermons, and a little golf. It has been a great week. This morning, I woke before my precious bride, and decided to send a quick update to our church family. I suppose work, but so much is going on, so wanted to update you and encourage your continued prayers!
I am thankful for holidays, and the blessing they are to rest, and to take the time to rejoice in the gifts God has given me. I am so thankful to be called to be a child of God, a husband, a father, and a shepherd of God's people. I am thankful that I get to help people love Jesus more, and pursue His glory. I am thankful that I get to disciple you through careful study and application of His Word. God has given us so much to be thankful for, so may I encourage you to be loyal to God through giving Him thanksgiving today. Take the time, rest a little, and PRAISE HIM! He has placed you where you are to accomplish His purpose and beautify His bride. What a joy we all have in knowing Ephesians 2:10 is true, and we ALL are truly significant!
Discipleship: Our chief goal as a congregation is God's glory through conformity to Jesus (Galatians 4:19). We do this through Growth Groups, Explore, Sunday School, and SO MUCH MORE. Please, as you personally pursue God, join us in this corporate passion to grow to obey Him fully in every area of our lives. Please join us Sunday Mornings for this pursuit as we seek to teach God's Word in a way that is applicable to all ages. We would love to have every child, youth and adult in our Sunday School programs. We truly want our walk with God to impact every area of our lives!
Prayer: Please choose to listen to God through studying His Word, and praise and pursue Him through prayer. We join together on Wednesday mornings to pray, at 7:00 am. If you can't join us in person, join us in our passionate pursuit of God's glory in prayer. We long to be a dependent people and move forward on our knees! We believe that only as we pray will we succeed God's way for God's glory. PLEASE PRAY!
Missions: Please pray for A & J in the Middle East ministry they have. Please pray that God will bless them, and use them to reach out with His Gospel. Pray as they minister to people in refugee camps, and as they seek to see families follow Jesus that He will use them to draw people to Him! Pray also for the opportunities that God will give you this week to point people to Him. We long for a culture of evangelism, and this will only occur if we together reach out and make the most of opportunities we have. If each one reaches one, multiplication will lead to massive impact.
Sunday Is Coming:
This Sunday we begin our journey through Romans. This book has changed history, and has the potential to change our church and your life. Please pick up a study book, read Romans or a portion of it every day, and seek with us to be saturated with this great book. Take the time to talk to one another about the richness of what God is doing in your life, and about each text we interact on together Sunday Mornings!
Title: The Gospel Of Jesus Christ
Text: Romans 1
Most, if not all of great revivals and reformations in the history of the church have been directly tied to the book of Romans.
- Why do you think that God has so powerfully used this book in history?
- How can you prepare your heart for change over this journey through this amazing book?
- Romans 1:5 tells us that Paul's purpose is obedience to the Gospel. What is this?
- How can we make sure we are orienting all of our lives around the Gospel?
- How does the Gospel obligate us?
- What does it mean to be unashamed of the Gospel?
Pick it up and read! Let Romans enrich your heart as you begin to journey through it to God's glory! It is inspired by the Holy Spirit, for YOU!
It has been a wonderful week of rest, I love spending time with Lori, alone, away, and always together! I look forward to Sunday, and the coming weeks as we passionately pursue God together! Get ready to be changed and challenged, as we walk through this amazing book together and let it impact us, and through us others!
Privileged to be your Pastor,
Rob (and Lori from our holiday rest spot)