To God's Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
Thank you to all of you who so consistently encourage me and so many others each week. What a blessing to serve people like you. Please continue this and find others to pray for and bless. This week write an encouragement card or two, and be a blessing to those God brings across your path. He can use your love to change another's world, and a few moments to send a quick blessing could be what God uses to change someones week. Some in our family have taken this as a major personal ministry, and have shared the great impact it brings...join us in building a people filled with the experience of God's love.
Christmas is coming. Here I am not talking about the need to set up trees, buy presents, or make sure the Christmas lights are up (help Ben), rather the opportunity to share your faith with neighbours that happen to be a little more curious than usual during this season. We are seeking to build a culture of evangelism, or as we sometimes say to be a church family where every disciple is seeking to help someone else in their sphere of influence experience the Gospel. That means if you're reading this, and you are an authentic disciple, a part of your growth, a part of your responsibility is to seek to help those around you see the glory of Jesus. Pray this year that you would be one of many lights that shine bright out of Cloverdale Baptist Church and impact our community and world. Our new book has a section with Gospel conversations that Pastor Ray has put together to help you with this. Let's make an impact for God's glory this season! Take advantage of the VSO coming to Cloverdale, and get your tickets soon.
Pastor Thomas turned 10 this week...actually on Sunday. We praise God for him and his ministry in our family. Lasting 10 years in a pastoral role in one church is very rare, and as a youth focused discipler, even more rare. We praise God for Pastor Thomas. If you have been impacted by his ministry take the time to thank him and share your story. It is good to once in a while reflect with thanksgiving to God for His gifts to the church (Ephesians 4:11).
Thank you to all who give financially to our church. As I shared earlier we were struggling with meeting our expenses, and through your giving we have caught up to spending and almost caught up to budget. Last week we celebrated Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and GIVING TUESDAY, and that is a great reminder to keep investing in eternity with what God has entrusted you. Thank you for continuing to help us serve Him, and giving at Cloverdale. THANK YOU! May God bless you, and your giving as you continue to make Cloverdale Baptist and her ministries a priority during this Christmas season. Your giving allows us as a church to continue to help people love God, and live in obedience to His Word and be a healthy disciple making church. Your giving matters, and is appreciated...Thank you, and may our God bless you as you continue to give.
Missions Spotlight: Please continue to pray for our missionaries as we seek to see the Gospel shared in Canada and around the world.
Continue to pray for Karl & Naomi Fortin (Quebec) . Praise God for the possible four baptisms coming soon. Pray for safety and protection from spiritual attacks for these new Christians. Pray for the Christmas Eve supper and celebration which the Church hosts yearly at which many non-Christians attend. Pray that connections can be made and God-glorifying conversations will happen.
Sunday Is Coming:
Take the time to prepare your hearts for hearing from God and blessing people around you.
We start our Christmas series this Sunday, focusing on who Jesus claims to be. The great I AM statements help us see not only that Jesus is fully God, which is essential, it also shows us the beauty of His Character.
Title: I AM the bread of life:
Text: John 6:35-51
- Why is it important to see how Jesus has revealed Himself? 2 Corinthians 3:18
- How does knowing Him as He has revealed Himself, help us have Him formed Him in us (Galatians 4:19)?
- Reflect on the I AM statements of Jesus in John, and seek to see big picture what He is displaying of His character.
- How does John 17:3 show us that this is important, perhaps the most important Person we can study?
- As you review this text in John, what is Jesus showing us in sharing this I AM statement?
- Who can you talk to about Jesus this week, and share that He is the Bread of Life?
Have a great week, as you continue to bask in the love of God and seek to live for His glory!
Pastor Rob