To God's Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
I am thankful to serve Jesus with you at Cloverdale Baptist Church. So many of you fill my heart with praise as I see in you the love of Jesus at work in your joyful selfless service and sacrificial living. I love that we are pointing to Jesus, and the stories I get to hear of you reaching out of your comfort zone, seeing people trust in Jesus for the first time or move toward Him are a thrill to my heart! God is at work in this place, and in this I REJOICE!
As you well know, this does not mean we have arrived, and sometimes I wonder if we need a wake up call from a text like Hebrews 2:1-4 to stop drifting! How can we know if we are drifting? I think it will be marked by four things: 1. Lack Of Self Sacrificial Love For Others: Ephesians 5:1-2; 2. Lack Of Passion To Point People To Jesus: Matthew 11:11; 3. Lack Of Desire To Serve the Church: Ephesians 4:11-16; 4. Lack Of Positive Building Up In Your Speech: Ephesians 4:29. I will at some point write on this, as it is on my heart, but until then, look over these and see if you need a wake up call, and to STOP DRIFTING. Well, let me rephrase that, we all need a wake up call, so look over these and ask God to awaken in you a clear reality check. Sometimes easier to look at others and evaluate them, then to honestly take a hard look at our own lives.
How do you fix it, if you find that you are drifting? Simplify! Okay, you said that Sunday pastor, but can you give me four steps to fixing a drift? Yes...thank you for the question: 1. Focus On Jesus. As has been said, take 10 looks at Jesus for every one you take at yourself, even more, for every time you look at a problem. Keep your gaze fixed on the greatest treasure, and don't lose sight of the Gospel. Preach the Gospel to yourself every day, don't neglect so great a salvation! 2. Choose Obedience Even In The Small Things. The slippery slope of sin begins with one compromise. Stop the slide before you start...or maybe better put, get off the slide and into the Saviour!; 3. Give Sacrificially. Financially, choose to support the local church you are a part of. Give with joy! Choose to serve her, and rejoice in that! Choose to give of your time, treasures and talents!; 4. Love Lavishly. This is how the Bible says we can be imitators of God as dearly loved children (Ephesians 5:1-2). Choose to love someone who can't repay you, choose to encourage someone who you might not think needs it. Go out of your way to give to someone for their spiritual good, and self sacrificially love. When in doubt set God before you (Psalm 16:11) and the truth of His Word, and choose love His way for His glory.
Wedding: Reminder that we would love our church family to join us for the wedding celebration of Hannah and Jeff on Saturday, May 11 at 1. There will be a stand up reception following the service, that we would love for you to attend.
Deeply Rooted Conference: Please continue to pray for our women gathering this weekend to grow. If you have not yet signed up, I believe that tickets are still available, and you can call the church office to find out.
Giving: It has been shared with me that I do not speak about giving enough in our congregation. I suppose that is true as it did dominate what Jesus taught, and some of my nervousness about teaching on it Biblically is the abuses of people here and around the world who have given Biblical teaching on stewardship a bad name due to their excesses. May I encourage you as you finish your taxes today (okay most finished way earlier) to take the time to invest in eternity with your return. We are not keeping up to budget as church, we continue to seek to invest in eternity and it is only as we together give joyfully what the Lord wants, that we will be able to make the investments we desire as an entire church family.
Encourage someone today. You don't know what one little word, note, phone call, text, or email could mean for someone's life. Whether they return it or not, if each of us can encourage at least one other person today we will win in our goal of building a culture of encouragement. My life was enriched today by two wonderful servants, who selflessly gave their time to help, of another precious person who knows a child loves a certain kind of cookie and went out of their way to give it and in these, large and small my life is encouraged. Be that to those around you! It is in giving that we are blessed, and as one that get's to observe so much of this in action in our church family, what a BLESSING! We do this well, keep it up and may it ever increase!
Special thank you to the team that decorated for our Easter celebrations! WOW!
Sunday Is Coming:
Title: I Am The Way, The Truth, and The Life
Text: John 14:1-6
- This is our last message in the GREAT I AM series as we have sought to hear who Jesus claimed to be so that we can worship Him!
- As you reflect on the 7 Great I Am statements, what have you learned about Jesus?
- Why is important that we build our view of Jesus from His Word, and not from our traditions or culture?
- As you reflect on John 14 how do the exclusive nature of these claims fit with the world around us?
- Why are they important to know, and believe, perhaps especially in today's world?
Thankful to be a part of His family, and serve you!
Pastor Rob