To God’s Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
Jesus is SUPREME:
Colossians 1 is so important for us in our current cultural setting to help us in our fight against the flesh’s distracting and disorienting temptations.
There is so much going on in our current world that could become supreme in our thinking. The News is dominated with elections or terrorism (gun attacks at victory parades). Israel, or Ukraine…both continue to be heartbreaking situations of chaos. Maybe you have personal tragedy or hurt, relational pain that is overwhelming…and your mind struggles to stay properly focused. Although most of us have moved on from the conspiracy theories or pain of the pandemic, it certainly was a distraction (perhaps for you still is) that we have barely escaped. We need help with this, almost as much as the early church did with earthquakes, evil governments, persecution and the chaos of being a Christian in an anti-christian world...
The solution for the Colossians (and preparation for what was soon coming), and for us is to see Jesus as He is revealed in His Word. JESUS IS SUPREME!
So what does this actually mean?
That is a great question, thank you for asking…it means that not only is He the most important person in history (beyond history if we believe rightly that He is before all things), and that He should be the most important person in your life. He is the Preeeminent ONE...meaning He should be on our minds always!
Jesus being supreme means that our goal as His those who believe this should be to think about Him first and most. To ask what He desires, and what would make Him appear to others as the greatest treasure through our lives.
We should see ourselves as a part of His story, and discipline our minds and our hearts to find our greatest satisfaction in Him. That is the only true hope in the midst of all that is going on, and it is where we must land if we are to survive the current onslaught of distractions.
When I was dating Lori, and tree planting to make money for a ring for her finger, thoughts of her kept me going. As my feet were rotting, and body aching, and knowing no human should go without showers for what felt like months...the thought of what this pain was bringing about kept me going...and many trees were planted in her name...it should that way with us and JESUS times a million in all of life!
If Jesus is the SUPREME one, how will that show in your life today? This week? How will you allow your life to be dominated by biblical realities rather than the significant distractions that you face in your world today? Whether that be personal or corporate?
I long for marriages to be healed, for children to follow Jesus, for jobs to go well, for wars to cease, for elections to go the, “right” way, for cancer to disappear, and in the midst of all of those distractions, the only thing that can keep me on God’s side is to see and savour the SUPREMACY OF JESUS.
To make sure I not only know from His Word that He is SUPREME, I also need to live with Him as the PREEMINENT one in my life...and let that show in everything!
So, be encouraged and challenged in the midst of all of life, in its joys and sorrows, to stay fixated on Jesus and to not only know in your mind and heart He is the PREEMINENT one, but also that this is displayed in how you think, feel and live.
Meditate this week on the greatness of Jesus from Colossians 1, and let it chase out everything else. Everything else matters, but keeping the centrality of Christ a part of your life will actually give you peace and purpose in the midst of the mess.
Privileged to be a part of His story with you,
Pastor Rob
Stay Informed
Family Movie Night
Friday, Feb. 23rd / 6:30 PM / Gym Our Children's Ministry is having a Family Movie Night for parents and kids coming up on February 23rd at 6:30pm! Popcorn will be provided free of charge and no registration is required.
Church Membership Course
Starting Sun. Feb. 25th / 9 AM / Room 246 Join this 6-week course where we’ll learn what it means to be a healthy Christian and explore the doctrinal beliefs of CBC. Visit the Ministry Centre today for registration and additional details.
Newcomers Lunch
Feb. 25th / After Service / Fellow. Hall New to Cloverdale Baptist in the last 6 months? Join us for lunch on Sunday, Feb. 25th where we’ll share with you who we are, what we stand for, and make you aware of our ministries. Pastor Rob will host a Q&A. No registration required!
One Day Fun Day
Thursday, Mar. 21st / 9 AM – 3 PM / CBC All the fun and activities of Day Camp, but in one fun-filled day! Worship, a Bible lesson, craft time, and then heading to Crash Crawly's for an afternoon activity. For kids between grades 1-6. Registration opens on February 27th, but volunteer registration is already open!
Women's Retreat Save the Date
November 1st–3rd / Cedar Springs The Women's Ministry is planning a retreat this November at Cedar Springs Christian Retreat Center in Sumas, Washington. Stay tuned for more details like registration, schedule, and more!
STAY CONNECTED:
Growth Group Notes: Colossians 1:15-23 Part 2
Thank you for joining us in seeking to help God’s people connect with Him, and to connect with His family at Cloverdale Baptist Church. Growth Groups are the heart of our strategy to connect with God and one another in unity for His glory…so THANK YOU for your part in pursuing this with us. Please continue to keep these relationships strong and intentionally pursue the Christian life in these communities, especially with our New Year’s goal of increased community.
Text: Colossians 1:15-23…Part 2
Title: Seeing & Savouring Jesus: Part 2
What are some ways that you can show that Jesus is the most important person to you?
Review last week’s picture of Jesus…and talk about each in terms of why that gives Jesus the supreme place in the universe and in your life?
- The Image Of The Invisible God: God
- The Firstborn Of All Creation: Pre-eminent One
- The Creator Of All Things: Creator
- The One All Creation Was Made For: End/Purpose
- Before All Things: Eternal
Read the Text…Colossians 1:15-23
Read Colossians 1:15-23
Why is it essential to see Jesus as God reveals Him if we are to live life to the full as He would describe it?
Is Tozer right when he says, “the most important thing about you is what comes into your mind when you think about God”
If this is true, how does this help us see the value of a passage like Colossians 1?
The sermon covered a few of the specific pictures of Jesus from this text, discuss each one in terms of what it means, and how it changes your life to see Jesus in this way:
- The One Who Holds All Things Together
- The Head Of The Church
- The Firstborn From The Dead
- The One Who Demands Pre-eminence Everything
- Indwelt By The Fullness Of God
- The Savior & Hope Giver
How can we make sure that our view of Jesus is in line with Colossians 1 (and the rest of the Bible), not culture or tradition?
How can we fight against diminishing His glory?
How does this passage help us to take steps in our lives to be driven and defined by our relationship with Jesus?
How can you make it your life’s goal to get to know Jesus better?
Prayer:
- Þ Begin this week praising Jesus for who He is:
Pray that we would know Him as He has revealed Himself to us!
Pray for our search committee in their pursuit of a Discipleship/care pastor.
Other prayer requests: