To God's Beloved @ Cloverdale Baptist Church:
If we are a church that longs for REVIVAL, and we are, there are three keys from historical study to pursuing what only God can grant. Biblical preaching (expository), a passion for God's Word to be heard and lived. We are a church that is seeking to do this effectively. Prayer, both corporate and private, and we are a church that is seeking to improve in this and grow in our public and private prayer. Co-operation with like minded churches. This last one is more difficult as we must decide what this looks like at a number of different levels. Key is, what is a like minded church, and how can we co-operate. In our modern era this is harder than it sounds, and we want to courageously hold to our statement of faith, even as we unite around the Gospel in a broader sense with other churches. One effective relational tool we are pursuing, is The Gospel Coalition, and we are looking to see if we can get this fellowship of like-minded churches flourishing in Canada. These relationships are outside of denominational lines, and the joining together of brothers and sisters from many denominations who love Jesus and His Gospel in a way that is faithful biblically from a big picture perspective will help us accomplish God's mission.
Would covet your prayers as I travel to Ottawa next week, for the initial meetings of The Gospel Coalition Canada. It is an exciting time, and it is a delight for us to be a part of this family of churches who can passionately pursue God's glory together.
In learning to pray through Scriptures, as Donald Whitney has taught so effectively I have been working through Psalms and Proverbs. Last week, as I was reading Proverbs 26, there was in this text, a reminder of the importance of not fanning the flames of negativity. Verse 20 reads, "For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer quarrelling ceases". I long for us to be a unified church, pursuing God and His glory together, and one of the ways we can do that is to not be a whisperer, and stop any others we hear that are. We are unified as a church right now, and that is worth praising God for, and also, helpful at times like this to be aware of the demonic attack (and flesh) that can come on our unity through gossip and slander. The Bible says that our mouths speak as an overflow of our hearts, so let us guard our hearts, and our mouths, and pray that we would bless, and be a blessing to all who come in contact with our family.
Baptism services are so exciting, and often lead to a lot of further conversation from people to who have yet to obey Jesus in believers baptism. The baptisms we had were amazing, and we will be having another baptism service in April. If you would like to obey Jesus in this, please contact one of our pastors, or church office, and we would love to help you with this!
Reminder: Men's Breakfast this Saturday at 8:30
Reminder: We are going to prayerfully deliver invitations to those in our community for Easter and need help. Sign up if you are willing to help us deliver these flyers, or talk with Rick.
Sunday Is Coming:
Text: Ephesians 4:25-32
Title: The DNA Of A Christian
Read Ephesians 4 prayerfully
Please also be encouraged to prepare your hearts for COMMUNION. This is an amazing privilege that we can be a part of, and as we together as a church family celebrate, you can prepare by focusing on Jesus and the Gospel with FURIOUS OBSESSION. We will REMEMBER, REPENT, REJOICE and RENEW together, and this is far richer if we come prepared with hearts overflowing with devotion to Jesus.
Our Verse Of The Month: "I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken" Psalm 16:8. What a great reminder for us, of actively seeking to live in the presence of God. This will bring great encouragement to us as things around us shake, and it will give us strength and courage to live for His glory. When we remember He is with us, there is nothing in His strength we can not do, and no sin we will want to do because, HE IS ALWAYS BEFORE US!
Please memorize this verse with us, and seek to live it out.
Rejoicing in the privilege of serving you,
Pastor Rob