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Seeking to be a Peacemaker

To God’s Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:

How good it is to be a part of the family of God at CBC.  To know you love God and His Word and are standing firm in doctrine and delight for His glory!

I love His Word! 

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.

I am doing some work on a leadership message I am giving next month and was drawn to the beatitudes, and the role God wants each of us to play when it comes to pursuing His best in the lives of those around us.

The beatitudes really are God's characteristics of Jesus people...so we are to pursue them and be marked by them.  One of Jesus top 7 is to be a peacemaker!

Our church seems to be in a more peaceful place, after quite a bit of turmoil in the COVID Chaos.  I attribute that to our maturity, and fixing our eyes on Jesus.  However all around us there is division and brokenness, even in what I would have thought were quality churches...and certainly the demonic realm, the flesh and the world would love to creep in and destroy our peace in Jesus.

So how do you fight for this with me, so that we are those who have the characteristics that Jesus wants for His people, and we experience His presence and power personally and together as a church in peacemaking?

I think it is probably a longer answer than you would read in this missive, but let me give you two ways that you can ensure you are obedient to God as a peacemaker at CBC:

 

  1. Experience His Peace: 

This is the first and most important attribute of a peacemaker.  They know Him, by grace through faith, and they know His greatness, as they pursue a biblical worldview that chases away fear.

Here are three helpful texts you can meditate on, with a bonus if you feel anxious…

 

  • Ephesians 2:1-10
  • Isaiah 40
  • Psalms 46

 

If you are struggling with this, focus on your own walk with God, and experiencing His peace relationally.  If you are struggling with the brokenness around you, focus on His greatness, and rest in Him.


The bonus text:  Philippians 4:4-8

 

  1. Expect Conflict & FIGHT FOR UNITY: 

We are in a battle, and sadly often in our personal lives, and even at CBC we don’t always experience the victory we long for…we live in a broken world, and are called to be peacemakers in this broken world

So, realize we are in a war with the world (pattern of thinking); the flesh (self centred grasping); and the demonic realm (take captive every thought), and fight.

So here is my encouragement to us, as we continue to engage in seeking to be peacemakers God's way...actively and passionately be a PEACEMAKER!

Fight for this internally as you rest in God's grace and power.  Fight for this externally as you put out fires of division and grumbling and point people to Jesus and mission.

 

I actually think that during this COVID season we are in the best space yet as a church in terms of our unity, so this is not a critique, more of a call to be aware that one of the ways the demonic realm will attack is through division, grumbling, and disloyalty to Jesus and His bride, and to call you to join me in displaying his Character (what it means to be sons of God), and delighting in our unity in Him and for Him.

 

BE A PEACEMAKER!  Matthew 5:3

 

For more on this, join our Sunday School class as they walk through the beatitudes with Pastor Ray.

 

There is MUCH that is going on, so keep aware of the ways you can pray, serve, and engage.

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Sunday Is Coming: 

We are going back into our series on Revelation, and begin our journey through the 7 churches.  This is an amazing reminder of Jesus presence with local churches, and message for them in His desire for them to be loyal to Him.

 

Try to prepare your hearts by reading Revelation 1-2, so that you see the Jesus that walks among His churches and are prepared for His call to exclusive devotion.

 

Title: Great But Not Good Enough

Text:  Revelation 2:1-7

  • How does Jesus reveal Himself to this church and us?
    What are the good attributes of this local church?  Do you see them at CBC?
  • What is their failure, and why is it so serious?
  • How can you be sure to be a first love person in a first love church?

May we hear what the Spirit says to us today, for the good of His church at CBC!

Privileged to pursue unity in doctrine and delight with you in Christ,

 

Pastor Rob


Growth Group Questions From Last Week:

 

I am thankful for my friendship with Pastor Steve, and the message he preached to us.  I think if we experience it and apply it, we will continue to grow in our maturity and love for God and one another!

Study Questions from John 15,  

 

  1. Read John 15 together as a Group...as you do, observe, interpret and apply...write down and discuss what stood out to you, what words, thoughts, emotions, commands or promises are in the chapter.
  2. Pastor Steve broke verses 12-17 as the Sacrificial Love of Jesus, the Intimate Love of Jesus and the Missional Love of Jesus...Which one do you most identify with and which one do you struggle to relate to? WHY?
  3. Pastor Steve suggested that LOVE IS A PERSON, JESUS Christ. How does this compare to the World’s definition of Love as a feeling that you can fall into and out of? Check out 1 John 4 for some references
  4. If Jesus loves us Sacrificially, Intimately and Missionally, think of examples of how Cloverdale could and should do this. Read John 13:34-35
  5. The Covid Pandemic has challenged Christians and how they relate to each other. In light of John 15:12-17 and Christ’s COMMAND to love each other, as HE HAS LOVED US...take some time and be honest about how you’ve struggled the last 2 years, share your challenges about trusting in or thinking about Jesus love for you.
  6. Read Philippians chapter 2:1-11 and Ephesians 4:25 to chapter 5:1 Do you see John 15:12-17 there? How would you live out these passages if you looked to Jesus as your guide and example?
  7. What’s your View of JESUS LOVE? Be honest now...how does your view impact how you live regular life? Think about your relationships, Marriage, family, friends, work, Church life...how does Jesus love influence your love of others?
  8. Pastor Steve spoke of two challenges to Jesus love for us...we either don’t believe it’s as true as the Word of God claims, or, we want others to love us first then we will love them back? Which one would you say you are most likely to struggle with? How could you see John 13-16 to help you with that struggle?
  9. Pastor Steve preached that Jesus love is MISSIONAL...was that a new concept to you? If so, why or why not. How could Jesus love drive your view of prayer and mission?
  10. How often to you pray about Jesus love? Giving Thanks for it, Praise God for it, rehearsing how amazing it is? Take some time as a group and this week as a Christian to plan how you can pray more about Jesus love, then, next week, talk about how that effected your attitude and relationships.