To God’s Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
If you spent $500 on a pack of gum, that would be expensive. Cost way to much. If you spent $500 on a brand new corvette in perfect working condition, that would be cheap. Deciding what the cost of something is in terms of value depends on what you are buying…and that is what the Bible teaches in terms of full surrender of our lives to the KING and His KINGDOM.
We have been studying the parables of the Kingdom, and they are shocking. Ministry will not be easy in the midst of the spiritual battle we are in, and sometimes the devil will attack and seed sown have no hope, others will look alive, and then die, with no roots, and some will be crowded out by the world and its concerns.
There will be those in the church who look right but have no fruit, and there is a judgment day coming when God will sort it all out. So we stay faithful and fruitful in the midst of wheat and weeds, and know the spiritual battle is real and the end is sure.
A little becomes a lot in the hands of God. The mustard seed shows us that although we might be small and insignificant in the eyes of the world, God is at work, and will bring growth to His church and work. The leaven shows us how we are to do this as those in the world but not of the world. Living out the Gospel. Each of us having a role to play as we seek to bring change to the world we live in through the power of the Gospel, the Word, and the Holy Spirit.
Understanding what the Kingdom is like is key to living our lives in light of eternity in a broken world. If we don’t we will quickly become like the world in solving the world’s problems, and that is chaos in the Kingdom context (as Peter bloody sword, or marches, or riots and rally’s would show us).
So the great question…is it worth it? Is giving up all we have and are worth it for the Kingdom. The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure…hidden in a field…
The answer of the Kingdom parables is that when we realize the value of the Kingdom, when we see the King for who He is and what He has done, then the cost of denying ourselves, of taking up our cross is worth it. We give up our rights and our lives to the KING, we literally are crucified with Him (Galatians 2:20), so that we can live lives of faith.
The cost might be over $500, but the Kingdom is not a pack of gum it is a treasure beyond compare, so whatever we give to treasure Him and it…IS WORTH IT! The value of the treasure and the pearl, way beyond compare, so we have a JOY in selling all we have.
The Kingdom Of Heaven is like finding a pearl OF GREAT VALUE…what we receive when we give up so much is beyond compare.
Do you hear what the Kingdom of heaven is like? If we do, it changes how we think and feel and live, and all of the sudden we live with eternity in perspective. We are in the world, but not of the world!
The parables are shocking because they force us to see life from God’s perspective not the perspective of Fox, or CNN. To see life as God sees it, not the world, internet, or even our own flesh. We must be willing to listen to God and His Word, or we will lack fruit, and the cares of this world will threaten our lives and distraction, disorientation and division will lead to defeat.
I love the parables, and am so thankful for how relevant they are to our own lives and the situation we currently find ourselves in as a culture. God’s Word is powerful!
Be encouraged, we serve the KING, and His Kingdom is AWESOME!
A fellow member of the KINGDOM and servant of the KING,
Pastor Rob
Sunday Is Coming:
Would love if you took the time to read all of Matthew 13 and see how these parables are flowing together to teach us what the Kingdom will be like.
- What are you learning from this chapter?
- How is it shaping how you think, feel and live now?
- What do you think are the mistakes you are most prone to make about the Kingdom of heaven, and how can you fix them with these 7 parables and the power of the Holy Spirit?
Excited to see you all, or wave at you online,
Bulletin
Summer Prayer Nights
Tuesdays / 7:00 pm / Fellow. Hall At Cloverdale Baptist we always emphasize the importance of personal and corporate prayer. Over the summer, we’ll be meeting every Tuesday at 7pm, where our elders will be leading us through a time of prayer and sharing a brief message. We hope you’ll make this a priority!
More Than $3 Worth of the Gospel: Word Saturation
The Cloverdale Baptist Podcast Having a biblical worldview means understanding and seeing life based on what God’s Word teaches, not culture or tradition. In part two of this gospel series, Pastor Rob shares with us a few practical steps to become Word-saturated in a world so full of distractions. Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, as well as on our website.
We’re Hiring!
- Pastor of Discipleship: Our search committee is looking for a candidate with a heart to see people grow in the faith and knowledge of the Lord. Full job description is available at the link above.
- Worship Ministry Intern: Paid internship from Sept. 2023–May 2024 which offers experience in leading worship services, mentoring and teaching.
- Women's Ministry: 3 people to care for our children (0-5 years) during our fall/spring Bible Studies on alternating Tuesdays, 9:15-11am. Children’s Ministries will provide discipleship material and training to the workers. Candidates must obtain police check. To apply and for more info, contact the Women's Ministry.
