To God’s Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
What is the most important day of the year?
We could answer that question in a number of different ways, and depending on our current culture it could be a number of different days for different people. I know some would answer, it is the day you are living today for Jesus, and walking in the good works He has prepared for you in joy and obedience and not worrying about tomorrow, or being weighed down by yesterday…and I suppose that would be true…BUT…if we were to look at the Christian calendar, the most important day for us is RESURRECTION SUNDAY (with all that it means).
(side note, if you don't like Pauline run long sentences, please keep going)
Jesus rose from the dead, and in that accomplished what He had set out to do in not only paying the price in full for our sins, but in rising the VICTOR over sin and death and guaranteeing the resurrection to glory of all who believe in Him.
This is the most important day of the year for me, because:
- He is my Savior:
Our verse of the month is so powerful to explain this, 1 Peter 1:18-19. I hope you are memorizing it with us, and have been impacted by it. He bought us with His precious blood!
I have been redeemed.
What I deserved, was death, eternity in hell, and because of what Jesus has done for me, I have been given a relationship with Him that is full and reconciled, and an eternity that is better by far than my best experience here on earth!
JESUS HAS SAVED ME!
His love is amazing, and if I understand what I deserve, and what He has given (grace), this is a life altering reality that should never leave my heart. Meditate on Ephesians 2:1-10, or Romans 5:8-11, or so many other passages and REJOICE!
That is enough to make the celebration of what He has done for me worth my time and attention, but there is more.
This is the most important day of the year for me becaues,
- He loved me this much and this love gives me hope always:
The Savior not only ransomed me with His precious blood, but this gift of love is a promise of His goodness.
Romans 8:32 states it like this, He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
John Piper calls this his favourite verse in the Bible, and when understood, gives hope in any and every situation we might find ourselves in! I love Romans 8, which promises NO CONDEMNATION, and then adds to that, ALWAYS GOOD, and NOTHING CAN SEPARATE.
How can we not rejoice and rest in the richness of God’s love when we understand and experience this love. Everything we go through, when seen through the lens of what Jesus has done for us, can be infused with HOPE!
If He did not spare His own Son, does it not display for our hearts His character enough that we can rest in Him when we don’t understand, “what in the world is going on”?
Oh to grasp the love of God and have it so impact our hearts that hope can never be stolen, and despair or anxiety would be chased away by the fullness of HIM!
That is enough to make the celebration of what He has done for me worth my time and attention, but there is more.
This is the most important day of the year for me becuase,
- My present and future are secure:
The resurrection of Jesus means that what He accomplished is sure. Therefore the sting of death is swallowed up (1 Corinthians 15:54-55), and Jesus is declared to be who He says He is!
As one scholar states, “the resurrection of Jesus not only validates His deity, but it also validates the OT prophecies that foretold of Jesus suffering and resurrection”.
It shows that there is a plan, and the plan is perfect, and no one and nothing can stop that plan!
Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and His resurrection shows the power He has to accomplish this promise for all who believe in Him (John 11:25).
This means that not only do I know everything that I go through is infused with hope in God’s goodness, it also can’t be stopped by anyone else’s power, including death, as He is ALL POWERFUL!
Oh to rest in His LOVE, POWER, and PLAN…
He is good, He is powerful, He is loving...
That is enough to make the celebration of what He has done for me worth my time and attention, but there is more.
This is the most important day of the year for me because,
- I am a part of His plan:
The glory of grace does not end at the joy of our redemption, it includes the privilege of now of being a part of God’s plan.
He is ALL WISE, and has chosen in that wisdom to use people like you and me to impact eternity. To love those who seem unlovable, to reach those who seem beyond reach. He has chosen us to show people how great He is, and to build His body the church!
Ephesians 2:1-10 culminates in the glorious reality that He has chosen to use those He has saved to accomplish His plan that is from eternity past (Ephesians 1:11).
To fully grasp the privilege of this is perhaps impossible, but just a glimpse of what it means to be His instrument chosen from eternity past to accomplish His will, will cause you to long to know and walk in the good works He has prepared in advance for you to do.
WOW!
This is the most important season of the year for me, and because of Resurrection Sunday, every other day matters.
So, as you prepare your hearts for this special day on the calendar year (Resurrection Sunday), let it so move and mark you that every other day is lived in light of this relationship.
Praise Him, as they did on the first Palm Sunday, and follow through with whole hearted devotion, as what Holy week displays and has accomplished is something we live in light of.
Pursue others around you that need today to hear of this good news, and live in the power, passion, and presence of this Savior, for today, He has a plan for you to live in light of! This is the most important day on the calander, and because of its accomplishment, every other day is massively significant!
SALVATION HAS COME!
Amen, and ALL DEFINING,
A fellow servant saved by grace,
Pastor Rob
Bulletin
Holy Week at Cloverdale Baptist
- Palm Sunday Service Mar. 24th at 10:30am
- Good Friday Service Mar 29th at 10:30am
- Pancake Breakfast Mar 31st at 9:30am
- Resurrection Sunday Mar 31st at 10:30am
Seniors Whistler Village Adventure
May 13th–15th / Whistler, BC Reserve your spot to this adventure/retreat at the Ministry Centre with your deposit or full payment. Deadline for full payment is March 24th.
CBC Bursaries for Post-Secondary
The Homer Edwards Bursary is to help those who want to serve God in full-time or part-time ministry and are pursuing post-secondary education to that end. The Chapman Bursary is for those who are in full time study for personal development and/or ministry preparation at a CBC-approved post-secondary Bible school, Bible college or seminary.
Applications are available at the Ministry Desk or contact Pastor Thomas. Apply by March 24th.
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!
Discipleship Classes - Break
Resuming on April 7th at 9:00 AM Last week we started two great Discipleship Classes for adults on important topics like managing our finances in ways that glorify God and we looked at the different items of the Seder in preparation for Holy Week.
» Please note that for the next two Sundays, our classes will be on a short break and will resume on April 7th at 9am. Learn more >
Growth Group Notes: Palm Sunday: Mark 14:1-9
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: Mark 14:1-9
Title: Hosanna…Salvation Has Come…He Is Worthy
What is significant about Palm Sunday?
How does seeing the triumphal entry, and then the passion week and all it entailed, remind you of the importance of authentic worship?
How do we make sure in our relationship with Jesus that we are not in it for worldly gain, but for the delight of knowing Him?
Take the time to read the text from the message…
Why does Mark include this story in the narrative of the Holy Week?
What does it show us about full devotion to Jesus?
How was her response to Jesus sacrificial for her?
Why does Jesus value this so much?
How can we be those who truly experience the love of Jesus so that we respond in this kind of lavish way?
How did those not willing to be lavish like this respond?
- – What does this hostile response look like in our culture?
- – What does a luke-warm response look like in our culture?
- – What does lavish love like this precious woman look like in our culture?
How can you respond correctly in your life to the greatness of our salvation?
As you prepare your heart for Holy Week, how can you experience His love so richly that your response is like this woman’s?
Who can you invite to the Resurrection Sunday Service?
Prayer:
- Þ Pray for a deep experience of God’s love that will radically shape your heart and mind!
- Þ Pray for wisdom in responding to that love with lavish radical devotion!
Pray that we would use this week to glorify God in a way that impacts people in our sphere of influence. Who are you going to invite to Resurrection Sunday? Pray that you would do so graciously and with success and that we would see fruit that lasts from our faithfulness to God and His Word this weekend.
Pray for our search committee in their pursuit of a Discipleship/care pastor.
Other prayer requests:
- – Looking forward to a week of joy as we celebrate together what Jesus has done for us, and live our lives in light of this relationship and reality!