To God's Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
If you have ever wondered why I begin that way it is becuase it is about the greatest thing I can declare about anyone who calls this church home. The love of God changes everything and when truly experienced transforms us (2 Corinthians 5:14).
You are God's Beloved...WOW!
Prayer is such an important part of who we are as a church. Our elders meet once in a while (God willing more in the near future) to discuss some of the most important topics for us as a church, and Ken picked prayer for our last one.
How do we engage God’s people in prayer. What a great discussion topic for us as elders as we seek to pursue God's best for God's people entrusted to our care.
This pursuit aligns beautifully with my longing for REVIVAL. That word brings up all sorts of confusion in our current world that has all sorts of right and wrong views of what it actually means to see a Revival.
At the TGC Council meeting that I was just a part of we agreed that one of our passions as a council is revival for Canada…and also that many misunderstand what it is and what it looks like.
What is biblical revival, and how can we pursue it?
Revival as I define it is not just increased religious activity or experience, it is more than that. Revival is a Spirit produced renewal of the church that leads to a first love devotion to Jesus that impacts every other area of life in holiness and love. The impact will be most clearly seen in holiness as described by being set apart by God for His work as well as purity in the world but not of the world and love by self sacrificial pursuit of God's best for others (love).
This will yield through the Spirit’s power a new interest in the Gospel and a passion for a deep loyalty to God’s Word.
You can measure all so called revivals by the holiness and biblical love that it produces....often yielding many new believers and a new passion for God's Word and God's glory (Psalm 138:2).
How can we pursue Revival? This is much more difficult as we believe that it is only in the power of the Holy Spirit that revival can come but it has a consistent pattern in history for what is a healthy purusit of authentic revival.
There almost always in a renewed passion in God's people for four realities...
- Prayer: Private & Corporate
- Biblical Preaching With A Focus On The Gospel.
- Willingness to confess all known sin and align life with God’s Word no matter what the cost…or as Keller would describe it, REPENTANCE & HUMILITY.
- Holiness and love in God’s people (set apart by God and for God that inludes moral purity and self sacrificial love).
It is easy to get a fleshly revival, it just takes the right music, the right emotional manipulation, and humans can be powerfully swayed and even feel for a moment an impact. True biblical revival comes at a cost of our time, treasures and talents. It will come with the Holy Spirit setting us apart for Him, and engaging all that we are and all that we have in His work. The cost is all of our lives, the reward is so much more!
So, here is where the question must become more personal...will we make a renewed commitment to be a praying church? Deep heartfelt understanding that we need God and from a heart that loves God and wants to actively be fully devoted to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9).
This a willingness to be more involved in personal and corporate prayer.
Would you consider joining us in this pursuit of revival by committing to praying more than you are right now.
Specifically, would you commit to coming to our once a month Sunday evening prayer times (would love if we had so many come that we had to move it into the sanctuary)…would you commit to praying for five minutes a day specifically for revival.
Perhaps Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3 could serve as a great guideline for this prayer…although there are many others…
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family[c] in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
So, specifically if you would take five minutes a day, and pray this prayer for your own life and mine (and others God brings to mind), and if you would take an hour a month to join us in corporate prayer…it could be the next step in God’s Spirit bringing this kind of renewal to Jesus Church and revival!
Longing for Revival, and willing to pray for five more minutes a day and join our corporate prayer times,
Pastor Rob
Sunday Is Coming:
As you prepare your hearts for encouraging God’s people and hearing from God and His Word…
The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived:
Read John 3:22-36; Matthew 11:11
- What made John The Baptist So Great?
- How does this pursuit of greatness influence how you read our text?
- What are some specific ways you can become less as Jesus becomes more?
- How can you help others notice Jesus who are around you right now?
- Why do you think that this passage is here in the context of the book of John?
- What is humility in light of seeing the greatness of Jesus, and how can you grow in your understanding and pursuit of humility?
- What are some practical ways you can get to know the biblical Jesus better so that your heart is more like John’s?
Bulletin
New Discipleship Classes for Adults
Sundays at 9am
The Heart of the Gospel
John Neufeld in the Fellowship Hall: This class on Romans 1-4 presents us with the basics of our faith, teaching us how we can know for certain that sins are forgiven and how to live by faith.Understanding The Importance of Biblical Worship: Johnny Markin in Room 246: An introduction to biblical worship that will help us define what God means when we use the word ‘worship’, how God is himself engaged with us in worship, and what should take place when we come together. Learn more >
Women's Ministry Events
Widow to Widow
Sat. Mar. 22nd (new date) / 2-4 pm / Fellowship Hall: Widows of all stages are invited for a time of encouragement & fellowship. We will hear a devotional from Marina, and enjoy pampering by Doris.
MUMs — Moms Upholding Moms
Saturday, Mar. 29th / 9:30–11 AM / Fellowship Hall: Moms, join us for a morning out as we discuss how the Gospel applies to motherhood. Refreshments and childcare are provided and no registration required. Questions? women@
Baptism Service
Sunday, Mar. 16th / During Service If you have put your faith in Christ and would like to be baptized, sign up today and we’ll get in touch with you!
Newcomers' Lunch
Sunday, Mar. 16th / 12 Pm / Fellow. Hall New to Cloverdale Baptist? Join us for lunch! You'll get to learn about our church, ministries, and leadership. No registration is required.
Pastoral Interns Appreciation
As we welcome Pastor Mitch Janzen back to his full role, we want to thank and express our appreciation to our pastoral interns, Brad Halvorson and Sam O'Neill, for their incredible service and timely help in the Worship and Young Adults ministries over the past few months.
Pastor Rob & Lori's Missions Trip
In late-March, Pastor Rob and Lori are going to teach and serve a group suffering persecutio. To support them on this trip, mark your envelope or electronic gift"TWR Conference". If you would like to support them, please mark your envelope or electronic gifts TWR Conference.
Summer Missions Trip
Aug.16th – 24th / Newfoundland Our church has the opportunity to make an eternal impact in NL through a soccer camp. Pray for preparations and that many will come to know Jesus. Youth (16+) and young adults can apply to join the team today >
