To God’s Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
We are in the Most Important Week in history. Holy week when considered biblically and personally is overwhelming.
The One and Only True God engages in life in such a way that we have hope in all times.
The people in Jesus time were looking for a political Savior to save them from Rome. They were longing for present pleasure and freedom from pain. They longed for the brokenness of the world on display in their lives because of the fall to be fixed…NOW. Even the disciples of Jesus that had been with him for three years struggled with this…and were confused by His eternal agenda...they did not understand at first...
We still struggle with this. In fact often we long for Jesus to heal us, or protect us, or help us to find reconciled relationships, or give us salvation now from whatever it is that on the surface is attacking our wellbeing from our perspective. We want a political solution to what is going on...SAVE US NOW!
Jesus wants so much more! So much deeper freedom and prosperity His way.
The Messiah has come and salvation is here and it is GREATER than anything we could imagine. When this salvation is experienced in His tender love we will be free from selfishness and sold out to His mission.
Why did Jesus come?
The answer is far richer than we could ever imagine if we are focused on the surface…and the surface does matter…but this is better by far.
Jesus came to pay the penalty for our sins.
This is our greatest need and it is impossible to overstate how incredibly important this is.
All humans have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, and our sin separates us from God and makes us objects of His wrath. Nothing we can do on our own can change this reality.
Jesus lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death, and if we believe in Him we receive forgiveness and freedom.
We are set free from our bondage to sin, and the consequences of our sin, eternal death and separation from God.
This is way more important than any surface salvation we desire in our flesh!
Believe in Jesus and what He has done for you, and His payment on the cross and perfect life will be imputed to you. Your sins against the eternal God of the Bible can be forgiven, you can be set free!
You will be forgiven and set free because of this precious week and when the Holy God of the Bible sees you, it will be with the favour reserved for His perfect Son Jesus.
Jesus came to reconcile sinners to God.
This is included in the first reason that He came, but so often we forget that we are not only saved from sin and its consequences, being enemies of God…we are saved to relationship. God loves me and nothing can separate me from that love.
I am now in a relationship with the living God and seeking to grow so that in all I say and do this relationship drives and defines me.
Those who experience the richness of all this precious week means are now seeking to be able to say with Paul, TO LIVE IS CHRIST, TO DIE IS GAIN…
If you know personally and experientially this precious week’s purpose, you will seek to LOVE GOD with all you are and all you have!
Jesus came to purify for Himself a people who are His very own, eager to do what is good.
Not only are we forgiven and set free and drawn into an all defining relationship with God we are now His tool to accomplish His purposes.
We are now His work of art, and He has good works for us to walk in. We are now to live on mission for Him and His glory.
This means our lives have purpose and will in His strength and guidance make an impact on eternity. He will use us as His ambassadors to beautify His bride and help others bask in His love.
This week in history means that your life matters today! You are His very own, and now in the Spirit you can be eager to do His good for His glory.
Jesus came to glorify God.
As you follow the pain and glory of this most important week in history, you will see that Jesus came to glorify the Father and Himself. This was worth the price to be paid, and the price is more than we could ever imagine as He became sin, and paid the penalty for everyone who would believe in Him. Breathtaking pain for a purpose that made it a joy for Jesus to endure…
So now we live in light of this precious week and die to self and live to God’s glory. Jesus love and the pathway He walked become for us a life changing, aligning experience.
When we struggle with selfishness and the flesh, our only hope is to experience the love of God in the power of the Spirit as displayed in this precious week.
When we long for salvation now and are confused by what is going on around us in our own pain, this week changes our focus and we fixate on Jesus and follow His path with JOY.
When we see around us so many lost and hurting people who need forgiveness, we share with our lives and lips that hope can be found only in what this week in history offers.
Jesus is the only answer that will yield long term hope and joy…so we rest, rejoice, and recommit to live our lives for His glory no matter what the cost.
We choose to love Him, and love others even when the flesh distracts and disorients with a fixation with self.
This week changes everything…may it change you as you reflect on the richness of history which is HIS STORY.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY
Pastor Rob
Sunday Is Coming:
As you prepare your heart for our greatest celebration of the year, remember that Good Friday service is dark and delightful and we look forward to seeing you there…and celebrating the worst day in history in the context of its glory...
Resurrection Sunday: Title: The King Is Alive:
Text: Matthew 28:1-10
- How has Holy Week impacted your life?
- Why is this the most important week in history?
- How can you grow to live more in light of all that Jesus has accomplished?
- Why do you think the disciples were so confused by the happenings of this precious week?
- What do you think their hopes that were devastated were?
- Do you ever find yourself struggling with a misunderstanding/surface understanding of why Jesus died and was raised again?
- Who can you display the importance of this week too in your everyday life this week?
- Who can you invite to the service?
- How can you get to know the resurrected Lord more intimately?
Bulletin
Holy Week at Cloverdale Baptist
- Good Friday Service Apr. 18th at 10:30am
The Fellowship Hall will be reserved for young families. Nursery will be open but parent-supervised. - Pancake Breakfast Apr. 20th at 9:00am
- Resurrection Service Apr. 20th at 10:30am
Church Garden Clean-up Days
Sat. Apr. 26th & May 3rd / 10am – 1pm Come help us clean up our church garden! On Saturday, Apr. 26th we'll be weeding, bush trimming, window cleaning, and more! Then on Saturday, May 3rd, we'll spread bark mulch and garden rock—please bring wheelbarrows if possible. Some tools will be provided, but feel free to bring your own. All are welcome! Thanks for helping us keep our church property clean and tidy.
Women's Ministry Events
- Bridal Shower for Taryn Kloss: Monday, April 28th at 7pm in the Fellowship Hall. Join us as we encourage and support Taryn in this exciting new phase of her life. Sign up at cloverdalebaptist.ca/
Showers to bring a snack to share. - Ask the Pastor: Friday May 2nd at 7 pm in Fellowship Hall. Our second annual 'Ask the Pastor' event with Pastor Rob. Bring your Bible questions arising from our Bible study this past year or general questions. Light refreshments will be served. No RSVP needed.
Seniors' Lunch
Friday, May 2nd / 11:30 AM / Fellow. Hall Tickets are on sale in the foyer for the next 3 Sundays to our last Seniors' luncheon of the season, featuring a concert by the Pilkey Sisters a dynamic ladies trio. $20 for lunch and concert or $10 concert only. Don’t miss this special event.
