To God’s Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
Change is hard…unless it is a change we want and are in charge of…then change is happy.
In fact change is the point of the Gospel, a new experience of His love and a full devotion to live for His glory.
This is the last Sunday to Sunday in this format, and maybe the most important. We are seeking to always improve the way we follow Jesus command to MAKE DISCIPLES as a church family, and one of the key ways that we do that is communication…so we are planning, God willing, to make this update a part of a larger communication tool to help us succeed more effectively in living radically God centred lives in a world that denies and distracts where we long for devotion.
So, God willing and Elias plans coming to fruition, this is the last Sunday 2 Sunday in this format....
This week we are currently in, follows a celebration of the most important week in all of history. In some ways it can be a little bit of a let-down. Hearts anticipating Good Friday, Dark Saturday and the glory of Resurrection Sunday is emotionally exhausting and engaging. For me personally it is the best week of the year…yes filled with agony and angst, but also the display of God’s love for me and full forgiveness offered causing my heart to rest and rejoice and recommit to live in intimate devotion to the risen Savior. I love celebrating the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and this is most focused upon last week…so WHAT NOW?
I love that question, and really it comes with three possible responses…and really only three.
Disengage:
This is the response of most who heard of the happenings of that special week, even of most who walked in the celebration of Palm Sunday, the horror of Good Friday, and the glory of the news of the RISEN CHRIST.
Most kept on living just as they had always lived. We learn on the road to Emmaus that everyone was talking about these events, but most continued on with their normal lives…ignoring and distracting themselves from what had occurred.
They are not angry with Jesus they just ignore Him. This should have been impossible, but human nature causes many to pretend like what happened didn’t really matter. Like what Jesus has done for us was a nice story to be talked about once in a while, but not to change our lives, and the less we think about it and the more we think about other things the better.
Today we have people like this all around us and even in churches. Talk to me about sports, or politics, or the latest movie or TV show and it engages my heart and mind much more than the glory of the risen Savior and what He has accomplished. Please avoid talking about God's glory, or God's Word, or God's mission, and let me carry on with my normal life...
If you are disengaged, and find your heart cold to the glory of the risen KING, the first step to engaging your heart in the glorious love of God is to be aware…
Don’t DISENGAGE from the most glorious PERSON in history!
Deny:
The crowds seemingly disengaged and carried on with life…but what about the people that really knew what had happened. This is a little terrifying but the religious leaders and guards who were to keep Jesus in the tomb knew what happened…and after careful conisderation denied it and sought to decieve others. In fact in seeking to protect their current lives and their temporary power and pursuits they fought against what they knew to be true.
They lied to others (and maybe even themselves) and fought against what they had witnessed. They knew the Gospel to be true, but the cost to their current lives was to great so they denied it, even to themselves in angst.
There are those who want so much to pursue their earthly pleasures and powers that they don’t just disengage and distract, they fight with lies...even what they know to be true.
These usually aren’t as big a crowd, but if you find yourself in this world of deceivers and deniers, be aware of what you are trying to protect by denying the empty tomb. Yes Jesus demands that we are committed to Him and His mission, but it is way better for us now and for eternity. Yes there is a cost to following Jesus and it means a loss of all we once held dear…but a gain of intimacy with Jesus, a security and significance that no one and nothing can take from us.
Devote:
Most disengage and distract, some deny and deceive, but some women and then the disciples devoted their lives to Jesus.
The empty tomb, the risen Savior, changes everything. They grab His feet showing a deep devotion and intimacy with the risen Savior....then they choose to live in an all defining relationship with Him.
Now their lives are His, now they have a joy that can’t be stolen, now they will live for His glory no matter what the cost, really as Matthew so profoundly emphasizes…NOW THEY WILL WORSHIP with their entire lives.
You can’t come to this week in history without responding in one of the three ways we see in history and we see now.
So, really for all of us, the questions is which group do we belong to?
If HE IS RISEN…
And HE IS RISEN INDEED…
Then the only group that makes any sense to belong to is the one that is DEVOTED TO JESUS.
So will you acknowledge the reality of the risen Savior, and then devote your life to Him to be lived for Him and His glory....forgiven and fully devoted. Reconciled and radically committed?
Really this is the only thing that makes sense, and then no matter what comes your way, which for these precious women and the disciples included some pretty painful things, you will rejoice and live in light of the risen Savior and all He has accomplished.
He is Risen
HE IS RISEN INDEED…
So, don’t Disengage, don’t Deny, but DEVOTE YOUR LIFE TO THE ONE WHO LOVES YOU THIS MUCH…there is no greater way to live your life then to know Him and make Him known!
A Devoted Follower,
Pastor Rob
Sunday Is Coming:
As you prepare your hearts to share God's love with others, exalt His name in song, and hear from His Word, prayerfully get your life ready by DEVOTING it to Him. He is RISEN and He is SENDING...
Title: The King Is Sending
Text: Matthew 28:18-20
- What is the mandate that Jesus calls His followers to accomplish with their lives?
- What is a disciple?
- Why do you think Jesus includes baptism?
- Why do you think that Jesus includes teaching them to obey all that He has commanded them?
- How are you obeying Jesus in this command with your life now?
- How do you ensure that you are submitting to His authority even as you are practicing His presence?
Bulletin
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.
Men’s Breakfast
Sat. May 3rd / 8:30 AM / Fellow. Hall Men of all ages, come and enjoy a wonderful breakfast, fellowship, and spiritual food together!
