Perhaps the most amazing thing about the Christian life is that one day we “shall see God.” Seeing God is at the pinnacle of all religions. It is a human’s greatest goal. How to do this is the most historically debated religious issue. The Bible, of course, answers this question for us. We will see God if we have been made right with God. And the only way to be made right with God is faith in Jesus. Faith that Jesus has forgiven our sins and faith that Jesus has also lived a righteous life for us. Faith (belief) in Jesus guarantees this exchange of our sin for Jesus’s righteousness. This is how we become “pure in heart.”
Eating healthy is a big deal in the South Bay. We are obsessed with health, fitness and clean eating. This also means we have a good understanding of what junk food does to our bodies. It is a relatively simple formula - eating healthy = being physically healthy (another formula is - eating unhealthy = being physically unhealthy). God knows we understand eating (historically - not just in modern South Bay!). That is why eating metaphors are used throughout the Bible. In The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us to hunger and thirst for righteousness - have a healthy spiritual diet. And if we do, we will be satisfied. This is profound in a world that tries to find satisfaction in life through an unhealthy spiritual diet. And are left unsatisfied.
It amazes me in life how God speaks to us in basic terms, then we pursue almost the exact opposite in our lives and in the church. The pull of the kingdom of the world is powerful. The influence of the flesh, the world, and the devil grips us in ways that are hard for us to understand. But Jesus gives us hope. When we “look at God” through Bible reading, teaching, and application to our lives, we see life according to God’s vision for us. We see our faith reflecting Jesus’s words rather than the shallow interpretations of our hearts. We see how God desires us to live. The Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount are some of the most radical, counter-cultural teachings in history.
“Stranger Things” was a mega-hit TV show during the pandemic. It portrayed a group of young kids in a cosmic battle between good and evil. The key to the show was that things were not as they seemed. In fact, there was an “upside-down world” that was unseen. Understanding this “upside-down world” was the key to winning the battle between good and evil. Does this sound familiar? Of course it does! The entire Christian life is a battle between good and evil. Between the forces of darkness and light. This battle is unseen, but by no means not understood. In our sermon series on The Sermon on the Mount this week I will examine another “upside-down world.”
I am super excited about this Sunday! Here is why: 1) We are meeting outside for the rest of the Summer - bring your lawn chairs, good vibes, and hearts ready to worship; 2) There is a BBQ. What better way to kick off the “Outdoor Service SZN” that with a classic Rock BBQ! Click to go into full message to sign-up to bring food; 3) I am starting a new sermon series in Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount. I’m pumped for what Jesus has for our church in this series; 4) Sign-ups start for The Rock’s Men’s Retreat on October 3-5. Sign-up this Sunday. Let’s GOOOOOO!
We are in for a special treat this Sunday. As a big group from The Rock comes home from the Mexico house build, Chris Cannon will be filling in for me. I want to encourage everyone to be there to worship, hear the Word, and gather in fellowship. I look forward to being with everyone this Sunday!
Happy 4th of July! Every few years I preach a 4th of July sermon. My main goal is to examine the relationship between patriotism & our walk with Jesus. In this moment in our country where there is an intense discussion on what true patriotism is all about, we must know what patriotism means to us as Christians. Let’s gather this Sunday to worship the God who is above all things… even country.
This Sunday The Rock is in for a special treat. Our guest preacher, Bill MacPhee, is sharing his amazing testimony. If you have never heard Bill recount his life-changing accident, you will be blessed. It is not only a miracle that he is alive, it is a miracle how God has used a terrible accident for good in the Kingdom. Early in Bill’s life he fell from a cliff on a youth group mountaineering trip. He will share his perspective with us on Sunday. Do whatever you can to be there and hear Bill’s amazing testimony!
The final words of Paul’s letter to Timothy are a summary of the themes of the entire letter. The first theme is to protect & guard the sound doctrine that God has given the church. The second theme is to avoid the false teachers that are wishing to draw Christians away from that same sound doctrine. Paul’s call to Timothy applies just as much to us today as it did to the Ephesian church in the 1st century. After all, the very last phrase of the book is; “Grace be with you.” The “you” here is in the plural. It is meant for the entire church in Ephesus in the letter. And I believe Paul’s words continue to us today in our modern world.
Fatherhood in the Bible is mostly connected to character. And character is connected to imitating Jesus. So being a good father has everything to do with being a godly man. Godliness is the goal of Christian men. Combining this in contemporary American life is tricky. Christian men are bombarded with stereotypes of men that are in competition with God’s ideal for men. As we gather this Sunday on Father’s Day, I will preach on what Godly masculinity is all about.
As we move into the Summer months, we look forward to some topical sermons. I Timothy is coming to a close and a Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) sermon series begins in July. So let’s gather to hear all God has for us in the next few weeks!
Paul has just given some final instructions to Timothy and the Ephesian church in I Timothy 6:11-16. He even concluded with a soaring prayer & benediction about God. And to top it all off, he said; “Amen.” It seems that the letter has come to a conclusion. But Paul needed to say one more thing! And I imagine that this one more thing was important. Why else would he keep going after he said; “Amen?”
As we approach the end of I Timothy, Paul gives a final encouragement to “keep the commandment.” (I Tim. 6:14a) The motivation that Paul gives Timothy is the same motivation we have today to live our lives for God. And that motivation is God! The Bible lists at least eight things about God that will motivate us to follow His commandments. In summary, here they are: God’s presence, God as life-giver, the example of Jesus, Jesus’s 2nd coming, God’s sovereignty, God’s immortality, God as unapproachable light, and God’s invisibility. Just listing these qualities and attributes causes the Apostle Paul to praise God and say “Amen!”
Fighting is a part of life. We fight when we shouldn’t - in relationships, with neighbors, at work or school. We enjoy watching fights - UFC, political debates, and, of course, Real Housewives. And we fight because God tells us to fight - “Fight the good fight of the faith…” (I Tim. 6:12a) It is eternally important that we do not confuse these different types of fights. God’s command to fight comes with the assumption we fight like Jesus fights. We fight for the right things - our souls, true doctrine. We fight against the right things - sin, the devil, death. And we fight in the right way - faithfully, gently, lovingly.
If you looked at the title of this post, the first question you may have asked is, “Who is Eunice?” Eunice is known for at least two things. First, she is the mother of Timothy in the Bible. Second, and most importantly, Eunice is recognized by both Paul (2 Timothy 1:5) and Luke (Acts 16:1) for her faith in Jesus! Eunice’s faith is at the center of her motherhood. Biblically, a mother’s faith in Jesus is the most important factor in making a mom a “good mom.”
In our modern American context, there are certain topics seen as not fit for casual conversation. Topics like politics, money, and the health of one’s marriage. Why are these topics taboo? Because they produce strong opinions and emotions! Which is exactly why we need to discuss them biblically! We are ready to discuss two of these at The Rock…
In our modern American context, there are certain topics seen as not fit for casual conversation. Topics like politics, money, and the health of one’s marriage. Why are these topics taboo? Because they produce strong opinions and emotions! Which is exactly why we need to discuss them biblically! We are ready to discuss two of these at The Rock…
“He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!!!”
Let us join together Easter Sunday Morning to proclaim this truth that has been proclaimed since the disciples gathered together the 1st Easter!
We are gathering together to celebrate and worship at 9:00 am this Sunday. Arrive early - there will be coffee and donuts available at 8:45 am.
We will walk through the passion week this Sunday through singing and readings. Beginning with Palm Sunday, then walking through the last supper, betrayal of Jesus, the trials, the crucifixion, and the burial of Jesus we will feel what the crowds following Jesus felt. Then on Easter… Resurrection!!!
I’ve said a number of times in church; “We want to make a big deal about Easter!” I mean it. One way we are making a big deal about Easter is to dedicate the next 3 Sundays to the Easter message. This Sunday I will preach on the need for Jesus - our sin. We will then go out to eat together after communion. Sunday, April 13 is Palm Sunday where we will walk through the passion week in song and readings. And most importantly, at 9:00 am on Sunday, April 20 we will celebrate Easter together. I will preach out of Luke 24:28-35 reminding us that God has met our need for a Savior with the resurrected Jesus!
