Pastor Curt’s weekly thoughts on God, The Rock Church, and our faith.
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!
One thing that puzzles me is how to view people in history regarding slavery. We must confront America’s history of our country’s leaders owning slaves. It becomes an intense discussion in Christian circles about Christian leaders, pastors, and theologians owning slaves. The Bible is not always clear on whether God approves or disapproves of slavery. Quite honestly, God approving of slavery would be disturbing if understood in the wrong way. Does our passage in I Timothy 6:1-2 justify slavery of all sorts? That is the question I seek to answer this Sunday.
There are horror stories about the ways churches treat their pastors. From low pay (or no pay) to false accusations to general mistrust. There are also horror stories about the ways pastors have sinned against people in their churches. From abuse of power to laziness to false teaching. In 1 Timothy 5:17-25 the Apostle Paul gives instruction that is balanced and fair on how the pastor/church relationship should exist. Pastors are a part of the family. There are family rules about how they should be treated and how they should be accountable to the church.
The world and the Kingdom of God often have 180 degree different views on life. How older adults are valued is a big one. The world tells us that older people are over the hill, past their prime, and even invisible. God’s Kingdom takes a totally opposite view. The Bible teaches that older adults are valued for their wisdom, experience, knowledge, and street smarts. Not only are older adults not put out to pasture, but are used as warriors in God’s church. One great example is the widows in I Timothy 5:9-16. Widows are to be enrolled into service in the church. To disciple. To mentor. To pray. To serve. To live their entire life for Jesus!
God has been clear since the beginning of time regarding who He wants us to be. In Leviticus, God calls for us to be holy (Lev. 19:2). In Micah, God calls us to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.” (Micah 6:8). In the New Testament, God calls us to love God and love neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). And in the book of James, God tells us what pure and undefiled religion is all about; “visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world…” (James 1:27). All of these callings reflect the heart of God. Loving. Compassionate. Kind. Merciful. Gracious. God’s heart is to be imitated by each of us. This week in our study in I Timothy, God gives specific instructions on how to care for widows. What an opportunity to mimic the heart of God!
One of the traditions at The Rock that I look forward to each month is dinner after communion. It makes sense. It fits. To gather as a community to eat after our sacred gathering as the community of God around the Lord’s Table sounds exactly like the right thing to do! On top of it being good and right, we get to do it the first Sunday of every month!
We’ve all heard the phrase; “Friends that become family.” It is really a beautiful sentiment. I have experienced this with people and am blessed because of it. Life is good when you have friends that feel like family. In the Christian life the phrase is often reversed; “Family that become friends.” Why? It is because the Bible teaches that when one becomes a Christian, they are called children of God. And as children of God, all Christians are therefore brothers and sisters. Family! Then when we meet one another in church (already family), we become friends. I love it.
We live in a world with many competing voices. Voices that demand our attention come from the internet, social media, YouTube, mainstream media, and even our friends and family. It can be overwhelming and confusing. If you are anything like me, it is nice when there is a clear voice with confident authority that clarifies what is important, and what is not. In our passage in I Timothy 4:11-16 this week, the Apostle Paul clarifies what is important for a pastor to focus on in order to serve the church. The simple command is to “keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching…” It is a command to have strong character and solid biblical doctrine.
IMPORTANT SERVICE CHANGE
This Saturday is our Super Saturday Service. We will meet at normal 4:30 pm service time, BUT on Saturday rather than Sunday (There will be no service on Sunday). Please mark your calendars, put a note on your fridge, and/or tie a string on your finger. Anything that helps you remember to head to church Saturday night instead of Sunday this weekend!
One of the things I can guarantee the coaches of the football teams going to the Super Bowl will say next week is; “Avoid the noise!” They are speaking to all the nonsense the media, internet, and fans are saying about the big game. The “noise” comes from people who do not have an understanding of exactly what goes into playing a winning football game. Those who have not been trained to coach, play, and win football games bring the noise. The Apostle Paul is saying something similar in I Timothy 4:7; “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths.” The Bible is essentially saying; “Avoid the noise!”
Church life mirrors our regular lives. There are joys & sorrows. Triumphs & failures. Victories & losses. One of the saddest aspects of church life for me is when people depart from the faith. There are many reasons why people leave their first love, Jesus. And all of the reasons have one common denominator - the deceitful lies of Satan. The Apostle Paul warns the Ephesian church about these departures. He warns the Ephesian Elders in the book of Acts 20:29-30 before he wrote to Timothy. He warns the church again through his letter to Timothy in I Timothy 4:1-5. And he is still warning us today through these words.
This week we watched as wind and fire ravaged local communities. In the worst wildfire loss in Los Angeles history people lost their homes, were evacuated not knowing what they would return to, and were left worried for family and neighbors all over town. Many have said it looked and felt apocalyptic. As of today, we still are having trouble grasping the enormity of loss. These are moments when we feel like we are going through the storm Jesus talked about in Matthew 7:24-27. The storm that can be prepared for by building your metaphorical house on rock or sand. If we build on the sand of not listening and heeding God’s words, we will be left with nothing to help us. But if we build on the rock, Jesus tells us that no matter what the storm, our spiritual house will not fall.
