The “prosperity gospel” has seeped into our lives. The idea that God’s plan for us is to be financially prosperous, physically healthy, and generally happy is the summary of this “gospel.” What sounds great has led to damaging spiritual thinking in all of our lives. It is hard to avoid. We see it in the way we pray, the way we respond to trials & difficulties, and in how we view sickness & suffering. It is tempting to think that God has let us down.
Let me be perfectly clear, God has not let us down. God never promised “prosperity.” God never assured our health would never fail. And God never declared that we were created for happiness. Does this mean that God is not good? No way. Does this mean that God does not care? Not a chance. Does this mean that God is distant and not with us in our trials? Never.
What suffering, trials, testing, and disappointments mean is that God has designed us for something greater. God has designed us for eternal holiness. God has designed us in His image. God has designed us to be spiritually aligned with Him! May we trust God in this design. May we base our lives on being spiritually right with God and not on the material things of this world!
Is this hard in trials? Yes. Can we find joy in our own strength and plan in suffering? Nope. We need God’s perspective for life, God’s help in our weakness, and God’s joy in our salvation. When we fully embrace God and His design for eternal life with Him, we see our trials as a vehicle to holiness, eternal joy, and fully realized love. May we at The Rock seek God and His ways! May we fully embrace the true gospel of Jesus!
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." - James 1:2-4
- Pastor Curt
Theological Word of the Week:
Love
When used of God, the doctrine that God eternally gives of himself to others.
Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology
Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology
Upcoming Events
Children's Ministry
This week Rock Kids will be digging into the story of God creating us in His image, found in Genesis 1. The kids will learn the Bible point "God is creative, so we're creative." Most younger kids think they're creative. But as kids start to age, some kids get the message that creativity just isn't their thing. We want to help kids see that they're created in the image of the Creator. God is creative, and that creativity is infused into each of us in different ways.
-Cameron
Sermon Topic - May 19
Paul Duncan
April 2019 YTD