The Rock Weekly – April 30, 2025

  • TONIGHT: Regional Prayer & Worship Night – 7pm in the Chapel
  • Family Breakfast this Sunday at 9am in the foyer
  • Corporate Prayer & Fasting is this Thursday-Saturday (5/1 – 5/3)  
  • National Day of Prayer – Thursday (5/1) 12-1pm at County building east steps in downtown Castle Rock (301 Wilcox St.)
  • 400 Gathering – This Sunday at 6pm and Monday 9am-3pm (lunch at noon Monday with RSVP). Click to RSVP
  • Men’s Advance – Sept 11-13! Mountain retreat for Men with Jake Hamilton. Lock-in the early-bird rate with a $100 deposit https://www.therock.org/advance/
  • Youth Summer Camp – July 14-18 For more information and to register go to: therock.org/youth

 

A House Of Prayer

“He was teaching them: “Is it not written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves!”,
-Mark 11:17 CSB

In this passage, Mark records Jesus cleansing the temple by driving out people who were using the space for their own gain rather than God’s glory, and to further communicate the point, Jesus begins teaching the people from Isaiah 56:7:

“I will bring them to my holy mountain and let them rejoice in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”  (CSB)

This act of purifying motives and refocusing priorities is just as applicable to us some 2,000 years later. Granted, we don’t have money-changing tables in the church atrium, but perhaps we have focused more on our own wants & needs rather than God’s? This verse comes to mind: 

“You expected much, but then it amounted to little. When you brought the harvest to your house, I ruined it. Why?” This is the declaration of the LORD of Armies. “Because My house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house.”  
-Haggai 1:9 CSB 

I don’t want it to be said of me that I didn’t build a house for God (house of prayer) because I was too busy with my own house. I desire to live with the eternal perspective that rightly prioritizes God, His presence, prayer, and ministry to Him. 

It’s becoming very apparent that God is stirring our church to embrace prayer in a significant and corporate way. This is much more than just our typical “quiet time” or pre-meal prayers. This is the type of intercession that the Bible calls “crying out” to God…as we see when Jesus prayed during His days on the earth. (Hebrews 5:7) 

I would ask that as we prepare our hearts for Sunday, we ask the Holy Spirit to “cleanse the temple” of our lives so that we would rightly give God the first place, and that we would be a people who build His house instead of being too busy with our own. 

Be blessed,
Pastor Andrew & The Rock Staff

 

P.S. If you’d like to grow in prayer and want a resource in addition to the Bible, our staff have been very encouraged by Fresh Wind Fresh Fire by: Jim Cymbala, Why Revival Tarries by: Leonard Ravenhill, and any of the works on prayer by E.M. Bounds.

 

 

IMPORTANT SERVICE & WEEKLY INFORMATION:

WEDNESDAY NIGHT WORSHIP & PRAYER SERVICE  7:00pm * In-Person & On-Line *
Facebook Live:  https://www.facebook.com/rockchurchco
The Rock Online Livestream:  https://www.therock.org/live/

 

FOUNDATIONS CLASS – 6:00pm Wednesdays
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/99757846764?pwd=Tm8zQ0JQWk1xeHFBcEU5anNFN1l4dz09

 

YOUTH ~ ABIDE YOUTH (6th – 12th Grade) – WEDNESDAY NIGHT – 7:00pm
Invite a friend and come have a great time. If you have any questions, email jaden@therock.org

 

FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTION – 1st & 3rd Saturday of each Month
https://www.therock.org/foodbank/
Email Lindy@therock.org if you would like to volunteer or have questions.

 

SUNDAY MORNING PRE-SERVICE PRAYER  8:15-9:15am – *In-Person & On-line*
ZOOM Direct Video Link:
           https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85340164797?pwd=V0lmWFRRL0R6Tm56QTdRUHNoMWI3QT09
ZOOM Meeting ID: 853 4016 4797
          ZOOM Phone Option +12532158782,,85340164797#

 

SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE 9:45am  *In-Person & On-line*
           Facebook Live:  https://www.facebook.com/rockchurchco
The Rock Online Livestream:  https://www.therock.org/live/

 

OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE  Here are some ways you can partner with The Rock as you practice generosity – our regular tithe/giving, compassion help, missions, and our food bank.  Click on the following link or graphic.  www.therock.org/give

 

Have a Question, Need Prayer, Help, Feel Alone, or Disconnected?

Please email us at family@therock.org and put QUESTION, PRAYER, NEED HELP, or CONNECT ME at the top of your email.