The Rock Weekly – July 17, 2024

  • Wednesday – Prayer & Worship Night! @ 7pm in the Chapel or via Livestream.  
  • NO YOUTH Group this Wednesday due to Summer Youth Camp.  We will still have Children’s Ministry (up through 5th grade).
  • Wednesday – Growing in the Word – 6pm in the Prayer Room or via Zoom. 
  • NO Maranatha Prayer THIS Week (thru 7/19).  We will resume next Monday-Friday from 7am-9am – In the Tent (except Tues in the Chapel) All ages welcome. https://www.therock.org/maranatha/

 

A Treasure in the Heavens

As we have been looking at the Biblical reality of Koinonia (the Greek term that often gets translated as “fellowship”) the last few Sunday’s, I have been both encouraged and challenged to lay hold of this in a greater way. In our pursuit of this call to die to ourselves and live for God as we pour into others, we need to keep before us the motivating factor of eternal rewards. 

After Peter preached his first sermon in Acts 2 and the crowds repented of their sins and put their faith in Jesus as the one true King and the only way to be saved from the wrath of God, they began to obey his commandments with great zeal. Here are the verses again that we have looked at the past few Sunday’s. 

(Act 2:42, 44-45) “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. …  And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”

But why such zeal? Why was there no delayed obedience? I believe that it had to do with their belief that Jesus was coming back soon to establish the kingdom of God and reward His servants. Peter had just told them that Jesus had ascended to the “right hand of God” which is a quote from Psalm 110. This Psalm goes on to say that this kingly figure will administer God’s justice on earth among two groups of people; His people and His enemies. In a show of allegiance to identify themselves as “His people” instead of His enemies, the people began to radically obey the King’s commands. 

As they began to follow the apostles’ teaching, one of the first commands of the King they put into practice was this… 

(Luke 12:32-24) “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. “

The new believers of Acts 2 heard about the “divine trade” that was being offered to them, and they took it very seriously. I can imagine them thinking, “So I can take my possessions here and use them to provide for my brother that is in need, and in doing so Jesus will reward me with treasures that will never pass away in His eternal kingdom that He will establish when He returns. You bet I’m going to obey that!” Their radical obedience was dynamically connected to their belief that they would be rewarded when the King returns. 

I want to encourage us that as we lay down our lives and pour into others in Biblical fellowship, our labors will not go unnoticed and Jesus will really reward us when we stand before Him in the resurrection. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the same zeal as the early church, and know that the time for His return is nearer now than when we first believed. (Romans 13:11) 

Have a blessed week,
Pastor Marcus and your Rock Staff


 

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/

 

GROWING IN THE WORD – 6:00pm Wednesdays
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/99757846764?pwd=Tm8zQ0JQWk1xeHFBcEU5anNFN1l4dz09

 

YOUTH ~ BASE CAMP (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.