The Rock Weekly – February 5, 2025
- This Sunday – Special Guest Chad Dedmon will be with us!
- Monday, February 24th – Men’s Movie Night in the Chapel at 6pm
- Sunday, March 9th – Baptisms. Email Family@therock.org
Christ’s Courageous Ambassadors of Love
For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message (ministry) of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” [2 Cor 5:19-20]
This Sunday you are going to have the amazing opportunity to hear from our guest speaker Chad Dedmon. Chad and his wife Julia are currently leading Encountering Jesus Ministries and Catch the Wave, which primarily focus on equipping the church to encounter Jesus through worship, prayer, and evangelism. You are going to love hearing from Chad and my hope is that you go away with a greater zeal to be “strong and courageous ambassadors of love”.
Last week we studied our Call to the Action of Love and connected this action of love to the breastplate of righteousness that Paul tells us we must put on so that we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes. And then we looked at how the commands of Christ really boil down to loving one another with the love Christ showed us – by laying down His life. By the end of our time together, it became evident that living in the action of this love that Jesus commands of us can only happen by His grace and Holy Spirit empowering us to love in a way the world cannot understand or walk in. Don’t you love that Jesus isn’t asking us to do anything on our own, but makes it so that we MUST rely on God to accomplish His commands? When God told Joshua to take the promised land, He gave Joshua the instructions to ‘be strong and courageous’ and to ‘not be terrified or discouraged’ because He would be with Joshua wherever he set his foot and would not leave or forsake him. That sounds very similar to the ‘great commission’ Jesus gives us in Matthew 28. Here is a quick comparison…
| Joshua 1 (Commission to Joshua) “I will give you every place where you set your foot” “No one will be able to stand up against you” “Be strong and courageous” “Be careful to obey all the commands” “Be careful to do everything written in it” “Be strong and courageous” “I will be with you. I will never leave or forsake you.” “The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” |
Matthew 28 (Commission to Us) “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me (Jesus). Therefore (you) go…” “Make disciples” (take the land) “Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.” “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” |
The life of Joshua reminds me of another Bible story where the Lord comes to Gideon who has been oppressed by the Midianites who have invaded their land and ravaged it. As Gideon was in the middle of hiding wheat from the Midianites in a winepress, the Lord’s Messenger appeared to Gideon and said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” To which Gideon replied, “Then why is all this happening to us?…the Lord has abandoned us…” Then the Lord said to Gideon, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?…Surely I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.” It doesn’t end there, but Gideon requires a few more confirmations from the Lord before leading 300 men into battle against 135,000 swordsmen and defeating them! Read Judges 6-8 to refresh your memory of this amazing victory.
May we be encouraged by these stories of Joshua and Gideon, because it was not their strength or ability or number of warriors with them that gave them victory, it was because of their courage and obedience to the Lord’s commission and as a result, the Lord was faithful to be with them and fight the battles for them! In the same way, may we take courage and engage in obedience to the Matthew 28 commission as Christ’s Courageous Ambassadors of Love TODAY and everyday, not because of our great wisdom or strength, but because Jesus has promised to be with us ALWAYS, to the end of the age!
“As God’s fellow workers, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain…I tell you, NOW IS THE TIME of God’s favor, TODAY is the day of SALVATION!” (2 Cor 6:1-2)
I love you and may the Lord be with you! See you tonight for prayer & worship at 7pm and again this Sunday morning!
Pastor Mike & 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/
FOUNDATIONS CLASS – 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.