Rock Weekly Update – 9/8/21

“Following His Footsteps”

Dear Rock Family,

 

  • LEIF & JENNIFER HETLAND are with us THIS SUNDAY!   If you haven’t met or heard Leif & Jennifer speak, I want to strongly encourage you not to miss this Sunday.  Leif is an author,  international speaker, and papa of The Rock.  If you have heard Leif before, I know you will be there. 
  • Guest Speaker Dan Yeackley will be sharing a NOW message for the Church tonight at 6:45pm tonight.

 

 

1 John 2:6 “Whoever claims to abide in Him, must walk as Jesus did.”

I remember back as a young boy going to the ocean and loving the times of walking along the beach.  One of my favorite things to do was try and follow in the footsteps of my dad or others who have walked before me.  The problem was that it was difficult to take those “big” steps and often required more of a jump or a leap from one footstep to the next.  I want to equate this to the “walk” we are called to have in the footsteps of Jesus.

1 Peter 2:21 “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you.  Jesus is your example, and you must follow in His steps.”

Reading these words can give us an overwhelming feeling.  If we are honest with ourselves and each other, this walk we are called to as followers of Jesus sometimes feels daunting.  The steps of Jesus are so much bigger and sometimes look to be so far apart that it feels like we can’t get to the next footstep.  And every so often we may try to leap to the next step and end up completely missing the footstep, or possibly losing our balance and falling down.  Ever been there?

When we hear the words of 1 Peter 1:15 “Just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.”, this can seem like one of those HUGE steps.  I would like to tell you “the secret” that makes it all really easy to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, but that would be a lie.  Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 1:9 that there will be times where we may feel the sentence of death on our lives as we walk in the footsteps of Jesus.  But then Paul reminds us that the purpose of this is so we will not rely on ourselves, but on God, who raises the dead!  Jesus tells us something very similar in John 16:33 – “We will have trouble in this world, but take heart, I have overcome the world!”

So here is my charge and encouragement for us:  Although we may face trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger or the sword (death), we will be more than conquerors as we keep our eyes on Jesus and walk according to His Word.  As we keep our eyes on Jesus, there is no external force or power, or thing in all creation that is able to separate us from God’s eternal love! (from Rom 8:35-39)

And as we walk according to the Word, it will be a lamp to our feet and a light for our path!  (Ps 119:105)

May we never live our lives according to what the world has to offer, but may every step we take be at the direction of the Spirit and according to Truth so that our lives remain a spiritual act of worship to God…for the glory of God!

I love you all and am honored and blessed to be on this walk and journey with you!  May we lock our shields of faith together as we walk by faith (Jesus and the Word) and not by sight (worldly wisdom)!

We love you!
Pastors Mike & Kristi and your Rock Staff family

 

 

IMPORTANT SERVICE & WEEKLY INFORMATION:

WEDNESDAY NIGHT SERVICE (9/8)  6:45pm * In-Person & On-Line – With Guest Speaker Dan Yeackley

Facebook Live:  https://www.facebook.com/rockchurchco
The Rock Online Livestream:  https://www.therock.org/live/

 

YOUTH ~BASE CAMP (6th – 12th Grade) – WEDNESDAY NIGHT (9/8) – 7:00pm

Join us in the Student Auditorium!  Contact Pastor Kristi at kristi@therock.org with any questions.

 

1st Thursday of the Month (10/7) Hot Meals & Saturday Morning (9/11) Food Bank Distribution

https://www.therock.org/foodbank/

Email Lindy@therock.org if you have any questions or would like to volunteer.

 

SUNDAY MORNING (9/12) 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

Passcode: 1   (NOTE: The Passcode was added for security,

              but is not needed if you click on the ZOOM link above.)
              ZOOM Phone Option +12532158782,,85340164797#

 

SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE (9/12) 9:45am  *In-Person & On-line* – With Guest Speaker Leif Hetland

Facebook Live:  https://www.facebook.com/rockchurchco
The Rock Online Livestream:  https://www.therock.org/live/

 

OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE  If you would like to give to The Rock, here are some convenient ways you can partner with us 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.