The Rock Weekly – April 16, 2025

  • Men’s Advance! Offsite retreat for Men this September 11-13. Lock-in your spot 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
  • Resurrection Sunday – We look forward to celebrating Christ’s resurrection this Sunday (4/20) at 9:45am

 

Jesus – The Risen King

“He (Jesus) set aside the first (covenant) to establish the second (covenant). And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all…When this priest (Jesus) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time He waits for His enemies to be made His footstool, because by one sacrifice He has made (will make) perfect forever those who are being made holy. 

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, LET US…”   Hebrews 10:9-10,12,19-21

 

Resurrection Sunday is this Sunday!  And for those who are followers of the Risen King…King Jesus, this is the most glorious day of the year, as we get to celebrate our Risen King!  But we don’t just celebrate the risen King, we also now walk out our lives under His wonderful lordship, in radical obedience to His commands and with His authority as Jesus now “waits for His enemies to be made His footstool”. Guess what part we get to play?  😊

So the question I have for us today is this:  What will we do with the greatest gift ever given to mankind?

In the verses of Hebrews that follow the Scriptures quoted above, the writer gives us some ‘suggestions’ that we may want to consider… 

1.       “LET US draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.” Heb 10:22  Jesus also tells us in John 15 that we are appointed by Him to bear much lasting fruit, but also that we cannot bear any fruit if we are apart from Him.  A life of prayer in the Spirit is the only way we can truly draw near to God with a sincere heart and abide in Him and produce lasting fruit!  May we press in to the Spirit for His guidance and wisdom and live our lives in abiding prayer!

2.       “LET US hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” Heb 10:23   We serve a King who is faithful in every way! He is described as the “image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation…the one who holds all things together!  When we focus our attention, our gaze, our hearts, and our minds on Jesus and allow Him to lead us day to day, knowing that our hope is not in the things of this world, but that our hope is in Christ  with a “faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life…” (Titus 1:2)

3.       “LET US consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Heb 10:24     When we ‘run the race’ alone, the journey can be arduous and we can at times want to give up, but when we run together, there is a greater strength and perseverance.  We were created to be a strength to one another.  God set it up this way. Apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 6 not to grow weary in doing good or to give up, so that we reap a harvest (FRUIT) and then he says, so “as you have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers.”  Be an encouragement and pray for the body of Christ! (Eph 6:18)

4.      “LET US not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, and LET US encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  Heb 10:25  This day and age, it is unfortunately easy to isolate ourselves from others and live our lives with minimal interaction with others.  We can go from our car to our garage without ever seeing a neighbor.  Many can work from home without any actual interaction with other people, and we can watch church services on-line in our own living room and never leave our home.  But we were created for ONENESS!  Jesus prays for this in John 17 and it is critical that we come together to pray, praise, encourage one another, teach, disciple, etc…  There is power in numbers.  Can you imagine the 120 gathering “on-line” on a Zoom call on the day of Pentecost? Acts 1:14 says “They all joined together (in one accord) constantly in prayer.”  We can tend to look at this as a one-time thing that was needed for the Acts 2 outpouring of the Spirit, but I believe God desires to see these Acts 2 outpourings continue…in even greater measure, but this will require coming together in one accord in times of prayer!  

Paul tells us in Eph 5:16-17 to “make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil…and to understand what the Lord’s will is.”  Lord, I pray that we seriously consider the ‘suggestions’ of Hebrews 10 and engage in the Lord’s will in even a greater way as we see the Day approaching! 

Happy Resurrection Day! I love you and look forward to being with you this Sunday!
Pastor Mike and your Rock Staff

P.S.  Watch this video.  This is a great encouragement of the King we serve! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzqTFNfeDnE




 

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.