The Rock Weekly – October 30, 2024

  • Regional Prayer & Worship tonight at 7pm in the Chapel.
  • Family Sunday with 9am BREAKFAST this Sunday – Join us in the Foyer followed by our Family service where we foster group discussions & discipleship.
  • NEW!! Foundations Class – Wednesday nights at 6pm in the Prayer Room (behind the Sanctuary).  Build your Foundation on the truths of God’s Word!
  • SEE our on-going events at the bottom…including Tonight’s Prayer & Worship Service @ 7pm in the Chapel or Livestream.  Youth/BaseCamp @ 7pm in the Student auditorium.  And Children @ 6:45pm in the Children’s Wing.

 

Living Out The Maranatha Cry

Last Sunday we heard from our guest speaker, Joel Richardson, about restoring the Maranatha cry. Maranatha is an Aramaic word that means “The Lord is Coming” or “Come Lord”. This was both a statement of faith in the early church, but also a cry of intercession spoke from a longing heart.  

Every denomination believes that the Lord has come and has dealt with sin through His death and resurrection, but it is also important to believe that the Lord is coming again, and to fully embrace this reality with our lives.

The central message of the 2nd coming of Jesus is that the Father is sending His Son to bring everything back into alignment with His perfect will (Eph. 1:10) and to reward the righteous (Matt. 13:43) who are eagerly waiting for Him (Heb. 9:28). 

Can you imagine a world without war (Is. 2:4), without poverty (Is. 11:4) or without the pride of man (Is. 2:11)? Does it encourage you that there’s coming a day when all causes of mourning, crying, and pain will not be experienced anymore (Rev. 21:4)? When every knee will bow and serve our glorious King Jesus (Phil. 2:10-11; Is. 45:23), and He will fill the earth with His glory liken to how the waters cover the sea (Hab. 2:14; Is. 11:9). These are glorious realities, but there is also another side.

Though the Bible proclaims this incredible future, it also teaches that the believers will be rewarded on that day to the extent of their obedience in this age to the commandments of Jesus. If we live our lives in alignment with His will, we will have a glorious acceptance into His Kingdom (2 Pet. 1:11), but if we squander the time He has given us, then we will experience a certain amount of regret when He returns even though we might still experience salvation. This regret will be reflected in the lack of reward we experience in His kingdom (1 Cor. 3:14-15). 

Holding these two realities in tension, the goodness of God in His reward and the fear of the Lord in His evaluation of our lives, helps us to respond with our whole hearts to obey all that Jesus commanded. 

This is why the writer of Hebrews tells us to constantly encourage one another to genuine love and good works (Heb. 10:24). The plans and purposes He has for our lives then, are related to the assignments and obedience He calls us to now. We actually taste “of the powers of the age to come” now (Heb. 6:5) and step into the work He has for us to do in hope of the glorious rewards He has promised. 

So as we look forward to the future with the cry of “Come, Lord Jesus” in our hearts and on our lips, let us “set our hands to the plow” (Lk.9:62) and with the help of the Holy Spirit, live our lives in obedience to all the commands that Jesus taught us to observe.

With Love,
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/

 

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.