The Rock Weekly – October 1, 2025

  • Family Breakfast THIS Sunday at 9am in the foyer!

Go to www.therock.org/events for information on upcoming events

 

Obedience Over Sacrifice & Actions Over Words

 “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech, but with actions and in truth.” – 1 John 3:18 

 “He (Jesus) will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”  – 2 Thess 1:8

Dear Rock Family,

Let me start by saying that apart from the blood of Jesus and the grace of God, we have no eternal life with our Lord.  But in this email, I want to highlight a theme in the Scriptures that is often overlooked or justified as something that is no longer of great importance because of the grace of God through the blood of Jesus.  I am talking about obedience to Christ.

Now the question at hand isn’t whether we are walking in obedience.  The question is who are we walking in obedience to?  In the Bible, it is made clear that our obedience in this world is never a neutral action.  According to Paul in Romans 6, our obedience either leads to righteousness which leads to holiness, or it leads to sin which leads to death.  Jesus tells us that we can’t serve two masters. We will either hate one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. (Matt 6:24)  The point is that we are always obeying someone – whether it is Christ or the world.  So when we read the Scriptures, consider this: sin is an obedience to the world which leads to death, and righteousness is an obedience to the Word which leads to holiness.

Sadly, the church sometimes confuses obedience (living according to God’s will) with sacrifice (the things we do for God).  The two are not the same…at all!  The Bible tells us that we can prophecy, cast out demons, perform miracles, have faith to move mountains, and even give everything we own to the poor, and yet gain nothing and have no eternal life with God. (Matt 7 & 1 Cor 13)  Apart from obedience, God is not interested or pleased with our sacrifices. (Heb 10:8)  He actually calls them “as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).  Let me clarify – I am not saying that all those things are bad. They are actually really good, but apart from obedience to the commands of Jesus (the will of God), they have no value in heaven.  What He desires is that in light of His mercy over us, we would surrender/lose our lives, deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow in obedience to the footsteps of Jesus.  This is becoming a living sacrifice…a full surrender to our own desires and ways and even the things we think we need to do for the Lord, and instead, live a life that is in full faithful obedience to Him.  Romans 12:1 calls this a “spiritual act of worship that is holy and pleasing to Him.”

What is beautiful is that God actually takes pleasure in our obedience to His will and what we see all throughout the Bible is that He responds with great promises and blessings!

My heart for the Church in this exceptional time on the earth, is that we repent of our ways and get back to the basics of the commands of Jesus…back to the Revelation 2 “First Love”…which is obedience.  It is evident from the Matthew 28 Great Commission that Jesus desires for us to know and obey His commands.  And the greatest and ‘new’ command Jesus gave us is to love others in the same way He loved us…by laying down His life so that we would lay down our lives. (John 13:34 & 1 John 3:16 & Luke 10:27)  This is not optional… and our salvation may actually depend on it!  Jesus says, “Do this and you will live!” (Luke 10:28) And Paul calls this love “the most excellent way”! (1 Cor 12:31)  When we walk in God’s way, the result is great blessings…‘a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’; authority to govern over the enemy; holiness; divine power; perseverance, character and eternal hope; the fruit of the God’s Spirit; generational legacy and blessing; and so much more!

“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all His commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.” Deut 28:1-2 

Lord Jesus, May your Spirit give us the strength to put to death the misdeeds of the body and the sin that entangles us in worldly affairs, and may we live a Spirit-empowered obedient life for Jesus. Restore to us the joy of living for our eternal salvation, motivated by the love of Christ, and grant us a willing spirit, by Your Spirit, to sustain us in this life!  Amen.

I love you all and look forward to seeing you tonight and this Sunday for breakfast and Family Sunday.
Pastor Mike 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 ~ 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.