The Rock Weekly – September 4, 2024

  • Tonight – Prayer & Worship Service @ 7pm in the Chapel or via Livestream.  Youth @ 7pm in the Student auditorium.  Children @ 6:45pm in the Children’s wing.   Growing in the Word @ 6pm in the Prayer Room or via Zoom.  Youth, Base Camp – 7pm in the student auditorium.
  • This Saturday (9/7) – Volunteers: Food Bank Distribution from 9-11 am.
  • This Sunday (9/8) – Memorial Service for Steve Gilbertson at The Rock at 3:30pm.
  • See below for other important information on services and weekly events.

 

The Debt of Love – Do This In Remembrance of Me

“This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Luke 22:19 ESV  

As we have been learning more about the debt we have in Christ to love one another, I am reminded of the example Jesus gave us in Luke 22.  In this chapter, Jesus is preparing to go to the cross as the final sacrifice for sin. He has been walking with, and discipling, 12 chosen followers for 3 years – leading, teaching and correcting them in the ways of God.  And here in this Scripture, Jesus knows that this is the end of His time on the earth and is sharing what will be His last meal with them.  In His final hours, He shows us what love is as He directs their focus to the act of giving His body for them (and for us)!  What a beautiful example as the one who is leading them in the ‘most excellent way’ of loving others.  

We have been pressing into the action of discipleship as a church family these past few months and as we look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, it seems fitting to remember how He led the first disciples. He showed them that a life laid down for others is the way of love.  

“This is how we know what Love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us…”
1 Jn 3:16

And so I am challenged as we engage in a focus of discipleship in our church family, that we would be mindful of the command and the debt to love one another- by laying down our lives for one another and walking in the way of love as Jesus demonstrated to us on this earth. It is a tall order just to love each other, but to love the way Jesus loved us seems impossible. And it is without the communion (come-into-union) with Jesus…taking His body…so that we can love others through His life and His love!  

“This is Love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”  1 Jn 4:10

God’s love given to us, through His Spirit in us, empowers us to love, but we must walk in this love and not just talk about it. 

“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?  Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”   1 Jn 3:17-18

I end with this plea from John – “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we must also love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is perfected in us!” (1 Jn 4:11-12)

May God live in us as His love is perfected in us!
Pastors Kristi & 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/

 

GROWING IN THE WORD – 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.