Weekly Update – October 13, 2021

“Though It Cost All You Have”

  • We are having a special service TONIGHT! We will be starting in the sanctuary at 6:45pm with worship and then joining the youth around 7:10pm in the Student Auditorium.  Pastor Dan Yeackley will be sharing a message that has already disrupted ‘church’ and ignited fires in the youth in Florida!  Do it again Lord!
  • The Women’s Arise Conference is at the end of October!  See the Promo Video! Register Here. 
  • We need your help!  We will be housing and feeding homeless women and children in our church starting in November as a partner in the Winter Shelter Network with other churches in Douglas County.  If you would like to volunteer, please email Lindy@therock.org or Family@therock.org.

 

Dear Rock Family,

2 Chronicles starts with Solomon being established as king over all Israel.  God appears to Solomon and says, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”  Solomon responds to God, “Give me wisdom and knowledge to lead your people.”  God was so pleased with this response and Solomon’s heart position to walk in the ways of the Lord that He not only blessed Solomon to be the wisest man on earth, but also blessed him with more wealth, riches, and honor than any king that lived before or any that would come after.  Amazing!!  Solomon, in all his wisdom, later writes a powerful statement in Proverbs 4:7 that he remembered from his father David about the importance of wisdom.  “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.  Though it cost you all you have, get understanding.”  I love that this was a loving yet commanding statement from a father (David) to a son (Solomon)!

Fast forward a thousand years and another father in the faith, the Apostle Paul, writes a letter to the church of Corinth and to us as sons about wisdom that is extremely offensive to the Jews and is considered foolishness to the Gentiles.  He writes, “Christ is the power and the wisdom of God!” (1 Cor 1:24)   I love that God reveals His Son Jesus as wisdom in this passage.  Paul says it again in Colossians 2:3, “Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”  So the question for us is:  Though it cost us all we have, will we gain wisdom…will we lay down our lives for Christ?

In Luke 9:57-62, Jesus tells us three times that there is a cost to following Him…to gaining wisdom.  And earlier in the chapter Jesus says, “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.”  I know we have heard these words, but do we really understand what this means?   We can’t continue to walk in our own ways and in our own wisdom (in the ways of this world) and walk in the wisdom and ways of God.  The two are polar opposites!  James 4:4 says “…Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”  It seems many Christians in America have been satisfied with a minimal understanding of what Jesus requires (His ways) and have focused more on the personal benefits of knowing Jesus.  I believe the Lord is looking for a people who will get to know the ways of the Lord and then walk in them!  Though it cost us our time, will we study the Word of God?  And though it cost us our lives, will we obey the commands of Jesus?

I want to encourage you to meditate on Matthew 5-7 and 1 John 3-5.  This will give you great insight into the ways of Jesus and will open your heart to know Him in a deeper way .  And in this, you will experience Jesus emanating from within you.  It is in giving of our lives, that we will find the abundant life Jesus has for us!

For though it cost all you have, get Jesus and you will gain it all!

 We love you!

Pastors Mike & Kristi and your Rock Staff family

 

IMPORTANT SERVICE & WEEKLY INFORMATION:

WEDNESDAY NIGHT SERVICE  6:45pm * In-Person & On-Line *

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

 

YOUTH ~ BASE CAMP (6th – 12th Grade) – WEDNESDAY NIGHT – 7:00pm – With Special Guest Speaker Pastor Dan Yeackley!

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

 

1st Thursday of the Month (11/4) Hot Meals & Saturday Morning Food Bank Distribution

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

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

 

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

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 9:45am  *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.