The Rock Weekly – September 9, 2026

  • Corporate Prayer Class (Room 5) & Foundations Class (Room 6) tonight at 6pm followed by 7pm Prayer & Worship in the Lighthouse Prayer Room
  • Prayer With Israel – THIS Saturday (9/12) 9-10:30am in the Lighthouse Prayer Room

Who Will You Serve…God or Money?

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” … Said another way… “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.” (1 Cor 10:21)

Last Sunday, Pastor Jaden talked about a “first love” zeal and focused on the words of Jesus in Matthew 16:24 and Luke 9:23. Jesus was speaking to His disciples and told them that, in order to follow Him, they must disown their lives and take up their cross daily.  In short, what this means is that following Jesus requires us to stop loving the things of this world and instead live each day doing the will of God. (Read 1 John 2:15-17)

One of the greatest areas of struggle in the Church is our relationship with money. We seem to be fairly good at giving up other things, persevering for the Lord, and even hating the wickedness of this world. Yet the great allure of money has taken hold of many and caused them to fall into sin and turn away from their faith in Christ.

“People who want to get rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and (eternal) destruction.” (1 Tim 6:9)

Many of the failures we see in the Church can be traced back to a root of desire for, fascination with, or love of money.  One of the three known temptations of Christ in the wilderness was money! Satan took Jesus to a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and offered them to Jesus if He would simply worship him.  The same offer goes for us!  Satan is the god of this world, and he is more than willing to make you rich and give you the wealth of the world in exchange for your soul!

Jesus made it very clear in Matthew 6 that our hearts are directly connected to what we treasure—or, said another way, what we serve. And then He gives us the hard truth: It is impossible to serve, or worship, two masters.  We are not able to serve (worship) both God and Money.  So, if we serve Money, whether intentionally or unintentionally, then we will despise God.

So how are we to properly manage money in this world when money is so integral to nearly everything in this life?

Great question!  Unfortunately, I have come to the end of this email, so you will have to wait until Sunday. 😊

But I will say this: Our response is more important than you think! It is as critically important to our eternity as it was to Jesus when He responded to Satan’s temptation by saying, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”

In closing, Malachi 4:17 makes a clear distinction between those who serve God and those who serve Money, and in doing so, determines who will be His treasured possession on the Day of Judgment and the return of the Lord.

“They will be mine,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘in the Day when I make up My treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”

May we fight the good fight of faith and take hold of the eternal life to which we were called! (1 Tim 6:12)

We love you, and we are praying for you!
Pastor Mike & your Rock Staff

 

 

IMPORTANT SERVICE & WEEKLY INFORMATION:

WEDNESDAY NIGHT WORSHIP & PRAYER SERVICE  7:00pm *Children’s Ministry available*
Facebook Live:  https://www.facebook.com/rockchurchco
The Rock Online Livestream:  https://www.therock.org/live/

 

FOUNDATIONS CLASS – 6:00pm Wednesdays through 9/23
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 PRE-SERVICE PRAYER & COMMUNION – 8:15am
In the Prayer Room (behind the Sanctuary). All are welcome.

 

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.