The Rock Church

Not Ashamed by The Rock Church

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes…” — Romans 1:16

Lately, this verse has stirred something fresh in me. It has reminded me again just how beautiful and powerful the Gospel truly is.

Twenty-three years ago, Jesus completely turned my life around. He transformed it. It had absolutely revolved around me. Now it centers on Him. And in that surrender, I found something I had been missing all along—real, lasting joy. But it wasn’t in circumstances or achievements. It was in Christ… and in sharing Him with others.

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Paths of Lightning by The Rock Church

The Bible claims that it is the Word of God. This remarkable claim demands remarkable evidence.

And Scripture actually provides that evidence: historical accuracy, textual unity, fulfilled prophecy… and even what we might call anachronistic insight.

An anachronism is something that appears in the wrong time period. For instance, it’s like someone discovering knowledge long before anyone actually knew it.

Here’s one example.

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Proven Character by The Rock Church

“But you know that Timothy has proved himself… he has served with me in the work of the gospel.” — Philippians 2:22 (NIV 1984)

A few years ago, I sat across from a young couple I was counseling. They had been married just three months—and were already talking about divorce. As we talked, the wife said something that stuck with me: “I just can’t handle him… he’s so untidy. He always leaves his socks on the floor. I didn’t know he was like this.”

I remember thinking… socks?

But it wasn’t really about socks. It was deeper. They had unmet expectations, felt frustrated, and didn’t endure when things got hard. Sadly, they divorced. And it reminded me: many people want the blessings of commitment. But far fewer are willing to pay the price to build the kind of character that sustains commitment.

That’s what Paul highlights about Timothy. In what looks like simple travel plans (in the verses), we discover something powerful. Timothy had proven character. Not flashy talent or temporary passion. Instead, he had steady, tested, reliable faithfulness.

Here’s the truth: you don’t build character in moments—you reveal it over time.

Anyone can be kind for a day. They can certainly serve for a season. But proven character shows up again and again. And so it shows up when it’s inconvenient, unnoticed, and frustrating.

Timothy stood out because he cared deeply for people and put Christ first. Equally important, he stayed consistent and remained loyal. Because of that, Paul trusted him completely.

The Long Haul

So, here’s the question: “Are we becoming people who others—and God—can trust?”

In a world of quick results and easy exits (like a microwave), God does something different. He doesn’t instantly form lives; instead, He slowly forms them over time.

Microwaves are fast… but shallow. Crock pots take time… but produce something rich and lasting. Without a doubt, that’s how God builds character.

He’s looking for people who don’t bail when it’s hard or quit when it’s inconvenient. They don’t walk away when life gets messy (even if there are socks on the floor 😉).

The Lord is looking for people who stay. Who grow. And who also endure. People who are in it for the long haul. Because in the end, it won’t matter how gifted you were. It will matter how faithful you were.

Don’t just aim for success this week. Aim for proven character.

In it for the long haul,

Bill

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The Interest of Others by Caleb Yetton

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4

Our world doesn’t understand this. We like to believe that we intrinsically look out for others. However, more often than not, we look to our own interests only. God calls believers to stand out from the world and its selfishness. The church should certainly look different in this area. 

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Are You “Too Much”? by The Rock Church

In John 12 and Mark 14, we read about a woman named Mary — about her boldness and her faith. In the story, it’s dinnertime, and her interaction with Jesus is certainly something no one in the room saw coming. She takes a jar of perfume (that would be worth about a year’s salary) and pours all of it on Him. We then read that everyone in the room complains that what she did was too much. “Why was the ointment wasted like that?” (Mark 14:4). But Jesus steps in and defends her. He says, “She has done a beautiful thing to me.” (v6)

Don’t miss that.

What others thought was too much and too extreme … Jesus called beautiful.

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Mr. Not-Home by The Rock Church

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
— Philippians 2:3-4

I’m kind of a hobby guy, maybe you can relate. There are a lot of things I like to do. And there are even more things I would get into if I had extra time and money.

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Look for the Living — Resurrection Sunday by The Rock Church

I want to share a story with you that really helped me understand the joy of the Resurrection a little bit more. But before I do, let me share some verses from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 24.

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Waiting on the Sabbath — Holy Saturday by The Rock Church

Marley was dead to begin with. 

That’s the first line of Charles Dickens’ story, “A Christmas Carol.” In 1843, Charles Dickens spent the entire first page of that book explaining just how dead Jacob Marley was. Then he ends his point with “There is no doubt that Marley was dead. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate.” 

Well, the same must be understood about Jesus’ death. It must be fully understood that Jesus Christ was emphatically dead. Jesus willingly endured the humiliation and the pain of the events leading up to the Crucifixion. He willingly endured the nails through His hands and His feet. He willingly breathed His last and gave up His life on the Cross. Jesus was dead. 

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Not the End — Good Friday by Tony D'Amico

It was a long night that turned into a darker morning.

Jesus had already been awake for hours. Arrested in a garden. Betrayed by a friend.

They dragged from one trial to another while the city slowly woke up.

First, the religious leaders, then Pontius Pilate, finally, mocked by soldiers who treated the King of Heaven like a criminal. They struck Him and spit on Him. They pressed a crown of thorns into His head and wrapped Him in a robe to laugh at Him. “Hail, King of the Jews,” they said. But their sarcasm accidentally told the truth. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent. Yet pressure from the crowd was louder than his conscience. And so the sentence was given: crucifixion.

Roman crucifixion was designed to be slow and humiliating. Jesus carried His cross through the streets to a hill called Golgotha. Nails were driven through His hands and feet. The cross was lifted. And there the Son of God hung between heaven and earth.

Yet, what’s astonishing is not just the suffering. It’s His words.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

The Reason He Came

In the middle of injustice, Jesus offered mercy. In the middle of pain, He offered grace.

For hours, darkness covered the land. Then Jesus cried out and breathed His last. The earth shook. The temple curtain tore in two. And a Roman centurion looked up at the cross and said, “Surely this was the Son of God.” (Matthew 27:54)

That evening, a man named Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus’ body and placed it in a tomb. A stone was rolled across the entrance.

It looked like the end.

But Good Friday is called good for a reason. Because what looked like defeat was actually redemption’s beginning. The Cross was not the failure of Jesus’ mission—it was the very reason He came. 

And in three days, the world would see that death never had the final word.

This was not the end.

Tony

Reflection Questions for Today

1. What part of the Good Friday story stands out to you the most, and why do you think it sticks with you?

2. How does Jesus’ response to suffering and injustice challenge the way we typically react to difficult situations?

3. If the Cross represents both sacrifice and new life, what might that look like in your everyday life right now?

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Unimaginable Love — Maundy Thursday by The Rock Church

Imagine knowing you had less than 24 hours to live. And you know that betrayal and suffering are coming. What would you say to the people you love most?

That’s the moment we step into today in Holy Week — Maundy Thursday. In John 13, Jesus and His disciples are gathered in the upper room, preparing for the Passover meal. The disciples didn’t know it yet, but this would be their final night with Jesus.

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