The Rock Church

Through the Mud by The Rock Church

As you know, living in Utah provides many opportunities for adventure. So, a few weeks ago, my kids and I went on a little hike up to one of the reservoirs near our house. AllTrails told us the hike covered about a mile and a half round-trip. However, we decided to step it up a notch. We went around the reservoir on a lightly used trail. Looking back, I’m pretty sure it was just a game trail.

We came to the river, and we pressed on.
The path got a bit narrower, and we pressed on.
Then the path started to get muddy, and we pressed on.
Finally, the path got extremely muddy, but we pressed on.

Before we knew it, we were using sticks and rocks to keep out of the mud. Cutting up to the real trail or turning around was always an option. We were never in danger, but we wanted to keep going for the adventure of it. Knowing the mud had to end at some point gave us hope.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: adventure, alltrails, Billy, billy johnson, canyon, clothed, clothes, dirt, dirty, dressed, eternity, filthy, hike, hiking, John, John 16, Joshua, Matthew, Matthew 7, mud, narrow, narrow way, outdoors, path, Purpose, righteousness, road, sin, smile, take heart, the rock church, Thrill, Zecharaiah

The Greatest Pardon Ever Offered by The Rock Church

Every once in a while, history gives us a story so powerful that it almost sounds like someone made it up.

In 1830, a court sentenced a man named George Wilson to death for robbing the U.S. Mail and taking a man’s life. Before Wilson’s execution, however, President Andrew Jackson did something extraordinary. He signed a full presidential pardon.

Even so, George Wilson did the unthinkable.

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Tags: 1830, Bill, Bill Young, Chief JUstice, child, children of God, criminal, death, death sentence, execution, forgive, forgiveness, forgiveness of sins, George Wilson, how do I get to heaven, it is finished, jesus paid it all, Jesus' work, john 1, John Marshall, justice, pardon, president, President Andrew Jackson, presidential pardon, prison, Propitiation, Romans, Romans 8, story, substitutionary atonement, Supreme court, the rock church, U.S. Mail, Works, Young

Jesus People by The Rock Church

I recently had a chance to close our Philippians series with a message entitled “Jesus People.”

As Paul closed this incredible letter, he left us with what seemed like a simple farewell. But it was so much more. It was a reminder of who we are and how we’re called to live.

First and foremost, we belong to Jesus. Before others define us by our careers, accomplishments, successes, or failures, they recognize us as people who belong to Him. We don’t earn our identity. On the contrary, God gives us our identity through His grace.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: accomplishments, address, belong, belonging, career, Christian life, community, confident, Connected, fail, failure, goals, grow, his people, Home, identity, jesus, Jesus People, mine, Purpose, Secure, security, small group, steel, Steele, Steele Croswhite, the rock church, who am i

Solar Eclipses by The Rock Church

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” — Colossians 1:16

We are about to begin our study of Colossians (July 11 & 12). In the opening chapter, Paul describes Jesus Christ as the Creator of all things. The Sun, Moon, and stars are a marvelous part of His Creation. And certainly one of the most fascinating examples of that Creation is a total solar eclipse.

My family and I witnessed a total solar eclipse in a field outside Rexburg, Idaho, on August 21, 2017. It was undeniably astonishing.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: accident, chance, colossians, creation, creator, declare the glory, earth, Eclipse, evolution, Flood, for him, genesis, glory, heavenly bodies, heavens, invisible, Josh, Josh Whitney, math, Psalm 19, solar, solar ecplise, space, Stars, sun, the rock church, through him, visible

Colossians Sermon Series by The Rock Church

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ And He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent.”  — Colossians 1:15-18

What does it mean for Jesus Christ to be truly preeminent in everything?

Posted in News, Series by The Rock Church
Tags: apostle paul, bible sermon, Church, church in utah, colossians, Draper, epistle, jesus, Jesus Christ, new series, new testament, pastors, rock church, Salt Lake City, salt lake county, Series, Sermon Series, sermons, sermons in utah, the rock, the rock church, trc, truth, Utah

Staying in the Lane by The Rock Church

Recently, I was driving our Subaru Outback when I had a small (but memorable) reminder of how easy it is to drift.

Our Outback has a feature called Lane Keep Assist. It monitors the lane markings on the road, and when the vehicle begins to drift, it sounds an alarm. At the same time, it gently pulls the steering wheel back toward the center. On this particular trip, I lost concentration for just a moment. Before I realized what was happening, the alarm sounded, and the steering wheel corrected my direction. It jolted me to full alertness. Thankfully, I stayed safely on the road.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: Bill, Bill Young, careful, Change, colossians, confused, direction, distracted, distractions, doubt, drift, driving, eyes, grow, guide, help, is God good?, jesus, keep your eyes on Jesus, lane, narrow way, off track, priorities, priority, Questions, safe, subaru, the rock church, vision, wise, Young

Barn Raising by Caleb Yetton

There was a common practice in rural North America in the 18^th & 19^th centuries. And Amish and Mennonite communities often practice it today. It was a time when the entire community came together to build a barn for a family in their community. 

Neighbors from miles around would show up — farmers, blacksmiths, and merchants. Some brought tools, and others brought food. Skilled workers handled the preparation, the structure, and specialized labor. At the same time, others carried wood, hammered nails, or simply supported when needed. Even women and children participated where they could. 

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Caleb Yetton
Tags: 4th service, barn, barn raising, build, caleb, caleb yetton, community, core values, endurance, gospel, help, Jerusalem, meeting needs, minister, minister of the Gospel, Nehemiah, new service, participate, survey, the rock church, wall, win build send, work, yetton

Hope When Everything Is Stripped Away by The Rock Church

When I tragically lost my father five years ago, I began a journey through grief that I never would have chosen for myself. And every now and again, I’ve tried to write down some of the things the Lord has patiently taught me along the way. This is the next entry in my journal through the valley of grief.

Grief has a way of stripping life down to what is real.

It can reveal that the things you once leaned on can’t hold you. Also, it often forces you to come face-to-face with things you’ve done everything possible to avoid. Sometimes, it leaves you wrestling with realities you cannot change, explain, or escape. You become desperate to find relief. There must be something to make the aching stop. And when you find yourself there, you ask,

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Tags: ache, balm, Brian, broken, brokenhearted, Bryan, Bryan D Edwards, bryan edwards, come to him, comfort, comforting, dark, darkness, David, downcast, Edwards, faithful, Father, God is faithful, grief, heal, help, Hope, how do i keep going, hurt, jesus, joy, life, pain, paslm, preach, psalm 42, real, reality, remember, sad, season, self talk, sorrow, speak, the rock church, this cant be real, this hurts, trust, truth, turn to God, weary

By Whose Power? by The Rock Church

The Bible clearly shows that St. Peter was a bit of a hothead. We can relate to him, can’t we? He often acted impulsively. And the events in the Upper Room the night Jesus was arrested show his impulsiveness.

Jesus tells the disciples He’s going somewhere they can’t follow. Peter immediately pushes back — “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” In Matthew, he says even if everyone else falls away, he won’t. (Matthew 26:33) In Mark, he insists emphatically. (Mark 14:29) Bold claims, Peter. And Jesus simply tells him the truth he isn’t ready to hear: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” (Mark 14:30)

As John MacArthur said, “Vows are easily made in a warm room, with full stomachs and no opposition.” St. Peter was about to face opposition.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: anthrakia, Billy, billy johnson, bold, boldness, breakfast, Change, charcoal, cooking, deny, disciples, doubt, fail, failure, fire, forgiven, greek, Holy Spirit, how do I change, loved, peter, power, Revival, saints, salvation, sanctification, spirit, st peter, the rock church, this rock, transformed, used by the Spirit, weak, work

What’s Your Distraction? by Tony D'Amico

Nehemiah shows us something that most of us know — but don’t always want to admit. We rarely drift away from what matters because of just one massive decision. For the most part, we drift through small distractions, quiet compromises, and everyday busyness. And ultimately, those things slowly pull our attention away from God.

When Nehemiah heard that enemies had broken down the walls of Jerusalem, he didn’t just feel bad and move on. Instead, he sat down, wept, fasted, and prayed. The burden became personal. That is often where purpose begins. Not with ego, ambition, or trying to be impressive. But with letting God break our hearts for something that matters.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Tony D'Amico
Tags: anxiety, attention, break our hearts, build, burden, clarity, compromise, danger, defense, drift, fear, important, Jerusalem, leadership, matters, Nehemiah, next faithful step, opposition, priorities, prioritize, the rock church, Tony, tony damico, wall