The Rock Church

Hope When Everything Is Stripped Away

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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Mr. Not-Home

“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.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church

Renewing Your Mind

Have you ever noticed how quick and easy it is to change your diet, clothes, or even your daily routine? But it’s pretty much impossible to change the way you think?? It doesn’t matter how hard you try to shut down certain thoughts. The same temptations and worries always sneak back in.

Well, that’s because the greatest struggle that you and I face each day isn’t around us. Instead, the battle is inside us. It’s in our minds.

Our culture today offers us all kinds of solutions. Download this app. Read this book. Think these thoughts. And some of those things may help for a moment. But, sooner or later, the same thoughts and worries absolutely return. No matter how disciplined or determined we are. We can never truly renew our hearts and our minds. Without a doubt, that work belongs to God alone.

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Times of Refreshing

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” — Acts 3:19-20 (NIV)

In Acts 3, Peter performed a miracle—he healed a man who couldn’t walk. The crowd was amazed. However, Peter didn’t bask in the attention. Instead, he used that moment to speak hard truth with bold love.

He told the people to repent and turn to God. Their sins would be wiped away. Times of refreshing would come from the Lord. That hard truth wasn’t just for the people in that crowd. He meant it for all of us. It doesn’t matter if you’re 16 or 60. Maybe you’ve followed Jesus for decades. Perhaps you just recently surrendered to Him. Peter’s message still applies to you today.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church

Times of Refreshing

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” — Acts 3:19-20 (NIV)

Peter had just performed a miracle—healing a man who couldn’t walk. The crowd was obviously amazed. But Peter didn’t take the credit. Instead, he pointed people to Jesus. Additionally, he told them to repent and turn to God.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church

Too Great For Me To Understand

“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!” — Psalm 139:6

Psalm 139 is definitely one of my favorite chapters in the entire Bible. The picture that David paints of God’s goodness and closeness is so comforting. It is nearly impossible to read those words and not feel God’s love. Without a doubt, it truly is too great for me to understand!

Do you feel like God is distant? Maybe you feel like He doesn’t understand you? Then, I would encourage you to read Psalm 139 and let His Truth change those thoughts. 

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Caleb Yetton

Understanding God’s Purposes

“The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.” — Psalm 138:8 (NIV84)

“For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep…” — Acts 13:36 (NIV84)

Life can oftentimes feel confusing. Even after being a Christian leader for over 40 years, I still find myself asking, “God, what are you doing?” or “God, what do you want ME to do?” Without question, I’m someone who likes to plan. And not having clarity on these questions (especially concerning our church’s direction) can be unsettling. 

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An Amazing Covenant

“When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram…” — Genesis 15:17-18

Genesis 15 shows an amazing covenant ceremony between God and Abram. God directs Abram to bring a heifer, a ram, and a goat. He is to cut each of them into two pieces and lay the sides opposite each other. This was a traditional covenant ceremony in the days of Abram. When two parties were about to enter into a contract, they would cut an animal (or animals) in two. Next, both parties would walk between the halves. 

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Caleb Yetton

The Comfort of The Suffering Servant

One of my best friend’s son has recently been in the hospital for several weeks. It has been heartbreaking to see their family walk through so much pain and uncertainty. In moments like those, when the weight of our struggles feels overwhelming, I find myself praying. I pray for the Lord to help us see that suffering, while deeply painful, is never without meaning. Equally important, we are never beyond the reach of our Great Comforter.

A quote (often attributed to Augustine of Hippo) comes to mind: “God had one Son on earth without sin, but never one without suffering.” 

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Beyond Imagination

In Titus 3:7, the Apostle Paul mentions two things that are so remarkable. In fact, when you read them, it feels almost too good to be true:

“So that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:7

I want to consider two truths:

Truth #1: We are Justified.

Truth #2:  We are Heirs.

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