The Rock Church

Grafted

In his last published book, “The Excellency of a Broken Heart,” the great puritan author John Bunyan wrote:

“Conversion is not the smooth, easy-going process some men seem to think . . . . It is wounding work, of course, this breaking of the hearts, but without wounding there is no saving. . . . Where there is grafting there is a cutting. The scion must be let in with a wound; to stick it on to the outside or to tie it on with a string would be of no use. The heart must be set to heart and back to back, or there will be no sap from root to branch, and this, I say, must be done by a wound.”

Many blessings come with God’s gift of salvation. However, there are also many troubles and pains. There is the breaking down of our earthly bodies, the desires and temptations of our sinful flesh, and satan (the prowling lion) wishing to destroy us and ruin the joy and goodness in our lives. Additionally, hate and venom are directed toward us from a world the unregenerate part of us so longs to please. 

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Delighting in God’s Word Series

A Sermon Series Based on Psalm 119

“I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.” Psalm 119:15-16 NLT

What are you delighting in? What brings you joy or pleasure? When was the last time you truly adored something? To delight is to be greatly pleased, and Psalm 119 is full of this wonder. It is also the longest chapter in the Bible and likens His Word to honey for our lips and a lamp for our feet.

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What Do You Want?

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” — Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV84)

We recently asked our kids for Christmas gift ideas. Some of them went above and beyond the call of duty. They sent us their “Wish List” from Amazon! Welcome to the technology age. This electronic wish list certainly proved to be very helpful. Specifically, it showed us that our kids took our request seriously; they knew what they wanted. I think God wants us to have the same heart attitude.

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Treasure

Have you ever discovered a treasure? I can easily get caught up in treasure hunt shows on TV. I’m so eager for them to find something. It seems like most of the time, however, they chase a story or a tall tale. Unbelievably, the treasure somehow slipped past the previous 5,000 treasure hunters. In fact, most of the time, they don’t find anything.

My family knows I love treasure stories. About five years ago, they bought me a metal detector for Father’s Day. I think they figured I’d share with them if I found something! One time during a family gathering, I had fun with them . I pulled out the new metal detector and waved it over a spot in the yard where the grass annually faded into the shape of a gravesite. Of course, the metal detector made all kinds of noises, and we got several shovels out. We frantically dug, and everyone was surprised to find a concrete slab below the ground. At least almost everyone (I kind of knew what we’d see).

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“The ___ One” Series

What’s the big deal about Jesus anyway? Is He truly The One Christians claim He is? Does Jesus honestly have an impact on our lives today?

We live in a world that has global influencers around every corner. From TikTok stars to political leaders, their imprint is worldwide. Because of that influence (and our society’s significant progress socially, economically, technologically and scientifically) it has become very easy for us to ask, “Does Jesus even matter anymore?” Many people think Jesus seems just, well, a bit… outdated.

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Hurting

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.” — John 12:27

These were Jesus’ words before He was betrayed and crucified. If anyone knows about suffering, it’s Jesus. His suffering was foretold in the book of Genesis. In fact, the prophet Isaiah even called Him the “Man of Sorrows”.

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Jesus is a Promise Keeper

The Bible is amazing. It’s all one story that points to the New Covenant ushered in by Jesus Christ. From its first pages (with the brokenness and mess of human sin) God had His eyes on His ultimate promise to His people — Jesus. We can look throughout the Bible and see how God fulfilled His promises and covenants through Jesus. Undeniably, Jesus is a Promise Keeper!

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Caleb Yetton

Jesus the Killer

“And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.” — 2 Thessalonians 2:8

Have you ever read a verse that stopped you? Made you really think about something in a way you hadn’t before? As our Youth Group read through the New Testament this year, it was good to study the Gospels, Epistles and Revelation. A few months ago, I read the above verse and like I said, it stopped me. The chapter talked about the end times (eschatology); it described the Antichrist and the return of Jesus. But the phrase, “the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth” stopped me. 

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What Do You Want?

I recently read the story of the blind man’s conversation with Jesus (Mark —Chapter 10). Basically, the blind man called out to Jesus, and Jesus asked him a great question: “What do you want me to do for you?”

I bet Jesus was smiling at the man who couldn’t see. The Lord knew what he wanted — it was obvious. He just wanted the blind man to verbalize it. “Rabbi, I want to see!” blurted the blind man without hesitation. Probably laughing with joy, Jesus replied, “Go, your faith has healed you.”

Immediately, the man (named Bartimaeus), received his sight and began following Jesus.

Isn’t that great?! Do you think Bartimaeus was shy about telling his story? Do you think his life was ever the same?

I was challenged as I meditated on that amazing scene. The compassionate Jesus joyfully took the opportunity to help a desperate man with an obvious need. I wondered, “What would I say if Jesus asked me, ‘Bill, what do you want me to do for you?’ What is on my heart? Would I hesitate? Do I even know what I want?

Some of Jesus’ Amazing Promises

• “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” — Matthew 21:22 (NIV)
• “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” — Mark 11:24 (NIV)
• “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” — John 15:7 (NIV)
• “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” — Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

Isn’t it incredibly good to know that every day Jesus asks us, “What do you want me to do for you?” He already knows exactly what we need … what we want. And He smiles. He loves answering the prayers of desperate and needy people.

What would you say to Jesus? He’s willing and able to answer. When He does, will you follow Him?

Asking with you,

Bill

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Though The Earth Gives Way

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” — Psalm 46:10-11

Do you realize that it has been over two years since COVID entered our reality? Our last regular church service (before we temporarily closed) was March 8, 2020. Undeniably, the two years since then have been unlike anything I’ve ever known.

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