The Rock Church

Does Following Jesus Make You Stand Out?

“And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere…” — Acts 1:8 (NLT)

Being a witness isn’t always easy or comfortable. At times, standing out for Jesus might mean looking like the weirdo or the outcast. It can also feel like cultural suicide or even career suicide.

But you know what? We should look different from the world around us. In fact, we should stand out. Jesus certainly did. His followers did, too.

Sadly, I think this is one of the more dangerous things that has crept into Western Christianity at large. This desire to look just like the world. To not rock the boat or let others label us as extreme or different.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Caleb Yetton

Inner Transformation and Mind Renewal

I recently read some New Testament verses that resonated with me deeply. Their powerful message centered around how we live as Christians. Although distinct in context, they were also intertwined. In this case, they offered me a transformative perspective on faith, purity, and the renewal of the mind. Let me explain.

In Mark 7:15, Jesus spoke about how we can act to ensure we appear perfect on the outside. Yet He said the external isn’t the issue. “Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” His words cut the religious traditions of His day to the core and challenged the norms. They were religious norms which heavily emphasized external purity laws and rituals. Everything had to do with the outward appearance.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Tony D'Amico