The Rock Church

You Are Not Forgotten

“But this is what the LORD says: I would no more reject my people than I would change my laws that govern night and day, earth and sky.” — Jeremiah 33:25–26 (NLT, excerpt)

I recently visited a church in Phoenix, Arizona, with my son. Time to tour colleges and explore some options for his future education. We then decided to attend a local church on Sunday morning.

A few things stood out to me during our visit that were incredibly meaningful.

First, even though we didn’t know a single person in the building, we somehow felt at home.

The same familiar language of praise and adoration filled the worship center. We also heard the same expressions of love and dependence upon Jesus that we experience every weekend at The Rock Church. The church celebrated baptisms, just as we celebrated changed lives through baptism back home that same weekend. The pastor preached about Joshua. He reminded the congregation of God’s promises and our absolute dependence upon Him.

Different city, church, and people.

Same Jesus, Spirit, and family.

And as I stood there worshiping, something beautiful struck me.

Though I knew no one, in a very real sense, I knew everyone. God’s children surrounded me as I stood among them. I was not a stranger, but part of the family. Surely God has not forgotten me, but He loves me. At the same time, I was not distant, but connected through a common faith in the living Christ.

Church, do you realize not only WHO you belong to in Jesus, but also WHO you belong WITH?

Church With A Capital C

I’m talking about our local church family, of course. But also the Church with a capital C. The family of God that extends far beyond the walls of our own building, our city, our country, and even our generation.

Have you ever experienced this?

Maybe you stood in line at a grocery store and struck up a conversation with someone. Only to discover that you both know Jesus. And suddenly, there’s a familiarity there. A connection that goes beyond a casual conversation.

Possibly, you’ve experienced it on a mission trip. Worshiping with believers halfway around the world (who don’t even speak your language). Or perhaps, in an Uber, an airport, or some unexpected place, you’ve met someone and thought, I know that Spirit. I know that love. I know the Jesus they belong to, because He’s the same Jesus I belong to.

Isn’t that amazing?

And yet, isn’t it also true that sometimes we feel terribly alone? The daily demands of life sometimes overwhelm us. Indeed, we carry burdens, face disappointments, and struggle with uncertainty. Sometimes. we quietly wonder, “Does anybody really know what I’m going through? Am I the only one? Has God forgotten about me?”

Church, listen to the promise of Jeremiah 33.

He Speaks

God is speaking to His people about His faithfulness. He reminds them that His covenant is as certain as the laws that govern day and night. In other words, as surely as the sun rises and sets, God will remain faithful to His promises.

He has not forgotten His people.

And He has not forgotten YOU.

One of the beautiful reminders of this truth comes through the small, but all-too-real miracle of belonging to the family of God.

Think about it. How is this possible? Take people who have never met. They come from entirely different backgrounds, live hundreds (or even thousands) of miles apart. But they can stand together in worship and experience such a profound sense of kinship and love.

Is it simply tradition? Shared religious customs? Familiar songs and language?

Oh, Church, I think our spirits know it’s something much deeper than that.

It’s the Living Lord. Living in, among, and through his people. Christ reminds us that He is at work. That He knows us, loves us, and never leaves us alone. He is always building us together into something far greater than ourselves.

What An Incredible Gift

So, the next time you feel isolated, forgotten, or overwhelmed by the circumstances of life, remember this: you belong to Jesus. And because you belong to Jesus, you belong to a family that stretches across the entire world.

The Spirit of the Living God unites our family. Not geography, personality, preference, or tradition. On the contrary, the Spirit of the Living God unites us.

And if the Lord is faithful to uphold the very laws that govern the heavens and the earth, you can trust Him to remain faithful to you.

God knows you. He loves you. God never forgets you. And, Church, you are never alone.

May we never take for granted the miracle of belonging to Christ. And through Him, to one another.

Belonging with you, 

Steele

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church

Paths of Lightning

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.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church

The Interest of Others

“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. 

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Caleb Yetton

Philippians Sermon Series

A Study of the Book of Philippians

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. ⁵ Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:4-7

Posted in News, Series by The Rock Church

Misunderstood

Every once in a while, I get myself into a situation where I know I’ve been misunderstood. There are also times when I realize that I’ve misunderstood what somebody was trying to tell me. Without a doubt, we all experience this, don’t we?

As I’ve thought about this, I’m struck by the story in Joshua 22 (verses 10-34). It’s an example of a misunderstanding that certainly could have ended in disaster. In fact, if one group of people hadn’t explained themselves to another group, there would have been a war.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church

Guarding Our Words and Building Community

The Book of Proverbs (6:16-19) gives us a list of seven things God really hates. It’s undoubtedly a serious call to avoid the stuff that tears down what He values. Verse 19 talks specifically about behaviors that wreck trust and unity. The ESV says, “one who sows discord among brothers,” and the NLT describes “a person who sows discord in a family.” Additionally, the NIV widens it to “a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”

Now, think about that for a second. Causing division and conflict—just by what we say—is labeled as an abomination to God. That’s obviously huge! Why? Because breaking unity certainly goes against His command for us to love one another and live in harmony.

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

A Common Faith Family

I love how Paul calls Titus a true son in the faith — a common faith (Titus 1:4).

Believers, we indeed share a common faith in our Lord Jesus, in His personhood. We also share a common belief in His finished work on the cross. Additionally, we share a common faith in our hope for eternal life — the return of our King to set all things right. 

Without a doubt, our common faith unifies us, breaks down barriers, and distinguishes us from the world. Our mutual faith always sets us apart. Jesus is our connecting thread, which makes us unified and together. Despite our differences, we share faith. 

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Caleb Yetton

A Life Worthy of the Calling

In Ephesians 4, Paul called Believers to live in a manner worthy of their calling. Even now, he reminds us how vital unity and spiritual growth are within the Church.

If we remember, the Church in Ephesus was mainly Gentiles. They were just beginning their Christian lives. Gentiles and Jews had always been very different. Now, they were to be one with them. These verses also guide us today as we live in community. They urge us to live in humility, gentleness, patience, and love — regardless of our differences.

Let’s dive into the first three verses and see how to apply their principles.

“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.” — Ephesians 4:1 (NLT)

Paul’s description of himself as a “prisoner for serving the Lord” underscores his commitment and dedication to his faith. While imprisoned in Rome, he wanted us to understand, even more importantly, that he was a prisoner for serving the Lord.

He desperately wanted the Believers to live a life worthy of their calling. He emphasized that our actions should naturally reflect the divine calling we have received from God. In fact, this verse is significant as it reminds us to align our daily lives with our spiritual identity. Consequently, we should embody virtues such as humility, patience, and love.

Living in a manner worthy of our calling honors God and strengthens the Church’s unity and growth. Additionally, it fosters a community that mirrors Christ’s love and teachings. Ask yourself, are you imprisoned to the Lord? Is it perhaps other passions?

Look Within

“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” — Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)

Next, Paul tells us always to be humble, gentle, and patient with each other. Along with that, we should make allowances for one another’s faults because of our love. This verse emphasizes the importance of treating each other with kindness and understanding. Coupled with that, we must recognize that none of us are perfect.

Think about your own life; how often do you see the faults in others but forget to look inward and see faults of your own? This is a great exercise as you look at other’s faults. Instead, reflect on your own. Without a doubt, it will change your perspective.

“Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” — Ephesians 4:3 (NLT)

Lastly, at least for this blog, Paul urged the Ephesians to maintain the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. That, despite their differences, they were to be united as one body in Christ. Equally important, they shared one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. And above all, one God and Father of all.

His Purpose For Us

By no means is this unity about being identical. Instead, it’s about embracing the diversity of gifts and roles within the Church. Again, this had to have been mind-blowing for those Gentiles. People had told them their whole lives that they were unworthy of God’s love. Now, they were to live in peace with the Jews. That peace could only happen because they had the Holy Spirit in them. How about you? Are you living in peace with others?

God calls us to a life of purpose. It’s His for us, no matter how difficult it may seem at first. Paul wanted us to know it. What’s keeping you from living for the purpose God has for you?

Learning to live out a life worthy of my calling,

Tony

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

King Jesus Series

Unity in a Divided World

We live in a polarized age. We all know it. And election years make it worse. “You have to vote, this is the most important election in the history of our country!”, “You can’t vote for him, he’ll ruin our country!” Sound familiar?

Posted in News, Series by The Rock Church

Love and Unity

“Love and unity” (together) are among the eight core values we hold dear at The Rock. We describe this particular value in these words (on our website): “We desire our ministry to be marked by a Christ-like, selfless love, loyalty, and unity with fellow believers.” Over time, the undeniable evidence of this core value within our body of Believers has struck me. Selfless love and loyalty are indeed the norm. It’s as if it’s actually in the air. Like a beautiful fragrance from a spring flower after a long winter. And ultimately, it’s so compelling it draws you in. 

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church