Resistance is Futile
Have you ever been outraged by the actions of another human being? Did your anger stir a desire in you for judgment, vengeance, and retribution? Did you long to see the perpetrator punished harshly and immediately? What did they do? What did it take to push you from passivity to passion?
For Jonah, the push of The Assyrian War Machine was more than enough to arouse a passionate desire for God's judgment against an entire nation of people. Jonah lived in a time when the Assyrian Empire had refined their particular brand of conquest to the extent that resisting their invading army was an almost entirely futile effort on the part of the defending population. Resistance was met with swift punishment by the conquering Assyrians who routinely made slaves of the inhabitants of occupied territories in cases where they didn't choose to commit genocide and repopulate the area with Assyrian colonists. It was in this context that God asked Jonah to travel to the Assyrian capital of Nineveh to deliver a warning from God that they must repent or face His judgment.
When we recall the story of Jonah, we often focus on the outrageous story of a man who is doing his best to hide from God and instead ends up being swallowed by a "great fish" and subsequently vomited onto the beach at Nineveh. This week, you are invited to join our Rock Church Family as we revisit Jonah's story and focus not on a God who angrily awaits his chance to punish us for our shortcomings and outright rebellion, but a God who looks right past our profound selfishness and sometimes cruel behavior to see the children to whom He has pledged His love; the people to whom He continues today, as ever, to offer His limitless mercy.
Speaker: Scott Fenton
August 1, 2010 | Listen Here
Miracle Growth
"Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love." (Ephesians 4:2)
The man or woman who lived their life adhering to the directive of Ephesians 4:2 would appear remarkably different than most of the people we rub elbows with at work, church, home, on the freeway, in line at the store, at school and everywhere else we go! To find a way to "always be humble and gentle" would be an enormous accomplishment, but Paul's letter to the early church at Ephesus isn't satisfied with a life that is only committed to humility and gentleness!
Ephesians 4 provides a laundry list of "dos" and "don'ts" that you would need a miracle to be able to adhere to: always be humble and gentle, never lie, only say things that are helpful, never be bitter, always be kind...etc! When we grow, whether it be physically or spiritually, we are wise to expect growing pains - but there is immense value in our ability to embrace the other members of our church family and experience the challenging and sometimes painful changes that accompany spiritual growth together!
Speaker: Scott Fenton
July 13, 2010 | Listen Here
July 20, 2010 | Listen Here
July 27, 2010 | Listen Here
Battle Stations
The Bible teaches that we are all in the middle of a war and that our struggle is not against "flesh and blood" but against "spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:10-20)! An altercation with a "spiritual force of evil" sounds terrifying. However, God promises his help - and the pledge for assistance from an all-powerful God is reassuring at the very least.
Does your life seem like a constant battle? Do you often wonder where the conflict comes from, or how to combat it? The Bible provides us with some very practical and powerful weapons that have been made available to us so that we can fight with a solid strategy, and gain victory in the battles we face in our lives. Take a fresh look at the idea of "spiritual warfare."
Speaker: Scott Fenton
May 16, 2010 | Listen Here
May 23, 2010 | Listen Here
Speaker: Derrick Schumacher
June 6, 2006 | Listen Here
(hu)Man vs. Wild
When we look at the lives of people who claim to follow Jesus Christ and His teachings, are we overcome with the desire to know what they know and live the way they live?
People who call themselves Christ-followers cover a vast gamut of personalities ranging from peddlers of hate to Saints who sacrifice everything they have in order to care for others. Somewhere in the middle, we find "regular" people. People who have relationships, go to work, pay bills, get impatient in traffic, have fun on the weekend, parent children, complain about their neighbors... people like us.
Most of us "regular" people believe something about God. We believe that Jesus Christ is God, or we believe there is no god, or we believe that there is some kind of a "higher power" out there but that we can't really know anything about god for certain, etc... Whether we give it a lot of active thought or not, most of us have our own beliefs about God.
For those of us that believe that Jesus Christ is God and that our lives should be guided by His teachings, the Bible is clear - the way we live should constantly evolve as we endeavor to follow Christ. Our status as Christ-followers should change how we behave in relationships, the way we work, the way we deal with fatigue and frustration, the way we parent our children... in fact, there are very few parts of our lives that faithful devotion to Christ's teachings will not change, and many of these changes will not come easily.
Speaker: Scott Fenton
April 11, 2010 | Listen Here
April 18, 2010 | Listen Here
April 25, 2010 | Listen Here
May 2, 2010 | Listen Here
Follow Jesus
Jesus Christ himself asked the question, "So why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say?" (Luke 6:46-49) An excellent question posed by the God of the Universe to everyone who calls him/herself a Christian. Why do we keep calling ourselves followers of Christ when we don't do what Christ asked us to do?
Is it possible that we call Christ "Lord" but fail to do what he says because we live like following Jesus means to give intellectual assent to his teachings, without relying utterly and completely on him to enable us to live the life to which we are called? Consider some of Christ's most practical teachings about everyday living and contemplate your personal reasons for living the way that you do.
Teacher: Scott Fenton
March 21, 2010 | Listen Here
March 28, 2010 | Listen Here
April 4, 2010 | Listen Here
Piecing It Together
Many followers of Christ get nervous when a church starts teaching about the Holy Spirit. Some of us worry that a Sunday morning focused on the Holy Spirit might result in a sideshow-like atmosphere with people doing stuff that looks crazy and sounds weird. Some of us worry that the teaching may discount the Holy Spirit's powerful nature, that he may be presented of as a part of God's being that no longer has relevance in the everyday life of believers. Sadly, our worries are sometimes well-founded. Many high-profile personalities who tout themselves as spiritual leaders have misrepresented God and His work through the Holy Spirit in the interest of personal gain. Our experience sometimes teaches us that a discussion of the Holy Spirit will be confusing and divisive, but here's some good news: it doesn't have to be that way!
Take a deep breath, intentionally drop your guard a little, and fearlessly embrace the opportunity to take another look at what the Bible has to say about the Holy Spirit. You won't get a profound theological understanding of the Holy Spirit in 60 minutes on Sunday morning, but you will get the chance to consider a few of the ways that the Bible teaches that He wants to be a very real and active part of your everyday life!
Teacher: Scott Fenton
February 21, 2010 | Listen Here
February 28, 2010 | Listen Here
March 7, 2010 | Listen Here
House of Love
- "All You Need is Love" (The Beatles)
- "I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love" (Chicago)
- "Alive With The Glory of Love" (Say Anything)
- "Some Kinda Love" (The Velvet Underground)
- "Where is The Love?" (Black Eyed Peas)
- "Lovers of Loving Love" (The Aquabats)
What does God have in common with pop music? An apparent preoccupation with love, that's what! The Bible has more to say about love than every pop song that's ever been recorded. Jesus Christ taught that to love God and to love others was the most important thing we could do with our lives (Matthew 22:36-40). He also taught his followers that their love for each other is the most powerful evidence that they in turn, love God (John 13:34-35).
The approach that many believers take to Christianity might imply to the objective observer that they believed that Christ's most urgent directive pertained to righteous living, consistent tithing or church attendance, not swearing or drinking or smoking, performing "good works", or just making it out of the parking lot on Sunday afternoons in time to beat the crowd to Red Robin. However, Scripture is clear, Jesus taught that loving God and loving others is the most important thing his followers could do. Have you ever wondered why?
Teacher: Derrick Schumacher
February 14, 2010 | Listen Here
The State of Our Church
President Barack Obama's delivery of the State of the Union address for 2010 was met with mixed reviews (just like every other State of the Union address ever delivered in the history of The United States of America - hooray for the right to free speech and democracy!) In like fashion, our Rock Church Family spent some time talking about the State of our Church. We touched on past challenges and victories, and looked to the future in light of a passage of Scripture that our Lead Pastor, Scott Fenton hopes will act as a guide for our church family this year:
I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called-his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
Teacher: Scott Fenton
February 7, 2010 | Listen Here
Monday Morning Reality
Do the people that really know you see you as the same person on Sunday morning as they do on Monday morning? What about Friday night? When you get together with your church family are you pretending to be someone that you and your loved ones know that you are not?
When did being a part of a church family start to mean that you have to hide your personal pain and struggles in order to feel accepted? It doesn't have to be that way. The Bible teaches in Romans 14 that as a church family, we shouldn't judge each other. 1 John 4 goes on to teach that we should love each other the way that God loves us. The first step towards making your church family a group of people who don't judge and who love people the way God loves them, is to become an individual who doesn't judge and who loves people the way God loves them.
When a group of individuals becomes a church family that doesn't judge and loves people the way God loves them, it becomes a safe place to make yourself vulnerable and be known as the person you really are. When we know that we are safe from judgment and surrounded by people that love us, we are free to clasp hands with those around us and take the steps that are necessary to help us become the same person we are on Sunday mornings on Monday morning and Friday night.
Consider some New Years Resolve and endeavor to make our your Sunday Morning Persona become your Monday Morning Reality.
Teacher: Scott Fenton
January 3, 2010 | Listen Here
January 10, 2010 | Listen Here
January 17, 2010 | Listen Here
Christmas Chaos
Christmas is in the air! Jewelry commercials broadcast with implications of how much more your wife will love you when you pick up those new diamond earrings! Families are giddy with the excitement of standing in line for 90 minutes at the post office to spend $25 mailing a $20 gift to family members in remote regions of the country! The pine needles under the tree are embedded in the carpet, children are alternatively screaming/sobbing on Santa's lap at the mall, the lights on your house stay mostly lit as long as you jiggle the strand in the right place... isn't Christmas great?
For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
from: Luke 2:1-20
Is the celebration of Jesus' birth high on the list of things we think about when we think about Christmas? It doesn't take long for headaches and chaos to take over a holiday season that is meant to honor the presence of God among us. Join with our Rock Church Family as we find ways to celebrate the miracle of Christmas while calming the 'Christmas Chaos'.
Teacher: Scott Fenton
December 6, 2009 | Listen Here
December 13, 2009 | Listen Here
December 20, 2009 | Listen Here
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
You broke the bonds, And you loosed the chains
Carried the cross, Of my shame, Oh my shame
You know I believe it
But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
If you don't already know it, these lyrics belong to the U2 song, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." In an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, Bono explained that this song was "an anthem of doubt more than faith." We've been there - have you?
In our heads, most of us, we know it. We know that if we fill our lives up with money, possessions, achievements, conquests, etc. - it's not going to be those things that make us feel complete. (If you don't already know it, make a note, it's true!) Some of us know more than what our life's purpose is not, we believe that our life's purpose can be found in the teachings of Christ. We believe that our purpose for living can be fulfilled in loving God, and loving others (Matthew 22:36-40). Even then, we sometimes find ourselves at a loss for how to live that purpose out in a practical way in our every day activities. (That wasn't love we expressed out the window when that guy cut us off in traffic yesterday!)
So how do we do it. If a life lived with purpose is a a life spent loving God and loving others - what does that look like every day? Join our church family as we endeavor to find out together!
Teacher: Scott Fenton
November 1, 2009 | Listen Here
November 29, 2009 | Listen Here
Once Upon A Time
Once upon a time, in the beginning, God loved you and He had a plan for your life. He wrote the story of your life, every moment was laid out before one day was passed. (Psalm 139). Each of our life stories are different, and every story is the same. We are born, we experience joy and sorrow, we laugh and cry, and eventually, we die. In the lifetime we have, most of us do what we can to prolong the joy, we seek out laughter, and we covet the "happily ever after" moments that life has to offer; but sometimes we sabotage ourselves.
The pain that addiction brings (whether our own, or someone else's) can rob us of the "happily ever after" moments of our lives. The Apostle Paul may have said it best:
Everything is permissible for me - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me - but I will not be mastered by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12)
Addiction masters you, it controls you. Addiction to alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, overeating, or anything else robs you and the people you love of the full potential of your life. Whether the addiction is your own, or someone else's, it takes away peace and replaces it with pain. Addiction handcuffs and enslaves you; but God still loves you, and He still has a plan for your life story - you can be free! (Philippians 4:13/ Ephesians 2:8-10)
Join The Rock Church Family as we kick addiction in it's ugly, metaphorical face. Reclaim control of your story as we explore freedom from addiction, along with the freedom that comes with forgiveness!
Teacher: Scott Fenton
October 11, 2009 | Porn Sunday: Listen Here.
October 18, 2009 | Listen Here.
October 25, 2009 | Listen Here.
("Little Red Riding Hood" image used by permission. "Little Red Riding Hood," © 1991, Scott Gustafson. All rights reserved.)Promises, Promises
I will you love you, comfort you, honor and keep you, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy; I will cherish you and continually bestow upon you my heart's deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keeping myself only unto you as long as we both shall live.
That's quite the promise - can you keep it? Would you describe the position your spouse holds in your life as one of honor? Can you identify any evidence that would indicate to an impartial observer that you cherish your spouse? Does your spouse truly enjoy your heart's deepest devotion?
Did you avoid answering those questions and instead remind yourself that your spouse certainly couldn't honestly answer those questions with a 'yes'? If marriage is only a contract, that might be the proper response. A contract lays out expectations for the behavior of the involved parties. As long as both parties behave the way they are supposed to, the contract is upheld. However, if "Party A" doesn't fulfill their part of the contract, there is no expectation that "Party B" will hold up their end of the bargain.
Change perspectives and consider marriage as a covenant, as opposed to a contract. The term covenant connotes the idea that "Party A" and "Party B" will do their utmost to keep their promise, without regard to the behavior of the other party. Someone who has made a covenant upholds their end of the bargain because of who they are, not because they find someone else's behavior pleasing or acceptable. A covenant relationship is a good description of God's relationship with us. He calls the church His bride and He loves her. He loves her when she shines, when she fails miserably, and even when her actions betray Him. Can we really love our spouses this way? Should we?
Join the Rock Church Family as we take a closer look at the promises we make when we marry and explore how to keep these promises in every day life.
Teacher: Scott Fenton
September 6, 2009 | Part 1: not available
September 13, 2009 | Part 2: :Listen Here.
September 20, 2009 | Part 3: :Listen Here.
September 27, 2009 | Part 4: :Listen Here.
6 AM
If you were a parent in the 60's, 70's, or the 80's (back when people watched the news on TV) you were likely subjected to the following inquiry every evening as you caught the 10 o'clock news: "It's 10 PM. Do you know where your children are?" Joan Rivers asked you. Darryl Strawberry asked you. Members of KISS asked you. (If you have no idea what we're referring to - follow the link to watch a few celebrities grill you on the location of your child here.)
This teaching series borrows this concept and applies it to the whereabouts of our Bibles. If it sounds like this is going to be a finger wagging guilt trip disguised as a teaching series, take a deep breath, relax and give this some thought before you dismiss the question altogether. Do you find that you are dealing well with the stress, worries, deadlines, pressures, and expectations that face you every day, or could you use a little help? There is real help for the dilemmas that we face every day to be found in the Bible!
It's true, the Bible is full of practical advice (Proverbs 11:14, for example), powerful promises (Romans 8:38-39), and preposterous claims (John 11:1-44). We believe that this book can have a tremendous impact on who we are and what we do. So take a moment, pick up your Bible (if you don't have one, we would be happy to get one to you, send us an email here), and take a fresh look. It could change your life.
Teacher: Scott Fenton
August 2, 2009 | Part 1: Listen here.
August 9, 2009 | Part 2: Listen here.
August 16, 2009 | Part 3: not available
August 23, 2009 | Part 4: not available
August 30, 2009 | Part 5: Listen here.
God Whisperer
Does your horse have a horrible habit? Does your puppy have a potty problem? Pesky poltergeists in your pantry? Badly behaved baby balking at her bottle? No worries - get yourself a whisperer! Whispering is a busy industry as of late. Robert Redford whispers to horses. Cesar Millan whispers to dogs. Jennifer Love Hewitt meanders about whispering to ghosts. You can even buy a book to learn how to whisper to your own baby! The claims of these "whisperers" are fundamentally the same. They are special people who have an innate ability to communicate with animals, ghosts, and/or infants in a way that most of us cannot to emulate.
If only we had a personal whisperer for every problem... Is there a marriage whisperer? What about a parent of an angry teenage child whisperer? Will someone please whisper to my checking account? The bottom line is, we are perfectly suited for doing our own whispering - and Jesus Christ provided some excellent insight into how we should be whispering and to Whom we should be whispering to. Jesus taught His followers that they could speak directly to God. His teachings included "don't babble", don't pray like the "religious" with their long and showy prayers. Jesus Christ taught that we could communicate with God, without the intercession of a whisperer, or anyone else for that matter. We. Can. Talk. To. God.
Whisper if you want to. He's listening.
Speaker: Scott Fenton
July 5, 2009 | Part 1: Listen here.
July 12, 2009 | Part 2: Listen here.
July 19, 2009 | Part 3: Listen here.
July 26, 2009 | Part 4: Listen here. (Guest Speaker: Derrick Schumacher)
You're Invited!
It's always nice to receive an invitation. We're not talking about those "invitations" from people who plan to suck you into a "fabulous time-share" opportunity or a life-changing pyramid scheme over crackers and cheese. We're talking about the last Evite you received that invited you to go out on the town with some good friends to celebrate a birthday, or the lovely, embossed invitation that you received to attend the wedding of someone you really care about. We were all created with the a need to be involved in the lives of the people we love, and when we receive an invitation to fulfill that need, it's a great feeling!
So what feeling do we respond with when we are told that we are invited to worship God? Do you feel a little ambiguous? Is an invitation to worship God like an invitation to a celebration with the people you love? Do you wonder who invited you and what exactly you are supposed to do to "worship" God anyway? Are you worshiping God when you sing a "Christian" song, or does it have to be on a Sunday, and in a church... or at least with a couple of other people singing? Am I worshiping more if I lift my hands up? What about if I dance around a little while I sing, or is it disrespectful to swing my hips around in church? Is worship more like a formal party where I have to make sure I'm not using my salad fork on my entree, or more like a casual get-together where no one is really paying attention to how I handle my chips and dip? Does God really care about all of this anyway?
Speaker: Scott Fenton
May 31, 2009 | Part 1: Listen here.
June 7, 2009 | Part 2: Listen here.
June 14, 2009 | Part 3: Listen here.
June 21, 2009 | Part 4: Listen here.
June 28, 2009 | Part 5: Listen here.
Intentional Simplicity
Do you remember the feeling of wild, unrestrained joy welling up in your heart as a child? When you look at your life now, does it feel like there was ever a time when your biggest concerns involved the procurement of cookies and ice cream and the avoidance of bath and bed time? It's probably safe to say that for 99.9% of the people reading this, life isn't that simple anymore.
Some of our shoulders have grown heavy under the burden of a financial lifestyle that we can't afford. Some of our hearts are breaking as we contemplate a painful relationship with our spouse. Some of us look at our lives with a feeling of despair, terrified that we will never do anything that really matters. Take concerns like these and add them to the mental checklist of routine details we have to deal with everyday and we find ourselves living inside a storm of constant complications and chaos.
Is it possible, considering all of the variables that affect your life (finances, relationships, career, responsibilities, etc.), to believe that your life could be simple again? What would it look like if you gave 100% of your effort to living a life of intentional simplicity? Does it really, really come down to the bottom-line for living that Jesus gave in Matthew 22?
"‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."
To you, a person who has lived, and may be living today, inside a storm of incredible chaos comes a commandment with a promise of clarity, focus, and purpose: Love God, Love Others. Is that it? Is it really that simple?
Speaker: Scott Fenton
April 26, 2009 | Part 1: not available
May 3, 2009 | Part 2: Listen here.
May 10, 2009 | Part 3: Listen here.
May 17, 2009 | Part 4: Listen here.
(eu)catastrophe
We have a word for when bad things happen to us - "catastrophe." Life is seemingly good and then it suddenly turns into something awful. A family member or close friend dies, Hurricane Katrina rages, the economy is in mid-collapse and you're not sure how long you can make ends meet, 9/11 - most of us can add our own personal crisis to the list.
Death, natural disasters, terrorist attacks - it's difficult to know exactly who to be upset with when these things happen. In our despair and in our confusion, we often find ourselves blaming God:
"God, you could have kept my friend from dying!"
"Would a loving God have stood by and watch as water rushed into the houses of people with no ability to escape it?"
"I've lost my job two months ago, my checking and savings are empty, and I'll miss my mortgage again unless a miracle happens. Where are you God, why aren't you listening?"
But is God really to blame? As we glare upwards in frustration and anger, are we certain that God has let us down? What if God has forseen our catastrophes and planned to counteract them all along? Give some consideration to the idea that God performs eucatastrophes and "turns things right." Listen here.
Date: April 19, 2009
Speaker: Derrick Schumacher
Freedom
The cross.
It doesn't threaten you with punishment.
It doesn't call you guilty.
It doesn't say, "You're not good enough."
The cross is an embrace.
The cross invites you to be loved.
The cross says:
"You can leave your dark days behind you."
The cross cries freedom.
Listen here.
Date: Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009
Speaker: Scott Fenton
A King, A Crowd and A Cause
When movie stars make an entrance, it's usually accompanied by frenzied paparazzi, outrageously expensive couture, and a red carpet. When professional athletes make an entrance, you're almost certain to find booming music, spotlights, and dancers or cheerleaders heralding their approach. When a US President makes an entrance, dignitaries stand, officers salute, crowds cheer, and babies are held out to be kissed. Movie stars, professional athletes, and US Presidents all have this in common - they make an entrance that is designed to impress the crowd.
On the day that we call The Triumphal Entry, Jesus was the absolute definition of celebrity. Crowds followed Him. Men climbed trees, and cut holes in roofs to make a way to see him. Women shoved through crowds to touch the hem of His robe. But when it came time for Jesus to make an entrance, He wasn't out to impress. King Jesus, Creator of the Universe, made His entrance into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey surrounded by common people who, to the chagrin of the rulers of the day, were so moved by His presence that they gave Him the "star treatment" that He never demanded. They waved palm branches as He passed and laid down their coats for His donkey to walk on (try getting those stains out!)
The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
"Hosanna! "
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the King of Israel!" - John 12:12-13
This Sunday, we'll take a look at what King Jesus did with His celebrity. We will find ourselves inside the madness and hype of the crowd. Most importantly, we'll give consideration to the cause that separated the "committed" from the crowd when Jesus was tortured and crucified just days later. Listen here.
Date: April 4, 2009
Speaker: Scott Fenton
Classic Jesus | A Fresh Look at Timeless Teachings
There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold and she's buying a stairway to heaven.""I see a little silhouetto of a man! Scaramouche,scaramouche will you do the fandango?"
"You can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave!"
What is the meaning of these statements, you ask? Are they profound nuggets of wisdom from ancient philosophers? Little known passages of Scripture from the Old Testament? Things yelled regularly by that scary man that waits by the bus stop nearest your workplace? No! These are lyrics from three of the most highly acclaimed classic rock songs in rock music history (Led Zeppelin - "Stairway To Heaven", Queen - "Bohemian Rhapsody", and The Eagles - "Hotel California", respectively.) Even among all other classic rock songs, these songs could fairly be referred to as, "classics"; they are works that can be considered definitive in their field.
You're on a church website so a segue into a discussion of the classic teachings of Jesus Christ will not surprise you. If you had to come up with your own "Top Ten" list of the teachings of Jesus - what would you end up with? Do any favorite phrases come to mind?
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
"Let him who is without sin throw the first stone."
"Love your neighbor."
Even when you're already familiar with it, it's nice to revisit a classic. If it's music, you may grasp another meaning to a favorite lyric. If it's the teachings of Christ - what do you stand to gain by hearing the things you already know He said, over again?
You are warmly invited to find out along with The Rock Church Family as we revisit a few classics in our new teaching series: Classic Jesus - a fresh look at timeless teachings.
Speaker: Scott Fenton
March 1, 2009 | Classic Resistance: Listen here.
March 8, 2009 | Classic Comebacks: Listen here.
March 15, 2009 | Classic Challenges: Listen here.
March 22, 2009 | Classic Command: Listen here.
March 29, 2009 | Classic Meals: Listen here.
THIS Is Church
"This year, I am going to go to church."
When did the word "church" begin to refer to a place? When you use the word "church", do you find yourself thinking about something other than a building? Does your mind fill with images of steeples, organs, and pews (or for The Rock Church Family member - black chairs, guitars, and coffee pots)?
Being part of a church family requires more than a physical presence inside the four walls that you identify as "church" between 10 - 11 AM on Sunday mornings. To quote uber-hippy, Keith Green:
"Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to McDonalds makes you a hamburger."
Our "church" isn't meant to be a place, our church is people. Specifically, people who do their best to live the way that Jesus Christ asked us to. (Love God. Love others.) These teachings a part of a three week series about: church. It's not a place we meet, it's who we are and what we do.
Speaker: Scott Fenton
February 8, 2009 | Part One: Listen here.
February 15, 2009 | Part Two: Listen here.
February 22, 2009 | Part Three: Listen here.
Dream Again
"Everyone dreams - but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds awake to find that it is vanity. But the dreamers of the day are dangerous men that they may act out their dreams with open eyes to make them possible!" - T.E. Lawrence
Do you find that as you get older, your dreams get smaller? Are you just being more realistic or do you feel like you are acquiescing to an inevitable, lesser existence?
The Apostle Paul wrote the following to one of the earliest Christian churches:
How different would life be for people who love God if they really believed this? Listen here.
Date: February 1, 2009
Speaker: Jeffery Portman
Treasure Hunt
6:30 AM - Look for alarm clock - hit snooze.
6:45 AM - Look for toothpaste (why do they always squeeze the middle of the tube?!)
7:15 AM - Look for car keys (better hurry, you're already late for work!)
8:15 AM - Look for boss (she's late too, grab some coffee on the way to your desk.)
9:30 AM - Look for something interesting to read online (You're checking the church website on your coffee break, right?) :)
11:00 AM - Look busy (overly-friendly coworker is coming to update you on the latest on their cat's digestive details.)
Whether it's something as simple as looking for a matching sock, or something as serious as surfing a dating website in hopes of finding a significant other, it seems like a lot of the day is spent looking for something. Not suprisingly, we'll allocate a lot more time to looking for a soulmate than we will a misplaced sock. It's an obvious truism, we are willing to spend our time looking for the things that are really important to us.
If you have no plans to look for God this week, you may have a hard time finding him in your circumstances. If you really thought looking for God would inevitably result in you finding Him, would it be a worthwhile investment of your time? If so, there's good news (from the Old Testament book of Jeremiah):
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Listen here.
Date: January 25, 2009
Speaker: Scott Fenton
Out of the Shadows
Really?
Regardless of whether you call yourself a Christian or not, when you look at the church, do you feel like the above is an accurate description of the people found there? If you do consider yourself a Christian, when you take an honest look at who you are - do you see yourself behaving as someone who has been "called out of darkness" and who now lives in the light of God, Himself? Or, do you find parts of your life tucked back in the shadows, safe from the judgment of others, and even your own self-evaluation?
Our hidden thoughts and behaviors will inevitably begin to influence the parts of our lives that we share with others. Imagine the personal freedom of being rid of all those things we keep in the shadows. Imagine the change that would take place in your everyday life. Imagine what it would look like it, if everyone who called themselves a Christian lived that way. Imagine if just the people in our church family did. What do you think would change? Listen here.
Date: January 18, 2009
Speaker: Scott Fenton
The Power of Hope
Hope: to cherish a desire with anticipation.Nietzsche said this about hope:
"Hope is the worst of evils, for it prolongs the torments of man."
Have you ever resonated with that statement? Has it ever felt like giving up your hopes and dreams is the safest, most painless way to live? Living with no hopes and dreams means no disappointment or feelings of failure when these desires don't come to fruition. But is a life with no hope and no desires really the best way to live?
Not according to the Old Testament. The Bible says this in Jeremiah 29:11:
For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
If God really wants us to hope, then why do we experience so many disappointments? Is there value in our painful experiences, as well as our successes? How do I continue to anticipate the fulfillment of a cherished desire when experience has taught me that I could very likely be let down?
How much does who or what I put my hope in effect the answers to all of these questions? Listen here.
Date: January 11, 2009
Speaker: Derrick Schumacher
The Power of Together
Some people call it synergy. Some people call it team work. Regardless of what you call it, the unified efforts of a group of people can make incredible change in our world.
As The Rock Church Family rolls into a new year - will we do anything incredible together? What would happen, if we dropped our defenses, made ourselves vulnerable, and really, genuinely loved the people that are a part of our lives this year? What if every single one of us stopped complaining, stopped constantly wanting the next bigger and better thing, let go of past pain and hurts, looked to the future, and loved the lives that God gave us? What if we actually dedicated ourselves to obedience the best way that we know how and we spent even the next 365 days loving God with every fiber of our beings.
What if we did it for one day? Is it even possible? Listen here.
Date: January 4, 2009
Speaker: Scott Fenton
Identity Theft
The old adage "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" is simply not true. As a matter of fact, in the book of Matthew, Jesus teaches that hurtful words are the verbal equivalent of murder. Simply put, hurtful words are curses carrying with them the devastating potential of killing someone's true identity.Have you killed someone today? How about this weekend? Last week? If we really thought about the devastating effect that some of the things we say could potentially have on people, would it change our behavior every single day? Listen here.
Date: November 30, 2008
Speaker: Cole Meckle
It's All In The Approach
It's all in the approach... Whether you're trying to fix something on your car, learn how to set a volleyball, make a cheesecake, or raise a child - expert auto mechanics, Olympic volleyball coaches, gourmet chefs, and seasoned parents alike will agree: success is invariably linked to the way you approach the task at hand! (Go ahead, google the phrase, "It's all in the approach." You'll find page after page of articles describing how this is true for topics ranging from architecture, to stress management, to winning the World Cup.)Generally, people accept this to be true. Whether we do it or not, we know that if we want to lose weight, we have to make a plan to eat better and exercise. We know that if we want to retire, we have to set up budget to spend less and save more. Our success relies on the way we prepare and how we use that preparation to change our approach.
If we really believe that our success at any task relies on the way we approach it, should we be giving more consideration to the way we approach our relationship with God? Do you have a plan for learning more about who God is? Are you prepared to meet the need of a hurting person that God is planning to bring into your life? Are you ready to rely on God for the selflessness you'll need to love your spouse and your family that way He wants you to? Is this the first time you've thought about it in a long time? Listen here. [MP3 removed due to technical issues.]
Date: Sunday, November 23, 2008
Speaker: Kyle Schei
You Have a Friend Request
Do you really have 173 friends?If you've used MySpace, Facebook, or any other social networking site, you may have a lot of "friends". People you went to school with, coworkers, that guy you know through your sister's bridesmaid, people you've never met who share your profound interest in strawberry pie... these are your, "friends". These are the 173 people that you celebrate with when something great happens! They're also the people you reach out to when you're in pain. These 173 people care about you and you care about them, because - they are your friends.
Does something about that last paragraph seem strange? Of course it does! True friendship is more than a listing on the roster of someone else's online profile. Friends spend time together. Friends laugh together. Friends cry together. Friends share life together. Friends love each other.
Did you know that the Bible teaches that Jesus (Son of God, Creator of the Universe, the Alpha and the Omega, Ancient of Days) wants to call you His friend?! Really, it's true. He knows your joys and your hurts. He wants to hear about your day and what you think. He wants to tell you what He thinks too. God loves you and wants to share life with you. God wants to be your friend! Listen here.
Date: Sunday, November 16, 2008
Speaker: Scott Fenton
Heroes Tell The Truth
Children at The Rock Church are learning to be heroes in every day life. We've asked our Children's Director to share a lesson from his 'Heroes' series with the rest of us! When children at The Rock found out that Charley was teaching the adult service on Sunday morning, they had a few questions for him:- Would it be ok if we came with you?
- Are you really teaching about Super Heroes?
- Will you be wearing tights?
Find out the answers to all of these questions and more in this recording of our family friendly service! Real life superheroes are made up of more than superhuman powers, secret lairs and utility belts. It is what is on the inside that counts as well as the things we do on the outside. This discussion will appeal to all ages and the subject matter we'll explore is something that a person in any phase of life can appreciate - honesty. Listen here.
Date: Sunday, November 9, 2008
Speaker: Charley Lowery
We fall down. We Get Up!
A terrifying call from the doctor, a spouse's betrayal, emotional wounds from childhood... how do we make sense of the painful experiences in our lives? Why would a God who claims to love me allow me to experience these kinds of hurts? In his second letter to the church in Corinth, the Apostle Paul offered this possible explanation (2 Corinthians 1:3-4):
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
Is it possible that one of the reasons that God allows pain is so that we can use our experience to comfort those who are just beginning to feel and process through the same emotional crises that we have already begun to heal from? I remember when I found out I had cancer... I remember when I laid awake all night trying to decide whether or not to divorce my husband... I know how it feels, and I've found a way to make it through.
How would your life change if you were brave enough to expose your hurts to others in order to provide comfort to them? What do you think? Listen here.
Date: Sunday, November 2, 2008
Speaker: Terry Patton
Life, Death, Ressurection, and Heaven
For everything there is a seasonA time to weep and a time to laugh.
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to be born and a time to die.
Thoughts that are often attributed to the Byrds actually originated in a passage of Ecclesiastes 3. Even though we all agree with the sentiment that there is a time to die, the idea of our own death is one that many people fear and avoid thinking about at all costs. Is this life all there is? Is death really the enemy? Can anyone really know? Listen here!
Dates: Sunday,October 12 and 19, 2008
Speaker: Cole Meckle
Relationship is Everything
When Jesus was asked to name the most important thing God ever commanded us to do, he said this:You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.
The most important thing that God has for us to do with our lives involves our relationships with other people?! Why does God care about my relationships? Does He really have some specific expectation in the way I relate to my family members, coworkers, and friends? What about strangers?
God loves you, he wants to have a relationship with you, and he wants you to share his love with other people! Relationship is everything! Listen here.
Date: Sunday, October 5, 2008
Speaker: Laurie Lischke
What A Difference A Day Makes: Trusting God To Change Your Life
I can't do it. I don't want to be this person. I don't want to think these things. I don't want to do these things. But I can't do it; I can't stop. I'm out of control. I'm overwhelmed. I feel helpless. I can't do it. I can't change.
Any of that sound familiar to you? You may feel out of control, helpless, and overwhelmed - but you don't have to feel alone. We can all look at our own lives and see things that we want to change. Paul, who wrote a large part of the New Testament even said:
"I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate."
Are we really that out of control? Is there anyone that can help me? Yes. There is definitely someone who can help; who wants to help. What a Difference a Day Makes: Trusting God to Change Your Life. Listen here.
Date: Sunday, September 28, 2008
Speaker: Derrick Schumacher
Choices
Choices - Part Two :: 04.27.2008 :: Cole Meckle
Choices - Part One :: 04.20.2008 :: Cole Meckle
Judgment
Rescuing is Risky :: 03.09.08 :: Scott Harris
Loving by Judging :: 03.02.08 :: Scott Harris
Planks and Mirrors :: 02.24.08 :: Scott Harris
Launch
I Am Mr. Potato Head :: 01.27.08 || Scott Harris
Launch :: 01.20.08 || Scott Harris
Imagine :: 01.13.08 || Scott Harris
A Christmas Story
Herod :: 12.10.07 :: Scott HarrisBecoming Who We Are Series
You Can Handle the Truth :: 11.25.07 :: Cole Meckle
Due to technical issues the podcast from 11.25.07 is unavailable.
Fight Like a Man :: 11.18.07 :: Scott Harris
The God Who Moves First :: 11.11.07 :: Scott Harris
The Jesus Category:: 11.04.07 :: Scott Harris
Transfer Trust :: 10.28.07 :: Scott Harris
Adopted :: 10.21.07 :: Scott Harris
Sermon Archives
Lust Devastates but Love Restores :: 10.14.07 :: Cole Meckle
Confront the Elephant :: 10.07.07 :: Scott Harris
Anger Series
03 :: Join The Fight :: 09.30.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
02 :: Ready To Rumble :: 09.23.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
01 :: Ticked Off :: 09.16.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
The Parabolic Jesus
05 :: Kingdom Fairness :: 09.02.07 :: Cole Meckle :: listen
04 :: The Perspective of Forgiveness :: 08.26.07 :: Cole Meckle :: listen
03 :: It's All About Timing :: 08.19.07 :: Cole Meckle :: listen
02 :: The Jealous Brother :: 07.22.07 :: Cole Meckle :: listen
01 :: The "Good" Samaritan :: 07.15.07 :: Cole Meckle :: listen
Stand Alone Sermons
08 :: Wine & Lots of It :: 09.09.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
07 :: Lessons From A Priest And An Athlete :: 08.12.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
06 :: Grateful Dead :: 08.05.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
05 :: Are You There God? It's Me Margaret :: 07.08.07 :: Derrick Schumacher :: listen
04 :: Putting The World To Rights :: 07.01.07 :: Cole Meckle :: listen
03 :: Mothers, A Reflection of Him :: 05.13.07 :: Scott Harris and Cole Meckle :: listen
02 :: A Faithful Widow in a Den of Robbers :: 04.22.07 :: Cole Meckle :: listen
01 :: Year in Review :: 12.31.06 :: Scott Harris :: listen
Joseph: Lessons in Disappointment
03 :: Discouragement & Depression :: 06.24.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen02 :: A Father's Integrity :: 06.17.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
01 :: Shattered Dreams :: 06.10.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
Crossing Over
03 :: Why God Will Answer Your Prayer :: 06.03.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
02 :: This, then, is How You Should Pray :: 05.27.07 :: Cole Meckle :: unavailable
01 :: Intentions :: 05.20.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
The Provocative Jesus Series
05 :: Following Jesus Like a Snot-Nosed Toddler :: 05.06.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
04 :: Wealth and Heart :: 04.29.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
03 :: Stuff Gets It Done :: 04.15.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
02 :: What Is Jesus Asking Of Me? :: 04.08.07 (Easter) :: Scott Harris :: listen
01 :: Revolutionary Grace :: 04.01.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
God on Mission: a study of Acts
23 :: A Calloused Heart :: 03.25.07 :: Cole Meckle :: Listen
22 :: Where’s God in Difficult Times :: 03.18.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
21 :: Paul, Persecution, and the People of God :: 03.11.07 :: Cole Meckle :: listen
20 :: Culture Is :: 03.04.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
19 :: Touching the Untouchables :: 02.25.07 :: Scott Harris and Cole Meckle :: listen
18 :: God Delivers Peter & Worms Eat Herod :: 02.18.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
17 :: God Is On Mission Around the World :: 02.11.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
16 :: A Cruciform Confrontation with Death and Disease :: 02.04.07 :: Cole Meckle :: listen
15 :: Party Like Jesus :: 01.28.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
14 :: No Guts, No Glory :: 01.21.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
13 :: Courageous Coward :: 01.14.07 :: Scott Harris :: listen
12 :: Was Jesus A Nobody? :: 12.10.06 :: Cole Meckle :: mp3 not available
11 :: Public Faith, Peter’s Shadow & the Power of God :: 12.03.06 :: Scott Harris :: listen
10 :: The Do's and Don'ts of Real Estate Sales :: 11.26.06 :: Derrick Schumacher :: listen
09 :: Recipe for Courage :: 11.19.06 :: Scott Harris :: listen
08 :: Do We Believe in the Gifts of the Spirit? :: 11.12.06 :: Scott Harris and Cole Meckle :: listen
07 :: Jesus Is :: 11.05.06 :: Scott Harris :: listen
06 :: Shock and Awe is not Enough :: 10.29.06 :: Cole Meckle :: listen
05 :: Life is Good :: 10.22.06 :: Scott Harris :: listen
04 :: Wind, Fire, Tongues...What's Up with all This? :: 10.15.06 :: Scott Harris :: listen
03 :: The Little Things Matter :: 10.8.06 :: Scott Harris :: listen
02 :: Tsunami Goodness :: 10.1.06 :: Scott Harris :: listen
01 :: The Story of God :: 9.24.06 :: Scott Harris :: listen
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