The Rock Church

Category Archive: A Word from the Pastor

  1. Hope of Jesus

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    Have you sensed that now, more than ever, we need the hope of Jesus? In unbelievable ways, our culture is divided, scared, enraged and much like a sheep without a shepherd.

    Together with you, we are heartbroken over the racial divides, injustices, murders, riots, bigotry, fear and hate spreading across our country. Like you, we are saddened and seeking Jesus for an appropriate response to somehow speak love to our brothers and sisters who have had to live with racism and hate in ways many of us will never know. How do we tell them that we love them without it seeming small? How do we become more involved without it seeming trite? 

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  2. Loving My Neighbors

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    Loving My Neighbors – a word by Pastor Steve McInroy from The Rock Church in Draper, UT. "I’ve been thinking a lot about loving my neighbors. The Bible is crystal clear on this point; the onus of obedience is on me."

    It’s with a deep conviction that I’ve been thinking a lot about loving my neighbors. The Bible is crystal clear on this point; the onus of obedience is on me. Here is one of just many verses on loving your neighbors (I love how James quotes from the Old Testament and refers to it as the royal law).

    “Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” — James 2:8 (NLT)

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  3. The Lord is Near to His People

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    I want to encourage you today with something we see over and over in the Bible. The Lord is near to His people. Throughout time and during all sorts of difficulties, that has remained true. 

    Psalm 145:18-19 says “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.” That is a beautiful truth!

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  4. A King of Their Own Creation + What’s Happening

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    Recently, during one of our weekend services, we looked at The Triumphant Entry in Mark 11. The Jewish people had their own timeline for when the Messiah should save them from the Romans. They tried making a King of their own creation.

    Likewise, we can do the same thing, right? We have our own timeline for how we want life to return to normal. It can be easy to get angry — even at the King — when things don’t go the way we want them to during this time. 

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  5. The Roar of the Crowd

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    The Roar of the Crowd – a word by Pastor Josh Whitney from The Rock Church in Draper, Utah. The author John is trying to describe what he saw and heard. I was struck by his description, “the roar” from “the great multitude.”

    “Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns…” — Revelation 19:6

    I have been reading the Revelation of Jesus Christ for the last month; it has personally encouraged and challenged me. Recently, I read the above verse. Can you imagine that moment? The history of our planet is winding down. God is about to usher in the new heavens and earth. A great multitude of Believers from all of human history is gathered together worshiping God. 

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  6. Forgiveness

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    Forgiveness – a word by Pastor Bill Young from The Rock Church in Draper, Utah. "Forgiveness always sounds good — at least in theory. We are told in Colossians 3:13 to, 'Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances...'"

    “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV 84)

    Forgiveness always sounds good — at least in theory. We are told in Colossians 3:13 to, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” But, how do we do that? And, what happens when we get hurt by someone and have difficulty forgiving? How can we practically forgive those who have hurt us?

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  7. Our Identity in the Love of Jesus

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    I was recently reminded of a teaching I heard about the disciple, John. When John refers to himself, as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” we see where John found his identity. Likewise, we can be encouraged that ours can be found there, too. 

    There are countless ways that we can label ourselves. Even in saying we are “lovers of Jesus” we can put so much of the onus on our effort. As a result, we miss the mark. Instead, Christian, may we find our identity in the love of Jesus. 

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