The Rock Church

Beyond Imagination by The Rock Church

In Titus 3:7, the Apostle Paul mentions two things that are so remarkable. In fact, when you read them, it feels almost too good to be true:

“So that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:7

I want to consider two truths:

Truth #1: We are Justified.

Truth #2:  We are Heirs.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: adoption, blameless, Brian, Bryan, Bryan D. Edwards, bryan edwards, care, Child of God, comfort, dream, Eternal, eternal life, eternity, Family, Free, freedom, Future, future glory, gift, God, God cares for you, gratitude, Guilt, Heaven, Heavenly home, Heir, Home, Hope, house, imagination, imagine, inheritance, just, justification, justified, kindness, Mansion, mercy, pipe dream, real, reality, Rich, shame, sin, thankfulness, the rock church, titus

Galatians Sermon Series by The Rock Church

A Study of the Book of Galatians

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. — Galatians 2:20-21

Posted in News, Series by The Rock Church
Tags: apostle paul, bible, book of galatians, Church, Draper, epistle, freedom, galatians, good news, Grace, new testament, News, Series, Sermon Series, sermons, teaching, teaching series, the rock, the rock church, trc, truth, ut, Utah

Radical Transformation by Tony D'Amico

In Galatians (Chapter 1), Paul wrote about the radical change that happened to him. Plus, it only could have occurred through the revelation given to him by Jesus Christ. His incredible change shocked him completely. In fact, he basically had to hang out (for three years) with a fellow brother to process it all.

Before his life changed, I think that perhaps much of what he did was to look good in front of others and please them. I believe this because he eventually wrote (multiple times) that his drastic change, new identity, and Gospel didn’t come from man.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Tony D'Amico
Tags: apostle, approval, approved, Change, examine, Galations, God, gospel, grow, identity, jesus, Jesus Christ, law, new life, Paul, people pleaser, please man, pleasing, Reminder, repent, sanctification, Saul, the rock church, Tony, tony damico, train, transform, zealous

Do You Really Believe This? by The Rock Church

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” — 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Recently, I was talking with a friend about the story of Jonah. We recounted the story play-by-play. It reminded me how the story of Jonah has undoubtedly become one of the most challenging Bible stories to believe. In 1794 (230 years ago), Thomas Paine, author of “The Age of Reason,” said the book of Jonah was “…A fit story for ridicule if it was written to be believed — or of laughter if it was intended to try what credulity could swallow, for if it could swallow Jonah and the whale it could swallow anything.”

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: 1700s, atheist, belief, believe, Billy, billy johnson, challenging, christ, David, doubt, fish, Goliath, help, historical, jesus, Jonah, legend, lies, myth, mythical creature, Old Testament, philistines, Questions, satan, Son of Man, stories, story, the rock church, Thomas Paine, timothy, Unbelief, whale

Gain by The Rock Church

I gained encouragement during some interactions I’ve had with my oncologist. I will share it with you in the hope that you will be encouraged as well.

My oncologist has helped me with my ongoing cancer challenges and was at the helm through my sweet wife Jeanne’s battle with cancer. Back then, we used to joke with him that we were his two-for-one clients. I often thank him for his tireless attention to his cancer patients. He genuinely cares for me and my family. Consequently (and like all of us), he was especially burdened when Jeanne lost her battle with cancer.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: afterlife, battle, cancer, christ, depressed, doctor, Family, gain, grief, Heaven, illness, Jeanne, loss, Mac, Ministry, Outreach, patient, Philippians, sharing the gospel, sick, Steve McInroy, suffering, the rock church, trial, Witness

Astounded by The Rock Church

There is nothing quite like being astounded by Jesus. Obviously, Jesus is always amazing, but sometimes, in our faith journey, He occasionally orchestrates something genuinely astounding.

In July, The Rock Church Youth Group attended our annual DTC (Discipleship Training Camp) in Colorado. It was a tremendous few days where our young men and women played tons of games, sang songs, and laughed with friends. What is more, they learned the biblical roadmap for godly manhood and womanhood. For this particular DTC, the men and women were in two separate camps — about an hour away from each other.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: amazing, astounding, Camp, car, car accident, car troubles, coincidence, Colorado, depression, Discpileship, drive, driving, DTC, God sighting, Grace, Is God There?, jesus, journey, manhood, map, mechanic, miracle, perfect, provides, right place, right time, road, see, storm, suffering, the rock church, The Rock Music, Time, timing, tire, trailer, Training, trial, trials, truck, trust, womanhood, Worship, youtube

The Mercy Seat Connection by The Rock Church

Recently, a sister in our church pointed out something rather remarkable to me. There is an obvious  connection between the Mercy Seat found in the Old and New Testaments.

The Ark of the Covenant was in the Old Testament Jewish tabernacle/temple. (You might remember it from Raiders of the Lost Ark). The Ark of the Covenant was a chest that contained The Ten Commandments, a pot of manna, and Aaron’s staff. On the top of it was the Mercy Seat. This was, in fact, where God’s presence dwelled. The priests sprinkled the sacrificial blood there, and He gave mankind mercy. 

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: Aarons Staff, angels, ark, Ark of the covenant, Cherub, Cherubim, covenant, Easter, Exodus, foreshadow, gospel, hebrews, holy, Holy of Holies, jesus, Jews, John, Josh, Josh Whitney, Manna, mary, mercy, Mercy seat, Most Holy Place, Old Testament, Propitiation, Resurrection, sacrifice, shadow, tabernacle, temple, the rock church, tomb, type

A Common Faith Family by Caleb Yetton

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
Tags: built together, caleb, caleb yetton, common, connect, daughter, differences, disagreements, divide, division, division in the church, eternal family, faith, Family, foundation, friendship, get a long, humble, humility, jesus, Paul, Son, the rock church, titus, Together, unique, unite, unity, yetton

Honduras Update #6 by Brent Kendall

Our Comforter

Our last day started out at the University where some of the students danced a traditional Honduran dance and then one girl sang ”This is Amazing Grace.”  She had the most beautiful voice which brought us to tears because we felt God’s presence so strongly in that room worshipping together. We were also able to talk to a lot of them who knew God but were struggling with hard things in their life and had questions about miracles or about death. One girl shared how her grandfather, who had raised her, had died 9 days before. She was so sad and was just asking why. It sounded like her grandfather was a believer and she was looking at this tract with the gospel on it saying that the question on it was her own question of “where will I go when I die?” We were able to remind her of the hope that we can have in Christ and how she will see him again in eternity. 

Posted in Missions by Brent Kendall
Tags: honduras, Mission, mission trip, missions, short term mission trip, the rock missions

Honduras Update #5 by Brent Kendall

I have learned that one way Jesus spreads His good news, which is that He is Lord, is through the suffering love of the saints. Yesterday, I prayed that God would give me extravagant love for the people we were visiting in one of the poorest areas in Honduras. Getting there is difficult, but staying all day is even more difficult. One lady said she feels unsure about God because life is hard. She often doesn’t have enough food to feed her family, and many of them are sick. God did give me such love for her, and I was so excited to tell her how Jesus is taking over this world and the sin in our hearts. The sadness in our eyes is going to change very soon! One of my favorite parts of this day was that our team members and many local church members were engaged in serving this community together. Some were sharing the gospel or praying for healing. Others cared for physical needs, welcomed people, played with children, or chased dogs out of the clinic. 

Thank you for your prayers and support!

-Jenny 

Posted in Missions by Brent Kendall
Tags: honduras, Mission, mission trip, missions, short term mission trip, the rock missions