There Was A Garden — Easter 2024 by The Rock Church

Easter at The Rock Church

The most significant events in the history of mankind are the death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. John 19:41-42 says that these events happened near the same place. And in that place, there was a garden. While close to each other in both time and location, the meaning of these events is quite different. 

Posted in News, Series by The Rock Church
Tags: burial, Church, crucifixion, death, Easter, easter 2024, easter in utah, Easter Series, Easter Service, Easter Week, garden, God, good friday, jesus, jesus is alive, Resurrection, rock church, the rock church, there was a garden, trc, Utah

Fuses and Friends by The Rock Church

“So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” — 1 Thessalonians 2:8

Last July, several of us went to Faithcamp in Alamosa, Colorado. It was a fantastic four-day conference, and we definitely had an encouraging time. Very tired, we started the nine-hour car trip back to Utah early on Sunday morning.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: AC, billy johnson, care, close, community, dear, electrician, fatihcamp, fire, friends, friendship, fuse box, help, Hospitality, Josh, Josh Whitney, sacrifice, serving, sharing, the rock church, Thessalonians

Jesus in the Middle by The Rock Church

As a pastor, I am for sure not immune to feeling overwhelmed by difficulties. Also, whether it’s physical, mental, or emotional, life can sometimes make me feel like I’m drowning.

Perhaps the disciples felt this way. In fact, in the gospels of John, Mark, and Matthew, we are told how these fishers of men were overwhelmed with fear at the sight of their teacher walking on water through a storm. As a result, it says they were “terrified” because they thought they saw a ghost!

Isn’t it good to know we are not the only ones who experience fear and anxiety?

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: afraid, anxious, Bill, Bill Young, comfort, cookies, courage, crcumstances, desperate, difficulty, disciples, drowning, fear, ghosts, hardship, Hope, jesus, John'Mark, Matthew, oreos, overwhelmed, pain, safety, storm, suffering, sweet, the rock church, trial, trouble, Young

Don’t Be Troubled by Caleb Yetton

John 14:1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.”

In John Chapter 13, Jesus gave His disciples shocking news. He informed them that He would be betrayed by one of their closest friends. Additionally, He would soon leave them and go where they couldn’t follow. 

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Caleb Yetton
Tags: anxiety, anxious, Betrayed, caleb, caleb yetton, calerb, distress, God's hands, Hope, illness, John, lamb, Matthew, overwhelmed, Peace, peter, psalm, Rest, safety, sheep, Simon, steadfast love, stress, stronghold, the rock church, trial, trouble, trust

The Best Ending by The Rock Church

(In previous posts I have shared my journey through grief and the many ways the Lord has walked with me. This is my latest entry in that collection. These posts have been helpful for me to write and look back on. When intense waves of sadness come, I read them. In the same way, I hope that in your times of sorrow, they can help you as well.)

Over the last year, I’ve read a book series I’ve fallen in love with. But recently, I’ve had to take a break from it. You see, as much as I love the story, I am equally dreading what will happen next. Without giving away any spoilers, I will just say this….the story is not ending how I want it to.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: author, books, Bryan, Bryan D. Edwards, bryan edwards, comfort, death, ending, finish, grief, jesus, loss, mourn, pain, Peace, revelation, Sickness, Stephen King, stories, story, suffering, the rock cchurch, the rock church, trials

Inner Transformation and Mind Renewal by Tony D'Amico

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
Tags: actions, breaking free, Change, conform, core, fake, God's will, heart, holistic, Holy Spirit, hypocrisy, internal, jesus, like Christ, Mark, mind, new, new birth, perfect, perfectionism, process, punk rock, purity, rebel, religious traditions, renew, ritual, Romans, sanctification, spirituality, status quo, the rock church, thoughts, tony damico, transform, transformation

Forgiven By A Friend by The Rock Church

“The servant girl at the door said to Peter, ‘You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not.’” — John 18:17

Imagine how disappointed in himself Peter must have been the second those words left his lips.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: beach, betrayal, Betrayed, Billy, billy johnson, broken, denial, fish, fishing, forgive, forgiveness, friend, friends, jesus, love, mistake, peter, Peters denial, psalm, redeem, redemption, regret, service, the church, the rock church

Pray About Everything by The Rock Church

The right response is to pray about everything. Perhaps you feel like you’re in an uphill battle. Are you distraught, downtrodden, sick, bankrupt, or confused? Oftentimes, life can be utterly brutal. And yet, in the same life, we can also experience the downhill thrill of blessings. Being in love, landing the perfect job, receiving gifts, learning new skills, having children, going on vacation, hearing, tasting, and so on.

In all our ups and downs, the Apostle Paul encourages us to assume the position of prayer.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: 1 Thessalonians, bankrupt, battle, blessing, broken, God, gratitude, grief, groans, guard, hebrews, humility, intercede, is God good?, Isaiah, John, loss, Mac, need, Paul, Peace, Philippians, pray, Prayer, rely, Rest, Romans, sad, safe, sick, Steve McInroy, suffering, thankfulness, the rock church, trial, war

The Cup of Blessing by The Rock Church

^“Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance!” — Psalm 16:5-6

Have you ever wondered where your life might be apart from knowing Jesus as your Savior? If not, spend a moment pondering what that might have looked like.

It certainly doesn’t take long to realize how richly blessed we are to be His children. It always goes far beyond the material blessing of His provision. We no doubt find that in our homes or aligning with our interests. Looking deeper, however, we also see a life filled with grace, forgiveness, purpose, hope, and beauty.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church
Tags: awe, blessing, boundaries, cup, decisions, Future, Gifts, glory, Grace, grief, guidance, Heaven, inheritance, material, mundane, pain, promise, provision, psalm, psalm 16, Purpose, Resurrection, safety, steel, Steele Croswhite, suffering, the rock church, tribulation, Wisdom, wonder, Worship

IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES by Brent Kendall

IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES

God has been faithful to The Rock Church for almost 25 years. He has changed countless lives and allowed us to see thousands of salvations and baptisms. And He has done it through your generosity!

We currently owe ~ $1.14 million on our building loan with a $14,000/month mortgage payment. Just think about what we could do if we eliminated all that debt in 2024. The possibilities aren’t hard to imagine. We could plant new churches, begin a building addition, create more services, or engage in more outreach. Without a doubt, even more lives would be changed. Won’t you join us by investing in an incredible future for The Rock Church? People’s lives will be transformed because of your generosity.

Posted in Imagine the Possibilities by Brent Kendall
Tags: debt, expansion, faith, fundraiser, Mission, upgrades, vision