The Rock Church

Remain

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” — John 15:4-5

I recently read through The One Year Bible and found these verses in John; they are perhaps among my favorites. These words come from our Savior Jesus. They remind me, quite simply, that “fruit” produced in our lives comes through abiding and resting in Him. 

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by admin

Encourage Others

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”  (Hebrews 3:13 NIV84)

In a recent message I taught, I shared about the power and importance of encouraging others. Consequently, I then remembered a story about a man who often woke up on Sunday mornings and did not feel like attending church. “It’s boring, and the people don’t like me,” he protested. “Then why go at all?” he was asked. “Well, I have to go. I’m the pastor.”

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by admin

Transformed

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” —  2 Corinthians 5:17

I recently gave a message called “The Transforming One.” In it, I talked about the importance of accurately understanding our identity in Christ. I can’t stress that enough. The Bible says in Proverbs 23:7, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (NKJV) Who I think I am, absolutely affects what I do. For this reason, there is power in understanding our God-given identity. 

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by admin

Change

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

I’m not a big fan of change. Big or small, it always seems to bring out some sort of fuss from me. I have a hard time with simple transitions that most people wouldn’t even consider being problematic. From buying a car to renewing a magazine subscription, my mind starts racing just thinking about it. That’s just the way I am wired. But, change is coming (whether I am ready for it or not).

(more…)

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by admin