The Rock Church

Out With The Old, In With The New

Happy New Year! Once again, one year ends while another one takes its place. It’s a never-ending cycle. As I was reading through Revelation, something really stood out to me. When Jesus comes to make all things new, it will be the end of the “out with the old and in with the new” mentality we’ve all known.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” — Revelation 21:1-3

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Live By Faith

We get to live by faith not only from our past experiences but also those in the present and in the future. It’s New Year’s Eve (Happy New Year), and we’ll usher in a new year at midnight. 2024 and the faith we walked in (and hopefully learned from) will be in the rearview mirror. The year ahead will certainly offer new opportunities to live by faith.

Faith From The Past

We can undoubtedly learn from not just this past year, but all prior years. Many of you will no doubt remember 2024 as a decadent chocolate dessert as it slowly melts in your mouth. Perhaps you’re healed from a difficult medical challenge, promoted at work, graduated from school, fell in love, got married, had your first baby, or your fifth? You have memories of incredibly joyful events. Maybe even more amazing, you were “born again” and became a follower of Jesus? All glory to God! Yes, many of you are currently thrilled to walk by faith in the goodness of God.

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Inner Transformation and Mind Renewal

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

You Are Free Indeed

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9

I recently had the privilege of leading a young man to Christ at our citywide “Night of Hope” event. His countenance went from sad, hopeless (and discouraged) to joyful, smiling, and thankful! The transformation happened before my very eyes. He absolutely understood (and believed) that God loved him. Also, he knew Jesus had died for all his sins. God is so good.

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His Mercies Are New Every Morning (and Every Year)

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” — Lamentations 3:21-23

It’s almost hard to believe that another year has come and gone. Every year, I seem more surprised by how quickly the calendar year moves. The new year always feels like a mixed bag of emotions. While January 1 can seem to give the appearance of a clean slate for goals, resolutions, and moving forward, it’s really no different from December 31.  

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Caleb Yetton

Home

With a heavy and thankful heart, I took a final, sweeping glance around the place my family and I had called home for the last eleven years. Then I locked the door and drove away. 

As I did, memories flooded through me. I thought of bringing my two youngest daughters home from the hospital as newborns. And then, there were all the Christmas, birthday, and Thanksgiving dinners with friends and family. Another was the treasure map I made to look old and “hid” in the attic where my son could find it. Along with that came the cloth bag of quarters he dug up in the backyard. So. Many. Memories. 

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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

Happy New Year

I don’t know about you, but I’m saying good riddance to Old Man 2022. For me, 2022 is like an old, noisy street. As I close the door on it, I find myself hoping for clarity and quietly looking forward to a new year. Honestly, we made it past 2020, 2021, and 2022 — there must be some consolation prize. For those of us who know Jesus, there is a consolation prize. It’s the same as in all the years of eternity past — 2023 holds all the fulfilled promises in Christ Jesus. This verse is like the Times Square ball drop of verses for us as Christians.

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

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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