Pastor Curt’s weekly thoughts on God, The Rock Church, and our faith.
We are in for a special treat this Sunday. As a big group from The Rock comes home from the Mexico house build, Chris Cannon will be filling in for me. I want to encourage everyone to be there to worship, hear the Word, and gather in fellowship. I look forward to being with everyone this Sunday!
Happy 4th of July! Every few years I preach a 4th of July sermon. My main goal is to examine the relationship between patriotism & our walk with Jesus. In this moment in our country where there is an intense discussion on what true patriotism is all about, we must know what patriotism means to us as Christians. Let’s gather this Sunday to worship the God who is above all things… even country.
This Sunday The Rock is in for a special treat. Our guest preacher, Bill MacPhee, is sharing his amazing testimony. If you have never heard Bill recount his life-changing accident, you will be blessed. It is not only a miracle that he is alive, it is a miracle how God has used a terrible accident for good in the Kingdom. Early in Bill’s life he fell from a cliff on a youth group mountaineering trip. He will share his perspective with us on Sunday. Do whatever you can to be there and hear Bill’s amazing testimony!
The final words of Paul’s letter to Timothy are a summary of the themes of the entire letter. The first theme is to protect & guard the sound doctrine that God has given the church. The second theme is to avoid the false teachers that are wishing to draw Christians away from that same sound doctrine. Paul’s call to Timothy applies just as much to us today as it did to the Ephesian church in the 1st century. After all, the very last phrase of the book is; “Grace be with you.” The “you” here is in the plural. It is meant for the entire church in Ephesus in the letter. And I believe Paul’s words continue to us today in our modern world.
Fatherhood in the Bible is mostly connected to character. And character is connected to imitating Jesus. So being a good father has everything to do with being a godly man. Godliness is the goal of Christian men. Combining this in contemporary American life is tricky. Christian men are bombarded with stereotypes of men that are in competition with God’s ideal for men. As we gather this Sunday on Father’s Day, I will preach on what Godly masculinity is all about.
As we move into the Summer months, we look forward to some topical sermons. I Timothy is coming to a close and a Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) sermon series begins in July. So let’s gather to hear all God has for us in the next few weeks!
Paul has just given some final instructions to Timothy and the Ephesian church in I Timothy 6:11-16. He even concluded with a soaring prayer & benediction about God. And to top it all off, he said; “Amen.” It seems that the letter has come to a conclusion. But Paul needed to say one more thing! And I imagine that this one more thing was important. Why else would he keep going after he said; “Amen?”
As we approach the end of I Timothy, Paul gives a final encouragement to “keep the commandment.” (I Tim. 6:14a) The motivation that Paul gives Timothy is the same motivation we have today to live our lives for God. And that motivation is God! The Bible lists at least eight things about God that will motivate us to follow His commandments. In summary, here they are: God’s presence, God as life-giver, the example of Jesus, Jesus’s 2nd coming, God’s sovereignty, God’s immortality, God as unapproachable light, and God’s invisibility. Just listing these qualities and attributes causes the Apostle Paul to praise God and say “Amen!”
Fighting is a part of life. We fight when we shouldn’t - in relationships, with neighbors, at work or school. We enjoy watching fights - UFC, political debates, and, of course, Real Housewives. And we fight because God tells us to fight - “Fight the good fight of the faith…” (I Tim. 6:12a) It is eternally important that we do not confuse these different types of fights. God’s command to fight comes with the assumption we fight like Jesus fights. We fight for the right things - our souls, true doctrine. We fight against the right things - sin, the devil, death. And we fight in the right way - faithfully, gently, lovingly.
If you looked at the title of this post, the first question you may have asked is, “Who is Eunice?” Eunice is known for at least two things. First, she is the mother of Timothy in the Bible. Second, and most importantly, Eunice is recognized by both Paul (2 Timothy 1:5) and Luke (Acts 16:1) for her faith in Jesus! Eunice’s faith is at the center of her motherhood. Biblically, a mother’s faith in Jesus is the most important factor in making a mom a “good mom.”
In our modern American context, there are certain topics seen as not fit for casual conversation. Topics like politics, money, and the health of one’s marriage. Why are these topics taboo? Because they produce strong opinions and emotions! Which is exactly why we need to discuss them biblically! We are ready to discuss two of these at The Rock…
In our modern American context, there are certain topics seen as not fit for casual conversation. Topics like politics, money, and the health of one’s marriage. Why are these topics taboo? Because they produce strong opinions and emotions! Which is exactly why we need to discuss them biblically! We are ready to discuss two of these at The Rock…
“He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!!!”
Let us join together Easter Sunday Morning to proclaim this truth that has been proclaimed since the disciples gathered together the 1st Easter!
We are gathering together to celebrate and worship at 9:00 am this Sunday. Arrive early - there will be coffee and donuts available at 8:45 am.
We will walk through the passion week this Sunday through singing and readings. Beginning with Palm Sunday, then walking through the last supper, betrayal of Jesus, the trials, the crucifixion, and the burial of Jesus we will feel what the crowds following Jesus felt. Then on Easter… Resurrection!!!
I’ve said a number of times in church; “We want to make a big deal about Easter!” I mean it. One way we are making a big deal about Easter is to dedicate the next 3 Sundays to the Easter message. This Sunday I will preach on the need for Jesus - our sin. We will then go out to eat together after communion. Sunday, April 13 is Palm Sunday where we will walk through the passion week in song and readings. And most importantly, at 9:00 am on Sunday, April 20 we will celebrate Easter together. I will preach out of Luke 24:28-35 reminding us that God has met our need for a Savior with the resurrected Jesus!
One thing that puzzles me is how to view people in history regarding slavery. We must confront America’s history of our country’s leaders owning slaves. It becomes an intense discussion in Christian circles about Christian leaders, pastors, and theologians owning slaves. The Bible is not always clear on whether God approves or disapproves of slavery. Quite honestly, God approving of slavery would be disturbing if understood in the wrong way. Does our passage in I Timothy 6:1-2 justify slavery of all sorts? That is the question I seek to answer this Sunday.
There are horror stories about the ways churches treat their pastors. From low pay (or no pay) to false accusations to general mistrust. There are also horror stories about the ways pastors have sinned against people in their churches. From abuse of power to laziness to false teaching. In 1 Timothy 5:17-25 the Apostle Paul gives instruction that is balanced and fair on how the pastor/church relationship should exist. Pastors are a part of the family. There are family rules about how they should be treated and how they should be accountable to the church.
The world and the Kingdom of God often have 180 degree different views on life. How older adults are valued is a big one. The world tells us that older people are over the hill, past their prime, and even invisible. God’s Kingdom takes a totally opposite view. The Bible teaches that older adults are valued for their wisdom, experience, knowledge, and street smarts. Not only are older adults not put out to pasture, but are used as warriors in God’s church. One great example is the widows in I Timothy 5:9-16. Widows are to be enrolled into service in the church. To disciple. To mentor. To pray. To serve. To live their entire life for Jesus!
God has been clear since the beginning of time regarding who He wants us to be. In Leviticus, God calls for us to be holy (Lev. 19:2). In Micah, God calls us to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.” (Micah 6:8). In the New Testament, God calls us to love God and love neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). And in the book of James, God tells us what pure and undefiled religion is all about; “visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world…” (James 1:27). All of these callings reflect the heart of God. Loving. Compassionate. Kind. Merciful. Gracious. God’s heart is to be imitated by each of us. This week in our study in I Timothy, God gives specific instructions on how to care for widows. What an opportunity to mimic the heart of God!
One of the traditions at The Rock that I look forward to each month is dinner after communion. It makes sense. It fits. To gather as a community to eat after our sacred gathering as the community of God around the Lord’s Table sounds exactly like the right thing to do! On top of it being good and right, we get to do it the first Sunday of every month!
