After much discussion and prayer by The Board, Paul Duncan, and myself we have come to the conclusion that we can meet this Sunday, June 14 safely and within the compliance of state guidelines. We made it a priority to be respectful to state guidelines, to love our neighbor well by focusing on safety, and being a witness to our community by taking seriously the importance of gathering correctly. For a complete copy of our guidelines for re-opening CLICK HERE. Below are some basics:

I’ve really missed gathering as a church. I’ve missed greeting people as they walk in the door. I’ve missed singing together. I’ve missed hearing people read the Word of God. I’ve missed hearing people pray. I’ve missed preaching while connecting with people in person. I’ve missed standing and sending everyone out with a benediction. I’ve missed talking, reflecting, laughing, and sharing life after service. Can we get back together soon? Yes!

Horror and Beauty. These antonyms describe the Christian life in this world. We live out the Christian life in the midst of sinful acts that make our skin crawl and blood boil. And at the same time we see God work in people in ways that are beautiful and reflect the very image of God. It is hard to make sense of it. We daily lament as the prophet Habakkuk did in Habakkuk 1:2-4 in the face of national perversion of justice - “how long shall I cry for help.” And we daily thank God for His work in our lives - just like Habakkuk did at the end of Habakkuk; “yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” (Hab. 3:18)

“Social-Distancing.” “Flattening the Curve.” “Zoom.” These are phrases and words I did not know 3 months ago. I learned of another new concept this past week - “Zoom Fatigue.” People get tired on Zoom. People are also tired of Zoom. I get it. It does not feel entirely natural. I have to work harder to communicate. I fight to stay engaged. I look funny to myself on my screen! Can you relate?

“Eternity makes now… make sense.” I preached this phrase years ago. Today I received a message from a friend whose father just passed away that he is being comforted by that teaching. The “now” can be hard. A parent dying is brutally hard. The uncertainty of this time of COVID-19 is becoming harder and harder. Whatever difficulty you are going through “now” can be crushing. But knowledge of eternity changes everything.

One thing I hear over and over again from people during this quarantine is, “I’m so tired!” It amazes me that I get to the end of a seemingly calm, stationary, and quiet day and feel exhausted. I was even on a call with the president of our denomination (who is highly productive and successful) yesterday and he said, “I have never traveled less and been more tired than during this pandemic.” Strange days indeed.

A common statement made about one’s faith is that it is personal. Meaning, “I keep my faith to myself because it is between me and God.” There is some truth to this statement. It is true because one must make a personal decision to call upon the name of the Lord (Acts 2:21). But there is a lot false about this statement. According to the New Testament one’s faith is profoundly communal. Our faith is shared with the church community to which we belong.

Power struggles are real. Just this week our nation witnessed a power struggle between our president and the state governors over authority to handle coronavirus decisions. There are constant office power struggles over how to handle issues. Any marital conflict ultimately can be traced back to power struggles. And raising children is an eighteen year power struggle! But the greatest power struggle in human history is between humankind and God.

Holy Week is a time of preparation and reflection. We prepare our hearts to understand the significance of our Easter Sunday celebration. We celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. His victory over death. His power and glory revealed. We also reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice for us. He willingly went to the cross on our behalf. That is why Good Friday is good. Jesus accomplished forgiveness of sin for us in His death.

A valid question to ask during the COVID-19 global pandemic is; “God, are you with us?” It can feel like we are alone. We can by anxious, fearful, tired of the unknown, and emotionally spent. We long for comfort, peace, and belonging. With the Bible as our support, we can say with all of our hearts that God is with us, for us, and in us right now. And that will not change throughout this crisis.

A valid question to ask during the COVID-19 global pandemic is; “God, are you with us?” It can feel like we are alone. We can by anxious, fearful, tired of the unknown, and emotionally spent. We long for comfort, peace, and belonging. With the Bible as our support, we can say with all of our hearts that God is with us, for us, and in us right now. And that will not change throughout this crisis.

The COVID-19 coronavirus has rocked our world. Each of our personal patterns has changed in the last week. Our daily lives simply look radically different. Work. School. Home. Social. Church. Everything has changed. How we respond as a church is dependent on each of us as individuals. Each one of us makes up the church, so each one of us is responsible for how we connect as a church while we cannot physically meet together. Here are some crucial ways we must band together and act:

The coronavirus is dominating the headlines, TV & radio, and much of our everyday conversation. It is affecting our daily lives more and more with event cancellations, school closings, and shortages of basic goods. How are we to think and respond as Christians? I will answer that question with a few suggestions coming from a biblical, theological viewpoint.

Running out of gas is one of the more unsettling things that can happen. Of course, running out of gas in your car can leave you on the side of the road and stranded. It is dangerous, debilitating, and even reckless. Another way I have “run out of gas” is when I ran the LA marathon. Lori and my Dad (and Brett as an infant!) were cheering me on at about mile 14. It was rainy, my knees hurt, and I was flat out of gas. I wanted to stop. If not for the encouragement I received, I would have been finished. We can run out of gas spiritually as well…

What about waiting on God to act in your life?

When I have to wait I often become impatient. And if I’m really honest with myself, I become very unproductive. I’m impressed with people who can multi-task and get things done while waiting. The businessperson who is typing away on their laptop waiting for the plane. The parent who is planning their next day while waiting for carpool pick-up. The student who is reading in line for their coffee. I think of these activities as “active waiting.”

What about waiting on God to act in your life?

I thrive when I’m given a task with clear instructions and proper motivation. I thrive even more when I’m convinced what I’m doing is right, good, and profitable for people. On the flip side, when I’m asked to do something that I’m not altogether sure how to do it and I can’t see the point in doing it, I’m less likely to give it my all. Jesus knew the disciples needed clear instruction, proper motivation, and the tools to get the job done in the beginning of Acts.

Usually when we do things that take time and effort there is a reason. Spending years in college gives us a degree that opens doors for our future. Running a marathon is an accomplishment that is worth the work and training. Remodeling a house gives us a useful and beautiful place to live. Reading a long novel brings joy and satisfies curiosity of how the story ends. This Sunday at The Rock we are beginning a new sermon series in the book of Acts. The series will take a year of study, effort, and application. Is it worth it? Why would we invest in such an undertaking?

When I get home from a trip I love to tell stories. Reminiscing about places I saw, people I met, food I ate, and even things that went wrong remind me of highlights of my journey. We do this all the time in life with our loved ones and friends. Then we start to plan our next adventure! We do this in the church as well. We look back at what God has done and we look forward to our next adventure with God.

Death is the harshest reality.

We have been grieving this week over the deaths of Kobe Bryant and every person that died in the tragic helicopter crash. The news was shocking. The aftermath was confusing. The days following filled with grief were unsettling. Why is death so hard and disturbing?

The title “Endings and Beginnings” is a word play signifying the end of our “Genesis: Beginnings” sermon series. It also represents the end of one sermon series and the beginning of another. Everyone at The Rock can participate in both in the following ways: