Church on The Rock Homer

“I pity the fool!” Can you see it? The mohawk! The gold chains! The black van with the red accent! Mr. T’s line was a mainstay during the A Team series. I had not realized until this week that Mr. T’s statement is an oxymoron. Mr. T did not pity anyone, in fact, he did exactly the opposite of pitying his enemies, he delivered justice with brute wrath and we all cheered him on. Mr. T, while rough around the edges, is a very likable guy but you would never want to be on the other end of the sentence, “I pity the fool,” because you would receive no pity, no reprieve, no mercy from the strong man.

God on the other hand is different, mercy is one of his greatest attributes and one that we seek to receive in abundance. In this message we are going to look at the blessing of receiving mercy and seeing God.

Pastor Matt McCarter

Some of the most painful losses I have experienced in this life have been losses mostly suffered in silence. Not every loss, but many of them. This grief is one you are probably familiar with, mourning over the life that could have been.

Hopes unrealized.

Faded friendships.

Love lost.

Dreams forfeited.

Surprise hardships.

As a follower of Jesus, some of these losses seemed at the hand of God and some were at my own hand. I made a decision in obedience to my Savior and King and in that decision chose to let go of something very dear, something very precious to me.

And it hurt.

According to Jesus in His teaching on the mount, I am blessed. I am a fortunate and privileged person because there is a greater reality that supersedes my temporal experience. There is a greater good that will add up to something exceedingly more than my loses.

Pastor Aaron Weisser

Finish the sentence, I’ll have the good life when…

I truly believe that one of Satan’s greatest deceptions is to fool us into comparing our lives to some future reality that may not ever come. We practice this deception by entertaining the thought that when this season passes, life will be good. When I don’t have to change diapers anymore, life will be good. When I have enough money, life will be good. When I retire, life will be good. When this dynamic changes in my relationship, life will be good.

Your ability to experience the good life is not based on a set of circumstances, but the reality of God’s blessing in your life. In this message we dive into a new series on the Beatitudes and God’s ability to bless us.

Pastor Matt McCarter

While there are many hero's of the faith, few stand as tall as the one I call my mama. This Sunday I have the honor and privilege of inviting my own mother onto the stage at Church on the Rock. As far as mothering goes, she has mothered with the best of ‘em!

For those who don’t know, I am the third of thirteen kids and my children are eight of the 52 kids my mom calls grandkids. (I think its 52 but that number is climbing rapidly!) The daughter of Alaskan homesteaders who moved overseas to reach the lost in the Philippines, my mom has lived a life of faith.

This Sunday her and I will discuss the unique challenges and insights relevant across the seasons of parenting. I am so looking forward to sharing her wisdom with you!

Pastor Aaron Weisser

Someone recently said to me “I just always thought there were the good people and the bad people and I was one of the bad people.”  Are you still struggling under the burden of failure or the burden of proving their own goodness? Are you still struggling to see the goodness of God as displayed by the cross? Then this message is for you. 
Pastor Dr. Aaron Weisser

Is it too soon to talk about Christmas? My son has asked several times in the last week if we can put the tree up again. I don’t think he’s mentioned it to my wife or it would be up again already. How often is it during a holiday season that you forget to intentionally connect with the purpose of the holiday? Thanksgiving is about tryptophan and naps, not people. Memorial day is about a fun day to travel in summer, not honoring the ultimate sacrifice of those who serve. Christmas is about that one thing I hope is under the tree and not the incarnation of Jesus. It happens quickly in the hustle of life that we fail to slow down and see things as they truly are. 

That is the story of the Triumphal Entry and Palm Sunday. We too quickly rush to assume what God wills or purposes upon the foal of a donkey. Today, we have the benefit of hindsight on our side.

Pastor Matt McCarter

Have you ever painfully watched as someone in charge got it all wrong?  Ever had a supervisor care intensely about all the wrong things while neglecting what was important?  Ever watched someone in power exercise that power in wasteful ways and miss the opportunity to bring about meaningful change?  Ever had someone with the power to make a decision on your behalf, delay the decision in a way that cost you dearly? 
It’s frustrating when those with power don’t use their power in ways consistent with how we see fit.  In fairness, they probably have some perspective that we lack.  But that doesn’t make it less maddening. 
What about with God?  Ever been frustrated, disappointed, or confused by the way in which He wields or seemingly fails to wield His unlimited power on earth?  I have. 
In this message, we will look at John 11.  It is the story of an astonishing miracle.  And every single character takes issue with the way Christ gets it done. 

When is the last time you got knocked off your feet with an illness? Mine was about a year ago, after a couple of days without improvement I headed to the Doc, only to find out that I just had a virus and needed to wait it out. 

As I get older, there more and more comes a period where the recovery process turns from helpful to painful. My body stiffens while at rest and what once brought me comfort is now what causes me additional pain. 
How often do we remain in pain seeking healing while the answer is elsewhere?
In this message, we take a look at John 5, Jesus healing the Lame Man at Bethesda. My hope is the same as John’s, that we will again encounter a wonderful healer, a mighty savior!

Pastor Aaron Weisser dissects Jesus' conversation with the woman at the well and the miracle of God's grace.

Do you remember the first time you heard some old man tell you that life gets faster as you get older? How about the statement that life is too short? The best things in life, money can’t buy? 

Are you old enough now to know the truth of those statements? For most of us there is an initial disbelief when the aged and wise come along and share their knowledge. However, with time there comes a realization surpassing the knowledge, or gumption, we previously held. 

The same was true for Nicodemus, when Jesus uttered the words, you must be born again. Nicodemus cannot fit the notion into his understanding of the world and yet it would prove to be true in time. 

In this message we examine Jesus’ life changing interaction with the esteemed Pharisee. My hope is that by the power of God’s Spirit we will know and rejoice in the second birth. 

Pastor Matt McCarter