Church on The Rock Homer

You know what it's like to go to a new church as an adult not knowing what to expect. There are so many variables to consider especially if you're exploring or new to faith. What will they talk about, who will be there, will they ask anything of me, how much will I have to donate, will there be snakes on stage…etc. Coming to church as an outsider is a scary thing, especially when the church is such an obviously broken place, come on we should be able to admit it by now. We’re kinda messed up!

Many people, believers and non believers, look at the church and think to themselves I could never be a part of that and yet the Church is supposed to be a display of God’s glory that is attractive to those who are hurting and broken.

This weekend we start a new series in 1st Corinthians that will help us be honest about ourselves and bring unity to what we believe, namely Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So if you know someone who is confused by the church, tell 'em that we are too sometimes and that they should give it a try.

Can’t wait to see you Sunday. If you wanna read ahead, we’ll be covering 1 Corinthians 1-4.

Pastor Matt McCarter

Isn’t it interesting that we sing “O come O come….. Emmanuel?” Do you remember what Emmanuel means? It is a title given to God that means “God with us.” In other words, He is the God who is with us. And to the God who is with us, we sing “O come O come.”

To the God who is already with us, please come CLOSER! Please engage! Please get involved in all of the nitty gritty details of our human affairs. Invade everything we do. O come O come Emmanuel.

Well, I have some good news. No, GREAT News. He has come. He is alive and present. He left heaven and showed up here, smack dab in the middle of our mess, as a Savior.

Now that He has come to us, how will you move in relation to Him? Matt and I will lay out this invitation on Sunday morning as we examine the resurrection.

Looking forward to celebrating our Savior with you,

Pastor Dr. Aaron Weisser

Before Maranatha and I were dating, our friend group liked to attend Christian concerts. One evening, we went to see Jake Hamilton, and after standing next to me and hearing me belt out every song, she told me that I have a good voice—but I can’t carry a tune. That was news to me.

My wife is talented and gifted musically, and many of you have experienced her leading us into worship. For me, it is awe-inspiring to watch and listen to her operate in her gifting. I, on the other hand, am not gifted musically.

However, whether or not a person has talent does not impede their ability to worship. You’ve all seen it—the person who can’t carry a tune to save their life but is worshipping their heart out. You’ve probably also witnessed someone with immense talent singing, but who isn’t worshipping. Their heart isn’t in it.

The difference is not in ability, but in passion, adoration, and affection. You can see it in a person when talent—or lack thereof—takes a backseat to the sheer loving devotion one’s heart has for God. It’s what made my wife stand out above all the rest: her heart, not her talent. The same is seen in David, a man who dances wildly in the street as he walks with the living God.

This weekend, we prepare our hearts for worship as the King approaches His divinely appointed task—to pour out Himself and His love for God the Father and His people on the cross.

Pastor Matt McCarter

It’s human nature. We judge others by their actions yet we want to be judged by our intentions. You need to DO well. I need to MEAN well.

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

“I was planning to do that… I just forgot.”

“I know I did, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care.”

This week we’re going to crack open the book of James. Here’s a preview: Faith is more than meaning well.

The life of following Jesus requires a mind shaped by divine truth, a heart transformed by divine love and actions driven by divine purpose. Faith in Him leads me to think like Him, want like Him and act like Him. And we easily agree with 2/3’s of this premise. My mind says “Yep!” My heart says “Yes!” And my actions remain unchanged.

If you were to hold your core Christian beliefs in one hand and your life history in the other, do the two match? Are your experiences as a follower of Christ aligned with your expectations of the Christian life?

These discrepancies can be hard to look at. What does it say about me? What does it say about my faith? Let’s take an honest look at ourselves.

Pastor Dr Aaron Weisser

You know that moment as a parent, where you walk into the room without your kids noticing and you catch them in a moment of weakness. Hitting, biting, scratching, shoving, and on and on. All kids are sinners, even the pastor’s kids… For a moment they thought they could get away with it, but this time there's no opportunity for defense, no need for an accuser. I saw it with my own two eyes and as the realization that their outburst wasn’t in secret fear creeps over them, excuses begin to fly, and the need arises for them to cover up their mistake.

With each kid I’ve come to realize that all punishments are not the same, but all their corrections include extended group hugs. The goal is very simple, instead of seeing and treating a sibling like Mike Tyson used to treat a punching bag, you must see them as a person, made in God’s image. As a parent my job is to reconcile my children to each other, softening their hearts towards each other and the Lord!

In this message, we take a brief look at Paul's letter to Philemon and the ministry of reconciliation. I’d encourage you to read it a few times before you watch.

Pastor Matt McCarter

Ever had someone say somewhat dismissively “Well, you’re on your own.” In other words, I can’t join you where you are going. Or, I won’t join you. Sometimes this means I can’t support you in what you’re about to do. Like when someone says to me, “I’m trying to stop drinking coffee.” Well, you’re on your own.

There is another more complex situation in which I say something like “I want to join you but I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Like if I had just recently broken my deep and meaningful connection with/dependence on coffee and someone said “Can you help me perfect my espresso grind?” I want to join you, but I’m not sure that’s a good idea.

This Sunday we’re going to look at the little tiny book of Jude. Jude has some instruction for followers of Christ who want to serve a role in rescuing others from the power of sin but who are also susceptible to the temptation of sin. It’s a tricky pathway of navigating helping relationships while avoiding self-harm.

Pastor Dr. Aaron Weisser

The memory of his booming voice still rings loud and clear in my mind. During my single digit years while living in Homer, I remember Ray Arno closing out many an evening service with the Eliza Hewitt hymn refrain:

When we all get to heaven,

What a day of rejoicing that will be!

When we all see Jesus,

We’ll sing and shout the victory!

As an eight-year-old, I found myself both inspired by the air of unity, celebration and triumphalism as the voices rang out, and also a little nervous about the whole notion of a life hereafter. Jesus sounded like a wonderful character and yet the thought of meeting him face to face on the other side of death in the eternal state of resurrection… was a lot to digest.

In this message, we’ll wrap up our series with Peter the friend of Jesus. I would ask that you take some time and read the second letter from Peter start to finish. If you really want to get fired up, read it out loud. I put up the “Do Not Disturb” sign on my office door this week and did just that. I so appreciate Peter's fervent effort to point us toward our eventual reunion with Jesus.

Pastor Dr. Aaron Weisser

Spring is in the air; can you feel it? Typically, I know Spring is around the corner because conversations about Little League begin. I played baseball as a kid and have fond memories of it. For the past five years I have coached T-ball, starting with our oldest at the age of 5. I calculate that I have three more years of coaching until our youngest moves up to coaches pitch. That will most definitely make me the most seasoned T-ball coach in the world, for those of you who have coached, you understand my plight.

While my kids keep bringing me back to the ball field, there is another reason I have been motivated to coach. Two years ago we had a stacked roster, with tons of Rockers’ kids on the team. One of those kids had not touched a baseball or a bat. I had the distinct privilege of introducing him and by the end of the year he stepped up to the plate and smacked an infield home run. Seeing him progress in his competency and skill is a joy and makes up for all the other kids building sandcastles.

This weekend we finish our series in 1 Peter and get to take a look at how Peter went from striking out to coaching others on how to hit Homers. Coaching the church in how to progress from failure to walking with God.

Pastor Matthew McCarter

I wrestled in high school. It was my main sport. However, I went to high school overseas where wrestling was not a competitive sport at the high school level. As a result, our entire season was spent preparing for one tournament that put us up against all the American military schools scattered throughout Southeast Asia.

Our wrestling coach was very big into conditioning. His assertion was that if we were better conditioned than our opponents, we could beat better and stronger wrestlers. As a result, we did a whole lotta running! And sprinting. And jump roping.

Toward the end of the season, leading up to our one and only tournament, I would get real serious about getting ready. As part of my conditioning routine, I would get up at five, leave the house early, and run the final few miles to school, book bag and all.

Honestly, its exhausting even remembering it. I don’t even like running. And I didn’t like it then. But I liked winning. And I really, really, really wanted to win. And to be known for winning.

At that very same time in my life, I would have told you that God was the most important thing to me. Even more important than wrestling. But I was self-deceived. Because for the one, I would endure just about anything. And for the other…I would endure nothing.

This week we continue our study of Peter’s letter. I would encourage you to reread the first three chapters. What was Peter willing to endure in order to follow His Savior? We’ll unpack Peter’s perspective transformation in this message.

Pastor Dr. Aaron Weisser

Isn’t it funny how certain people who dislike something are confronted about their choice by others who love the same thing.

I often am confronted about my disdain for mayonnaise, especially by my parents. I eat salads dry, and admittedly not that often. But anytime I do, it never fails that I hear the remark, you’d like that better with dressing. Actually no, I wouldn’t. Or someone upon becoming aware of my hatred will say, it’s just eggs and oil, what’s not to like? Everything, the smell, the taste, the consistency.

As I study 1 Peter I keep seeing him in the same light as the mayonnaise lover, except he isn’t trying to convert me to the devil's condiment, he’s inviting me into God's grace. Peter’s invitation is to come and taste that the Lord is good, gracious, and kind. Peter’s hope for the exiles he writes to is that they would know this grace and experience the fruit of it.

Pastor Matt McCarter