Church on The Rock Homer

Imagine being a complete and utter failure. But not just by some arbitrary standard. Imagine simultaneously failing every commitment you made to yourself and every commitment you made to others. Now imagine that someone had rudely predicted you would fail your own commitments and you forcefully assured otherwise. “I will not fail. I cannot fail. I must not fail. I PROMISE YOU, under no circumstances will I fail.” Now imagine you failed anyways.

For most of us, imagining this scenario isn’t too difficult… we have lived it. We don’t have to imagine, we just have to remember. Remember that time when you knew that you had it in you to do the thing? And then you fell short. And in falling short, you hurt others. And in hurting others, you wounded relationships. And in wounding relationships, you completely lost your confidence and could not imagine a way forward...?

This Sunday is for you.

If you get a chance, read the first chapter of Peter’s first letter to the church. And then reread it a few more times like I have these past few weeks. Looking forward to our time together,

Pastor Dr. Aaron Weisser

I remember the moment I laid eyes on the woman with her hair put up under an ascot cap. We were both in a bar called The Whig in downtown Columbia, S.C. Our church used social events like this to draw in people who would not grace the doorway of a church building. We were there with separate groups who attended the same church. As I was introduced to her, I could not help but notice that she is a fine looking lady, followed by the second thought, she is way out of my league.

Fast forward a few years, and butchering this story, I stood on the doorsteps of the church with a nervous anticipation of our nuptials. Only God could have arranged this marriage, I wasn’t worthy, am not worthy, and yet I stand here now, ring on finger, and have wifed up the belle of the ball!

The same story is playing out in God’s redemptive plan, I was not worthy and am not worthy apart from His gift of grace and righteousness and yet Almighty God has arranged a Day for Christ to be united with His Bride, the Church, you and I made whole in the presence of our God for eternity. Oh how we are too long for that day!

Hebrews 12:1b-2a let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

MARANATHA, COME LORD JESUS!

Pastor Matthew McCarter

While living with my parents, sometime in early teens, we attended one of the oldest churches in the south. We'd dress in our Sunday finest, traverse the winding country roads, and find “our pew.” After a few stares from my parents, a pinch or two under the thigh, and some monotone words from the pulpit, we were free. The church would empty and we’d head to the car, ready to ditch the Sunday best and get on with life. Every Sunday, no matter what…my dad would strike up a conversation while the three of us sat in the car…waiting! We would glare, roll the window down and motion, one time a horn was used in efforts to get things moving. Waiting was for the birds!

We always asked, what is the hold up!?!?

This weekend, we explore the same question about God's seeming delay in His return! If you’re keen, read ahead in 2 Peter 3.

Pastor Matthew McCarter

For Thanksgivings in Homer I have been labeled the Mac n Cheese guy, according to my family. I have become the authority on noodles, spices, and cheese. Rightfully so, although I make it a little different than Pauline, my grandmother, it’s pretty delicious. For a few hours on Thursday morning I spend my time at the stove stirring a pot of delightful dairy products. It is not possible to walk away from it, the mixture must be in constant motion due to the threat of the sauce breaking, the oil separating and becoming something rather unsightly and not at all pleasing to the senses of a thanksgiving attendee. It takes time and if one doesn’t stick it out and keep stirring the final product will be worthless.

Some say that I like to stir other types of pots, proverbial pots. They aren’t wrong, but I tend to think about it in other terms. This weekend we’re going to launch into a series on Eschatology, an often difficult topic that many Christians have strong convictions about and yet if we don’t talk about it, if we don’t stir the pot, our once smooth and buttery consistency becomes broken. 

Pastor Matthew McCarter

Does anyone know what the bicyclist hand motions actually mean?  I feel like blinkers are commonly understood and fairly self-explanatory; left side, left turn, right side, right turn.  But despite my many years of experience on the road, I still don’t know what the left arm, straight out at the shoulder, bent 90 degrees at the elbow and hanging downward means about the bike operator’s intentions. 

Some of you who are new to church or new to faith and relationship with Christ probably feel the same way a lot of times about stuff you hear at church.  Sometimes it feels like a lot of ideas spoken in an unfamiliar language.  And that’s ok. 
It has been my goal these past two weeks to push through the confusion with RARE CLARITY as we examine what it means to follow God. 

Here is the review, or the preview for some; To live is Christ.  So live as Christ.  That is my most efficient summary of Philippians 1 and 2. 

And as simple as that is, many well-meaning people completely misunderstand what that means.  Which is why I am thankful for the clarity of scripture.  In Philippians chapter 3, Paul warns us against missing the whole point by sharing his testimony of missing the whole point. 

If you’re over the age of 30, you’ve probably done the limbo. Or at least tried. The once party favorite has slowly faded from public life but I remember a time when the Limbo ruled social events of all kinds. Yes, I did it too. Honestly, even the recollection of what was required of my back muscles to get under that crossbar makes me hurt today.

As we continue our study in Philippians and the theme of Joy, we’re going to try something similar this Sunday. The question is, how low can you go? It will help your own growth if you read Philippians chapter two in advance. This could be life changing.

Pastor Dr. Aaron Weisser

When life gives you lemons… I guess you're supposed to slice those lemons, squeeze those lemons, filter out the seeds, add water and plenty of sugar, mix in a pitcher with some ice, pour it into a glass and DRINK LEMONADE! 

It is a very practical bit of advice about turning something bad into something good, even something delightfully refreshing. Thankfully, I think everyone knows about lemonade and where it comes from. 

What about nettles. What do you do when life gives you nettles. I’m told they’re edible. But that doesn’t help much when my skin is on fire because I wasn’t careful tromping through the tall grass and stumbled into a big ol’ patch of nettles. Maybe I could pour some cold lemonade on my nettle burns. If only life had given me lemons. 

For the next three weeks we are going to be studying the topic of Joy as Paul discusses in his letter to the church in Philippi. When life gives you an undeserved jail sentence… what better time to write about Joy in everything! I’m am so looking forward to this series!

Pastor Dr. Aaron Weisser

Spring 1999. I was walking down the hall of my parents ranch home, past the collage of pictures on the wall and a feeling of dread fell over me. My plans for the coming year had fallen through. I would graduate high school in a couple of months, with no real plan for the next chapter of my life. Everyone I knew seemed to have it together, plans for college, a career, a life beyond their childhood home. At a critical time in life I was supposed to take a step forward, but I felt stuck and needed a push, a jumpstart, a new way of seeing my future. 

As we’ve studied Ephesians, Paul is writing to a church that he greatly loves and hopes will not remain frozen in time. Their faith must continue to blossom because of the grandeur of the one they worship. His desire is that they would know the majesty of God and in very practical ways, this knowledge would change their lives. In Paul’s final remarks, he urges the reader not to be a bystander, but to actively engage in the will of God through spiritual warfare. Our goal this weekend will be to address where our power comes from to engage in this warfare. If you want, read ahead in Ephesians Ch. 6. 

Pastor Matt McCarter

It was November and I was in the Philippines enjoying the beginning of the cool season and the end of the rainy season. In Manila, cool temps are in the high 70’s and low 80’s and November is when the monsoon rains subside and the season turns toward the dry and cool part of the year.

On that day the temps were tolerable but scattered rain showers threatened outdoor activities. The outdoor activities we had planned for Sunday afternoon were very, very important. It was my wedding day. Like a gift from God, just before our outdoor ceremony began, the rain stopped and the clouds parted revealing a rainbow overhead.

And there in the wet grass, before my family and friends, I said that I would love Jenny with my whole being, for as long as I was alive. In sickness and in health, whether rich or poor, forsaking all others, til death do us part.

In Ephesians 5, Paul connects our understanding of marriage to the boundless riches of grace and mercy in the premeditated gift of God in His Son. I have been reflecting on this passage for over 26 years of marriage and I look forward to exploring Paul’s instructions with you.

Pastor Dr. Aaron Weisser

It's the dead of night. The wind is still and Jesus is bowed on the ground. The silence can be cut with a knife as the trees of the garden stand still. His tears have covered the ground beneath Him, tinged red by the blood they contain. As he stands, his knees feel feeble from the exertion poured out seeking His Father. He moves towards the disciples, His friends, and finding them asleep a sound emerges in the distance. At first it is the clanking of a solitary sword. Then a crack as something moved through the brush. The clamor grows louder as one, two, three torches emerge in the darkness and eventually become many. As the crowd surrounds Jesus, the suffering servant, is sure of mission, this will be the moment where He relinquishes all of Himself for the will of the Father, and the plan set in motion long ago. 

Jesus knew what to expect in the hands of men (John 2:25).  Death, pain, shame, tribulation. 

Paul now writes that this same Jesus who lowered Himself, has been established in ultimate power on high. Now that the odds have changed, what can man expect from the God we’ve executed? 

This is the question we’ll seek to answer in this message. Hint, for those who believe, you will be pleasantly surprised! 

Pastor Matt McCarter