Friends and Family: The Rock Church Podcast

Have you ever looked at something new and wondered what in the world it's for? This can be incredibly frustrating! And it doesn't help when other people give their thoughts and feelings on what it's intended purpose is. The same thing is true of the Bible. Reading and studying the Bible can be confusing if we don't start with a basic premise. That premise is — the purpose of the Bible is to reveal the glory of God. Understanding that simple truth brings clarity in things that might otherwise be confusing.

So many people think all religious books are similar. What makes the Bible any different? The truth is The Bible is vastly different from other texts. It is one thing to affirm the Bible's claims, it's another to be absolutely convinced. This requires reading the Word. One of the greatest causes of doubt is not spending time with God. Through faith and reading, the evidence of the Bible becomes incredibly clear.

Before we jump into a study on how to read the Bible, we must investigate that the collection of books that we currently hold is authoritative. If we believe that the Word of God is His true revelation to mankind, we must have absolute confidence in it's accuracy.

Pastor Greg concludes The Elements of Community sermon series with the final chapter, The Element of Community.

What are somethings that get you excited? Everyone loves it when their team wins, when the kids make good grades, or when you get a promotion. Is that what defines you or is there something different? Paul gives us instructions in Galatians 6 which tell us, without a doubt, what is the only thing we should boast in. He tells us very effectively where are focus should be.

But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Pastor Greg continues with The Elements of Community sermon series with part 6, The Element of Freedom.

For a lot of people the word "religion" gets a bad rap. And sometimes, it should! In Galatians 4, Paul says that we are free from the bonds of religion, but we are free to grow and become like Jesus Christ. But how does that work in the church in Laurel, Montana, in 2017? Or maybe a better question is, how is our religion different from others around the world? Paul boldly answers this question and it should resonate with us today and forever.

Parents did you know that you are the #1 reason your youth keep the faith as adults? That's right! No other influence comes close to matching the influence of parents on the religious faith and practices of youth. You have Parent Power!  Youth Pastor Nate Lohmoeller joins us to talk about what's new at Ascend Live and some of the challenges and trends that face our youth today.