Friends and Family: The Rock Church Podcast

We have five core values at The Rock Church: it's not about me; found people find people; growing people change; God wants my best; saved people serve people. These core values are all about living the life God called you to. So what kind of life will you be living in 2017?

Christmas is for celebrating the birth of Jesus. But what does Christmas do? It opens our conscience, it helps us to see suffering, it leads us to give and it leads us to forgive. The story of Jesus' birth and life is a demonstration of how we should live. Remember that this Christmas, and take it with you into the rest of the year.

You were born bent towards sin, and that sin leads to broken lives (yours and others around you). Sounds pretty bleak, right? Well, someone was born who never sinned - Jesus. And he died to pay for all of our sins, and through Him we are all forgiven. But Jesus came to do more than just forgive us. He came to fix us, to free us from sin's hold. Christ came to give us a new heart.

Have you ever given someone a gift and you couldn't wait for them to open it? If you're a parent, the joy you get from your kid's excitement is one of the best parts of Christmas. The same is true with our Heavenly Father. He has given each one of us a priceless gift, and the Bible says that all of heaven rejoices when we get it! That gift is salvation and forgiveness through His son, Jesus. Christmas is many things. Christmas is peace, Christmas is goodwill to men, Christmas is hope, Christmas is love - but thanks be to God, Christmas is for-giving.

In this week's sermon Pastor Greg talks about worshipping through fellowship, giving, and communion. Worshipping God is about showing Him reverence, so we don't usually consider that worship is also beneficial to us, and can even be fun. Fellowshipping with other believers is worship - seriously. You can worship God by going on a fishing trip with other guys from church ... or shopping if that's your thing. And while it's hard to give a portion of our income back to God, he promises to "open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." He even says "test me" with your tithe.

Did you know that singing isn't the only way to worship God? Sure, music is one way, but you can also worship God by reading your Bible and praying to God. This week's message Pastor Greg Payton talks about worshiping through Music, Prayer, and Scripture.  And so, for your next step this week try reading something - anything - in your Bible every day this week. You could also pray every day. Or just get crazy and do both!

Guest Preacher Dr. Mark Langley joins us to answer the question, Why Do We Sing?

A lot of guys think that singing to God isn't something that a manly man will do. You'll look at the lyrics to some of the songs and you're like, "Nah, I'm good. That's sounds a little girly to me."

But bragging on God because he's huge and powerful isn't lame. Nobody has a problem saying "Wow, look at the mountain ... it's awesome." And God is much bigger than any mountain - he made the mountains! There isn't anything or anyone more worthy of our praise.                                                            

If you attend The Rock Church we consider you a part of our faith family. Because you're family, we want to see you every week. We hope you feel the same way about us too.

If that's not enough for you, here's why church attendance is really important: Jesus modeled it, the Bible commands it, the church needs you, you need the church, and Laurel needs The Rock.

Last Sunday we talked about what baptism is, and why we do it. But why should YOU be baptized? One: to follow the example of Christ. Two: to obey the command of Christ. And three: to unite with the body of Christ (The church).

Pastor Greg dives in Sunday's Sermon to talk about "What is Baptism?"