Pursuing the Rock

In this episode, Andrew, Garrett, and Jason sit down with Norah, a UGA student who’s basically a local legend in their circles. She opens up about the "Great Transition"—you know, that wild jump from high school status to being just another face in Athens. We talk about the reality of pre-med life, why hockey is actually the best sport to intern for, and how to keep your faith from going stagnant when life gets busy.

• [0:00] Meet Norah: The guys introduce Norah, a Biomedical Physiology major at UGA who's currently grinding through the pre-med life.

• [5:15] The Rock Lobsters: Norah chats about her internship with the Athens Rock Lobsters hockey team and her dream of becoming a sports medicine doc.

• [11:30] The "Clean Slate": Why college is the ultimate reset button. Norah talks about how it doesn't matter who you were in high school once you’re on campus—and why that’s actually a good thing.

• [16:45] Finding Your People: Building a community in a massive school like UGA isn't always instant. Norah shares her journey of skipping the sorority rush to find deep, intentional friendships instead.

• [24:00] Tribes & Huddles: A deep dive into Norah’s time at Watkinsville First Baptist and how small groups (Tribes!) kept her grounded.

• [32:15] The Athens Guide: Norah gives us her "must-haves": Jittery Joe's for a quick fix, 1000 Faces for a study session, and the chaos of a 2:00 AM arrival for the Texas game.

• [39:20] Big Sister Advice: Norah tells high school seniors to learn how to study now (looking at you, Chemistry) and to keep their home-base friends close during the transition.

Welcome to Pursuing the Rock, a podcast of Roopville Road Baptist Church, where we talk all things life, Scripture, and ministry. In this special live episode, Andrew (Student Pastor), Garrett (College Pastor), and Jason (resident churchman) answer real questions submitted throughout our “The Church” series. We dig into church membership, herd groups, serving, denominations, the Lord’s Supper, church governance, and why Sunday worship matters. Honest answers, plenty of laughs, and a whole lot of practical clarity.

In this episode of Pursuing the Rock, Andrew, Garrett, and Jason (“the Churchman/Panda”) shout out our guy Michael McGuire and his behind-the-scenes faithfulness before diving into a conversation on stewardship and generosity—why everything we have belongs to the Lord, how giving is an act of worship not a way to bribe God, what the parable of the talents teaches about using what He’s entrusted to us, and how generosity isn’t just about money but also our time, energy, and everyday opportunities to serve and bless others.

Welcome to Pursuing the Rock from Roopville Road Baptist Church! Andrew, Garrett, and Jason (aka “the churchman”) share a quick baby update and dive into spiritual disciplines—Bible intake, prayer, worship, silence & solitude, journaling, stewardship... not as a checklist but habits that grow love for Jesus. Real struggles, practical 1% steps, and how community keeps us “locked in.”

In this fun and reflective episode of Pursuing the Rock, Andrew, Garrett, and Jason share laughs, life updates, and Jason’s “40 Nuggets of Wisdom” in honor of his 40th birthday. From parenting and marriage to gratitude and faith, the guys mix humor with heartfelt reflection, wrapping up with a reminder to appreciate every moment and live faithfully in the present.

In this episode of the "Pursue the Rock" podcast, hosts Andrew, Garrett, and Jason celebrate Jason's milestone 40th birthday while discussing the concept of Christians as "strangers and aliens" in a world that often feels disconnected from their values. They explore the challenges of living out one's faith in a secular environment, emphasizing the importance of finding community within the church and being intentional about sharing the gospel with others. The conversation encourages listeners to embrace their identity as sojourners and to seek belonging among fellow believers, all while navigating the complexities of modern life. Tune in for practical advice and insights on how to live boldly for Christ in today's world!

In this episode of Pursuing the Rock, Andrew, Garrett, Jason, joke about failed rapture predictions before turning to the real topic—friendships and grace. A coffee-rescue story sparks discussion on why relationships are hard and how the gospel shapes them. The guys share practical advice: assess situations biblically, pray before reacting, set healthy boundaries, and forgive without bitterness. They remind listeners that true friends are a gift from the Lord, shout out a recent student baptism, and encourage everyone to “ooze grace” because Christ first loved us.

In this episode of Pursuing the Rock, Andrew, Garrett, Jason ("the Churchman/Panda"), and guest Riley talk life, soccer chaos, and the story behind Panda's nickname before diving into how faith and work intersect-why God designed us to work, how sin turned it into toil, the gift of rest, and how to avoid both laziness and work-idolatry by glorifying Christ in whatever we do.

This week on the Pursuing the Rock Podcast, Andrew (Student Pastor), Garrett (College Pastor), and Jason (The Churchman) kick things off with some laughs, updates, and a wild story about getting “conned” into a triathlon. From swimming struggles to gearing up for the next race, the guys share real-life lessons that lead perfectly into today’s topic: doubt in the Christian life.

In this episode, they talk about:

• Why Christians struggle with doubt and where it really comes from.

• How Jesus met Thomas in his doubts (John 20) and what that means for us.

• The difference between healthy honesty and faithless skepticism.

• Practical ways to fight doubt through prayer, God’s Word, and trust in His promises.

In this episode of Pursuing the Rock, we talk about what it means to be made in the image of God, how sin has distorted our identity, and how Christ restores it. From Genesis 1–2, we explore where true worth is found and give practical encouragement for living confidently in who God made you to be.

Resources:

• What It Means to Be in Christ: The Christian’s True Identity — Jonathan Landry Cruse
• Who Am I? — Identity in Christ — Jerry Bridges