This past Sunday was our birthday and Heart for the House service, where

Imagine approaching a new group of people to ask to sit with them and they just answer, “sorry, this seat is taken”.

We can also live a life that does not have room for new people, or we can choose to make space for new people at our table.

The one way of living is self-serving with a small impact. The other way invites new people in and has a great impact on the lives of others! That is a life of legacy and the life God wants us to live.

(Read 2 Samuel 9:1-2)

Our default setting is to think of ourselves. But like David we need to be looking for ways to show God’s kindness to others, even when there is no benefit for us. We need to enter each day being a blessing first. Not seeking benefit first.

Q - How can we become more outward focused and blessing minded to others in our daily walk with God?

David brought Mephibosheth from Lo Debar ( which means “No Thing”) and gave him a seat in the palace. David brought him from nothing (a place of no hope and no vision) and restored his honour and hope for the future.

Q - Who do you have in your world that God is calling you to invite to his table? Maybe spend some time this week and ask God who you need to invite in.

We are a Church that is committed to reaching people who have yet to be reached! Heart for the House Sunday is a chance to come together and give to the vision that is working to reach people beyond ourselves. It’s about moving forward because God has more for us to do!

Q - Have you spent time asking God how he wants you to be a blessing to others in this Heart for The House season?

We have all been in that place of Lo Debar (the place of nothing). But thank God that we received that invitation to the Kings table. Now we have a hope and a future. But now it’s our opportunity and responsibility to make room for others at the table.

God’s grace and his mission for his church to reach the lost and lonely should never end with us. It’s all so others may live!

Without faith it is impossible to please God. If we want to step out to

This week Ps. Mark tackled the question; how do we know if it is God

One area most people struggle to move forward in faith is generosity. Jesus himself speaks on money frequently in the gospels.

This Sunday Ps. Mark taught on 3 dimensions of giving that will change our lives if we move forward in all of them.

Moving Forward is a posture, but importantly it is also an action. It is observable in your life.

It is the evidence of things unseen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Abraham acted in faith when God called on him to be obedient. He showed us faith in action.

Q: Can you recall a time in your life when you stepped out in faith and God was faithful?

3 DIMENSIONS OF GIVING

1️⃣ Spontaneous giving

This is giving often driven by compassion. We see a need and our heart is moved to give. It is spontaneous.

2️⃣ Strategic giving

This is when you have predetermined your generosity. This is value-based giving. When something is important to you, you plan for it.

Our tithe is how we give strategically. (Leviticus 27:30) Our tithe is simply a tenth of all our income that belongs to God, and we return it to God. (Proverbs 3:9-10) It is holy (set apart) to God and is the first 10 percent of all our income. Tithing teaches our hearts to honour and trust God.

Q: in what ways have you experienced God’s continued faithfulness after tithing faithfully? Share some testimonies from the group.

(Read Malachi 3:6-12) Tithing says to God that we truly and fully trust Him with every area of our lives. Remember you don’t tithe because God is after your money, but rather because God is after your heart. (Matthew 6:21)

3️⃣ Sacrificial giving

This is when we give generously at a level that costs us. (2 Samuel 24:24). It’s when we can be generous above our spontaneous giving and after we have bring the tithe. It’s at that point that sacrificial giving starts to become an expression of the grace we have received from God. (2 Corinthians 8:1-5) The Macedonian churches were in this place of giving beyond! And through this building into the Kingdom of God and into the lives of others.

Q: Do you believe God can use you to build His Kingdom and impact the lives of others through your FAITHFUL GENEROSITY?

One area most people struggle to move forward in faith is generosity. Jesus himself speaks on money frequently in the gospels.

This Sunday Ps. Mark taught on 3 dimensions of giving that will change our lives if we move forward in all of them.

Moving Forward is a posture, but importantly it is also an action. It is observable in your life.

It is the evidence of things unseen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Abraham acted in faith when God called on him to be obedient. He showed us faith in action.

Q: Can you recall a time in your life when you stepped out in faith and God was faithful?

3 DIMENSIONS OF GIVING

1️⃣ Spontaneous giving

This is giving often driven by compassion. We see a need and our heart is moved to give. It is spontaneous.

2️⃣ Strategic giving

This is when you have predetermined your generosity. This is value-based giving. When something is important to you, you plan for it.

Our tithe is how we give strategically. (Leviticus 27:30) Our tithe is simply a tenth of all our income that belongs to God, and we return it to God. (Proverbs 3:9-10) It is holy (set apart) to God and is the first 10 percent of all our income. Tithing teaches our hearts to honour and trust God.

Q: in what ways have you experienced God’s continued faithfulness after tithing faithfully? Share some testimonies from the group.

(Read Malachi 3:6-12) Tithing says to God that we truly and fully trust Him with every area of our lives. Remember you don’t tithe because God is after your money, but rather because God is after your heart. (Matthew 6:21)

3️⃣ Sacrificial giving

This is when we give generously at a level that costs us. (2 Samuel 24:24). It’s when we can be generous above our spontaneous giving and after we have bring the tithe. It’s at that point that sacrificial giving starts to become an expression of the grace we have received from God. (2 Corinthians 8:1-5) The Macedonian churches were in this place of giving beyond! And through this building into the Kingdom of God and into the lives of others.

Q: Do you believe God can use you to build His Kingdom and impact the lives of others through your FAITHFUL GENEROSITY?

Have you ever built a very large puzzle with many small pieces? If you

Every Sunday, The Rock streams their church services on podcast. This week we are continuing our series on Why God, Why? Part 4 by Ps. Jared Cerfonteyn.

Every Sunday, The Rock streams their church services. So why not join us at 10 am.

// WHY GOD, WHY? PART 2 //

// WHY DIDN’T GOD ANSWER IT? //

Prayer can be both powerful, and confusing. Elijah prayed and brought down fire from heaven, Daniel prayed and was protected from lions. Amazing, right? So why are some prayers answered and some not? This Sunday we learned it comes down to the purpose of prayer; God doesn’t exist to serve us, we exist to serve Him and do HIS will. Prayer exists to help US KNOW GOD BETTER; so we always should consider our relationships, motivations and God’s will when we ask, “Why God, didn’t you answer it?”

• What initial thoughts do you have when you think about prayer?

• Read Mark 11:24-25. Talk about a time when you learned how your relationships with others can impact your relationship with God. Why do you think God cares about our relationships with others?

• On a scale of 1-10, where would your rate your faith in the power of prayer? Why did you give yourself that rating? How can you move your answer closer to 10?

• Share about a time when God didn’t answer a prayer the way you thought He should. What did you learn through that experience?