Rock Bridge Community Church: Recent Episodes
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Like many families, we have several Christmas traditions. We bake and decorate cookies every Christmas Eve. My wife, Shelley, cooks ribs in the crockpot all night long from Christmas Eve until Christmas morning. Waking up to the smell of BBQ ribs is the aroma of Christmas! In addition to candy canes, I set out Slim […]
The beauty of the Christmas season is in full swing! Trees are out, lights are up, and Christmas carols are playing on the radio. It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Unless it’s not. For some, it can feel like the most isolating and lonely time of the year. I have friends (you probably […]
Taste and see that the Lord is good, Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! {Psalm 34:8, NLT} Dear Rock Bridge Family, I am approaching the conclusion of my Sabbatical and am filled with tremendous gratitude for the grace of this season as well as anticipation to rejoin you in fellowship, ministry, […]
Rock Bridge Family, As you have heard in my recent video, I am entering into a Sabbatical season this summer during June and July. I am filled with gratitude for all that God has done for the past 23 years in this body of believers. I am filled with expectancy about all God is going […]
Sacred Assembly 2024 Helpful Links: This past weekend we called ourselves as a church to a special season of seeking God. This season will culminate with a Sacred Assembly service on January 18th (Rock Bridge PM) and January 21st (Sunday services) and a Day of Fasting on Wednesday, January 24th. We are moving forward in […]
1) 82% That’s how many people would come to church if invited by a trusted friend. Unfortunately, only 2% of Christians invited someone to church each year! Remember that our culture still loves Christmas—even though the intentions are mostly commercial. Sure, we can lament at our culture disregard’s of Christ at Christmas but we can […]
Your help is needed so please read on!
Romans 16 is one of those chapters that I’m tempted to gloss over (or skip entirely). It’s mostly a list of names—27 of them to be exact—that at first glance seems to lack the comfort and significance of Romans 8:28 or the theology of Romans 6:1-11. However, upon further reflection, Romans 16 says a lot about the early church, including its diversity (“all walks of life”), organization, and relational richness.
What strikes me is that the people in this particular church (or small group or multi-site) in Rome were spiritually known by one another. They blessed each other, partnered together for the sake of the Gospel, carried burdens for one another … as we have been learning, they lived on the 2nd Mile for each other and the Kingdom!
As we have reflected upon this passage, we want Rock Bridge to grow in relational richness. We want our people to be spiritually known and spiritually encouraged to follow Christ, grow as His disciples, and know the riches of being included in His Kingdom. These aspirations are one major reason why we overhauled our membership process (now named “All In”).
There is another area we are investing in that we also believe will help us in this—having an accurate church database (in the old days this was called the Church Directory). An accurate and updated database will help better know, encourage, and support those who have visited our church and especially, those who call Rock Bridge home.
This is why we need your help. Login to our church database, myRockBridge, verify and if necessary, update your information.
- Click here to login and update your contact and family information, even add your picture.
- Once you login, click the “edit” button to update your information.
Thank you so much for your help as we continue to pursue ever increasing faithfulness to what we see in Scripture—even the chapters your pastor is tempted to skip!
The best is yet to come!
matt
Last year, our church turned 20. It is still amazing to think of all God has done!!
But we also know and believe that He is not done with us and that the best is yet to come.
Here are some hopes and prayers for us in this new year:
1) For the “magnet” and the drawing power of Rock Bridge to be Jesus Christ.
In other words, the main attraction is Jesus Christ. We’ve called this being Gospel-centered. We’ve taught that “Jesus + nothing (still) = Everything.” But let’s double down and trust the promise of John 12:32 – “As for Me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to Myself.”
Rock Bridge, in our daily lives, in our worship settings, and in all of our ministries, let the magnet be Jesus Christ crucified, buried, raised, and reigning forevermore!
2) For us to be a family.
Families care for one another, love one another, encourage one another, and bear one another’s burdens. The New Testament lays out around 58 one another commands!
I know this; my spiritual walk is a community project. My spiritual walk needs a family!
Let’s be committed to one another. Let’s ensure we practice meaningful and biblical church membership. Let’s be sure people know we are disciples of Jesus by how we love (John 13:34).
If you EVER have a prayer or pastoral care need, please let us know! You can use this online form.
3) For us to be a team.
Teams have a mission. Teams want to win. Teams have a purpose bigger than any one individual.
We want to make disciples. We want to see people escape the wrath of God by turning to Christ. We want to serve our communities. We want to care for the hurting.
Let’s be more than consumers of spiritual goods and services.
Let’s be contributors to the cause of King Jesus! It’s bigger than any one of us but it takes all of us!
Note: #2 and #3 above are two reasons why we revamped church membership at Rock Bridge with our “ALL IN” process. Clickhere for more information.*
*We are excited that Blake Allison (RB Cleveland) has completed the Elder selection process and is ready to help serve and oversee RBCC as a team and a family for Jesus. Please commit him and his family to prayer.
Any questions, please reach out directly to me: matt@rockbridge.cc
4) For us to seek His power, provided by His Spirit, to accomplish His purposes.
The greatest spiritual reality is that I am NOT and that I can NOT.
But God is THE GREAT “I AM.” God can, God has, and God will!
This recognition is why the apostles had to wait on the Holy Spirit to come (see Acts 1).
This is why we must pray and seek the Holy Spirit like never before.
Rock Bridge, would you make this your most frequent prayer – to be clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49).
Merry Christmas Rock Bridge!
I hope you will take a minute to read “Four Things Rock Bridgers Need to Know” (be sure to check out #4!!).
#1: The Reason for the Season
No—the reason for the season cannot be reduced to shopping, Christmas get-togethers, or even giving gifts.
Yes—the reason for the season is, in one sense, Jesus and His entrance into history.
But in another sense, WE (you, me, them, they, us … even that crazy relative you’ll see over the holidays!!) are the reason for the season.
Why?
He came to save us.
He came to do for us what we could not do for ourselves.
Listen to the words of the ancient prophet in Isaiah 9:6—
For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
The child is FOR us. The son is given TO us.
There are hundreds of thousands of people within driving distance of our local campuses that do not know the real reason(s) for the season. Would you pray for an open door … for an opportunity to tell someone the reason for the season? You can even invite them to a Christmas at Rock Bridge worship service, or our Christmas Eve services. (rockbridge.cc/christmas)
There is no better gift we can share this season than the Gospel!
#2: Elders for 2023
At First Wednesday, we shared a list of prospective elders who would begin serving in 2023. Below are their names listed by campus. Please pray over them specifically and reach out to me with any questions.
| CalhounIsh LewisTim ErwinRoy Bennett | ChatsworthAnthony WestTom Totherow | Dalton Chip HicksGustavo TerrazasJaime RiveraBruce Satterfield | | HixsonBud Bishop | RinggoldBryan BulmerKen CooperChance Stockburger |
#3: ALL IN continues
I’ve told multiple people that the new membership process is perhaps the most significant structural and systematic change to our church since we launched H.O.P.E. about 10 years ago.
A few things to keep in mind about ALL IN:
- It is a process, not just an event.
- New members have a “host” that helps them learn more about Rock Bridge, connect to community, and move forward in their spiritual journey. This process is designed to be highly relational and encouraging.
- The overall goal is to help all members of Rock Bridge become and take steps as disciples of Jesus.
- Remember: our goal is always to make disciples of Christ, not merely decisions for Christ! We want church membership—which is biblical—to encourage discipleship, which is what Jesus wants (see Matthew 28:18-20).
- We are encouraging all current members to participate in ALL IN as a way to renew one’s membership commitment.
- Find out more information here.
#4: Make a difference – ONE thing we all can do.
At the close of every worship service, one of our pastors is ALWAYS going to clearly offer a way for people to take a next step, receive prayer, or get more information. This is a climatic moment in our services. It is the time when people are invited to hear from the Holy Spirit as He personalizes God’s work in our lives, calls people to Christ, convicts people of sin, comforts people with grace, and directs our paths.
Here’s how we can all make a difference:
pray with intensity and intentionality during that time.
- Don’t get up to leave early so you beat the crowd out the door. Instead, pray for people to come to Christ, honor the Word of the Lord, and step with the Holy Spirit.
- Don’t tune out or start gathering your belongings. Instead, listen by faith to what God might want to do in you or through you. Ask Him to give you ears to hear …
- Don’t get in a hurry. Instead, be still in the Lord’s presence, intercede for others as you are in His presence, and enjoy the reality of His presence … after all He is Emmanuel (God with us)!
I believe this one simple act—done in faith—will infuse our church with fresh power and open doors for the Holy Spirit that might otherwise stay closed!
Praying with you for a Christ-centered Christmas and believing that the best is yet to come!
Matt
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