Solid Rock Baptist Church of Rockwell NC: Recent Episodes
Pastor John Stirewalt
DON'T DROP YOUR BELT-GIRD YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH.1. The Old Testament Command to GirdThe physical act of girding the loins was a command for readiness. It meant pulling up the long robes, tucking them into a belt, and preparing for work, travel, or battle.Exodus 12:11 — The Passover command: "And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded..." This was a posture of readiness for deliverance. They were dressed to leave Egypt at a moment's notice.Exo 12:11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover. 1 Kings 18:46 — "And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab..." After the fire fell on Mount Carmel, Elijah had to run. He prepared himself for supernatural action.1Ki 18:46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.Job 38:3; 40:7 — God commands Job: "Gird up thy loins now like a man." God is telling Job to prepare himself to receive the truth of who God really is.Job 38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Job 40:7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.Jeremiah 1:17 — God tells Jeremiah: "Gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee." This is a command to prepare for the ministry of proclaiming God's truth.Jer 1:17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. 2. The New Testament Call to TruthThe New Testament shifts the metaphor from physical preparation to spiritual readiness, anchored in truth.Ephesians 6:14a — "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth..."Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; John 17:17 — Jesus prays, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." This defines what the "truth" is that we gird ourselves with: the Word of God.Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 8:32 — "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Truth is not just a defense; it is a liberator.Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 14:6 — Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Ultimately, the belt is not just a set of facts; it is a Person.Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 2 Timothy 2:15 — "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." This is the act of "girding" in the study room.2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 1 Peter 1:13 — "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind..." Peter uses this exact language to describe mental and spiritual readiness based on the hope of the Gospel.1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 3. The Enemy's Counterfeit: LiesIf the belt is truth, the enemy's strategy is to unbuckle it with lies.Genesis 3:1 — "Yea, hath God said...?" The first attack in Scripture was an assault on God's truth.Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? John 8:44 — Jesus says of the devil: "...he is a liar, and the father of it."Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 2 Corinthians 11:3 — "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. SERMON OUTLINE: "Don't Drop Your Belt"Big Idea: The belt of truth is the foundation of our spiritual armor. Without it, everything else falls apart. We must actively gird ourselves with God's truth to stand against the enemy's lies.I. The Belt Holds Everything Together (The Function)Ephesians 6:14aA Roman soldier without a belt had no place for his sword. His breastplate would shift. His tunic would trip him.Application: If you do not know the truth of God's Word, you cannot wield the Sword of the Spirit. You will trip over your own feelings and opinions.Cross-Ref: 2 Timothy 2:15 — You have to study to prepare the belt.2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II. The Belt Requires Active Preparation (The Action)Old Testament Context: Girding was not automatic. You had to stop, pull up your robes, and tighten the belt.Cross-Ref: Job 38:3 — God told Job to gird his loins like a man before God spoke to him.Job 38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.Cross-Ref: Jeremiah 1:17 — God told Jeremiah to gird his loins before he spoke the truth.Jer 1:17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. Cross-Ref: 1 Peter 1:13 — Peter tells us to gird up the loins of our minds.1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; Application: You don't wake up girded. You gird yourself through prayer, reading, and intentional focus on God's reality before you step out the door.III. The Belt is the Enemy's First Target (The Attack)The Strategy: If the enemy can get you to doubt the truth, the rest of your armor is compromised.Cross-Ref: Genesis 3:1 — "Yea, hath God said?" The enemy didn't attack Eve's breastplate of righteousness first; he attacked her understanding of what God actually said.Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?Cross-Ref: John 8:44 — The devil is the father of lies. His native tongue is falsehood.Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. Application: The world is constantly whispering, "Did God really say that about marriage? About sin? About eternity?" If you drop the belt, you are already on the ground.IV. The Belt is a Person, Not Just a Concept (The Source)Cross-Ref: John 14:6 — "I am the way, the truth, and the life."Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Cross-Ref: John 17:17 — "Thy word is truth."Joh 17:7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. Application: Girding yourself with truth means being anchored in Christ and His Word. It is relational. You cannot gird yourself with truth if you are distant from the One who is Truth.Conclusion / Altar Thought: Are you dressed for battle today? Or did you walk out of the house with your belt unbuckled? The enemy is looking for an exposed midsection. Gird up. Tighten the belt of truth. Know what God said. Know who God is. Stand.
Morning, church. I want y'all to come on and open your Bibles with me this morning to the book of Ephesians, chapter 6. We’re going to be in verses 10 through 13.I want to tell y'all this. I want you to think about something with me. Every single one of us woke up today in a war zone. Now, I’m not talking about overseas. I’m not talking about some far-off battlefield you see on the news. I’m talking about right here. Right now. In your living room. In your truck on the way to work. In your own mind.You ever have one of those days where everything is going fine? The coffee is hot, the sun is shining, and then—out of nowhere—the doubt hits? The temptation shows up? The fear creeps in? You didn’t go looking for a fight, church, but the fight came looking for you.That is because we have an enemy. And church, he doesn’t take days off. He doesn’t care if you’re tired. He doesn’t care if you’re hurting. He doesn’t care if you just had a funeral or if you just lost your job. The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."Now here’s the thing. A lot of Christians are getting devoured today. And it’s not because they aren’t saved. It’s not because they don’t love the Lord. It’s because they showed up to a gunfight with a butter knife. They are going into battle with no armor on.And that’s what this series is about. Over the next few weeks, we are going to suit up. We’re going to look at every piece of armor that God has given us—not armor we made ourselves, not armor the world offers—but the armor that God Himself has provided. The belt of truth. The breastplate of righteousness. The shoes of the gospel of peace. The shield of faith. The helmet of salvation. The sword of the Spirit.Every single piece matters. Every single piece has a purpose. And church, you need every one of them. Because the devil doesn’t fight fair. He’ll hit you where you’re weakest. He’ll attack when you’re not paying attention. He’ll whisper lies when you’re alone at night. He’ll use your past against you. He’ll use your family against you.So let’s look at our text. Let’s go to Ephesians 6, starting in verse 10.The Reality of the WarFirst, I want you to see the reality of the war. Look at verse 10: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."Church, think about that. Paul doesn’t say "be strong in yourself." He doesn’t say "pull yourself up by your bootstraps." He says be strong in the Lord. Why? Because you and I don’t have enough power for this fight on our own. I’m just an uneducated country preacher, but I know this: if I try to fight the devil in my own strength, I’m going to lose. I need the power of His might.And look at verse 11. "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."Now, I love that word: "wiles." That means tricks. Schemes. Traps. The devil is a deceiver. He is the father of lies. He’s not going to come at you with a sign that says "Here comes trouble." No, he’s going to sneak in the back door. He’s going to make sin look good. He’s going to make bitterness look like justice. He’s going to make worry look like being responsible.But God has given us armor to stand against those tricks.The Nature of the EnemyNow look at verse 12. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."I want y’all to hear me. This is the part we forget. We think our fight is with our neighbor. We think our fight is with our boss. We think our fight is with our spouse. But the Bible says we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood.When someone cuts you off in traffic, that’s flesh and blood. But the rage that rises up in your heart? That’s spiritual. When your kids are acting out and you want to give up? That’s a spiritual attack on your family. When you feel so depressed you can’t get out of bed? That’s the rulers of darkness trying to take you out.We have to stick together, church, because we are fighting an invisible enemy. And if you try to fight an invisible enemy with your physical eyes, you’re going to miss it every time.The Call to StandSo what do we do? Look at verse 13. "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.""Having done all, to stand."That word "stand" is a military term. It means to hold your ground. It means when the smoke clears and the battle is over, you are still on your feet. Not running. Not hiding. Not giving up. Standing.I ask you today, are you standing? Or are you wavering?Maybe you’re listening by way of Facebook or the podcast this morning, and you feel like you’re about to fall. You feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. You feel like the enemy is winning.Church, I’m here to tell you today: do not quit. It ain’t time to quit. The battle is just getting started, but so are we.God has not left you defenseless. He has given you everything you need to survive this fight. But you have to put it on. You can’t leave the armor in the closet. You can’t say, "I’ll get serious about my faith next week." The enemy is active today. So we must be ready today.The Pieces of the ArmorNow, in the coming weeks, we are going to break down every single piece of this armor. We’re going to talk about the Belt of Truth—how truth holds everything else together. We’re going to talk about the Breastplate of Righteouship—how living right protects your heart. We’re going to talk about the Shoes of the Gospel—how we carry peace into a chaotic world. We’re going to talk about the Shield of Faith—how faith extinguishes the fiery darts of the wicked one. We’re going to talk about the Helmet of Salvation—how knowing you are saved protects your mind. And we’re going to talk about the Sword of the Spirit—the Word of God—which is our only offensive weapon.Every piece is vital. You can’t skip one. If a soldier goes to war with no helmet, he’s a target. If he goes with no shield, he’s going to get burned. We need the whole armor.The Gospel ConnectionBut before we go any further, I have to tell you this. None of this armor works if you don’t know the Commander.You see, the armor of God is for the children of God. If you are here today and you have never surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, you are fighting naked. You are exposed.But Jesus loves you. He died on that cross for your sins. He shed His blood so you could be forgiven. And if you will call on His name today, He will save you. He will enlist you. He will arm you.And for those of us who are saved—church, let’s wake up. Let’s stop living like victims. Let’s start living like the soldiers God called us to be.ConclusionSo, let’s go to the Lord in prayer.Father God, we come before You this morning in the name of Jesus. Lord, we confess that we have been sleeping. We have been complacent. We have been trying to fight battles in our own strength and we have been losing.But today, Lord, we are waking up. We are asking You to help us put on the whole armor of God. Help us to stand firm. Help us to be vigilant. Help us to recognize the enemy’s schemes.I pray for the dads listening today. I pray for the moms. I pray for the young people. Lord, protect our families. Unite this church. Let us be a church that stands firm in the faith.And Lord, if there is anyone here who doesn’t know You, I pray that today would be the day of salvation. Draw them to Yourself. Save them by Your grace.We love You, Lord. We thank You for Your armor. We thank You that we do not fight alone.In Jesus’ name, Amen.And the church. Amen.
Faith That Starts at Home and Fills the House of GodPrimary Text: Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." IntroductionMorning, church. I want y'all to think about something with me this morning.You know, I've been a dad for a good while now. And I can tell you — there are days when I've had to walk into my house and say, "Lord, I don't know what I'm doing." Maybe some of y'all have been there too. You've stood in the kitchen, you've sat at the dinner table, you've knelt beside your kid's bed at night, and you've thought, How am I supposed to lead these people? How am I supposed to point them to Jesus when I can barely find Him myself some days?But here's what I've learned, church. Faith isn't something you manufacture. It's not something you pull out of thin air. Faith comes by hearing. It comes by hearing the Word of God. And if that's true — and it is, because the Bible says it — then that changes everything about how we live in our homes and how we live in this church.I want to talk to three groups of people this morning. I want to talk to dads. Then I want to talk to moms. And then I want to talk to the church. And I want us to see that faith has to start somewhere, and it starts by hearing.Let's go to our text first for our faith. I. The Faith Required of Dads: Hearing First, Then LeadingChurch, think about this. Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing. Now, before a dad can lead his family in faith, he has to be hearing the Word of God himself.I think about Joshua. You remember Joshua? The man who stood before all of Israel and said, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." That's a bold statement. That's a man who made a decision. But Joshua didn't wake up one day and decide that on his own. Joshua had been hearing the Word of God for years. He walked with Moses. He stood on the mountain. He heard the voice of God. His faith came by hearing.Dads, I ask you today — are you hearing? Are you in the Word? Because here's the thing: you cannot lead your family somewhere you haven't been yourself. You can't point your kids to Jesus if you haven't been listening to Him. You can't teach your little ones about faith if your own faith is running on empty.I remember a season in my life — and I'll be honest with y'all — when I was so busy doing church stuff that I wasn't actually in the Word for myself. I was preaching it, teaching it, talking about it. But I wasn't hearing it. And my family could tell. My wife could tell. There was something missing in our home, and it was because I wasn't feeding my own faith.Dads, your family is watching you. Your kids are watching you. They're watching to see if you open that Bible. They're watching to see if you pray before meals — not just the rote prayer, but the real prayer, the one where you talk to God like He's actually there. They're watching to see if your faith is real on Monday morning, not just Sunday morning.And here's the application, and it's simple: Open the Word. Before you try to lead your family anywhere, get alone with God and hear from Him. Read a chapter. Read a verse. Just start somewhere. Because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. And if you're not hearing, you're not leading — you're just guessing.I think about my own dad. He wasn't a perfect man. But I'll tell you what — I saw that man open his Bible. I saw him pray. I didn't always understand what he was doing, but I knew it mattered to him. And that planted something in me that I carry to this day. Dads, your kids may not remember every word you say, but they'll remember if your faith was real. II. The Faith Required of Moms: Hearing and NurturingNow, enough of that. Let me talk to the moms for a minute. And moms, wives, I ask you from this day forward to hear this and carry it with you.If faith comes by hearing, then one of the most important things a mom can do is make sure her home is filled with the Word of God. Now, I'm not talking about just playing Christian music in the background — though there's nothing wrong with that. I'm talking about something deeper.I think about Timothy. You remember young Timothy? Paul calls him his son in the faith. And in 2 Timothy, Paul says to Timothy, "From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures." Now, who do you think was filling that little boy's ears with the Word of God? Paul mentions Timothy's grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. Those two women planted the Word of God into that young man's life from the time he was small. And that seed grew into a mighty man of God.Moms, you have a power that nobody else has. You have access to those children in a way that nobody else does. You're there at bedtime. You're there at breakfast. You're there when they're sick. You're there when they're scared. And in those moments, you have the opportunity to speak the Word of God into their hearts.Faith comes by hearing. And your children are hearing from you all day long. The question is: what are they hearing?Are they hearing you pray? Are they hearing you talk about Jesus — not in a forced, religious way, but in a natural, everyday way? Are they hearing you say, "Let's trust God with this" when the bills are tight? Are they hearing you say, "Let's pray about that" when a friend is hurting?I think about my own wife. And I'll tell y'all, she has done more for the faith of our children in those quiet, everyday moments than I could ever do from this pulpit. She's the one who reads the Bible with them. She's the one who answers the hard questions at the kitchen table. She's the one who says, "Let's go to God with this."Moms, your faith matters. Your hearing matters. Because when you hear the Word of God and let it dwell in you richly, it overflows into your home. And those little ears are soaking up every word.So here's my ask for the moms: Be in the Word, and let your home hear it. Read Scripture out loud. Pray out loud. Let your children see and hear your faith in action. Because faith comes by hearing, and your home is one of the most important places where that hearing happens. III. The Faith Required of the Church: Hearing TogetherNow, let me talk to all of us. Because this isn't just about dads and moms. This is about the church.We have to stick together, church. And one of the ways we stick together is by hearing the Word of God together. That's why we gather. That's why we sit in these seats on Sunday morning. That's why we open the Bible together. Because faith comes by hearing, and there's something that happens when we hear the Word of God as a body that doesn't happen when we hear it alone.I think about the early church in Acts. You remember what they did? They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. They were together. They were hearing together. They were growing together. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.Church, we need each other. I need to hear the Word preached just like you do. I need to sit under the teaching of God's Word just like you do. And when we gather together and we hear the Word of God, something happens — our faith grows. Not because of the preacher, not because of the building, not because of the music — but because the Word of God is being spoken, and faith comes by hearing.But here's the thing — and I want to be real with y'all — we can sit in these seats every Sunday and still not hear. We can have our Bibles open and still not hear. We can sing the songs and still not hear. Because hearing isn't just about the ears. It's about the heart. It's about being open to what God wants to say to you.I ask you today, church — are you hearing? When you come to this place, are you expecting God to speak? When you open that Bible during the week, are you expecting to hear His voice? Because if we're just going through the motions, we're going to leave here the same way we came in. But if we come with open hearts, ready to hear — oh, church, that's when faith starts to grow.And when the church has faith — real faith, faith that comes from hearing the Word of God — we become unstoppable. Not because we're strong, but because God is strong in us. We become a light in this community. We become a family that people want to be part of. We become the hands and feet of Jesus in Rockwell and beyond.So here's my ask for the church: Show up and listen. Be here. Be present. Open your heart. Let the Word of God do its work in you. Because when we hear together, we grow together. And when we grow together, God does something amazing in us and through us. Gospel ConnectionNow, church, I want to make sure we don't miss the foundation of all this. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. And the heart of that Word — the center of everything — is the Gospel.It's the good news that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. It's the good news that you and I could never earn our way to God, but He made a way for us through His Son. It's the good news that Jesus went to that cross, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again on the third day — and He did it for you.Dads, that's the message you lead with. Moms, that's the message you nurture with. Church, that's the message we gather around. The Gospel isn't just something we heard once and moved on from. It's something we need to hear again and again and again. Because every time we hear it, our faith grows. Every time we hear it, we're reminded of who we are and whose we are.And if you're here today and you've never placed your faith in Jesus Christ — if you've heard the Word but you haven't responded to it — I want to give you that chance right now. Faith comes by hearing. And you've heard. The question is: what will you do with it? ConclusionSo, let's go to the Lord in prayer.But before we do, I want to leave y'all with this: Faith isn't complicated. It starts by hearing. And it starts at home.Dads — open the Word. Lead by hearing. Moms — fill your home with the Word. Nurture by hearing. Church — gather and listen. Grow by hearing.It's that simple. And it's that important. Because when we hear the Word of God, something changes. In us. In our homes. In this church. In this community.What are we going to do? We're going to hear. We're going to listen. We're going to let the Word of God do its work. And we're going to trust that the faith He gives us is enough — because it is. It comes from Him, through His Word.Let's pray and close out our service this morning.
COUNT THE COSTBig Idea: Following Jesus costs everything — but what you gain is worth more than anything you'll ever give up. Primary Text: LUKE 14:25-33Luk 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,Luk 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.Luk 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.Luk 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?Luk 14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,Luk 14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.Luk 14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?Luk 14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.Luk 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.Context: Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem. Great crowds are following Him, caught up in the excitement. But Jesus turns and makes clear that following Him isn't a popularity contest — it demands everything. INTRODUCTIONChurch, think about the last big decision you made. Maybe it was buying a house, or taking a new job, or getting married. You sat down and counted the cost. You figured out what it would take. You made sure you were ready before you jumped in.But here's what I want y'all to hear this morning — following Jesus is the biggest decision you'll ever make. And Jesus never once tried to make it sound easy. He didn't sugarcoat it. He looked at the crowd and said, "Before you follow Me, count the cost."I ask you today — have you counted the cost of following Jesus? Or are you just riding the wave because it feels good on Sunday morning? MOVEMENT 1: LOVE ME MORE THAN ANYTHING LUKE 14:26Key Verse: "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."The Point: Jesus demands first place — above every relationship, even your own life.Jesus isn't telling us to literally hate our families — that would contradict the whole of ScriptureHe's using strong language to make a strong point: your love for Him must be so supreme that every other love looks like hate by comparisonIllustration: Think of it like this — when the doctor says, "You can only save one," you don't hate the other. But you've got to choose. Jesus is saying, "Am I your first choice?""And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple" — bearing the cross means dying to self, picking up the life of sacrifice and surrenderApplication: Church, I ask you — is there a relationship, a habit, a dream that's sitting in the seat where Jesus belongs? If He's not first, He's not really Lord at all. MOVEMENT 2: COUNT THE COST BEFORE YOU BUILD LUKE 14:28Key Verse: "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?"The Point: Real discipleship is deliberate — not impulsive, not half-hearted.Jesus gives two illustrations — a man building a tower and a king going to warThe builder who lays a foundation and can't finish becomes a fool in the eyes of everyone who sees itThe king with ten thousand troops doesn't march against twenty thousand without thinking it throughIllustration: Folks, I've seen it too many times — somebody gets emotional at an altar, makes big promises, and by Wednesday they're right back where they were. Not because God failed them, but because they never sat down and counted the costApplication: Are you building something with your faith, or are you just stacking blocks that keep falling over? Following Jesus means counting the cost and committing for the long haul — not just when it's convenient MOVEMENT 3: GIVE UP EVERYTHING OR YOU CAN'T BE MY DISCIPLE LUKE 14:33Key Verse: "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."The Point: Jesus isn't asking for a tip — He's asking for the deed to your whole life."Cannot be my disciple" — that's not a suggestion, that's a conditionHe's not saying you have to sell everything and live in a cardboard boxHe's saying you have to hold everything with open hands — your stuff, your plans, your future — and say, "Lord, it's all Yours"Illustration: Think of a wedding — when you stand at that altar, you don't say, "I'll give you most of my heart" or "I'll be faithful most of the time." No. You give it all. That's what Jesus is asking forApplication: Church, what are you holding back? What's the one thing you haven't surrendered? I'm telling you, until you lay it down, you'll never know the freedom of walking with Jesus fully THE GOSPEL CONNECTIONChurch, here's the good news — yes, following Jesus costs everything. But look at what He gave up for you. He left the glory of heaven. He took on flesh. He bore your sin on that cross. He gave His very life so you could have eternal life.You're not giving up your life to get nothing. You're giving up your broken, empty life to receive His abundant, eternal life. Jesus said in another place, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."The cost is real. But the reward? It's beyond anything this world could ever offer. APPLICATION — WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?If you've never surrendered your life to Jesus — today is the day. Don't walk away from this moment. Count the cost, and then step out in faith. He's worth it.If you're a believer holding something back — lay it down this morning. Whatever it is — a relationship, a secret sin, a plan you're clinging to — give it to Jesus. He's not trying to take something from you; He's trying to give you something better.If you're coasting in your faith — stop building a half-finished tower. Recommit. Get back in the Word. Get back in prayer. Get back in church. Count the cost and finish what you started. CLOSINGI want y'all to hear me today. Jesus never said following Him would be easy. But He did say it would be worth it. Count the cost — and then follow Him with everything you've got.Suggested Next Step: This week, identify one area of your life you've been holding back from Jesus. Write it down. Pray over it. And surrender it to Him before next Sunday. So, let's go to the Lord in prayer.
Great to be back in the pulpit after taking a break due to health issues. We will be doing this series for the next 4-6 weeks. Enjoy and pray it is a blessing for you.
Please join us in person or if you are a shut in or traveling join us on facebook live at 11:30. We would love to have you. Pastor John
Ms. Loretta has finished the Blue Bible Story books and now she will intrigue us with the reading of "Pilgrim's Progress" Hope you enjoy this great Christian Novel. Pastor John
Sorry Ms. Loretta did not do a Bible Story Time Wednesday. She was out with strep throat. Pastor John
Sorry Ms. Loretta did not do a devotion Wednesday. She was sick with strep throat. Pastor John
Sorry this is late Pod Point was down earlier. Merry Christmas from Solid Rock Baptist Church Of Rockwell. Looking for a great New Year's eve service next Saturday night.
Ms. Loretta took Monday off because she was not feeling well. Please continue to pray for her.
Ms. Loretta took Monday off because she was not feeling well. Please keep her in your prayers.
Folks I am just now posting this because of the Thanksgiving Holiday as well I was under the weather. I hope you enjoyed the past 3 Wednesday nights like I have with Bro. Darrell. If you would like a hard copy of his notes email us at solidrockbaptistchurch1611@gmail.com and we mail you a copy. God Bless!!!!
A look at the 23rd Psalm phrase by phrase. The Lord gave me a great liberty to preach this the first part. I hope it is a blessing to you.
The church had a great night in the Lord last night!! Holy Spirit showed up and it was good and then folks came to the altar and did business with God. JUST AN AWESOME SERVICE!!!
I wanted to give Bro. Sky a young man in our church the opportunity to teach tonight and he did a great job. Keep praying for him to be in God's perfect will for his life.
Sorry for not having a story on Monday but I took the day off to be with my family. I hope you and your families had a safe and wonderful 4th.
Sorry for not having a devotion Monday I took the day off to be with my family for the 4th of July. Hope you and your families had a safe and great day.
Please pray for Ms. Loretta "The Pastor's Wife". She is under the weather and was unable to do her devotions or Bible story time today. She hopes to be better and do them both on Friday. Thank You Pastor John.
A message especially for Christians of all ages no matter how long you have been saved.
Glad to have Ms. Loretta back doing the Bible story time after having the crud for a few days. Please keep remembering her in your prayers.
Glad to have Ms. Loretta back after a few days of the crud. Please continue to remember her in your prayers.
Sorry it is a little late today Church. We traveled to go pick up the new piano for the church this afternoon before the rain came in.
The men of the church preaching and teaching to bring in 2022. Pray it is a blessing as it was to me as the pastor. Bro. John
Happy New Year's Eve from the Pastor's Wife. We look forward to you joining us again next year on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays for our tri-weekly devotions. Have a Safe and Happy New Year. Ms. Loretta
See you next year for more stories from the Bible on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. God Bless and Happy New Year!!! Ms. Loretta
This is our last Sunday message of 2021 and I give a challenge to all our listeners to next year to read completely through the Bible. We have some free reading plans if you would like one. Feel free to contact us.
Please prayerfully consider to help our podcast out as a mission work. Just tap the donate button and follow the link.
Thank you and God bless!!!
There are a lot of benefits for asking Jesus to come into our hearts as our Saviour. These are just a few that are special to me since I became a Christian Feb. 4th 1983 as a teenager.
Continuation of our study on Timothy. We are in Chapter 2 and tonight we went over verses 5-8. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Thanksgiving/ Friends And Family Service Under The Tent. The sound is a little different because of being under the tent but the Lord surely came down and met with us.
I didn't have an outline this morning just the topic God's Unconditional Love. Also the church took a few moment to show their appreciation. The Lord moved again with two young men coming to the altar seeking God's perfect will in their lives.
Please enjoy. These are some songs Ms. Loretta has sung over the years. The one song "This Book's Just Fine" was written by her and her late brother Clark.
Please enjoy
Just wanted to take a moment and check on our podcast congregation and see if you folks have any special prayer requests and please sign up for our email or text notifications so you know when we download a new episode.
God Bless and have a great night!! Pastor John solidrockbaptistchurch1611@gmail.com 704-298-0793
Bro Darrell and his family have been coming to the church for about a month and the Lord has called him to preach so as any one that comes to Solid Rock I will put you to work. This gives me an opportunity to rest and to be preached to as well. God bless and thank you for listening.
Ms. Loretta's Bible Story Time for kids of all ages out of the Blue books. She does these live Monday, Wednesday and Friday as long as her health let's her do it on Face Book
Be aware of false teachers trying to take you away from the church!!!
Please drop us a line if you enjoy the services and if you have any prayer request.
Please keep praying for Ms. Loretta's arm as it heals and she is growing in playing the piano for us as well as our voices. MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE FOR THE GUYS!!
Email- solidrockbaptistchurch1611@gmail.com Phone-704-298-0793 Facebook Live Sunday Mornings at 11:30 and Wed Nights at 7:00 EST
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Thank you for being a part of our congregation!!!!!!
Sunday morning message on faith promise giving back to God. New Testament giving to first support the church then missionaries.