Church On The Rock Homer

Let me paint the picture for you! It’s 97º and you’re sitting on a wrap around screened porch in a white rocking chair. The warm breeze rustles in the leaves of a 100 year old oak, squarely in the middle of the horseshoe driveway. Grandma’s crystal pitcher is full of iced lemonade with large lemon circles. You can hear the ice clinking the crystal glass as she pours the golden nectar. There are probably two cups of sugar in that pitcher, but no one cares, because it's so HOT, even in the shade of the porch! After a moment of silence the stories begin. There is no TV or screen to arrest your attention. The story captivates you and elicits your imagination of what was, and you begin to imagine yourself in the hero’s shoes. A good story has the power to move you, encourage you, strengthen you, and assure you that you CAN! Luke, the writer of Acts, is doing just that. The setting of Grandma’s porch is exchanged for the 70 AD Middle Easterner, Theophilus’ home. The story of Jesus Christ has flooded the world a

Jesus, the one for whom and by whom I was created, has good intentions for me and intends for me to secure a grand reward that will be enjoyed for all of eternity. The greatest threat to my ability to lay hold of the reward that he has reserved for me is my own flesh. But Jesus, in His wisdom, decided not to rest my opportunities on the foundation of my abilities. He decided to intervene with a power that is His own. And it is available to you. Pastor Dr. Aaron Weisser

“But, how?”  That is the question that I have been asked several times since teaching this past Sunday.  And it is a question I have asked many times myself.  I urge you some caution as you ask this.  Many ask this as a rhetorical thought experiment without any real intent to find the answer and to live the answer.  Last Sunday I talked about the wide and narrow path and those of whom the Lord will say, “I never knew you.”  This week I want to answer the question “What, then, is a life lived for Jesus?”  What does it mean to live with Him, for Him, and by Him?  In the midst of the mad-dash schedule that is your life, do you feel the weight of these eternal questions pressing in?  The answer to this question has profoundly shaped nearly every aspect of my life.  And I want to share with you this Sunday in a way that you can hear, receive, and be moved toward Him.  Pastor Dr. Aaron Weisser

In this message, we examine what I consider to be one of the most troubling passages in all of scripture. I say this fully understanding that ungodly fear has no place in the Christian life. I say this fully understanding that Christ does not intend for me to feel unstable and uncertain of His love for me. With that said, here are the troubling words; “And I will declare to them, I never knew you.” There are those who profess faith in Christ who do not know God. This Sunday, with GODLY fear and trembling, we will examine the words of Christ and our own hearts and answer the question, do I know Him? Pastor Dr. Aaron Weisser

Some PEOPLE! Some people’s KIDS! We say these phrases jokingly, but often behind the joking is a sentiment of criticism. Every man and woman has a sense of right and wrong, which becomes their moral compass. It is not quite clear to me why, but that compass becomes the standard to which we hold all others. We judge without thinking and it comes so naturally. We pettily discuss hair, speech, clothing, driving styles, diets, but most of all rearing children, often accompanied by the phrase, “I WOULD NEVER!” We judge the lowest members of our communities to the highest governing bodies without prejudice and do it to our own detriment. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses the dangers of judging others and this in message we will spend some time unpacking Matthew chapter 7:1-12. So, if you find yourself a judge over others, don’t worry. Our goal wont be to judge you, but to find freedom together! Pastor Matt McCarter

God wants to set your heart free of everything that is contrary to love. This week we move into the end of Matthew 6 and examine the ways that fear wrecks our lives and drives us away from God. Here is my confession: I have, for many years, been largely unaware of the way that fear rules in my own heart and drives my behavior. Honestly, I didn’t see it. If you were to meet me and engage in casual conversation you would not walk away thinking “that guy has anxiety.” And yet the Lord has been revealing and DELIVERING even me. God wants your heart. He wants you free. He wants you to experience love without hinderance or interruption. He will do the work as you open yourself to Him. This Sunday, let’s stop denying our fears, let’s stop defending our fears, let’s stop giving into our fears as we look to Him together. Pastor Dr. Aaron Weisser

As we continue in our Sermon on the Mount series and will examine the comparison between pride and love. Pride takes on a different shape in light of faith and trust in Christ and this weekend we look at what Jesus says about our efforts to be seen and acknowledged by men vs God.  Pastor Matthew McCarter

I still remember the day when I realized I did not want to be married anymore. My relationship with Jenny had been so gratifying and satisfying up until that point. But a couple of years into marriage and our selfish tendencies were degrading our capacity for meaningful intimacy. We could no longer mask our issues. What had been a fun friendship was being overshadowed by failure. There is a line I have heard often used in PR statements put out by celebrities when they announce the end of a marriage: “The relationship has run its course.” In our case, the relationship was just beginning to run its course. What I didn’t understand at that time is that my Father in heaven, committed to my ultimate good, had hand selected Jenny to facilitate the death of selfish nature. You see, God created me for a good purpose that I was meant to enjoy now and for eternity. And my selfishness is one of the greatest threats standing in the way. When that part of me began to suffer, I felt like I wasn’t going to make it.

“God is working even when we don’t see it!!” This week I posted that message on our Facebook page. God has been reminding me of His power and wisdom and control over the happenings in our lives. Remembering that powerful message can really help us in times of struggle and persecution. In baseball my father always taught me to keep my eye on the ball. That same wisdom applies to our lives. Keeping our eye on our God can give us the victory we need and keep us from feeling like victims. Guest Speaker: Bill Wilkinson

“I pity the fool!” Can you see it? The mohawk! The gold chains! The black van with the red accent! Mr. T’s line was a mainstay during the A Team series. I had not realized until this week that Mr. T’s statement is an oxymoron. Mr. T did not pity anyone, in fact, he did exactly the opposite of pitying his enemies, he delivered justice with brute wrath and we all cheered him on. Mr. T, while rough around the edges, is a very likable guy but you would never want to be on the other end of the sentence, “I pity the fool,” because you would receive no pity, no reprieve, no mercy from the strong man. God on the other hand is different, mercy is one of his greatest attributes and one that we seek to receive in abundance. In this message we are going to look at the blessing of receiving mercy and seeing God. Pastor Matt McCarter

Some of the most painful losses I have experienced in this life have been losses mostly suffered in silence. Not every loss, but many of them. This grief is one you are probably familiar with, mourning over the life that could have been. Hopes unrealized. Faded friendships. Love lost. Dreams forfeited. Surprise hardships. As a follower of Jesus, some of these losses seemed at the hand of God and some were at my own hand. I made a decision in obedience to my Savior and King and in that decision chose to let go of something very dear, something very precious to me. And it hurt. According to Jesus in His teaching on the mount, I am blessed. I am a fortunate and privileged person because there is a greater reality that supersedes my temporal experience. There is a greater good that will add up to something exceedingly more than my loses. Pastor Aaron Weisser

Finish the sentence, I’ll have the good life when… I truly believe that one of Satan’s greatest deceptions is to fool us into comparing our lives to some future reality that may not ever come. We practice this deception by entertaining the thought that when this season passes, life will be good. When I don’t have to change diapers anymore, life will be good. When I have enough money, life will be good. When I retire, life will be good. When this dynamic changes in my relationship, life will be good. Your ability to experience the good life is not based on a set of circumstances, but the reality of God’s blessing in your life. In this message we dive into a new series on the Beatitudes and God’s ability to bless us. Pastor Matt McCarter

While there are many hero's of the faith, few stand as tall as the one I call my mama. This Sunday I have the honor and privilege of inviting my own mother onto the stage at Church on the Rock. As far as mothering goes, she has mothered with the best of ‘em! For those who don’t know, I am the third of thirteen kids and my children are eight of the 52 kids my mom calls grandkids. (I think its 52 but that number is climbing rapidly!) The daughter of Alaskan homesteaders who moved overseas to reach the lost in the Philippines, my mom has lived a life of faith. This Sunday her and I will discuss the unique challenges and insights relevant across the seasons of parenting. I am so looking forward to sharing her wisdom with you! Pastor Aaron Weisser

Someone recently said to me “I just always thought there were the good people and the bad people and I was one of the bad people.”  Are you still struggling under the burden of failure or the burden of proving their own goodness? Are you still struggling to see the goodness of God as displayed by the cross? Then this message is for you. Pastor Dr. Aaron Weisser

Is it too soon to talk about Christmas? My son has asked several times in the last week if we can put the tree up again. I don’t think he’s mentioned it to my wife or it would be up again already. How often is it during a holiday season that you forget to intentionally connect with the purpose of the holiday? Thanksgiving is about tryptophan and naps, not people. Memorial day is about a fun day to travel in summer, not honoring the ultimate sacrifice of those who serve. Christmas is about that one thing I hope is under the tree and not the incarnation of Jesus. It happens quickly in the hustle of life that we fail to slow down and see things as they truly are.  That is the story of the Triumphal Entry and Palm Sunday. We too quickly rush to assume what God wills or purposes upon the foal of a donkey. Today, we have the benefit of hindsight on our side. Pastor Matt McCarter   

Have you ever painfully watched as someone in charge got it all wrong?  Ever had a supervisor care intensely about all the wrong things while neglecting what was important?  Ever watched someone in power exercise that power in wasteful ways and miss the opportunity to bring about meaningful change?  Ever had someone with the power to make a decision on your behalf, delay the decision in a way that cost you dearly? It’s frustrating when those with power don’t use their power in ways consistent with how we see fit.  In fairness, they probably have some perspective that we lack.  But that doesn’t make it less maddening. What about with God?  Ever been frustrated, disappointed, or confused by the way in which He wields or seemingly fails to wield His unlimited power on earth?  I have. In this message, we will look at John 11.  It is the story of an astonishing miracle.  And every single character takes issue with the way Christ gets it done. 

When is the last time you got knocked off your feet with an illness? Mine was about a year ago, after a couple of days without improvement I headed to the Doc, only to find out that I just had a virus and needed to wait it out.  As I get older, there more and more comes a period where the recovery process turns from helpful to painful. My body stiffens while at rest and what once brought me comfort is now what causes me additional pain. How often do we remain in pain seeking healing while the answer is elsewhere?In this message, we take a look at John 5, Jesus healing the Lame Man at Bethesda. My hope is the same as John’s, that we will again encounter a wonderful healer, a mighty savior!

Pastor Aaron Weisser dissects Jesus' conversation with the woman at the well and the miracle of God's grace.

Do you remember the first time you heard some old man tell you that life gets faster as you get older? How about the statement that life is too short? The best things in life, money can’t buy?  Are you old enough now to know the truth of those statements? For most of us there is an initial disbelief when the aged and wise come along and share their knowledge. However, with time there comes a realization surpassing the knowledge, or gumption, we previously held.  The same was true for Nicodemus, when Jesus uttered the words, you must be born again. Nicodemus cannot fit the notion into his understanding of the world and yet it would prove to be true in time.  In this message we examine Jesus’ life changing interaction with the esteemed Pharisee. My hope is that by the power of God’s Spirit we will know and rejoice in the second birth.  Pastor Matt McCarter

Pastor Aaron Weisser takes a look at the justice of God in an unjust world, the purpose of God when my life is in chaos, and the ways of God when everything has gone south.