The Rock Family Sermon of the Week

Pastor Scott Silcox exposes the strategies of spiritual warfare that attack God's vision and reveals how to protect the church's mission with Nehemiah-like courage and determination.• Standing at the threshold of opening Kingdom Heights school after less than a year of vision• Recognizing that God's vision will cost you – spiritually, emotionally, financially • Identifying three enemy spirits that attack vision: Sanballat (mockery), Tobiah (internal sabotage), and Geshem (external intimidation)• Understanding how the mocking spirit manifests as sarcastic skepticism that undermines vision with phrases like "we've never done it that way before"• Recognizing the undermining insider who smiles in meetings but sows division through private conversations and passive resistance• Identifying external intimidation that comes through cultural pressure and accusations of being "too radical"• Following Nehemiah's response: staying focused, posting guards, praying and acting simultaneously• Becoming either a builder or a backer - both are needed to advance God's kingdom vision• Committing to build something eternal that impacts future generationsIf you feel called to be part of what God is doing through our church, visit our website to learn how you can serve and support Kingdom Heights and our other ministries.

A profound exploration of two contrasting figures from Acts 8 – Simon the Sorcerer who sought power without surrender, and Philip the Evangelist who demonstrated true spiritual authority through complete obedience to God.• The book of Acts has no ending because the Holy Spirit is still working through surrendered believers today• Simon the Sorcerer represents more than history – he embodies a prophetic warning about pursuing spiritual power for selfish gain• "Simony" became a term in church history for purchasing spiritual authority, which continues in modern forms• Philip demonstrates a life fully surrendered to God's direction, leaving a vibrant revival to minister to one Ethiopian eunuch• True spiritual authority comes through dying to self rather than promoting self• The early church wasn't built on strategic plans but on people possessed by the Holy Spirit• We often pursue God's hand (what He can do for us) while missing His face (who He is)• Christianity without the cross misses the transformative power of being crucified with Christ• Living Galatians 2:20 means recognizing "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me"• The ultimate question: Do we want Simon's show or Philip's surrender?If you're ready to move from ambition to surrender, from seeking power to being possessed by God's Spirit, make that decision today. Come to Jesus not just for what He can do for you, but surrender completely to what He wants to do through you.

Pastor Christian Lake invites us to rethink generosity as an essential spiritual gift rather than a peripheral call to action. Through biblical examples, personal stories, and thought-provoking insights, he challenges us to pursue generosity with the same precision we might apply to other areas of life.• Looking at Acts 4:32-37 as a model of spirit-led giving• Connecting generosity to the Pentecost narrative and the second Exodus• Understanding how generosity reveals our trust in God's provision• Differentiating between giving based on preference versus meeting actual needs• Recognizing that generosity is worship and should be treated as sacred• Examining how Barnabas, named for his gift of encouragement, was highlighted for his generosity• Confronting our tendency to avoid generosity due to fear of scarcity• Moving beyond industrialized charity to authentic, need-meeting generosity• Realizing that stewardship, not generosity itself, is the real challengeGod doesn't leave us on our own to be generous—He provides what we need to give. As we learn to identify needs around us rather than simply satisfying our preferences, our giving becomes more strategic, impactful, and aligned with the Spirit's leading.

Pastor Tim continues our series on spiritual gifts. They aren't meant to be collected and displayed but given freely to build the body of Christ and fulfill God's purposes through us.• Fruits of the Spirit are for everyone to cultivate, while gifts are given, seasonal, and imparted• The prerequisite for receiving spiritual gifts is humility—acknowledging our need for God• Many believers devalue their gifts or don't recognize they have them• Exhortation is a verb that combines faith and action• Stephen's story demonstrates how the gift of exhortation operates with both truth and grace• Our posture for receiving should be "closed eyes and open hands"—combining trust with expectation• Spiritual gifts assess our motives when they land in our lives• Sometimes what we want isn't what we need in our current season• Every gift of God is empowered by love and expressed through faith

Pastor Jenny continues our series "To Be Contiued..." delivering a stirring message about faith and boldness, challenging us to stop exempting ourselves from what God wants to do through us regardless of our perceived inadequacies. She unpacks the powerful story of Peter and John healing the lame man at the Beautiful Gate not through their own resources, but through what they carried of Jesus.• The disciples carried a promise of signs to follow, a commission, and indwelling of the Holy Spirit• Boldness isn't about personality type but spiritual inheritance available to all believers• What we cultivate in the secret place determines what we carry into the marketplace• We can only give what we have, so proximity to Jesus is the prerequisite to operating in His power• God responds to our hunger for more of Him, not our attempts to manufacture spiritual experiences• Faith is attached to Jesus, not our past experiences or disappointments• The world isn't ignoring the supernatural – Christians must not exempt themselves from their spiritual gifts• Boldness begins with believing what God says about us and coming confidently to His throneLet's open our hands to receive what God has for us, and release what doesn't glorify Him. Come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in your time of need.

The spiritual gifts of prophecy and speaking in tongues remain powerfully relevant for believers today, functioning to build up the church body rather than to elevate individuals.• Spiritual gifts must be understood within the context of 1 Corinthians 11-15, which frames them within the gospel message• Different church backgrounds and denominational teachings can create filters that limit our understanding and receptivity to spiritual gifts• The Holy Spirit's gifts are given "for the profit of all" and to help each other, not for individual superiority• Speaking in tongues manifests in three primary ways: as unknown languages understood by hearers, as messages requiring interpretation, and as personal prayer languages• The gift of prophecy strengthens, encourages, comforts, and can provide guidance, correction, and awareness of spiritual realities• Love must be the foundation and motivation for all spiritual gift operation• Spiritual gifts should function "decently and in order" as God is not a God of confusion• Personal testimonies of experiencing these gifts can happen organically even without prior teaching"Holy Spirit overrule in my life that I will never quench the fire that you have caused to burn. Let me never pour water on wood that you want to ignite. I pray that you will come unquenched into my heart and stay there without any hindrance from me."

Pastor Lisa Nelson introduces The Rock Family's new series "To Be Continued," exploring how the Holy Spirit's work didn't end with the book of Acts but continues powerfully today, focusing on unwrapping spiritual gifts.• Holy Spirit is not an "it" but the third person of the Trinity—living, active, and essential• The Trinity existed before Genesis 1, planning together for humanity's creation and redemption• Jesus needed Holy Spirit's power to deal with the enemy and fulfill His ministry• Holy Spirit comes both "in us" (giving eternal life) and "on us" (giving power)• Understanding the spirit vs. flesh battle explains why Christians struggle with sin• We release something everywhere we go—the question is what and from what source• The gifts of the Spirit come with fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness• Holy Spirit reveals areas needing change because He won't dwell where other things have Lordship

Reward Sibanda delivers a powerful revelation about our identity as kingdom people rather than just church attendees, reminding us that nothing shall be impossible for those who understand their divine authority.• Believers are citizens of God's kingdom before they are members of the church• Righteousness and justice form the foundation of God's throne• Unbelief, not demons, is what requires prayer and fasting to overcome• The gospel offers not just a new future but a new past• Kingdom authority gives us power to bring heaven's government to earth• Faith is the substance heaven uses to craft our desires• Understanding our divine identity empowers us to live beyond impossibility• Racial reconciliation requires a kingdom perspective that transcends trauma• Creation is waiting for the manifestation of sons who know their authorityIf you're not living in the power of the Holy Spirit and stepping into situations with kingdom authority, you're living below your potential. Your identity in Christ gives you access to the impossible.

Pastor Rusty Nelson delivers a powerful message about understanding our spiritual position as believers seated with Christ in heavenly places, and how this perspective enables us to believe for the impossible. Where we sit determines what we see and ultimately who we become.• Four seats that determine our spiritual perspective: the seat of the scornful, the seat of honor and influence, the seat of intimacy, and the seat of Christ• The phrase "but God" marks God's divine interruption in our hopeless spiritual condition• Being seated with Christ represents our union with Him, our authority and identity, and our rest and security• Believing brings rest, not striving - we enter His rest when we truly believe• From the seat of victory, we see problems differently - fear gets smaller and God's purpose becomes clearer• Our authority over spiritual forces comes from our position in Christ, not our own strength• The "already" nature of God - He has already blessed us with everything pertaining to life and godliness• Changing your seat changes your sight - when seated with Christ, we respond from faith rather than react from fearCome join us as we believe together for the impossible through the one who makes all things possible. Take your rightful place seated with Christ in heavenly places and see your circumstances from His perspective.

When Jesus looked at crowds, He saw people who were "helpless and harassed" and responded by sending disciples to preach the kingdom and heal the sick – this powerful pattern shows us how to respond to brokenness today.• The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus came to give abundant life now, not just in eternity• We often normalize the work of the enemy (fear, addiction, chronic pain, mental torment) when we should be confronting it• Jeremiah's story teaches us that God asks us to do things that don't make sense as a sign of hope• Even when executing judgment, God is already working on His plan for restoration• As a covenant God, He has promised to remain faithful as long as the sun rises and moon shines• When we call to God in difficult circumstances, He promises to show us "great and hidden things"• God delights in us before we know how to love Him backWill you buy the field? Will you be willing to do what doesn't make sense as a sign of hope that God has a plan?

Pastor Scott continues in our series "Believing For The Impossible",  challenging us to identify our personal responsibility to the harvest and to stop hiding behind excuses that prevent us from being effective witnesses for Christ.• God doesn't need our help with generating a harvest - the problem is finding laborers willing to work• When Jesus told disciples to pray for laborers, He was preparing to commission them as those laborers• Being "Christian at work" isn't enough if we never speak about the gospel due to fear of rejection• William Carey revolutionized missions by challenging the passive belief that "if God wants to save people, He'll do it without us"• The Holy Spirit empowers believers specifically to be witnesses, not just for personal spiritual experiences• Our commissioning progresses from local to global impact as we mature in faith and obedience• God strategically positions His people like dealing new hands from the same deck of cards - same people, different assignments• Complaining about others not meeting expectations reveals our hearts are set on pleasing people rather than God• True compassion for the lost, not just desire for converts, should motivate our evangelism efforts• We must overcome our humanity through faith and accept the impossibility of doing God's work in our own strengthIf you've grown complacent in your witness, recommit today to being empowered by the Holy Spirit to share the good news without excuses or fear.

Pastor Britt kicks off our new series, "Believing For The Impossible," reminding us that Jesus challenges us to move spiritual truth from head knowledge to heart transformation, confronting areas where we've held back from full surrender.• Salvation is FOR me – the rescue operation where Christ's sacrifice addresses our sin and offers forgiveness• Salvation is IN me – Jesus actively heals our deception and breaks the power of darkness• Salvation is THROUGH me – God's kingdom power flows through our surrendered lives• The rich young ruler couldn't release his grip on possessions, preventing him from experiencing God's kingdom• We all have "contested ground" where we're still battling for control instead of surrendering to Jesus' lordship• Jesus is stronger than any darkness, deception, or stronghold in our lives• Every act of enemy-love and sacrificial giving allows kingdom power to flow through us• We must decide: will we participate in God's cosmic victory or hold onto our own way?Will you allow the Holy Spirit to show you the contested ground in your heart today? Surrender those areas completely to Jesus's lordship and watch His power transform you and flow through you.

Pastor Scott Silcox unpacks John's unique resurrection account, revealing how Christ as the Gardener restores what was lost in Eden and calls each of us by name in our own garden seasons.• Seeing John's gospel as an intentional theological framework rather than just chronology• Understanding how John connects the creation narrative to Christ's resurrection• Recognizing the three different reactions at the empty tomb—Peter's shame, John's belief, Mary's seeking• Appreciating how Mary's "mistaken" identification of Jesus as the gardener reveals his true identity• Experiencing the power of personal recognition when Jesus calls Mary by name• Tracing John's artistic connections between the garden of Eden and the garden tomb• Finding hope in Christ as the one who breathes new life into defeated, frustrated disciples• Embracing the invitation to let the Gardener tend to our lives

Jesus was brokenhearted over what sin had done to his creation and how Jerusalem would miss their chance for true peace.• Palm Sunday represented Jesus coming as the king of peace, riding on a donkey instead of a conquering stallion• The word "Hosanna" means both "save us" and celebrates that salvation has come• Our tears matter deeply to God – Psalm 56:8 says He collects them in a bottle and records them in His book• Jesus offers prayers with "loud cries and tears" (Hebrews 5:7) as our high priest who understands our weaknesses• God wrapped himself in flesh so the unholy could touch the holy and be transformed• When we see sin against the backdrop of God's holiness, we understand true repentance• Godly sorrow leads to salvation while worldly sorrow leads to death

Pastor Scott explores Jesus' pivotal moment in Gethsemane where three prayer requests reveal the foundation of our salvation and provide a blueprint for our own spiritual lives.• The name Gethsemane means "oil press," symbolizing how Jesus was pressed three times to produce our salvation, healing, and cleansing• "Remain here" is Jesus' call to proximity - our effectiveness comes from being close to Him, not just doing things for Him• "Watch with me" is the call to spiritual alertness - waking up to what God is doing rather than sleepwalking through faith• "Pray that you may not enter into temptation" teaches us that prayer is not just communication but formation of inner strength• The disciples' failure to pray with Jesus foreshadowed their inability to stand firm when tested later• The three pressings of oil extraction parallel Jesus' three prayers and the three blessings we receive: sacred anointing, healing, and cleansing• Jesus demonstrated true surrender by saying "not my will, but yours" - the victory was won in the garden before the crossJoin us next week as Pastor Rusty brings the Palm Sunday message as we continue our journey toward Easter.

We explore the profound concept of the "desert garden" and discover how wilderness seasons can become transformative spaces when we change our perspective. Navigating difficult times requires understanding God's intentional work in seemingly barren places.• The tabernacle represents a reconstructed Eden in the desert, showing God's desire to dwell among His people even in wilderness seasons• God's ultimate desire is to be with us—the cross was about giving us access to the Father• Desert seasons aren't meant to destroy us but to develop strength, character and capacity for what's ahead• What appears dormant may actually be life waiting just beneath the surface for "one rain away" from breakthrough• The desert can provide the clearest view of God when we remove distractions and gain proper perspective• Resistance builds strength—what feels like opposition may actually be developing necessary capacity• We can choose to see difficult seasons as formation grounds rather than punishmentInstead of praying to escape your desert season, ask God to reveal Himself within it. Your breakthrough might be just one rain away.