Happy Thursday and Levi Strauss Day!  Yes, we really have a day set aside to honor a pair of jeans.  It's where we are I suppose.  Anyway, here are a few things we'd love for you to be aware of today, as you honor your own favorite pair of jeans! 

Just a few things we've got coming up quickly and one thing to go ahead and put on your radar as we approach summer.  It will definitely be here before we know it.

• DNOW - March 13th, 9a-5p:   DNOW looks a bit different this year but we will definitely have the opportunity to get together for this huge event.   Details can be found HERE, along with the registration link.
• DNOW HELP - Typically we would need host homes for DNOW.  With this year being a bit different, we now stand in need of other things.
  1. FOOD TRUCK type vehicle - We are hoping to set up a space outside to serve lunch.  We will be having snow cones as a treat but need another food truck type vehicle to serve lunch from.  If you have something like this or an idea of how we can pull this off, get with Chris or Andrew. 
  2. Volunteers - We'll definitely have many of our leaders helping with this event but could always use more.  If you're interested in serving food, holding a door, watching the halls or simply just "being here,"  let us know.
  3. Sign ups - WE DESPERATELY NEED STUDENTS TO SIGN UP IF THEY PLAN TO COME.  While the lack of having host homes may ease this burden, we still need to have a good idea of the number of students attending. 

We were able to finish up our time in Hebrews last night.  Our hope was simple, simply say what the Bible says.  Hebrews is a great book, though hard at times to follow.  It's a book that helps us see the greatness of Jesus and his impact in this world.  What is so great about Jesus?  What a question!   But a question that is answered all throughout Scripture, including Hebrews.   In a simple explanation, Hebrews teaches us that Jesus is Greater!   He's greater than all the "good" things of the Old Testament.  He fulfills or completes a work God began in the beginning, through different means.  Now this work finds it's home in the complete, finished work of Jesus.  That's great news.  That's Hebrews.

Last night we concentrated on understanding our response to this Jesus.  In light of all we've heard about how Jesus is greater, what now?  What is the right response to this?   Hebrews 11-13 help with this.  Below is both the sermon notes and video.  I pray you'll watch, read and apply as we partner together to lead students to know and follow Christ.

Happy Winter Break!   We definitely felt the impact of the break last night but enjoyed a more intimate time as a ministry.  Praying for safety and rest for all those traveling.  We missed you but realize a break is good every now and then.  But then again, your break may be a stress filled week as you try and figure out what to do with your child while you're at work, because your life/work is functioning as normal!  Many of our athletes are still practicing or have games, so the "break" is not really a "break." 

​Whatever situation this week finds you in we pray God is at the very center.  We look forward to having everyone back next week.  The rested, the weary, the wandering, the found are all welcomed at The Rock SM!

Frozen Frisbee (Feb. 21) - 1:30p:  Just a simple opportunity to get together and have some fun.  No talent required.  We'll play some ultimate frisbee and razzle dazzle (football/ultimate hybrid.)  Even if you don't play, it's a great time to come and be together.

DNOW (March 13) -  DNOW will be a 1 day event jam-packed with worship, teaching, eating, games - it'll be awesome!  You can REGISTER HERE - the cost is $20! If you have any questions let us know. We will need some volunteers to help us make it successful and safe. If you are interested in helping out let us know! As we get closer to the date, we will get some more info out! Keep an eye on your inbox for messages from us! 

SUNDAY SCHOOL -  Just a weekly reminder for you or/and your student to be sure to plug into a Sunday School class. Even if you are out, you can call into your class to stay somewhat connected.  This is such a great way to be with those in your grade for time in the Word.  Also, invite others into that class! ​

We decided to spend our time together in a big circle.  In light of the small crowd last night we felt it was best to embrace the intimacy that was readily available.  It was great to simply read and discuss the Hebrews 11 as a group.  For this reason we decided not to live stream, mainly because we didn't have enough microphones for everyone and the reality that once mic'ed up, most teenagers forget how to speak.

Hebrews 11 is such an awesome chapter.  It's the hall of fame of those in our faith, from the Bible.  Hebrews 11 sets the tone for the rest of the book.  It serves as a transition point from knowledge to action.  Of course there are things to apply in the beginning of the book, but it's here we notice a major shift to our response of all we've just heard, the previous 10 chapters.

It was neat to discuss this together.  From time to time it's good to make a big group small.  We saw this occur last night.  Of course our hope is to expand our number, but there are certainly things you can't always do in a large group.  Last night we were able to experience one of those things.   

Below are the sermon notes from last night.  Being that there is no video, we'd encourage you to read through these notes.   For our parents, the hope is that you are informed as to what we are sharing with your students.  For our students, it's an important to not miss one piece of the puzzle that is Hebrews.  Next week, we wrap up Hebrews by concentrating on the call in light of all we've heard.

Good morning, afternoon or evening.  Pray you're all doing well and prepared for the 6 weeks of rain.  Just in time for tennis, soccer, baseball and all the other outdoors sports!  Great time but even in this, God is good.

We've got a few things to let you know about today so we'll get straight to that stuff!

Frozen Frisbee (Feb. 21) - 1:30p:  Just a simple opportunity to get together and have some fun.  No talent required.  We'll play some ultimate frisbee and razzle dazzle (football/ultimate hybrid.)  Even if you don't play, it's a great time to come and be together.

DNOW (March 13) -  DNOW will be a 1 day event jam-packed with worship, teaching, eating, games - it'll be awesome!  You can REGISTER HERE - the cost is $20! If you have any questions let us know. We will need some volunteers to help us make it successful and safe. If you are interested in helping out let us know! As we get closer to the date, we will get some more info out! Keep an eye on your inbox for messages from us! 

SUNDAY SCHOOL -  Just a weekly reminder for you or/and your student to be sure to plug into a Sunday School class. Even if you are out, you can call into your class to stay somewhat connected. Also, invite others into that class! 

Hebrews is a book that explains how Jesus completely and finally satisfies the requirements of the law and the judgement of God.  The Old Testament is filled with thing and offices, established by God, to bring His people back into a right relationship with Him.  The only problem is these things weren't perfect, we needed something greater.  Enter Jesus.

Hebrews walks us through how Jesus consumes these roles and offices become the "something greater" we all desperately needed.   Last night we looked at sacrifices, perhaps the easiest of the OT things to see.   Below is both the video and sermon notes.   We pray you'll take it in and continue the conversation at home.  We all stand in need of this message.

I'd feel a lot better about this cold weather if it'd just go ahead and snow... 
But nonetheless, happy Thursday! 

Last night we continued working through the book of Hebrews, it was a lot of fun and sadly we only have a few weeks left in Hebrews before we jump into something new! 

The book of Hebrews teaches us a bunch of things... one of the biggest things it teaches us though is that Jesus is greater than anything and everything in this life. The author of Hebrews is writing to a group of people who are new Jesus followers, and they are being persecuted for that. The problem is that they are thinking about giving up, going back to their "old" way of doing. things. Their old way of doing things according to the Old Testament is a through religious sacrifices, washings etc... it was a lot. The thing that we find in the New Testament though is that through Jesus, all that "stuff" is done. Jesus satisfies it all. This wasn't a work that just came about when Jesus showed up. Rather, it was the plan all along. The author of Hebrews quotes God's promise to make a "new covenant" with his people from Jeremiah 31:31-34 (Check this out, its cool!). The problem with the Old Covenant is not that God made it wrongly, but that we couldn't keep up our end of the bargain. It needed something more, we needed something more - that something more and greater is Jesus. 
So the encouragement for us today, don't give up... put down the disappointments, the worries, the trying so hard to please and satisfy and trust in Jesus. Our place with God is secured, not because of us or what we do, but in and through Jesus... who he is, what he has done, what he is doing now for us and in us. 
​Last night we had some trouble with the livestream, for that I am sorry. Hopefully we will be back up and running next Wednesday! 
However, the sermon is below if you want to check it out!

DNOW (March 13) -  DNOW will be a 1 day event jam-packed with worship, teaching, eating, games - it'll be awesome!  For now, students can sign-up in the Rock for DNOW! - the cost is $20! If you have any questions let us know. We will need some volunteers to help us make it successful and safe. If you are interested in helping out let us know! As we get closer to the date, we will get some more info out! Keep an eye on your inbox for messages from us! 

SUNDAY SCHOOL -  Just a weekly reminder for you or/and your student to be sure to plug into a Sunday School class. Even if you are out, you can call into your class to stay somewhat connected. Also, invite others into that class! 

FIREHOUSE TAKEOVER - We had a great time in the Firehouse Children's Ministry serving with Michael and his crew this past week. We will periodically have an opportunity to do this. If you missed it and have a desire to serve in that way, keep an eye and ear open for updates about the next one!

We love you guys and are thankful for you! 
See ya soon!

​Chris/Andrew