Well, the last day of November is upon us and it feels as though we just got out of school.  With the start of December and the Christmas season comes many things for you to know about.  So listen closely and read carefully so you don't miss a thing!

• Christmas Wish - This year our ministry will be taking up money to bless a family this Christmas.  We'll be taking up an offering at The Rock each Wednesday.  We know everyone is taxed already but we do encourage students to say no to a treat and yes to being a blessing.  Maybe we can sacrifice a coffee or whatever to spend that $5 on making a kid smile.  Something to consider.
• WHITE CHRISTMAS - Another way we're seeking to help this year is by partnering with 415 Hope House to provide some things they need.  One thing they mentioned was dishwashing pods for their dishwasher.  Crazy request maybe but it's their request.  So we'll be taking this up for the next 3 weeks to give to this great ministry as they provide housing, training and love to men in need.  So bring in those pods!
• Tacky Christmas Party - DECEMBER 13th - come dressed tacky for a night of Christmas fun and celebrating!
• Middle School Refuel - Dec. 18-20 - Pigeon Mountain Retreat, Lafayette, GA.   $85    This is a great retreat and we need signups.   The deadline for sign-ups and $20 deposits is next week, Dec. 6th.   For more info email chris@roopvilleroad.org
• High School Refuel - January 12-15 - Florida Beaches.  $125                                             Also a great retreat with some time in the Word, refueling!                                     Deadline for sign ups for this trip is December 13th. 
• HIGH SCHOOL HANGOUT AND BONFIRE - This Friday @ 7pm, bring a snack & drink.
• We've postponed the MS Bonfire and opted for a Lock-In sometime in January.

We finished our "FOLLOW" series last night.  It is such a huge deal to know and understand what it means to follow Christ.  It's more than a prayer, it's a way of life.  It starts with a commitment and understanding that Jesus is Lord but then it's a walk that screams that He is Lord.  We're not perfect, we fail, we sin, we fall short, but in that we should strive to please Him.  Am I following Christ?
The other side of "FOLLOW" is the fact that there are people who are following you.  The question is this:  What do the ones following you see?

It was a great yet challenging night as we finished up the series.  
​The sermon notes are attached.

I will attempt to be short today as I know you may occasionally need a break from my rambling.  Keep in mind that next week is our RockFeast.  A huge night of family and food.  We need your help with that so please visit our RockFeast page where you can learn more about the night and how you can help out.

We all follow something...it's part of life.  From the insignificant to that which has major impact, we all follow.  While most is innocent we must ensure we are keeping the main thing the main thing.   But what is the main thing?  What should be the main thing?  

Last night we touched on this.  We observed Jesus' teaching and as we did we noticed that He is asking for our total devotion.  He does this not to take us away from this world but that this world would be changed through us....ultimately as He lives through us.

Jesus didn't wish to take us out of this world, away from the distraction and mundane parts of life.  He hoped to show us there is something bigger than this world, namely it's Creator. The hope is that because we follow Him every part of our lives would be saturated with Jesus.  That this world would be changed because of HIs impact through us.  But really, how can we truly follow Him and this not be the case?  Is it possible to follow Him but go a different direction than He?  It happens daily.  But why?  Because life is hard, the small often become the big, the meaningless or small often become the main thing, that which was a means to the end becomes the end itself, and it's in this the struggle lies.  It's not that we don't love Jesus, it may not be that we don't follow Jesus.  It may be that we are following Jesus but are simply stuck in the muck of smaller things.  We need help.  BUT....it could mean we've believed in something other than the Gospel.....it could mean that Jesus is more of a genie to us than Lord.  

No matter where you are, where the students are, we need help.  We need to know what it means to follow Christ.  Hopefully this series, last night, engages the students and helps them see what it truly means to follow Christ and how God will strengthen us and lift us up even when we fail.  His grace is sufficient and His command to follow is sure.

Good morning!  I'll get right to the updates.  We have a lot coming up and we seek to do all we can to ensure you all know the what, when, how, why and where of all those things.

So sit back, grab a pen and take some notes!

We started a new series last night looking at Luke 9:23 and the idea of Follow.  
We all follow something but do we understand the implications and the call behind this truth.  Jesus made it very clear what it means to follow Him. But have we reduced what this means in light of us living in a world and culture that seems to make things easier.

So two big questions this November.  Who's leading you and who are you leading?
Show me who you're following and I'll show you your future.
Attached are the notes from last night as we introduced the study and were challenge to think hard about who it is we're following.  There is that which we claim and then there is the truth expressed in how we live, act, breathe and move.

Next week we dive in to what it means to follow Christ.  Do we know and are we heading in the direction Christ desires?