If we were to write down all the adjectives we’d like to describe ourselves, it is unlikely that “needy” would make many of our lists.  We don’t want to be needy.  We want to be helpful, productive, and self-sufficient. We want to be needed by others, not to be needy of others. Yet…

Summer feels like it’s passing fast. But still the trees are full, the grass has turned green, the flowers are blooming — all reminding me of the life around us. I love this beautiful time of the year. Summer kicks off camping trips, hiking, sports, floating the river, riding the green belt, or simply enjoying a peaceful yard or porch. I love this season.

We want children to know and treasure Christ, and we want to obey the command given in the Bible to be baptized if you have put your faith in Christ. If you have a child, who has said they are considering baptism or that you believe might be interested, we host a class specifically for them.

You are different by design. In fact, these differences qualify you to be a part of the body. God has designed his body to not function unless the various parts play their unique roles. God made you incredibly valuable, necessary, and irreplaceable preciously by making you “not like the others.”

New beginnings mark our human experience. Graduations, new jobs, new homes, births, deaths, moving to a new city, new relationships, and retirement to name a few. And yet, each new chapter we encounter brings with it new challenges and obstacles.

The letter of 1 John leaves little doubt as to its authorship: it is the very same John the Apostle who wrote the Gospel of John. It is full to the brim with a nearly identical set of key gospel convictions and emphases: light versus darkness, the new birth, eternal life, etc.

We all know the deadly nature of sin, but we are often unaware of its subtle sidekick — the excuse.

Excuses convert the seriousness of sin into a simple shoulder shrug. “It was just a mistake on a tired night.” No big deal. Not my fault. And just like that, we downgrade our greatest offenses against God into something light, even meaningless. Instead of owning our sin, we excuse it. Instead of killing sin, we explain it away.

This liturgy copied below reminds me of the beautiful generosity of our God. Unfortunately, forgetfulness often marks my days, so I need reminders like this. And as we embark on a new year together as a church, these words serve as a timely reminder for all of us.

One of the ways Table Rock would like to encourage us to dwell richly in God’s Word is by being well-read. Of all the BIble intake ways, reading God’s Word is embedded in them all. Reading is required to meditate on God’s Word, pray on God’s Word, memorize God’s Word, study God’s Word, and apply God’s Word. Reading is the one constant when it comes to receiving God’s special revelation. So, we want to invite you into our Summer ‘Sip and Soak’ reading plan through the New Testament.

The resurrection of Jesus changes everything. Here’s how.

Easter is a glorious celebration of our Savior! In the joy, the singing, the big meals, the fellowship we cherish, the celebrating what Jesus has done for us, we must also reckon with our sin and failure. Easter is most beautiful when we realize our part in it.

A little more than 2,000 years ago, a man named Jesus walked the earth and changed everything. Jesus lived and walked the earth as a man, but being fully God, he defeated death. And, in Christ, we have the promise that we, too, will one day rise again. What incredible hope is found in this for we who believe that Jesus is Lord. Jesus’ empty tomb is worthy of great celebration, which is why Easter is an especially sweet season for us. Easter this year is the first Sunday in April. May we each look forward with eager anticipation at what God will do in us as we prepare for Easter, where we get to celebrate our risen King!

As Christians, we have the great and sure promise that Jesus has taken the wrath we deserved, but we still have a Bible full of warnings and descriptions of wrath (like the ones found in Zephaniah). Why?

This week, as part of our Advent video and reading plan, we will be looking at the topic of joy.

This week, as part of our Advent video and reading plan, we are looking at the topic of hope.

This week, as part of our Advent video and reading plan, we will be looking at the topic of love.

Wrought—why would we use that word? When you look up the word in the dictionary, it says the word is “archaic”. I take that to mean it is really old. Yet, we still see it used at times today. We have wrought-iron fences. When we talk about most any metal work, we say it is being “wrought,” not worked. And if you still have an old King James bible, you will find it used in 98 verses!

This week, as part of our Advent video and reading plan, we will be looking at the topic of faithfulness.

God does not simply encourage us to try and be thankful in all circumstances. He commands us to. How, then, can we be thankful at the end of one of the most challenging years many of us have faced?

Let’s remember this fall that, in Christ, we provide a wonderful light, and let us endeavor to shine our light brightly for the Lord.