Red Rocks Church Weekend Messages

<p>God calls us to have a child-like faith. Children are quick to feel wonder, love, and trust. Yet, as we live more life and experience more things, we tend to over-complicate our faith. God calls us to return to the simple, trusting faith of a child.</p>

<p>Pastors Shawn Johnson and Jimmy Rollins share real-life stories and give practical examples of what it looks like to have God-honoring friendships.</p>

<p>For most of us the most dysfunctional relationship we have in our lives is not with a person but with phones. How do we live in the world, but not be of the world when it comes to being a Christian who has a smart phone?</p>

<p>Relationships are hard, and it can be easy to feel like there is no hope. When we put God first, He empowers us to become more like Him. When we are more like Christ, our relationships flourish.</p>

<p>Week 2 of our relationship series discusses what the Bible has to say about the differences between men and women. We were designed to complement each other, not to compete with each other. Healthy relationships begin with knowing our Creator, and celebrating the unique ways He made us.</p>

<p>Pastor Shawn Johnson kicks off our relationship series, reminding us that in order to have healthy relationships in our life we have to start by examining our personal relationship with God. When we find our identity in Him, we are equipped to love others.</p>

<p>Pastor Jill Johnson preaches a message out of the book of Revelation about what to do when God asks us to wait. We can have confidence in confusion because Jesus was, is, and is to come and He will lead us when we choose to passionately, and patiently wait on Him.</p>

<p>If you ever think "there has to be more to life," if you struggle with shame, addiction, depression, passivity, or fear, this story is for you. Pastor Doug Wekenman shares a vulnerable personal story and invites us to consider what it looks like to truly live the "life to the full" that Jesus promised to each and every one of us who follows Him.</p>

<p>Pastor Shawn Johnson gives us a new perspective on the Easter story by helping us see ourselves in the position of the disciples of the first Easter. The hope they experienced in their darkest hour is the same hope that we have access to today when we believe in Jesus.</p>

<p>Why was John the only disciple who made it to the cross? Pastor Doug Wekenman explains how we, like the disciples, often miss the cross because we are living for things other than love. We are imperfect people and we will all experience failure in our lifetime. It’s how we respond to our failure that makes the difference. Only leaning on Jesus’ love will lead us to the cross.</p>

<p>Why did Jesus flip over tables in the temple courts during Passover? Pastor Ryan Wekenman preaches out of Mark 11 and explains how Jesus flipped tables to demonstrate that because of Him, the tables of religion have turned. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus make worship, forgiveness, and transformation easily attainable for all people!</p>

<p>God wants your trust and your 'yes' when He calls you, even when it doesn't make sense. Our ability to walk in our God-given calling hinges on our willingness to say 'yes' to what God asks us to do. The events surrounding Palm Sunday and Easter exemplify the power of saying 'yes' to God when things don't make sense. His disciples were witnesses to the greatest gift this world has ever received and they would have missed it if they chose not to trust Him and follow His leading. </p>

<p>Palm Sunday is Jesus’ public proclamation that He is the Messiah people have been praying and waiting for. The people there that day knew the King they were waiting for had arrived. When we understand the symbolism of the events that occurred on Palm Sunday, we see the significance of the proclamation “Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”</p>

<p>As a culture we don’t like to wait, but God uses waiting in our lives for our good. Waiting is designed to develop us as we learn we can trust the character of Jesus. If He healed then, He heals now. If He saved then, He saves now. If He cared then, He cares now. When we know who He is, we understand ourselves and who He calls us to be.</p>

<p>God wants you to decide. The fear of not picking perfect leaves you in a world of indecision and causes crippling anxiety. We want God to tell us what to do, but He wants to give us the wisdom to decide. If you’re trying to make decisions with God, He is a good and perfect guide and He will get you where you need to go.</p>

<p>When life gets challenging we each have a decision to make. Are we going to keep believing when life gets hard, or are we going to give up? If we lean on God's people, focus on God's power, and refuse to surrender our worship we can keep our faith when life gets hard. </p>

<p>Pastor Doug Wekenman gives us four practical ways that we can go from a mundane life to a life full of purpose by becoming more intentional.</p>

<p>When we are fully rooted in Christ and His sacrificial love for us we have access to His power in us, to produce the fruit He has for our lives. The answer to seeing good things come out of our lives is to be honest with Jesus, be committed to Jesus, and then go out and be the love of Jesus to others that you have freely received from Him.</p>

<p>Pastor Jimmy Rollins preaches out of Genesis 22, the story of Abraham and Isaac. What do we do when God asks more of us and it makes us uncomfortable? God wants us to have unfamiliar faith, to be okay when we feel uncomfortable because in those seasons we are building our faith and becoming more of who God created us to be.</p>

<p>It’s not easy to share our faith with others, and yet it is what Jesus calls us to do. How do we share the good news of Jesus with others? We have to remind ourselves that we have access to the Holy Spirit, we all have a testimony, and we all have a place to invite people to experience God, because of the local church.</p>

<p>We celebrate 20 years of Red Rocks Church by looking back with gratitude at all God has done. When we are grateful for God's past faithfulness, and we remind ourselves of it, we are able to build our faith for more miracles in the future.</p>

<p>God wants to do a miracle in your life, but are you ready for the miracle? God works His power through our participation. Where is He calling you to take a step of faith this year?</p>

<p>Are you living by design or by default? You are loved and chosen by the God of the universe. You were made on purpose for a unique purpose. When we believe that, and live into our identity in Christ, we can become the new creation He made us to be.</p>

<p>God wants good things for your life. He wants to amaze you! He can do whatever He wants to do in our lives but out of His love He invites us to participate in the process. We can prepare for the good things God has for us, and better position ourselves to receive them, by praying, fasting, and waiting on God.</p>

<p>This Christmas, pastor Shawn Johnson preaches that the joy of Christmas is not just tied to a holiday, it’s tied to the Savior we celebrate on the holiday. The good news of Christmas is that God loves you! Joy is for everyone who knows Jesus.</p>