Most of us belong to many organizations — as members. But, when it comes to church membership, sometimes there can be negative connotations associated with it. At The Rock Church, we are convinced that the idea of formal membership is not just a good idea, it’s a God-idea. Membership can be defined as: “The essence of church membership is the commitment to belonging to something so much greater than any one of us individually. We are thus motivated to give, serve, love, and care for one another for a grander purpose.” In this message, we’ll take a closer look at why being a formal, covenantal member of a local church is both helpful and Biblical.
The Great Commission
Bill Young
Do you know what your mission in life is? It matters. The Bible says, “Without a vision the people perish” (Proverbs 21:16 NAS). How can you and I make a difference in this life? By knowing what you have been put on earth to do and by having a vision-driven life mission. In Matthew chapter 28, Jesus gives us such a mission: To bring others into God’s family; to be a part of what is generally known as “The Great Commission.” In this session we will learn the practical aspects of living out the mission God has given to us.
Small Groups
Bill Young
Joining a small group can actually be a scary proposition for some people. But in reality Small Groups are one of God’s biggest and best ideas! The word “church” shows up in the bible no less than 79 times. In some cases we read of large group meetings at the temple and at other times we hear of smaller groups gathering in homes. Which is it? Large or small? The answer is... it’s both! In this message we’ll take a look at God’s plan for small groups, and how they are an essential part of God’s plan for every believer’s life!
Finances
Bill Young
Jesus warned us about the dangers of putting money in the place of God in our lives. In fact he said in Matthew 6:24, “You cannot serve both God and Money.” In part 9 of our Basecamp series we will look at four biblical principles focusing on financial stewardship. This practical teaching will help you understand and implement the basic biblical concepts of honoring God with your finances.
Devotionals
Bill Young
“Daily devotions” or “Quiet Times” are phrases used to describe the discipline of Bible reading and prayer with which Christians start or end their day. Bible reading can take the form of a structured study using a devotional or simply reading through certain passages or perhaps reading through the Bible in a year. Prayer can include any or all of the different prayers—praise, confession, thanksgiving, petition, and/or intercession. Some people use prayer lists for their daily devotions. Others prefer to pray as they read the Word in an interactive manner, listening for God speaking to them through the Bible passages and responding in prayer. Whatever the format, the important thing is that our daily devotions, as the name implies, be truly devoted to God and occur daily.
Prayer
Bill Young
Jesus Christ, when He came to earth, was constantly sharing radical, revolutionary ideas. He exploded the myths about prayer. He taught us that prayer is not a guilt producer. It is an anxiety reliever. It is not a dreaded obligation. It is a wonderful privilege. In this session we will discover how to make contact with God. We're going to look at what Jesus said. We’ll go to the Authority and see what He had to say prayer. Using Matthew 6, which is the Sermon on the Mount, we’ll uncover six specific instructions on how to make contact with God. Using this passage we will learn what God says about prayer.
The Bible
Bill Young
The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe it was uniquely and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit and was written without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is our supreme and final authority. Reading the Bile daily, and getting a good grip on its content, is critical to any believer’s growth and maturity. In this session we will learn what makes the Bible unique and how to practically get a firm grasp on this timeless book.
The Local Church
Bill Young
The local church is more than an organization or club that we join — it’s God’s plan for his people; it’s His idea. God calls every Christian to be part of a local church because it is not possible to live out the Christian life without it. Our membership in the church is to be an integral part of our life. In it we are to have our closest and most life changing relationships like a family , we connect with the greatest purpose to which we could give our lives like an army , and we discover the unique gifts God has given us to offer others like a body.
What We Believe
Bill Young
All churches have their own distinctive – which is actually a good thing. How boring would it be to have only one flavor of ice cream available at Baskin Robbins? This week’s topic will focus on two documents that define and describe what makes The Rock Church unique. We will mention the Statement of faith (hand it out), but not talk a lot about it since we will be covering most of those topics in Base Camp. We will hone in on the Core Values of our church.
Baptism and The Lord’s Supper
Bill Young
This session of Base Camp will look at Jesus’ most basic directions to His church. Jesus never asked His disciples to remember His birth. But He did instruct them to remember His death and resurrection. He gave the church two visible symbols (called “ordinances”) as reminders of His death. These two ordinances are: Baptism and The Lord’s Supper.
Who is Jesus
Bill Young
This week’s topic is will focus on the person of Jesus Christ. You will learn the good news of why Jesus came to the earth and why he is the Savior of the world. Once again, the gospel will be clearly presented, giving you another opportunity to help them come into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ!
Who is God?
Bill Young
Our first topic is a “big picture” view of who God is to us. It may not be new to some, but it will be a good reminder to all. Understanding who God is – from the Bible – is crucial for us to know him and serve him. You will notice that this message basically covers the key elements of the gospel as it relates to God and us. This week you will help guide your teammates to a greater understand of who God is, and possibly help them come into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ!
Introduction
Bill Young
Base Camp is a twelve week small group experience designed for anyone interested in taking the "next step" in their spiritual journey. Base Camp is where you will get equipped, prepared and united with other friends who are ready to begin the adventure with you. The Rock's Base Camp is not just another Bible study. Our Base Camp prepares you for a life-long adventure with God and is the first step to becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ. Base Camp: The adventure starts here!
