The Distinctive Discipleship Process
Distinctive Discipleship is a process – not a program. It’s a method to help you design a specific plan for Christian maturity in your life or in the life of someone you are discipling.Â
🗒️ Articles
On a First Name Basis with God
God is not a distant deity in the sky, unwilling to be known by His people. He provides us with His name, indicating the type of relationship He desires to have with us.
If You’ve Got Good Leaders in Your Church
While no human leader is perfect, we should consider ourselves blessed to have godly leaders charting our path. If a minister is following Christ, it shouldn’t be a struggle to follow the one at the front of the pack heading in a Godward direction.
Some Days Are Just Hard
No matter how positive you try to be, some days are just more difficult than others. The work of Jesus should put our challenges in a healthy and needed perspective.
7 Years
It’s hard to believe that it’s been seven years of serving as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek. This church family has been a steady source of inspiration as we have sought to follow Jesus together.
The Grandfather I Longed to See
When I was younger, I thought that this photo on my grandmother’s wall was a photo of my deceased grandfather. I later found out that he was a symbol of what so many were longing to see: an older, faithful disciple of Jesus finishing strong.
Recommended Books for 2024
Our church has a recommended book list for both men and women during this year. The list aligns with our sermon series and course offerings to help our people go deeper in discipleship.
How to Tell If a Church Member Needs Warning or Comfort
In this world full of hurting people, the church needs to be active in meeting their needs. We have multifaceted concerns, so we must intentionally help those struggling in unique ways.
Unity Is Possible Yet Unconventional
We all know that unity within a church or ministry organization is important, but how do you obtain it? It won’t be found in everyone trying to bend to one another.
Why It’s Important to Encourage Spiritual Leaders
There are days when your spiritual leaders could use some encouragement, yet most of them could probably use a lot. You may never know the difference that a small intentional dose may provide for someone else.
Why a Counseling Ministry Is Important
As we help others in discipleship, some situations require additional guidance. That’s why we are committed to assisting members who face life’s deep and difficult issues by providing onsite, Christ-centered counseling.Â
Strategic Staff Meetings
We work hard to make our church’s staff meetings efficient and effective because that’s not the typical experience for many. By using a shared slide, we prepare before the meeting and get more accomplished together.
Your Best Life How
If someone asked you if you were enjoying your life right now, how would you respond? God’s Word provides us with clear instructions on how to get the best out of whatever our circumstances may be.
Psalm 119
The longest chapter in the Bible speaks to our need for all chapters within it. If we desire to live a joyful, God-honoring life, we must be relentlessly dependent upon knowing and applying the Scriptures.
2024 Cohorts
We are starting Men and Women Cohorts at our church this year. It is a unique way to go deeper into critical topics yet aligned with other elements of the overall strategy.
Psalm 119 (Series Overview)
The longest chapter in the Bible speaks to our need for all chapters within it. If we desire to live a joyful, God-honoring life, we must be relentlessly dependent upon knowing and applying the Scriptures.
Steady Steps
When surrounded by people falling along the way, we must ensure that we are stabilizing our pace as we seek to follow Jesus. It’s important to ground ourselves in the promises of God’s Word.
My 2023 in 23 Photos
It is difficult to summarize all that happens in life, family, ministry, and church within a year, but I wanted to try. Looking back helps me see God’s faithful hand all along the way.
Top 10 Sermons of 2023
2023 provided the opportunity to preach 53 sermons from the Book of Exodus. Here are the top 10 sermons I preached that were downloaded from that series.
Top Posts of 2023
Out of 260 posts, these 10 connected the most in 2023. I pray they can encourage you as well.
The Most Neglected Prayer Request
If most of our prayer requests could be addressed by a second opinion or an alleviated circumstance, we might not be praying about all we should. Make your personal discipleship a matter of consistent prayer.
How to Get Your Church in the Word Daily
Our church has created different Bible reading plans to help people go deeper into the Scriptures regardless of how disciplined they have been in the past. Based on the daily reading requirements, there are beginner, moderate, and advanced reading plans.
Some Need Comfort While Others Are Too Comfortable
Some people need loving encouragement, while others need bold confrontation. In addition to knowing what needs to be addressed, we must know how to address the individual people.
The Most Life-Changing Decision in College
The single most life-altering change I made in college was when I finally decided to read the Bible. I became dissatisfied with riding the coattails of others’ biblical knowledge, and I have yet to recover from the transformation that occurred.
Growth Is Gradual
We can only fully mature in Christ by acknowledging the work that still needs to be done. As we observe the rough edges of our spiritual conditions, we can work with Christ’s power to see progress in the most critical areas of our lives.
RC App
We’ve got some wonderful ways you can connect with Rocky Creek Church through some helpful apps. Check out these ways that you can receive helpful discipleship resources and regular updates.
2024 Sermon Plan
As our church prepares for 2024, we seek God’s help through His Word to navigate challenging times. Through faithful preaching, we aim to help our church family stay faithful no matter what comes.
Don’t Enter in Worship (Enter With It)
There’s a difference between entering with worship and entering in worship. Do what you can to prepare your heart before you gather with God’s people.
It Can Sound Spiritual But Not Be Biblical
There are a lot of spiritual teachings and teachers out there, but not all of them are biblical. We must avoid being tossed around by somewhat true statements that keep us from the clarity of God’s Word.
Bible Reading Plans 2024
One of the surest ways to grow in Christ is by examining the Scriptures daily. Many people fail at Bible reading because they don’t have a plan or a partner, but we want to help.Â
What a Pink and Purple Stuffed Animal Reminded Me About God
I often struggle with really believing in God’s love for me. I’ve come to grips that God doesn’t love me because I’m lovely, but His love is what transforms me to be more of who I’m supposed to be.
Ministry Matters (Entrust Conference 2024)
We are excited to host our second annual Entrust Conference, “Ministry Matters: Learning to Help One Another.” In ministering to one another, we meet others’ needs and encourage personal growth.
2024 Sermon Series
After much prayer, study, and discussion, our pastors have decided on the preaching direction for 2024. As we consider the state of our church and the challenges of the upcoming year, we anticipate God’s Word equipping us in these critical areas.
Outlook Magazine
We have much to celebrate as a church, and we don’t want to rush by the opportunity to do so. Our Outlook Magazine celebrates what Jesus did among us in 2023 and anticipates what He will do in 2024.
Worshiping on a Monday
Don’t reserve your praise for only on Sundays. If God is good every day of the week, He deserves our praise just as much.
Waypoint (November 2023)
We’re celebrating what God has done at Rocky Creek this year and sharing plans for next year. You can find resources mentioned throughout this Waypoint, including a digital copy of Outlook and Bible Reading Plans, on our website!
The Reason Both Your Church and Pastor Fail
Many churches struggle because they expect the pastor to do what he is called not to do. Your leader’s role is not to do all the ministry required but to equip the membership to meet all needs together.
Make Disciples – Not Converts
Jesus wanted disciples – not converts. He discipled men who would continue to grow, not just men who would maintain an undeveloped faith.
Speaking the Truth in Love (So You Don’t Get Hit by a Bus)
It is not loving to allow people to continue down dangerous trajectories. To speak the truth in love sometimes means we have to confront people because we care for them so much.
Pivotal Student Ministry Values
For a church’s student ministry to succeed, it cannot be isolated from the overall strategy of the church. Your students need certain things at this critical stage, and your ministry values can help accomplish them.