The “Mountain Rock Church of Christ” in Hershey, Pennsylvania (USA)

Sunday sermon presented by: Audie Monday (1/29/2012)

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Sunday sermon presented by: Glenn Geeting (1/22/2012)

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GLENN’S NOTES:

Integrity

Sermon- Judas, Integrity

A store manager hear his clerk tell a customer, “No, ma’am, we haven’t had any for a while, and it doesn’t look as if we’ll be getting any soon.” 
Horrified, the manager came running over to the customer and said, “Of course we’ll have some soon. We placed an order last week.” 
Then the manager drew the clerk aside. “Never,” he snarled, “Never, never, never say we’re out of anything–say we’ve got it on order and it’s coming. Now, what was it she wanted?” 
“Rain,” said the clerk. 

Intro: Judas- popular name, from Judah, one of the 12 sons of Israel and one of the notable tribes. Other disciple Judas son of Simon, Jesus ½ brother. Judas Maccabeus (like Geo Washington). Iscariot- from Kerioth, the only non-Galilean
Not noted for his huge early sins, unlike Matthew the tax collector, Simon the Zealot, James and John the sons of thunder, or Peter with his impulsiveness. Never shown being corrected.
Jesus chose him as one of the 12- must have shown great promise. Preached and did miracles in Jesus’ name
Seemed trustworthy- entrusted with the money for the group.

Jn 12:1-8
1. God has entrusted us, and we’ve all fallen short

Famous American Fibs
- The check is in the mail.
- I’ll start my diet tomorrow.
- Give me your number and the doctor will call you right back.
- One size fits all.
- This offer limited to the first 100 people who call in.
- Leave your resume and we’ll keep it on file.
- This hurts me more than it hurts you.
- I just need five minutes of your time.
- Open wide, it won’t hurt a bit.
- Let’s have lunch sometime.
- It’s not the money, it’s the principle.

Moral relativism

Late 1980′s, Columbus, Ohio- armored car spilled $2,000,000 on the freeway. Only $400,000 recovered, the rest disappeared. Some folks were honest enough to return what wasn’t theirs: Melvin Kaiser gave back $57,000. studied human personality- if we know the people who lost the money, we’ll generally give it back. if don’t know them, 75% of the time we’ll keep the cash.

-USA Today poll- only 56% of Americans teach honesty to their children.
-Noted physician, talk show -”Lying is an important part of social life, and children who are unable to do it are children who may have developmental problems.” 
-Book The Day American Told the Truth- 91% lie routinely about trivial matters, 36% lie about important matters; 86% lie regularly to parents, 75% to friends, 73% to siblings, and 69% to spouses.
-Survey 1991- “There is no such thing as absolute truth; different people can define truth in conflicting ways and still be correct.” Only 28% expressed strong belief in “absolute truth,” only 23 percent of born-again or evangelical Christians- more than 75 percent of the followers of Christ say nothing can  be known for certain: not convinced that Jesus existed, that He is who He claimed to be, that His Word in authentic, that God created the heavens and earth, or that eternal life awaits the believer
-If there is no absolute truth, then by definition nothing can be said to be absolutely true. To the majority, apparently, it’s all relative. Nothing is certain. Might be. Might not be. Who knows for sure? Take your guess and hope for the best!

“White lies”- efficient, protect feelings, avoid conflict
Matt 5:33-37

Ex. G- easier to print stuff from work, finishing basement- contractors say not to pull a permit.

Many opportunities for us to show what we’re made of:
-taxes, cheating on tests/papers, lying about age, weight

Has God put increased responsibility in your life to test you?

Judas’ statement was probably more of a reaction against Mary’s act of inappropriate devotion, clothed in pious words

2.Sin is progressive and has devastating consequences

Thief= Gr kleptes (cleptomaniac)- one who steals, not by violence, but my stealth

When regard for truth has been broken down or even slightly weakened, all things will remain doubtful. Augustine.

Sin deceives
Addicts are by their nature liars- the first person they lie to is themselves.
This is the nature of how addictions form- hidden, laying down patterns
First solution- lots of light- exposure, a searching inventory

What if Judas confessed and repented?
Couldn’t stop the train, break the pattern of hidden sin.

Moral relativism v integrity

4 HS boys skipped morning classes- “spring fever”, reported to teacher FLAT TIRE. “Missed quiz, so get out a paper to make it up.” “First question–which tire was flat?”

3.Turn yourself in, get real

Jn 13:1-30 Footwashing- imagine it- Jesus coming down the line washing feet. Last chance to repent. Hardened heart

Why continue to torture yourself. Get open, stop pretending.
Soft place to fall.

Boston, mid-1960s- Bill Russell, star basketball center for the world-champion Celtics. Radio interview- “ever get nervous,” “Before every game, I vomit.” 
what he did if they played two games the same day. “I vomit twice.” 

1.We’ve all fallen short in integrity
2.Sin is progressive and has devastating consequences
3.Turn yourself in, get real

Sunday sermon presented by: Eddie Mayes (1/15/2012)

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The Nittany Valley Church of Christ hosts The Mountain Rock Church of Christ in State College, PA

Nittany Valley Church of Christ – http://www.NittanyValleyCOC.org

Mountain Rock Church of Christ – http://MountainRock.org

Sunday sermon presented by: Glenn Geeting (1/8/2012)

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GLENN’S NOTES:

Parable of the Sower

Intro: Little boy. big and old family Bible. something fell out of the Bible, old leaf
        ”Mom, look what I found,” “What have you got there, dear?” “I think it’s Adam’s suit!”

Luke 8:1-10
v1 Good news about the Kingdom of God.
v4 lots of people- Why would Jesus speak in parables? Be intentionally obtuse?
v8- He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Implies that many are not really hearing.
NET- “had better listen” Warning!

v9-10 People had to dig deep, to look hard, to examine the parable and themselves.
This is a parable about the kingdom. Is Jesus Lord of your life? Who is really in charge?

Challenge- We don’t really listen, we hear this with preconceptions. We automatically assume we’re the good soil, so we fail to take home the lessons. Really look at this Scripture, really examine yourself.

v11-15
1. Path- Let God’s Word penetrate
Palestinian countryside- well-worn path through a field, sow late fall or early winter (Oct-Dec) in rainy season, looking for sprouting in April or May and a June harvest
Are you really reading God’s word? Is it falling to the ground? Study the Bible.

Don’t think that evil isn’t in this world and doesn’t want to devour you.

Ex. Butch- actively pursuing God like never before, seeing incredible changes. Satan has been attacking him from all sides- temptations, past relationships. Trying to snatch God’s word. He continues to choose wisely and put God first!

So many in our society act like it doesn’t matter how we live our lives. We can do anything we want and God will just keep on forgiving. Heaven is for everyone.

Think it’s impossible to fall away from God and lose your salvation? Study the Bible! Ask the person next to you to study (Heb 10:26-31) with you. Then the question will be whether you will choose to base your faith on the Bible or opinion.

Point: What are we going to do with God’s word? Few people are the good soil, and all of us are in danger- dig deep, weed, and mature so that you can bear fruit.

2.Rocky- go deep
Palestine- limestone base lying just beneath the soil.
Appearance of depth and growth- until tested
The storms will come, testing will come. (2 Tim 3:12)
Haven’t been persecuted lately? perhaps not following Jesus. He guaranteed it.

“Faith like Job’s cannot be shaken because it is the result of having been shaken.”  Rabbi Abraham Heschel

Shallow or temporary faith.
Tests- not IF but WHEN. Will these tests cause us to grow closer to God or will they expose the shallowness of our faith? Depends on the depth of our roots.

Satisfied being “godly enough” to get to heaven or to do better than the other guys.
Care more about what people think than about what God thinks.
Content to give a section of life to Jesus rather than letting Jesus take control.
Doing the bare minimum, in order to keep from feeling guilty.

3.Weeds- pull out the stuff that’s choking your faith
We want God… and a bunch of other stuff
The soil is great, notice how well the weeds grow!
Palestinian weeds- 6ft, thorny, major root system- imagine trying to pull up one of those puppies!
Weeding: When is the best time to pick a weed? Small.
Same with life’s weeds- addictions/habits/doubts- nip it in the bud

Give as long as it doesn’t impinge on our lifestyle, as long as not uncomfortable.
Don’t want to be saved from our sin, but from the penalty of our sin- don’t really believe that the life Jesus offers is better than the life they have.

If thou art rich, thou art poor, for like a donkey whose back with ingots bows, thou bearest thy heavy riches but a journey, and death unloads thee.  Shakespeare

Ex. Tracy’s odyssey to studying the Bible. Trauma surgeon, plenty of $, heartbreak. Did her will & was shocked to see she had no one she wanted to leave her possessions to. Spending spree.

Doesn’t mature. Some have been around church for decades, yet look like seed that hasn’t sprouted, no fruit. Not imitated.

Measure wealth not by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money. 

So how do you identify the good soil?

Ex. “Merv Griffin Show,” guest body builder.
“Why do you develop those particular muscles?” flex, applause
“What do you use all those muscles for?” flex
“But what do you USE those muscles for?” bewildered.
Some of us look righteous, beautiful tree, but not bearing fruit.

4.Bears fruit- Be a Disciple- mature, bear fruit
Good heart- integrity, diligence
Retain it- NET “cling to it”- tenacity.

Are you having life-changing times with the people around you?
Deep relationships that make a difference in you and others
“I’m growing” yes, but is God producing fruit through you

Marathon: My prayer- the day you die, you lay your head back spent serving God with unshakable faith, mature, surrounded by people that you have impacted, looking forward to more and greater worship and service for eternity.

Janell’s Baptism (1/1/2012)

The Mountain Rock Church of Christ

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Sunday sermon presented by: Glenn Geeting (12/18/2011)

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GLENN’S NOTES:

Sermon- Joseph- Change of Plans

Intro- The U.S. standard railroad gauge (distance between rails) is four feet, eight-and-one-half inches. Why such an odd number? Because that’s the way they built them in England, and American railroads were built by British expatriates. Why did the English adopt that particular gauge? Because the people who built the pre-railroad tramways used that gauge. They in turn were locked into that gauge because the people who built tramways used the same standards and tools they had used for building wagons, which were set on a gauge of four feet, eight-and-one-half inches. “Why were wagons built to that scale? Because with any other size, the wheels did not match the old wheel ruts on the roads. “So who built these old rutted roads? “The first long-distance highways in Europe were built by Imperial Rome for the benefit of their legions. The roads have been in use ever since. The ruts were first made by Roman war chariots. Four feet, eight-and-one-half inches was the width a chariot needed to be to accommodate the rear ends of two war horses.” The width of our railroad tracks is based on the size of a horse’s backside. Maybe “that’s the way it’s always been” isn’t the great excuse some people believe it to be. 

Joseph- Heb “Jehovah increases”, “son of David”, both of Jesus’ parents- called back to his heritage as the greatest leader of Israel. Israel, and Joseph, looking for a Messiah, a savior that would kick the Romans out.
We get our plans. Joseph- Nobody from Nazareth- get married, have 2.6 kids, a goat, and a house in the suburbs, work as a contractor. Not a bad dream.

God throws curve-balls. Life is not predictable. Show’s who is really in control here. Our FAITH determines how we deal with these changes of plan.

Ex. G- getting ready to graduate from med school at USC. Applying to ENT. Match day- opened envelope, no position. God had other plans.
Everything continues in a state of rest unless it is compelled to change by forces impressed upon it. Issac Newton, First Law of Motion.
Mt 1:18-25

1. Being prepared for change takes real faith

Righteous- not going to get embroiled in mess- pregnant before marriage.
The Bible describes him as a righteous man. Would a biographer describe you so?

Marriage process 2000y ago in Judea:
-engagement- in childhood, arranged. Marriage was thought to be too serious to be left up to two hormone-laden foolish adolescents
-betrothal- one year, binding, like marriage without living together and without sex. To get out required divorce, and if death occurred, she was a widow.
-marriage- just because arranged, didn’t mean there wasn’t love. The Bible commands it.

Joseph respected the institution of marriage- America has issues. Marriage at an all-time low, 51% of people married, later in life. Divorce rate exceedingly high, most kids conceived out of wedlock. Only 5% of brides and grooms are virgins at the time they get married.

Patient- married, but waited to “come together” with his wife until after Jesus was born
Some people will change when they see the light. Others change only when they feel the heat.

2.Changes to avoid
A man from the back mountains of Tennessee found himself one day in a large city, for the first time standing outside an elevator. He watched as an old, haggard woman hobbled on, and the doors closed. A few minutes later the doors opened and a young, attractive woman marched smartly off. The father hollered to his youngest son, “Billy, go get mother.”

Some change is to be resisted- how can we identify it? God’s word, great advice.

Notice Joseph embraced godly principles even in the midst of change- righteous, compassion toward Mary, taking responsibility rather than avoiding it, saw God’s hand and obeyed.

3.Embracing change

Give name Jesus (yeshua)= God rescues, God delivers.
If there was nothing to deliver people from, the point would have been lost. That’s the problem some of us face, we think we’re just great. Stay the same. Contentment- enemy of God’s impact

Think of some of the most significant life changes, and let’s see how God acted through these in the Bible:
-prison- Joseph (the dreamer- wouldn’t get to the palace without prison first), Paul and Silas
-persecution- David, the early church
-death- Lazarus, Jesus, Ruth
-job loss- Joseph (dreamer), calling if the first disciples, Matthew tax collector, Zacchaeus
-slavery- Joseph again, many early Christians
-adultery- David, Judah (with daughter-in-law)

God’s dream for Joseph- witness miracles, overcome hardship and uncertainty, raise the Son of God with godly values to have an eternal, worldwide impact.

Chinese symbol for “crisis”= danger + opportunity

If Christianity isn’t invasive, then you don’t get it. Mary- uterus

Change-makers: Behavioral studies show that if 2% of a homogeneous group are strongly dedicated to a given cause, and that small minority can eventually move the whole.

On June 4, 1783 at the market square of a French village of Annonay, not far from Paris, a smoky bonfire on a raised platform was fed by wet straw and old wool rages. Tethered above, straining its lines, was a huge taffeta bag 33 feet in diameter. In the presence of “a respectable assembly and a great many other people,” and accompanied by great cheering, the balloon was cut from its moorings and set free to rise majestically into the noon sky. Six thousand feet into the air it went — the first public ascent of a balloon, the first step in the history of human flight. It came to earth several miles away in a field, where it was promptly attacked by pitchfork-waving peasants and torn to pieces as an instrument of evil!  

Change is coming- are we prepared to face it with faith and see God’s hand!

Pied Pipers – Winter Wonderland 2011

Newport, PA

December 18, 2010

Mountain Rock Church of Christ

Sunday sermon presented by: Eddie Mayes (12/4/2011)

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Sunday sermon presented by: Eldwin Santana (12/4/2011)

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