Welcome.
We are glad to have you join us for worship. Today we get back to a message series from the book of Revelation. We are looking at the letters that Jesus gave to seven churches. Letters to encouragement and correction.
These letters are, for sure, significant to us at this time as our churches are going through a season of change. But they are significant to us as individuals as God’s grace works in us to live out the new life - our personal do-over - that faith in Jesus makes a reality.
Our church is a true family of believers who come together to worship, pray, and learn from God and each other. We value being connected to other believers and strive to create an environment where individuals and families can grow closer together.
At our church, we believe that everyone has the potential to impact the world. In our programs and ministries, we seek to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to make a Gospel difference in our community and in the world.
So, if you are looking for a church home that seeks to make a positive impact in Rock Hall and the world, we invite you to join us. No matter who you are or where you come from, you are welcome here. We look forward to getting to know you and to growing in our faith together.
If you have any questions or want to discuss your faith journey, please don’t hesitate to contact Pastor Gary directly, by email - gary@yourrockhall.church or by telephone - 410-639-2144.
Thank you again for joining us.
Order of Worship:
Welcome Prayer of Adoration
Opening Worship
Prayer of Confession
Prayers of the People
Message
Do-Over
From Reputation to Identity
Closing Worship Next Steps
Find practical ways you can take a first “next step” in your faith journey on our website. Just go to nextsteps.yourrhc.com.
Benediction
Life is much more than an accident. Wherever I go, I believe God needs me there. Wherever I am, I trust God has put me there. He has a purpose for me being there -
Christ, alive in me, wants to do something through me, no matter where I am.
I believe this and go in His grace and His love and His power.
If you would like someone to pray with you, please come and meet one of our ministry leaders at the end of the service.
Songs for Worship
Raum Chapel
397 I Need Thee Every Hour
452 My Faith Looks Up To Thee
472 Near To The Heart Of God
Combined Worship @RHUMC
Your Grace Is Enough
The Lord's Prayer (It's Yours)
Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus
Clean
Message Notes
Do-Over: From Reputation to Identity
Revelation 3:1-6
“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:
“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. 3 Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.
4 “Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.
6 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.
“The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door, and deny him with their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” Brennan Manning
Hypocrisy is not the difference between what we do and what we wish we did, but the gap between our reputation and our character.
Titus 1:16 NIV
16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
Revelation 3:1 NIV
1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
When you have reputation without reality, reputation is all you have.
Revelation 3:2 NIV
2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.
Identifying the problem
Revelation 3:3 NIV
3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
Good News for the Hypocrite: Remember and Repent
Proverbs 28:13 NIV
13 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
Jesus has zero tolerance for hypocrisy. He has unlimited grace for a sinner in need of forgiveness.
This week’s YouVersion Bible Reading Plan:
Many of us were taught that integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching. This is true, but integrity at its core is all about character. As Christians, we know the secret of how to live with integrity: the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. In this study, we are going to examine the life of David.
This Week's Announcements:
Meet with Pastor Gary Do you have a question or issue you need to discuss? Pastor Gary is available for pastoral counseling with individuals and couples To schedule, just Click “Meet with Pastor Gary” on our website
Prayer Request Policy Change In order to maintain a more current prayer list, we provide a copy of this past week’s prayer requests. Submit prayer requests using the prayer request cards in the pews or the digital prayer request form on our website: pray.yourrhc.com Please make sure you have permission to share other’s information.
Current Prayer Requests
Our children and youth ministries
Caregivers and first responders
People of Ukraine
Our nation’s leaders
Healing of our nation
Israel and the Middle East
People battling addictions
Single parents and their kids
Pastor Gary and family
Joe & Cheryl Holliday
Dickie & Bettie Porter
Eddie & Rosalie Kuechler
Karen & Mark Weller
Dean & Anna Mae Wood
Frank & Mariann Dulin
Michael Geibel
Chase Dolgos
Mark Lusby
Rick Reedy
Patricia Brown
Elmer Gustafson
Hal McBride
Hubbard Kendall
Bill Carroll
Family of Charles Brice
Joanne Ashley Carson
Marge Kelley
Active Military & their families including:
Trevion Hopkins
Kyle Schauber
Brock Willey
Makenzie Williams
Steve McCarthy
Tristan Hague
Dakota Collison
Geoffrey Andersen
John Pettit
Jonathan Conner
Dante Spagnolo
Homebound:
Phyllis Dierker
Edna Cox
Jackie Price Williams
This week's prayer focus:
Join us in focused and specific prayer for our church, our community, and our world. Be prepared to see God do great things as we collectively turn to Him in prayer.
Sunday - Our Mission: God, increase the desire of believers to fulfill the Great Commission. Matthew 28:19-20
Monday - Our Church: God, direct our vision for the Future. Proverbs 19:21
Tuesday - Our Leadership: God, help our ministers and volunteers persevere in Your work. 1 Corinthians 15:58
Wednesday - Families: God, help our families be committed to the Lord and His Work. Joshua 24:15
Thursday - Our Community: God, bring salvation to the lost. Luke 19:10
Friday - Children/Youth: God, help our young people set an example of godliness for others. 1 Timothy 4:12
Saturday - Adults: God, give our adults discernment to not be deceived by the world and Satan. 1 Peter 5:8
This week’s events:
Sunday
8:30 am - Worship Celebration @RC
10:00 am - Combined Worship Celebration @RHC
Monday
11:30 am - Chosen study
Tuesday
6:30 pm - Small Group Bible Study @Rock Hall Church Hall
Wednesday
7:00 pm - Youth Group @Youth Center
Thursday
7:00 pm - Praise Team practice
Sunday
8:30 am - Worship Celebration @RC
10:00 am - Combined Worship Celebration @RHC
Birthdays
Nancy Walls 8/24
