Hey Rocky River Church. Here are some VERY IMPORTANT things you need to know about this Sunday.

1. This Sunday is "SOUPER SUNDAY" at Rocky River Church. We are asking everyone to bring at least one can of soup for the Baptist Sharing House in Concord. This is a great way for our church to serve the community and help out our neighbors who are struggling right now to have enough to eat. Lets make this HUGE!

2. RiverKidz. This weekend we are taking our student ministry to THE NEXT LEVEL. I'm serious, RiverKidz (K-5) is going to be off the hook! Kids, I can't wait for you to see what we have planned.

3. The Flood - Beginning this Sunday Middle School students will be dismissed after the worship to go to the Middle School room (located in the CreekKidz area) for their own message. This will be offered during both services at 9 and 11. Of course, they are also welcome to stay in the regular service as well.

4. One more thing. As you know, the weather man says it is going to be wet and sloppy this weekend in Cabarrus County. If that holds true we will not be able to use the front fields for overflow parking. So, we will use our shuttle system. Here's how it works. Just drive up to the building, drop off your family and then drive .02 miles (about 1500 feet) to Pitt School Road Elementary School and we will shuttle you back up to the church. Then, once the service is over we will shuttle you back up to the church to pick up those who rode with you. THIS IS REALLY NOT A BIG DEAL. It will only add about 15 minutes to your day.

AGAIN, DON'T LET THE SHUTTLE - OR ANYTHING ELSE - KEEP YOU FROM ROCKY RIVER CHURCH THIS WEEKEND. I am teaching a message from Luke 5:17-26 about Jesus healing a paralyzed man. Now, maybe you're not paralyzed physically, but likely you are paralyzed in some area of your life - your finances, your spiritual life, or maybe a relationship. I believe God has something important to say to you through the whole worship experience. The point is that you need this message so don't let anything keep you away.

I love you guys. Can't wait to see you Sunday! God bless.
Jimmy Britt, Lead Pastor

P.S. If you are new to Rocky River Church we have two Sunday morning services time, 9 and 11. The services are identical and last about 75 minutes. The dress is casual but honestly, dress up or dress down, we don't really care. We just want you here! For step by step directions from your front door to ours, click here http://www.rockyriverchurch.com/directions.

90-Day Tithe Challenge
February 2012 through April 2012

GOAL: We want to challenge you to start tithing and see God begin blessing your life as you commit to healthy financial stewardship.

How? We’re asking you to commit to give 10% of your total income for the next 90 days and give it to God through the church. If not a full tithe, then just give something to get started.

As you probably know, this Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday. Well, at Rocky River Church we are calling the day "Souper Sunday." We are asking every person to bring a can of soup (heck, I don't know why we can't all bring a bag of soup) to either the 9AM or 11AM services. All the food collected will go to the Baptist Sharing House of Concord. Folks, just to remind you, this food is for our neighbors who don't have enough to eat so please make this a priority.

Here are a few more important things happening this Sunday:
1. We will offer a Middle School meeting option for students and their guests at RRC. They will come into the service for the worship and then be dismissed to their own space for a message from Will Thrasher, our Pastor to Students.

2. This Sunday's message is from Luke 5 where Jesus heals the paralyzed man. I'll also be sharing some new initiatives we are kicking off at RRC.

3. RiverKidz takes a brand new direction this weekend. Moms and dads, make sure you get your kids to RRC this Sunday - SERIOUSLY! They will love it! I'm so excited about our children's ministry!!!

Anyway, hope to see you this weekend. Come expecting God to do something special in your life. If you are paralyzed by guilt, bitterness, past failures, or anything else, this is a "don't miss" Sunday at Rocky River Church. I'm praying for you this week.

God bless!
Jimmy

P.S. For step by step directions from your house to ours, click here http://www.rockyriverchurch.com/directions

Hey Rocky River Church. As you have no doubt heard, Damian Bricker passed away earlier this week. Damian has struggled for sometime with throat cancer - but no more. Now he is in Heaven. For sure, that is not wishful thinking on my behalf. As his pastor I knew of his testimony in Christ and that he trusted Jesus as his Savior. This Saturday at Rocky River Church we will celebrate Damian's life in a memorial service that begins at 11:00AM. I hope you come out to share the story of Damian's life and to give worship to our Lord. See you then!

God bless!
Jimmy

1. Most of all, I'm excited about the changed lives we're experiencing at RRC. I say it all the time but that is our "business" and right now business is good (in a way of speaking). God is really blessing us with people and changed lives. One of the areas we are hearing lots of testimonies in is the area of finances. People who have taken the tithe challenge have incredible testimonies about the provision of God. That has been awesome!

2. I'm JACKED UP about our student and children's ministries at RRC.

Kids first. On February 5th we are relaunching our RiverKidz ministry. Wait until you see what we have planned! I have NEVER been more excited about the direction of this ministry. Our Preschool through 5th grade kids are going to LOVE what we are about to do in there.

Now The Flood - our Middle School/High School ministry. WE LOVE STUDENTS! Will is doing a great job with our students. He is focused on building relationships with those guys and developing some leaders and it is really beginning to pay off. We had a HUGE group of High School students on Sunday night. MS/HS students are gearing up for a big weekend in March.

ALSO, beginning Sunday, February 5, we are going to again be offering a Sunday morning Middle School option for gathering. This means that Middle Schoolers who are new to RRC, or just not connected on Wednesday nights, will have a Sunday morning program for them.

Honestly, it would not surprise me if our kids and students didn't run us out of our building in a year or so. I'm serious - I see that kind of potential! It is exciting!

3. GROUPS. We are going to launch a new groups ministry on February 5th like we've never seen before at RRC. It is the answer we have been searching for to help our church get connected with one another like never before. Our focus in 2012 is getting our folks connected to one another. My heart is for our church to grow smaller as we keep growing larger.

4. Our Wednesday night Bible study. Okay, this is going to mean A LOT of extra work for me but it is going to be SO WORTH IT! On February 15th we are kicking off a Wednesday Bible study - verse by verse - through the book of Revelation. We are getting a lot of positive feedback on this. People are going to love it! This kind of format - just me and an open Bible guiding folks through a chapter of the Bible - is my favorite. Get ready!

5. We roll out our 2012 Ministry Investment Budget on February 5th. Yes, we are a little behind on getting it out, but it is our biggest, best, most exciting budget EVER. Get excited RRC! We are going to all the places where God is leading us!

6. I'm TOTALLY JACKED UP about how we are ministering to our community and the world. We are showing the love of Jesus to the world like never before. For example, we are doing some cool things through CCM (Cooperative Christian Ministries in Concord), the Baptist Sharing House of Concord, Loaves and Fishes, and our own church/community through our benevolence ministry. We are also supporting missions in Kannapolis through Mission 217 and The Journey Church in Boca Raton, FL. Additionally, we are supporting Richard and Megan Harrell (and their boys) as pilot missionaries to South Africa. And just in case you don't know, the Harrell's are right out of Rocky River Church (homegrown missionaries). We are also supporting John Quast and his family as they are ministering to the unreached people in Paraguay by interpreting the Bible in their language. WOW! That is a lot - but there is even more happening. All of it means that we are fulfilling the Great Commission of Matthew 28. So exciting!

7. THIS SUNDAY @ ROCKY RIVER CHURCH! I am teaching a message from Luke 5:1-11 called "When You've Come Up Empty." If you have messed up in life or you just feel like you're not getting anywhere, don't miss being at Rocky River Church this Sunday at 9 or 11. I believe God is going to be impacting lives - your life if you're willing.

GET EXCITED! BUCKLE UP! See you Sunday! Love you guys! I love my church!
Jimmy

Hey Rocky River Church (and greater Charlotte Metro area). I was up late last night and early this morning working on next Sunday's message. I CANNOT wait to share it with you. I'll be teaching from Luke 5:1-11 - the story of the miraculous catch of fish. This miracle has A LOT to say about our lives during this economic recession. Also, if you've ever felt discouraged by your job situation - if you've ever felt like you were not getting anywhere in life - if you've ever felt worn out, tired and defeated, then you simply MUST be at Rocky River Church next Sunday. And make sure you bring the people in your life who need this message too.

I will see you this Sunday @ 9 and 11!

One more thing, if I can pray for you this week just send me a prayer request to Pastor@RockyRiverChurch.com.

God bless you. Come to church next Sunday expecting to hear from God! Love you.
Jimmy

[Matthew 22:34-40]

The religious leaders of Jesus' day had classified over 600 laws. It is a head-scratcher to think that God gave us 10 Laws (or ten words) to live by and human beings have to complicate it by adding to the list. Anyway, there were so many "man-made" laws that even they couldn't figure out which ones were most important. One day one of the "experts of the Law" asked Jesus to identify the most important law. Jesus responded by quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 and said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment."

But how can that be proven? How can a person demonstrate that he or she loves God with everything they have? Who would really know? How is this lived out? Where is God that I can feed Him, or clothe Him, or hug and kiss Him? How do I tell Him that I love Him? How could I EVER demonstrate, quantify or qualify my love for Him? So before the "expert" could walk away or even ask his next question, Jesus cleared up the mystery of loving God and said, "And the second [commandment] is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." And so there would be no confusion, Jesus said, "All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Here is the commandment for how to live your life today, tomorrow and every day going forward: Love God and love others. It might also by stated this way, "Love God BY loving others."

What God wants for our lives is as simple, and complex as this.

Today I am having a very important meeting with our directional staff. We some big decisions to make and details to work out concerning other decisions that have already been made. Among the things we are working through is how to make our church "smaller" as it grows "larger." Also, we have some budget items to finish up, details on a paper newsletter, children's ministry, student ministry, volunteer systems, and a few others.

Over the last year God has doubled the size of our church. It is making for growing pains and honestly, it is a little overwhelming. BUT I'M NOT COMPLAINING! I'm just asking for your prayers. :)

EXCITING!

Thanks all!
Jimmy

Hey Rocky River Church. I have an opportunity for you to help me with a very important project I am working on with Will (our Pastor to Students). In March our students have an opportunity to participate in what is called a "Disciple Now" weekend. Basically, this is going to be a weekend where our students are immersed in the Bible, worship and fellowship with each other and other students in our area. The cost for this project is only $2,000. Our students work so hard to raise money for camp and other events throughout the year andI would really like to bless them with the money they need for this. We have not included this in our student budget so it is extra. Will you help me fund this for them? Any amount you can give would be appreciated but I'm wondering if there are 10 people out there who can give $200. That's all it would take. Send me an email to Pastor@RockyRiverChurch.com and let me know if you can help. To get the best pricing we need the money by Sunday.

Thanks for blessing our students in this way! It is a GREAT opportunity to make a significant investment into the lives of our students. Love you!

Pastor Jimmy

Today at Rocky River Church I preached a sermon called "Prepare The Way." This message was all about how to prepare for Jesus in 2012. There are five things in Luke 3:1-18 that are necessary to really "find" Jesus this year. Here they are:

1. Make Yourself AVAILABLE To God. John the Baptist "received the Word of the Lord" because he was available to God. He made himself available by marinating his life in the Word of the Lord - the Bible. If you're going to prepare your life for Jesus - if you are going to hear from God - you MUST read the Bible. This is non-negotiable.

My challenge to Rocky RIver Church is to read at least one chapter of the Gospel each day through Easter Sunday. You pick the Gospel...I suggest Luke.

2. Be Open To CHANGE. John preached repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Repenting of ones' sin means to change directions and also to open up your life to let God change the things in your life that need changing. Make the decision (not a resolution, because we don't keep those) to be open to what God wants to do or change in your life. This sounds easy but it is not. But it IS very exciting. Think about the possibilities of your life if you were to say, "God, whatever, whenever and wherever." WOW!

3. EXAMINE Your Motives. John rebuked some in the crowd for coming to Him for baptism because they had impure motives. They, like many of us today, were interested only in "fire insurance." They wanted to be "okay" with God in eternity but were not interested in a changed life on this earth. They just wanted to "have enough Jesus" to not go to Hell. They were more interested in the "program" of Jesus than the person of Jesus. They were willing to accept the religion and ritual, not the relationship. Jesus is a person and He offers us a relationship.

Why do you want to know Jesus better in 2012? Is it for what you can get from God? Or do you really want to let God use you for His work?

4. Take ACTION. Following Jesus doesn't mean just learning some things about Him. It means DOING the things He did. John told the people to live open-handed, not closed fisted. Be a channel for the blessings of God and not a storehouse for them. If someone needs a shirt, give them one. If they need food, feed them. The point is to "do" for others. Be generous. Be kind. Give grace and mercy and love and forgiveness. Smile at people. Be an encourager. You can't be the meanest person in your office and still claim to be a follower of Christ.

And finally,
5. Be URGENT. John was trying to prepare people for Jesus to come on the scene and begin His public ministry. Our job is to prepare people for the second coming of Christ. When Jesus comes back to earth He will rapture His church out of this world but He will also bring judgment to those who have not trusted Him as Lord and Savior. This picture of Christ is both beautiful and frightening. Why? Because all of us have friends and family members who are spiritually lost. That should make us urgent, as John was urgent, in sharing the Gospel with others. We should be inviting people to church. We should give a witness to what God has done in our lives.

Rocky River Church, be URGENT. Who do you need to invite to Rocky River Church this Sunday? Who in your life needs to know Jesus? Get them to RRC this Sunday. From now until Easter our Sunday sermons are ALL about getting know Jesus.

Happy New Year! God bless!
Jimmy