Harbor Rock Tabernacle

The disciples we study in Acts 4 were very different men and women than the ones at the end of the Gospels. The power of the Holy Spirit had changed them and His fire drove their boldness and commitment. In this study, we're challenged to examine whether that power and fire are evident in our lives.

Why is there such a contrast between the powerful, anointed, "on fire" people in the Bible and our "average" lives? We have the same salvation and the same Spirit. The Lord gives us the same opportunity to live this way, but it requires daily spiritual renewal. This study encourages us to "advance beyond average" and and live in the Lord's power.

How can an ancient text about a king shooting arrows into the ground have relevance for us in 2017, especially in light of the confusion and division in the U.S.? The account of King Joash and the prophet Elisha teaches us about the importance of fully trusting the Lord and taking responsibility to live under His hand of guidance. This is what leads us to a life of spiritual fruit, influence and b...

The strength of our relationships--with the Lord and with each other--is is determined by the measure of our sacrifice. When we seek to love and bless others, it brings joy and encouragement to them. In this obscure account of David's Mighty Men getting him water from a well in Bethlehem, we see powerful truths about how we can live out this sacrificial mindset.

For as long as mankind has been on earth, sin has been making promises which contradict God's Word and fraudulently assure us that living for ourselves is better than living for God. In this study from Genesis 3, we uncover the lies of sin, and the costs of believing those lies.

As we look forward to the new year, it is vital that we move past good intentions and commit to serious life changes. In this study from Colossians 4, we see the Spirit's straightforward instruction on prayer, which serves as both the strength and our defence of our faith.

Technology is a wonderful tool, but if we're not careful, it can dominate our lives and adversely impact our relationships. To be able to live as focused disciples in this digital age, we need to follow Jesus' example, especially when it comes to how we love and minister to others. In this study from Luke 19, we look at His interaction with Zaccheus and are challenged to be intentional in our rela...

Every person has an innate need for love, because it provides security, comfort, joy and peace. Jesus came to earth as the Savior of mankind, in the ultimate expression and undeniable proof of God's love. In this Christmas Sunday study, we see how this love transforms our lives and fills us with all the promises the angels declared that night in Bethlehem.

The fact that God came to earth to rescue us from sin is amazing enough. But to come as a Baby, taking on the role of a Bondservant, is stunning. In this Christmas Eve message, we study the humility Jesus displayed, which is so appealing that we have no other choice than to trust Him.

There is an aspect of Jesus' life on earth that we don't talk about often--the daily sacrifices He made to fulfill His purpose to save mankind. He set an amazing example of tough determination by sacrificing His will, time and comfort. That example is what we are called to faithfully follow every single day.

Zecharias was the first person to hear that Jesus was going to be born, and his response was to praise the Lord for His "tender mercy". He understood that God was offering clemency and forgiveness to all people, even though mankind had rebelled against Him. This fact should change our lives, and we put ourselves on the "witness stand" by asking hard questions to evaluate how we are responding to G...

Why would the God of the universe, who doesn't need mankind to exist, take the extraordinary step of intervening in human history to offer us redemption? In this first study from our new series, "Emmanuel", we see that God's purpose and plan has been clear for as long as man has been alive, and that He desires relationship with us, which was broken by sin but can only be restored by Jesus Christ....

After all the miracles the disciples saw Jesus do, it would be easy to conclude that their faith would be strong. But as often happens with us, the enemy's attack and their own hardheartedness caused them to fall back into fear instead of advancing in faith. This study from Mark 6 lays out important truths about faith that will inspire us and help prevent spiritual calcification in our hearts.

The Church in Acts 2 was launched by the bold witness of the disciples. If they had silent about Jesus because they were insecure or lacking in confidence about what to say, as many present believers are, history would have been different. In this study from the series "Vertical', we learn practical spiritual principles that equip and inspire us to fulfill our calling to "be witnesses" of Jesus Ch...

All throughout human history, people have been called to give to the Lord out of gratitude for His mercy. This giving is to be done with no expectation of reciprocation, but with full confidence in His generous provision. In this study from three passages, Pastor Rhoads explains the concept of giving the Lord our first and best, making sure we examine the priorities reflected in how we spend our m...

Compromise is the indication that a person’s conviction is unstable & their integrity is negotiable--something that can never describe a disciple of Jesus Christ. This fourth study from our series, "Vertical", shows the critical need to fight compromise in our character to honor the Lord and to influence others for the Gospel.

God has given His children direct access into His presence and to His throne of grace, through prayer. And yet, prayer is one of the most underutilized privileges for many believers. The reason may be that we are just not desperate for the Lord. In this study from 2 Chronicles 7, Pastor Rhoads sets out four areas in which we need to be hungry for the Lord.

Worship has become a much-debated subject within Christianity because there has been a focus on methodology and music style. But true worship is simply being in awe and respect of the Lord, and expressing our love for Him. In our second study in the "Vertical" series, we look at Psalm 40, and five important questions to evaluate how we are worshipping the Lord.

Throughout the Old Testament, people built altars to the Lord, to sacrifice to Him and worship Him. By the time Elijah came around, those altars were broken down. In this first study from our new series, "Vertical", Pastor Rhoads challenges us to build new altars of living sacrifice, while repairing those areas in which our commitment is broken and neglected, so our spiritual "fire" never goes out...

Follower or disciple? Which one are you? In John 6, Jesus provided clear distinctions for the crowds that were around Him, and called us to live as His disciples. In this study, Pastor Rhoads explains the characteristics of simply being a follower, and calls us to a full commitment of our hearts to Christ.

Every choice we make is an extension of what is in our heart. In this study from Genesis 13, we examine the differences between Abram's decision to follow the Lord and Lot's decision to live for himself. Those choices had a lasting impact, and challenge us to evaluate what our decisions say about the spiritual state of our heart.

In one of the most confident and reassuring Psalms we have--Psalm 23--David talks about one of the great promises we have as believers. But how we experience this promise is contingent on our relationship with the Lord, Who is ready to pursue us until we trust Him and provide for us when we walk with Him.

There is a spiritual principle that seems counter-intuitive, but is vitally important for believers to live: That the supply of the Lord comes when we pour out. God's blessing and anointing will not flow out unless we are willing to trust Him with what we have. Using a study of Elisha and a widow with a significant problem, we learn that there is no telling what the Lord can do when we pour oursel...

These are challenging times to be a Christian. It's a temptation to become discouraged and unmotivated as we live for the Lord, but through Christ, we are given steadfast hope and strength. In this verse in 1 Corinthians 15, the Spirit gives us three powerful commands and one awesome reminder that motivates us to be faithful and persevere, because our labor for the Lord is never in vain.

This final study in the series "Taste And See" provides an overview of Psalm 34. David explains the importance of our praise, prayer and purity, and then assures us of God's amazing promises to protect and provide for those who trust in Him.