Faith Rock Church Ava

Faith Rock Church Ava Faith Rock Church is the little country church in the middle of town.

08/26/2026

Please come join us this Sunday at Faith Rock Church as the group Shine will be leading us in praise and worship unto the Lord.

08/23/2026

I write a post every Sunday after service about the message that was given with the hope that someone will be challenged to look at scripture and its implications upon their life in a new light. I have written so many I do not even know the number, let alone the type of fruit it may or may not produce. It costs me a little bit of time, the use of my limited knowledge, with the risk of offending those who oppose my faith, all with very little reach.

That could lead some to ask why I would even bother. Well the short version is because it offers the hope of protection to those vulnerable to the lies of the world. It is but a small price to pay to direct others to that protection Jesus provides for us through His blood. This was the focus of our message titled Price of Protection from 1 Kings chapter 3.

Within that scripture is the account of two women labeled as harlots, who have a dispute over the death of a child and the biological maternity of a living one. This case is brought before king Solomon to determine the true mother of the remaining child, all with the raw emotions of one that has suffered a great loss and the other that is in danger of it. It is a story recorded to show the great and undeniable wisdom God had given Solomon in order to govern a vast people with complex issues. It displays that point beyond a doubt through the judgment he renders in the case. If you are unfamiliar with that account read it in verses 16-28.

For the message though our focus was on that of the legitimate mother of the living child. She was presented with a horrible choice to either claim a dead child that was not hers or face the death of the child that was. When the protection of her child came into question she quit fighting to just keep her baby and quickly pivoted to fight to simply keep him alive. This meant she would have to relinquish her rights as his mother and allow another to take that title. She would pay the price of accepting the pain of death so that the one she loved could remain alive. The price for his protection was high but the life he gained would be worth the cost. Though the wisdom God granted Solomon, the situation was rectified and resolved correctly.

Jesus did the very same thing for us. He accepted death so those He loved could receive life. He chose to suffer sorrow, so we could know joy. He paid the price for our protection by spilling His blood so that we would not be destroyed by evil and our own sins. The price for our salvation came at a cost and it was paid through the death of God's only rightful Son. The Father gave His Son up, so that we could be called His children and He could protect us as such. Our scripture was just another example of Jesus and His love found in the Old Testament.

So what price are you willing to pay to protect what is important to you? Many will spend money and time to protect their pride and investments. We will work hard to be the envy of others and spend a lot of money to insure our luxuries are not lost. Yet, these things are not nearly as important as our salvation and eternity. The price we are required to pay for that security is to be willing to die to self and be born again through Jesus. In doing so we will find we are protected in this world and the one to come. Is that a price you are willing to pay?

God bless you,
Pastor Jess

08/17/2026

Our message for Sunday was from Ephesians 4:17–24 titled Comfortably Numb and was centered around the social and political agenda currently in place designed to lead people into complacency by ignoring their convictions. While those who know Jesus personally are usually willing to accept the guidance provided by the Holy Spirit through the gift of conviction, the rest of the world often rejects this direction towards righteousness in place of their own carnal lusts. It is a battle which is invisible but nonetheless more real than anything we can see, which is fought within our own consciences.

The devil has his part in this battle, seen on the stages of social media, biased news outlets on both sides of the aisle, and ever more prevalent in the entertainment industry. The push towards complacency comes in waves of flawed theology and misrepresented scriptures taken out of context. They are published through videos and messages on social media devised to influence others into becoming comfortably numb with what should cause us to be troubled and shaken by what is considered acceptable to a fallen world. News outlets bombard us with the wickedness in the world and the hardness of the human heart. The entertainment industry has continuously and gradually revealed greater depths of human depravity in their productions, seeking to make the wickedness of immortality and violence seem like a natural human reaction to the world around us.

All this sounds like a preacher on a soap box calling for moral reform but in this case it is just an attempt to call out the agenda of the enemy which seeks to destroy us by these means. Paul warned the believers in Ephesus not to conform to the social norms that surrounded them and were practiced by their neighbors.

Ephesians 4:17 KJV
[17] This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

As it was addressed through the message Sunday, there is to be a stark difference between one who has only heard of Christ and that of one who hears from Christ. Paul points out that the truth is in Jesus, not the flawed mind of man. For the Christian is to be continually renewed in the spirit of their mind through Christ for we have been given the mind of Christ according to scripture. Those who desire to walk worthy of their calling welcome the conviction of the Holy Spirit to guide not only their steps but also their thoughts into what is acceptable to God. Though that conviction brings discomfort in the changes it warrants, it is better to feel uncomfortable than to be faced with sin and feel nothing. For when we are unmoved by sin we are lost in it ourselves.

Paul encourages us today through his writings that it is better to be accepted by God and rejected by man than to be rejected by God and a friend to the world. It is a choice we all must make but one made much easier if we follow the conviction pressing upon our hearts to do what is morally just. The more sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit we are, the easier it will become to hear God speak to us and the more profitable we will find this gift of conviction, which proves us dead to sin but alive unto God.

God bless you and thank you for all your prayers for Faith Rock Church and its congregation.

Pastor Jess

08/09/2026

There are many options in which a person can find to complain about when it comes to the things we see unfolding before our eyes. We can look around us and easily see the world continually plummeting into political, economical, and social chaos. The news is filled with any number of things we can latch on to and complain about from a personal perspective. For all that we see and hear regarding these current events have some form of impact on us to one degree or another even if we don't realize it. The turmoil in the world today is valid proof that we are in a spiritual war and there are things going on greater than mankind's lust for power and money but reveal an invisible battle being waged for the eternal souls of people.

With that knowledge it is important to remember that though we all are prone to complain about what we see, we are also very blessed as individuals and also collectively as a nation. It is only by the grace of God and His benevolence towards us that we experience His provision and protection. He is faithful and continually supplies our every need as His children and also in directing us as a nation. Though there are many reasons to complain about the current state of affairs in our lives, there are far more reasons to be grateful for what we are given.

That was something which was forgotten during the exodus from Egypt by some of the Israelites and their party. God was providing their every need and being exceedingly merciful unto them but the hardships of the journey weighed heavy on their minds and led them to give in to murmuring and complaining about pretty much everything. From food and water, to God’s direction and protection, they often questioned and complained about what they were given. This was the subject of Sunday's message titled Casualties From Complaining. It was centered on scriptures selected from Numbers chapter 11.

The complaints which were voiced from that chapter originated from two distinct groups of people, those on the fringe of the camp and the mixed multitude of people that traveled out of Egypt with the Israelites. It is an important part of the scripture because it shows us today that often the ripples of rebellion that lead to anarchy in a cause or purpose often originate not from within but from without, not from those invested in the calling but those who are dissatisfied with the established order which was ordained by a higher power. Those who complain the most are sometimes those who are doing the least for the cause and believe they have the least to lose.

Those complaints spread through the camp until many of the Israelites were caught up in them. The chief complaint in chapter 11 was that of the manna that the Lord was continually providing. The variety of foods found back in Egypt caused the mixed multitude to complain about the repetitive eating of the manna. This root of dissatisfaction spread through the camp until many of the people cried due to the injustice they found in the reliable consistency of the manna. They cried for meat not manna or complained God was not giving them what they wanted and that Moses must be failing them in some way as a leader because of it.

The result was that God did give them meat in the form of quail that He sent to them. His anger was kindled against them though for they despised Him through their complaining. In the end all those who complained about God's provision fell in a plague while the meat was still in their mouths and were buried where they died. Their own complaints caused them to become casualties of their own ingratitude.

We as Christians are directed to rejoice evermore. To find joy in our tribulations and peace through our persecution and know that God is going to provide for us in every situation. Often what we want is not what we need and what we need is far from what we want and that can lead any of us to complain about it. Yet, God is still providing the needed manna for our journey and still is helping us to reach our promised land. To constantly complain about what we face along the way is to take our eyes off Him and focus on the works of the enemy. We are far better benefited to voice those complaints to the Lord than to spread them among ourselves. After all, most of the time God is the only power that can change what we so often complain about anyways and He is always willing to listen.

God bless you,
Pastor Jess

08/02/2026

Waiting is the hardest part. Nobody I know likes the act of waiting, whether it is for something they are looking forward to or something they are dreading, the waiting is usually the main complaint. I don't like waiting either but as we know it is an inevitable part of life and something we adapt to coping with as we age, for we all are waiting for something.

Our message for Sunday was out of James chapter 5 and from that scripture the encouragement to wait for the Lord with patience was the subject. James reminds us of the fact that just as a farmer must wait for the fruit of his labour to mature and be ready for harvest, we too must wait on the Lord for Jesus’ return with the knowledge that He desires the greatest yield for His labour too. Though we may become impatient in our waiting to be delivered out from this sinful world, He is not slack concerning His promise to us but is patiently waiting for as many as will to come to repentance. It is not because He does not love us or has forgotten us that the Father has not caught us up out of this world but it is because He loves us so much that He doesn't want to leave anyone behind. He wants a bountiful harvest when the time is just right, not a moment too early and not a second too late.

When this is put into proper perspective through the guidance of scripture and with an understanding of God's love and mercy, it quickly becomes evident that our waiting on the Lord is for the benefit of the Kingdom of God and the future citizens that will one day enter in. James points to the patience of the prophets of the past as another example of how to wait for God to move.

James 5:10 KJV
[10] Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

Those were the men of God who were charged with the burden of the Lord in speaking the Word so many did not want to hear. They faced persecution, rejection, ridicule, imprisonment, and even death for the message they were to deliver but through it all patiently waited for the Lord to fulfill His Word spoken by them, though most often it did not occur until after their deaths. They did not alter their testimony or change their minds in serving God but trusted in that which He had spoken He would also perform even if they did not see it come to pass while in the body.

The same is true for us today as we wait for the rapture. I long to shed this body of flesh and enter into the presence of the Lord. The thought excites and encourages me to know that one day, in a split second, I could depart this life and enter into eternity. It may not happen in my lifetime, though it looks ever more plausible with each passing moment, but I know one day it is inevitable. One day soon it will all come down to God snatching up His people and all that is in the end of the book will come to its finality.

It is by knowing the final plan of the Lord through His Word that I can wait in relative peace and patience. I still get itchy for God to send for us all but I know with each passing moment another lost sinner may be finding Jesus as their Savior. Though waiting is not easy, with the eternity of others in mind it becomes worth the wait. It is what we do while in the waiting that matters most now.

God bless you while we wait,
Pastor Jess

07/26/2026

Sadly sometimes things don't go the way we want them to. The expectations we set and the outcome we desire are not always what we get. Preaching the Word of God is no different, sometimes what sounded so direct in the preparation gets lost in its delivery. This Sunday was one of those messages for me, it didn't go as near as planned and it felt like a struggle right out of the gate. Should we in the times of reflection after such facts consider ourselves failures or dwell in regrets?

As Christians our purpose here on earth is to glorify God in every situation we find ourselves in. That does not just mean in our personally perceived successes but also in our definition of disappointments. The message was focused on our faith and from the book of Acts chapter 3. A disabled man from birth was healed by the power of God through faith in the name of Jesus. This miracle was witnessed by many people and Peter and John were quick to clarify that it was by the name of Jesus and faith in His name that made the man whole. Before others could attribute this healing to Peter and John's success, they directed the attention to God. It was not dependent on their holiness or power but solely upon God and faith in Him. That was their definition of success, that God was glorified and His Word shared to lead others to repentance.

The only way we can look at all the issues we face in this life regardless of their outcomes and still be encouraged is if we do so with faith that God will work them all out according to His will. We are required in this world often to act before we know what the final results of our actions will be. It is not until the race is over that we know the winner, it's not until we read the last page of the book that we know its conclusion, it's not until we speak do we know the true power of our words. Our hope is that in all we do, if we do them by faith in God, that no matter what happens God will be glorified by it and others will come to know Him through it.

So don't be discouraged when you feel like you failed. Don't quit when it turns out different than what you planned. Don't doubt God and His ability to still speak through your situation to someone that otherwise may never have been able to be reached if it worked out any other way. Put your faith in God and continue to march forward with Him and believe He is using everything in your life to help you draw closer to Him. Have faith in God and not in yourself and you will always be pleasing to Him.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV
[6] But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

God bless you,
Pastor Jess

07/19/2026

Either information, intuition, or impulse, one is often the leading factor in the application of our free will in the decision making process. We can either make an informed decision for our action, or go by an innate feeling within ourselves as to what is best, or haphazardly dive into our decision without much thought of the consequences or effects. Whatever method leads us to our conclusion, the fact remains it is our own choice that was implemented though our free will. That was the subject of Sunday's message titled The High Cost of Free Will.

Adam when first placed in the garden of Eden was given a great gift, the freedom of choice. He was instructed to tend and watch over the garden but no rigorous schedule was assigned to him according to scripture. He was allowed to roam the garden and eat from whatever tree that looked pleasing to his eyes, with the exception of the Tree of Knowledge. He was even allowed to designate Eve's gender as by calling her a woman, the distinction we should still use today.

One of the most interesting things though was Adam was permitted to name every animal God created.

Genesis 2:19 KJV
[19] And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

The Lord allowed Adam to use his creativity and exercise his free will to assign a name to every creature. That alone is interesting but not as much as the fact that no matter what Adam called the creature before him, God agreed with Adam that that would be its name. If Adam said that is a horse, then so it was. If he said that is a giraffe, then it was. If Adam said that's a duck, it was then a duck. No matter what name Adam came up with, God agreed with him and that would forever be its name.

God gave Adam free will and once He did, God would not stop Adam from exercising it. This of course led to the fall in the garden through the misuse of this gift but even then God did not take back the gift but imposed the punishment for its abuse through the curse. There is a high price to pay when exercising our free will irresponsibly. Today, just as so long ago, the effects of the disrespect for such a gift are still applicable.

When people ask me from a pastor's perspective as to why there is so much evil in the world or why bad things happen, it is still the same cause it always was, the improper use of free will. Choices or decisions made from a lack of information, a lack of discernment, or a lack of self control often result in the issues we face today in society. The effects of poor ex*****on of our free will does not just hinder the one making the choices but has an impact on everyone around them.

The drunk driver's choice to get behind the wheel, the violent criminal’s decision to wield a weapon, the illicit desires of a person not being brought under control, and so many other failures to use free will responsibly result in the wickedness we see around us. Just as God gave us the freedom to make wise choices to positively change the world, He also allows us to make unrighteous ones that negatively impact it as well. The gift of free will is a double edged sword and often we must suffer for the choices of others.

While there are many things that happen that we cannot change through our own will, we can still choose to believe God is working to help us and protect us from the choices of others. We can always choose to trust the Lord and not rely on our own understanding as to the how's and why's that trouble the world. Though we may not always have the answer to why others choose evil, we can trust that one day God will rectify the situation and take comfort in the fact we are only responsible for how we implement our own free will, not for that of the rest of the world.

I am thankful I serve a loving God who empowers me to make my own choices. I am also thankful He will forgive me when I make the wrong ones. Most of all I am thankful that all who choose Jesus will be delivered from the wrath of God and will be able to live in paradise with Him as originally planned.

God bless you,
Pastor Jess

07/12/2026

1 John 2:3 KJV
[3] And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

Sunday at Faith Rock our message was titled Do You Know Him? It was from the book of 1 John chapter 2 as we looked into the difference between knowing of Jesus and knowing Him personally. As the Bible is clear, those who know Him will seek to follow Him while listening and applying the words He speaks.

The idea of keeping His commandments is not overly popular. Experiencing His love, forgiveness, and grace is the main attraction for people to seek Him but when that seeking results in learning, it quickly becomes evident that following Jesus demands change in our lives. That change comes in the form of submission to His teachings which often challenges our own understanding of what is expected from a child of God. That willingness to surrender our own carnal desires and personal thoughts on doctrine unto the Lord and following what He reveals to us as divine truth becomes what separates those who know of Jesus from those who know Jesus personally.

1 John 2:4 KJV
[4] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

By rejecting the commandments of the Lord either in whole or in part, reveals that one does not actually know Christ as they may think they do. John states such a person is a liar and absent from the truth. Unfortunately, there are many who do not believe every commandment Jesus gave to His followers. There is a tendency to pick and choose what we are willing to accept and apply in our lives based on selfish motives and personal comfort. It is easy to misinterpret scripture through a personal bias encouraged by our own culture or inspired through false teachings if we are not diligent in our pursuit of Christ. The worst type of liar is the one who knowingly lies to themselves and chooses to believe that lie despite the consequences it will impose upon them. The same is true for those who profess to know Jesus but through their actions violently reject Him.

So the question remains, do we know Him? If so, the Word which He speaks is recognized by us as Spirit and life. They are not seen as merely commands to restrict us but the keys to a more full and abundant life with Him. They become our heartfelt desire to seek to walk as He walked and respond to others as He does, out of an unfeigned love for their soul and concern as to where they will spend eternity. We find that love is the fulfillment of the law and covers a multitude of sins, and love is the root of every command from the Lord.

If you are looking for a church to belong to we are accepting new converts or seasoned Christians for a limited time, for our time here is limited. Feel free to apply within but if Jesus comes before you can attend I prayerfully expect the church to be empty.

God bless you,
Pastor Jess

07/06/2026

The message for the church at Faith Rock Sunday was titled The Gift of Freedom. It was from the book of Luke chapter 13.

Jesus was teaching in the synagogue on the sabbath when He noticed a woman in the crowd who was in desperate need of deliverance. She was afflicted by a spirit of infirmity for the past eighteen years and was hunched over by the effects of the burden. Her life was bound by the limitations created by this pain and suffering and It could easily define her future. She was in need of her freedom from this bandage.

Jesus called out for her to come to Him, one of only a few instances in which Jesus initiated the contact. Usually in scripture we find crowds of people clambering to touch Jesus and receive a miracle from Him. This woman did not cry out, she did not draw attention to herself, she was just there in the presence of Jesus as He taught about the will of God. Yet, anyone who enters the presence of Jesus will never leave the same way they came in and she didn't either.

He touched her and set her free from the bo***ge satan had put her in. She immediately straightened and was restored as Jesus gave her a declaration of independence.
Luke 13:12 KJV
[12] And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

She was free. Life took on a whole new perspective and the light of hope drove the darkness of despair from her heart. Jesus had set her free from the prison of the enemy and she was completely restored. Praise God.

This account is not a one time event only recorded in the Bible and never again repeated. It is something Jesus is still doing today all these years later. Jesus is still calling people out of the crowd to come unto Him. He is still touching the infirmities found within our flesh and healing us of our diseases. He is still setting the captives free from the power of the devil. Jesus is still offering this gift of freedom to all who will accept it.

He is still seeking to free us from our shackles of shame, guilt, lust, addictions, anger, pride, greed, sicknesses, and every other issue the devil uses to imprison us by. Jesus came to set the captives free and until you accept this deliverance to be free you are a servant or prisoner to sin. You will never be free from it until you accept Jesus and the gift of freedom only found through the salvation He has provided through the cross and His resurrection.

If this is you or someone you know, please find a local Bible based church and seek the freedom given through the truth of God's Word. As Jesus stated you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

God bless you,
Pastor Jess

06/28/2026

Sunday at Faith Rock Church our message was from Deuteronomy chapter 13 and titled Power of Outside Influences.

Moses told the Israelites before they crossed the Jordan River to be aware of the pagan practices they would encounter in the land in which they were to conquer. There would be a temptation to explore the beliefs and customs of the individuals which inhabited the land and question the power in which those people attributed to their idols. Moses’ direction was to destroy the idols, altars, and groves they would encounter so that they would not become ensnared by them and depart from their Lord.

Moses then warned of the Influences they would face from within their own people. He specifically stated that if any prophet or dreamer would arise out of their kindred tempting them to depart from the Lord by those signs they attributed to another god, he was to be cut off from among the people. He went even farther to state that if a son, daughter, or spouse attempted to lead one to depart from God to serve an unknown god, to show no mercy in revealing that threat and ensure the appropriate action would be carried out in punishment for that sin. He reiterated the fact that nothing should come between them and the Lord and they were to serve Him alone.
Deuteronomy 13:4 KJV
[4] Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

With the constant influence of outside opinions trying to dictate our faith and the understanding of what it is to truly serve God today, it is important to be settled and grounded in our core beliefs as to Who God is and what He desires. To compromise God's Word and His revealed will for His children is still a danger to people today. There are always those who want to dull the sharpness of the Word and willingly misinterpret its meaning to make a more inclusive religion for others and reduce the offense it causes. By doing so it is not God whom they serve but their own idea of a god that doesn't exist.

Sadly these efforts draw many to this watered down religion. The power of their influence on others is effective in its welcoming appearance. The come as you are and be always accepted mentality is not the gospel of Jesus but the gospel of men. The power of man’s persuasion is not needed though when you come into contact with Jesus, for once you experience that encounter you are dramatically changed by Him and not by the influence of others. He will change you from the inside then out, not try to do it from the outside then in, as man attempts. He will change your heart which will then change your life for His glory. There is only one God and we are called to serve Him, not the inventions of man's imagination. We must be just as cautious today, just as they were then, in making sure we are serving God in Spirit and in Truth.

God bless you,
Pastor Jess

Address

809 N. Jefferson Street
Ava, MO
65608

Opening Hours

10am - 12:30pm

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