Key points
1To know Jesus is to continue knowing Him, not just to know about Him
Pastor Bill points to Paul in Philippians 3, who knew a lot about God as a Pharisee but didn't truly know Jesus until he met Him and kept pursuing Him. Paul called everything else garbage compared to knowing Christ, even while writing from prison, because the Greek word for 'know' implies ongoing intimacy, not just information.
The word of God brings us to the God of the word
2Hebrews was written to discouraged believers who were saved but not submitted
Pastor Bill explains that Hebrews was written to Hebrew Christians drifting back to their old ways under persecution and hard times. He compares them to Israel, who rested in being rescued from Egypt but wouldn't submit once they reached the land, showing that being saved and being surrendered are two different things.
You can be saved, but not submitting
3The word of God is alive, powerful, cutting, and exposing
Working through Hebrews 4:12, Pastor Bill unpacks four descriptors of Scripture. It's alive, meaning it's a relational love letter rather than a list of rules; it's powerful, using the Greek word energos, meaning it produces its own energy and accomplishes what it says.
4Resting in God's word produces the energy we're actually looking for
Pastor Bill uses his own story of oversleeping and dreading a workout, only to find energy on the other side of pushing through, to illustrate that rest isn't ceasing activity but resting in submission to God's will. He says many people are tired because they rest from their relationship with God instead of resting in it.
Illustration
George Whitfield and the Hellfire Club — a member named Thorpe mockingly preaches a Whitfield gospel sermon and is converted mid-performance
5Scripture cuts like a surgeon's scalpel to expose and heal the heart
Pastor Bill describes the word for 'cutting' as picturing a precise fisherman's knife, not a soldier's sword, used to remove what's harmful and bring healing. He notes it hurts like surgery, and that the heart of every problem is a problem in the heart, not our circumstances or address.
6Every excuse not to trust God's word traces back to fear and a lie we believe
Pastor Bill lists common excuses -- I can't give, I can't serve, I can't sing, I can't love my spouse -- and says each 'I can't' is really unbelief in disguise, but God can do it through us if we let His word in.
the heart of every problem is a problem in our heart
It's like really going to the expert, the doctor that can really fix your problem
A story from life
Pastor Bill's wife develops a daily Bible-reading habit using a chronological Bible and the Bible Project, and it visibly changes her
A story from life
Pastor Bill attends a conference for young pastors where a dying Dr. Bill Bright wheels out, speaks about resting in God's will, and personally hands Pastor Bill a relay baton — the moment he said yes to planting Rock Point
7Being handed the baton means saying yes to God's word even when it's scary
Pastor Bill tells the story of his wife using Scripture to challenge him not to take an easier pastoral job, and of Bill Bright tapping him on the shoulder at a conference and asking him to take the baton of ministry. He says he said yes out of obedience, not good feelings, and it led to planting Rock Point.
it doesn't matter how fast your forerunners are. If you can't properly hand off the relay, the baton, you lose
You have got to hand the baton off
Application
Pastor Bill's charge is to take the baton God is handing you by getting into His word every day, even when it's scary or uncomfortable.
Meet with Jesus through His word daily
Choose to be in Scripture every day, and even if you only manage three or four times a week, that is far better than occasional reading. Treat it like a relationship, not a checklist.
Study the word, then let it study you
Read Scripture yourself rather than only reading books about it, and take time to let the Holy Spirit tap you on the shoulder through what you read before moving into prayer and worship.
Use practical tools to get started
Visit rockpoint.io for resources, watch the Bible Project videos for each book of the Bible, and pick up a good study Bible like the NLT Study Bible to help make sense of what you're reading.
Say yes to God's word even when you're afraid
When God's word exposes a fear-driven excuse -- I can't give, I can't serve, I can't love my spouse like Christ -- trust that He can do it through you and take the next step anyway.
Give to the campaign and serve the church above and beyond
Pray about what you can give above your regular giving and consider serving, including attending a different service time, to help Rock Point keep pointing people to Jesus.
Take it into your week
Rewind AI contributed study material from the sermon transcript; church-authored wording and verified sermon quotes keep their own source. Always trust the sermon itself over anything here. How Rewind uses AI
