This Week: October 18th, 2026
Atheists who convert to Christianity often cite a mix of intellectual evidence, personal relationships, and a search for meaning that atheism failed to satisfy. Many describe being drawn by the historical case for Jesus’ resurrection, the moral law pointing to a Lawgiver, or the inability of a purely materialist worldview to account for beauty, love, and purpose. But Jesus says that Peter’s knowledge of Christ as the Son of God came from the Spirit. The difference between being intellectually persuaded that Christianity is true and having that truth revealed to the heart by God is that a person may understand the historical arguments for Christianity without accepting the spiritual truth of the gospel. They may even conclude that the resurrection is historically plausible without surrendering their life to Christ.
Spiritual understanding involves something more than intellectual agreement and requires a deeper connection with the Holy Spirit that leads a person to a complete surrender that goes much farther. While apologetics like CS Lewis or Lee Strobel began their Christian walk by satisfying their intellectual curiosity first, the moment they surrendered was a spiritual experience of awakening that required the Holy Spirit speaking into them the revelation of who Christ really was: the Son of God, who sacrificed Himself to remove the stain of our sin and make us Holy and acceptable to God.
This Week's Worship Service
When Peter acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God, he didn’t come to this realization through careful study and thoughtful reflection. It was the Holy Spirit that gave him this knowledge and it was this, not Peter himself, that Jesus would build the church on.
Matthew 16:13-19
This Week's Church Sign Sermon
Inspirational wisdom can come from the simplest of things, so here we offer just a little Jesus as you drive by. We'd love to have you in for a visit.
Online Giving
Rockvale Cumberland Presbyterian Church is pleased to announce the opportunity for our church family and friends to tithe securely online. You can use your credit card, debit card or bank account to securely tithe a love offering or give to our church's ministries such as to our youth program or our building maintenance fund. You can also use the service's app on your Apple or Android device to give. If you chose to do so, you may also select the option to cover the fees the church is assessed for each transaction. Click the button below to make your offering and thank you.
Who We Are
Rockvale Cumberland Presbyterian Church has been a landmark in Rockvale Tennessee since 1889 at a simpler time when church was an integral part of the community. Church members were family that leaned on each other in times of struggle and celebrated together in times of joy. This spirit lives on in our diverse congregation bound together by a love for Christ and for one another. Our motto is simple, 'Whosoever will, is welcome - just as you are', in the manner as Christ said 'Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.' We hope to see you this Sunday morning.
