Risen Church Nc

God reaffirms His covenant with Abraham after a series of setbacks and struggles.

In this message we see Abraham continue along in his faith journey and cover the following topics: - How Salvation always precedes Sanctification - How Circumcision was a sign of the Covenant, and how it correlates to our faith - How we can navigate our waiting periods and possess a true heart of worship

We've all taken risks before- some that have paid off and others that we've regretted. Following and trusting in Jesus is often portrayed as a great risk, asking us to step into the unknown. However, as we learn in this message, to not follow Jesus is actually the greatest risk of them all. Romans states clearly that we have all lost our way from God, having a disconnect from God at our core. We all need to be reconciled to God, by receiving a right standing with Him. We all suffer from this condition because of one thing. And salvation is only obtainable through one way. Listen as we discuss what sin has done to every person and how only through faith can we receive God's righteousness. How will this change our life? What does God's righteousness do for us? Why can we be so confident that Jesus is the one and only Way? Learn all that and more in this message!

There's often a great misconception when it comes to faith - specifically the Christian faith, as it pertains to living by and acting upon it. Unfortunately, many have assumed and been taught that faith is merely wishful thinking, reduced down to blind hope. This couldn't be farther from the truth. In this message, we discuss what it means to possess faith in Jesus and how faith in God is rooted in knowledge and confidence. Ultimately, Jesus' resurrection brings validity to every page of the Bible, and thus creates a firm foundation on which we can place our faith. Hebrews 11 memorializes the many believers across the Redemption Story who acted upon faith in God, after they placed their trust in His Word and Promises. As they found a new way of living, so can we- if we place our trust in what God has said and done. God's track record is forever settled and recorded in His Word, so it's up to us to trust Him and the Holy Spirit will prove to us that we've made the right choices.

Following Jesus will improve every aspect of our lives. We all want to live the best possible version of life, but that is only obtainable if we apply Jesus' most practical teachings. Jesus often addressed our tendency to worry when we can't control or predict how things will play out. Our best life - and our even better, eternal future - lives and dies on our willingness to trust every unknown to Jesus. In this message, we hear Jesus call us to a life of worship and eternal dedication. He makes it clear that only when we counter our anxious nature with intentional, concentrated devotion will we walk in God's blessings now and receive an even greater inheritance in the Life to come.

The book of Romans is held up as one of the great, if not the greatest, resources for theology and Christian living. The backstory to why it was written only adds to its importance. In this message, we marvel at the Apostle Paul's journey from sworn enemy of the church to a devoted evangelist of the Gospel. His desire to see the world won for Jesus ultimately compelled him to visit Rome and bolster the fledgling church in the heart of the evil empire. Listen as we follow Paul in his quest to visit Rome and see how that underscores his words in the opening passage to the Roman church. He calls them - and us - to be "set apart for the Gospel" and embrace a life that is unashamed and full of God's power. This passage brings several questions before us that are both convicting and comforting. God desire to set *US* apart for Him. We don't deserve such a privilege, but we risk great loss if we ignore this invitation. - How set apart are you for Jesus, His Church, and His Kingdom? - Does your life suggest

Genesis 16 tells the story of one of the most consequential episodes in all of history. By no means did those involved and making decisions intend on the conflict that would perpetually stem from their actions, but alas such is the history of the Middle East. In this message, we discuss God's Will and how He permits us to get "our way" if we insist and persist in our selfishness. While God has a perfect will that we are invited to walk in, our obstinance and rebellion often sees us spending much of our lives in HIs permissive will.

If anyone understood the benefits of wealth and power, it was King Solomon- he only ever experienced life from the most advantageous, blessed vantage points. This is why his remarks and reflections on this life's vanity and the vapidness of his material gains stand out so strongly. He had it all, but decried it all as unable to satisfy his deepest wants and desires. In this message, we learn from Solomon and Jesus on where true satisfaction and fulfillment is found. We also learn that having more doesn't make us immune from obedience to God, but rather increases our accountability. We learn how living a life with open hands and a generous heart brings lasting peace to our hearts.

We are all motivated by various different things, but ultimately we have to prioritize what's best for us and our futures. However, as Christians we have a reminder from God that we exist for something beyond ourselves and this short life. Listen as we discuss what it means to be servants of Jesus and stewards of the mysteries of God. The Apostle Paul calls us to a life of faithfulness, which we unpack in great detail in this important, practical message.

In one of the most foundational chapters of the Bible, the plan and nature of salvation is defined and detailed. Listen as we discuss how we are saved and the promises of God that accompany our salvation.

Amos condemned his generation for knowing the truth and not acting on it. Specifically, they knew how God expected them to live out their lives and they choose the exact opposite way. From the beginning, God wanted Israel to be different than the other nations. He called Israel to be a beacon of light, example of decency, and a place of refuge. He commanded the people to choose love and selflessness over the accepted way of the world by which humanity was corrupted and set against one another. Listen as we hear Amos call us to leave our "ivory beds" and set our eyes on the needs of our brother and sisters. We'll also hear from Jesus, who offers a final and most authoritative word which firmly establishes the Christian standard and expectation of love and service.

Life is full of waits. We're all too familiar with waiting - but do we see God in them? Most of our waits are wasted, spent holding our breath until they end or raising our fists while they persist. What if there was a way to redeem our waits and obtain a unique blessing from God in their midst? Listen as Psalm 40 guides us through our struggles and shows us how to be patient and endure every wait. God promises a revelation that we will only discover on this path and calls us to share all that we learn.

Life is full of tests. The Bible consistently teaches that these tests, trials, and challenges are actually from God. God uses them for our good, our growth, and for His Glory. We may not enjoy every test, but God promises there is joy in every test if we remain faithful. If we look for God in every test and trust His will, we not only pass each one, but we will excel. Listen as we study the various tests that Abram faced and see how they provide insight and wisdom for us today.

Abram takes a backseat in Genesis 14, as the larger world around him clashes. The established superpowers are faced with a rebellion from their vassal states - upstart nations like Sodom and Gomorrah. When Abram's nephew, Lot, becomes a prisoner of war, he joins the fight against the empire. Ultimately, this story foreshadows what is widely known all of these years later. Nobody remembers the kings and empires of 4000 years ago, but everyone knows who Abram was. His legacy outshines anyone's of his generation. Listen as we discuss how this reflects God's approach throughout history and emphasizes how He operates to this day.

Psalm 73 presents to us a very relatable scenario, in which a believer is struggling with all that's unfair and lopsided towards injustice our world. Asaph confesses his faith in a Good and Sovereign God, yet admits his confidence had been shaken. Listen as we seek to understand Asaph's plight and compare it to our own battles. We'll see how he found perspective and hope, and how we might as well.

What if we suddenly lost access to the Bible and all the supplementary Biblical resources we've come to rely on? How much would remain in our hearts? All throughout the Bible, there is a reminder from God to store His Word in our hearts. Have we obeyed this crucial commandment? Despite our unlimited access, we've deprioritized a steady, daily consumption and meditation of God's Word. God doesn't have to send a "famine" as Amos warned Israel about, because we've silenced God on our own. As advanced and accomplished as we are in every category... as much attention as we give our physical and mental health... as eager as we are to chase after goals and success - we have ignored our Spiritual health and as a result, we are worse off spiritually, mentally, and physically. If we don't take care of our souls, our bodies and minds will suffer too. However healthy we may be, if we starve our spirits, we will struggle mightily. Truly, one thing is more necessary than other discipline. Listen as we spotlight the i

Psalm 23 is written from the perspective of a sheep. An ever-dependent, helpless, frail sheep. We've all confessed that God is our shepherd, but are we aware of what that says about us? Are we content with being as a sheep, always in the shadow and at the mercy of our shepherd? Listen as we break down this classic passage of Scripture and seek to make David's confession our own.

In Matthew 13, Jesus spoke of His movement and ministry with confidence and vision of what the future held. No one in His audience could’ve imagined what would become of His rabble following. All of these years later, the impact that He and His Church have had on our world and lives is self-evident. We get to live our lives out on this side of all of Jesus' promises and their fulfillments, and thus are without excuse as to not opt in to His Kingdom and Reign. In this message, we consider the impact that Jesus has had on our world and how every life has been influenced for good by His teaching. We hear His invitation to pursue the Kingdom of God above all other causes and priorities and are confronted with questions as to how we are spending our time. At the end of this age, everything done without Christ at the center will be considered a waste and will perish. Are we wasting the gift and opportunity that God has given us? When this age is done, only that which was done for Christ will matter.

Listen and learn how we might become sensitize to our souls' cries for help and entrust our hearts to our God of Refuge.

What if we began to see every fear as more than a loop of emotional turmoil, but rather an opportunity to obtain a stronger, greater faith? What if every fear is actually a test of our faith and an invitation to surrender to God for more faith? Listen as we wrestle with our greatest fears and how faith often causes our fears to rise. We discover that fear overpowers our faith in many instances and hear Jesus offer us relief. Jesus never tells us that our fears are illegitimate. He merely reminds us that a greater faith is possible, even when confronted with the most intimidating, debilitating trouble.