Rise City Church Podcast

On Mother’s Day, we reflected on the kind of love that never gives up...the love of God. In Romans 8, Paul reminds us that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. The Greek word used for “separate” is chorizo, which means to divide, cut off, or pull apart. Life can make us feel that way. Shame, fear, suffering, or insecurity can leave us feeling distant from God. Like a piano that drifts out of tune over time, our hearts can drift too. Join us as special speaker Stacey Cutshall helps us take an honest look at the things that try to pull us away from God's love. Whether it’s your past or something you’re walking through right now, nothing can chorizo you from the love of Jesus. Even in suffering, we can hold on to hope, knowing we were made for something more. Let’s throw off the shame and live like people who already know the final score; Jesus wins, and because of that, so do we.

Suffering isn’t the end of the story. In Romans 8, Paul reminds us that our present pain, no matter how deep, isn’t even worth comparing to the glory that’s coming. From creation itself to our own hearts, everything is groaning for redemption. But this isn’t a groan of death; it’s the pain of labor. Something new is being born. This week, Pastor Jason Clarke reminds us that even when life feels broken, frustrating, or overwhelming, God is still at work. The Holy Spirit meets us right in our weakness, praying for us when we don’t even know what to say. God isn’t just bringing beauty out of ashes. He is using every single hardship to shape us into the image of Jesus. Your pain has a purpose. God’s using it to shape something lasting in you.

When it comes to the Christian faith, we often think it’s all about us finding God. But Jesus tells a much different story. In Luke 15, He shows that faith doesn’t start with our pursuit of Him—it's all about His pursuit of us. God isn’t standing at a distance, waiting for us to get it together. He’s the Shepherd who leaves the 99 to chase after the one. He’s the woman who turns her house upside down to find her lost coin. He’s the Father who runs, not with judgment, but with surprising joy to embrace His lost child. Join special speaker Joshua Ryan Butler as he walks us through Luke 15 and reminds us: God’s love is joyful, relentless, and personal. He delights to meet you right where you are—not to scold you, but to lift you onto His shoulders and throw a party when you come home.

Easter isn’t just a holiday; it’s a bold declaration that death has been defeated for good. On Resurrection Day, we celebrate the moment everything changed. In Romans 8, Paul unpacks the incredible blessings we now have because of Jesus' resurrection. Thanks to what Christ has done, we get to live with a brand new identity, new desires, and real power for everyday life. The resurrection takes away our condemnation—no more guilt, shame, or judgment. It rewires our hearts. God doesn’t just forgive us; He changes us from the inside out. And it puts death to death. We carry the same Spirit that raised Jesus, giving us strength to truly live.  Join us for our Easter message, "Death, Defeated" and be reminded: you’re not condemned, not alone, and not powerless. Jesus died and rose...for you.

What does it actually mean to seek first the Kingdom? In Matthew 6, Jesus reminds us that life isn’t about chasing success or security. It starts with putting God first—and trusting Him to provide what we need. When we live with a Kingdom-first mindset, it changes how we spend our time, handle our money, and even how we engage in politics. Join us as we unpack what it looks like to pursue the presence, power and practice of Jesus here on earth for a life saturated with Kingdom purpose.

Why is it so hard to do the right thing—even when we want to? In Romans 7, Paul gives voice to the tension we all feel: the battle between our flesh and The Spirit. There’s a war going on inside us—and it’s not just a matter of willpower. It’s the reality of sin nature—something that was never meant to be there in the first place. But here’s the truth: Sin isn’t an identity to wear; it’s an enemy to fight. What God designs for life, Satan tries to hijack for destruction. Left unchecked, sin leads to shame, despair, and bondage. But through Jesus, we don’t have to live under its control. Tune in as Romans 7 shows us how to stop surrendering to sin—and start making war.

What if faithfulness isn’t about perfection, but about staying committed to God in a world that constantly pulls us away? Psalm 101 shows David’s desire to live blamelessly—not without sin, but with a heart set on honoring God. God doesn’t reward greatness—He rewards faithfulness. Staying true to Him starts with guarding our hearts, our homes, and the small choices we make daily. Join us as Phil Comer unpacks  what it means to live faithfully in an unfaithful world - trusting God to strengthen us in every season.

What if the things you’re chasing—success, approval, security—are actually holding you captive? What if true freedom isn’t found in having more, but in surrendering all? Paul reminds us in Romans 6 that we are all slaves to something—whether sin or righteousness. The good news? Because of Jesus, we don’t have to stay chained to sin. Join us as we explore what it means to offer our lives fully to God, not out of obligation, but as an act of worship. When we surrender, we don’t lose. We gain a new identity, a new purpose, and the power to truly live!

Why is our world marked by pain, suffering, and death? Paul answers this question in Romans 5 by tracing it back to one man—Adam. Through his sin, the curse entered the world, spreading brokenness to all. But that’s not the end of the story.   Where Adam brought sin and death, Jesus brings grace and life. Through His perfect obedience, Jesus became the new and better Adam, reversing the curse and making a way for us to be made right with God. Tune in to hear His grace doesn’t just match our sin—it overflows beyond it.  

What if, in our hardest seasons, when hope feels lost, God is already working? In Romans 4:18, Paul points to Abraham, who “against all hope, in hope believed.” His circumstances made God’s promise seem impossible, yet he trusted anyway. Maybe you’re in an “against all hope” season—struggling in your job, your marriage, or your faith. Maybe you feel stuck in sin or burdened by shame. But the good news is that faith isn’t about working—it’s about trusting. Like Abraham, we are invited to believe that God will do what He promised. Join us as our Youth Pastor Jordan explores what it means to trust God when the odds are against us. Because the same God who was faithful to Abraham is faithful to you.

Your life is a worship song—every choice, action, and word is an offering to God. Our bodies are the greatest instruments of worship. Living a life of service to Him is the greatest form of worship! Listen in as Jason unpacks Romans 12 and invites you to join Team Jesus. God wants you to join His team and He has gifted and wired you with a specific spot on His team.  Even when we serve behind the scenes, God sees and honors it. As we allow the holy spirit to transform us, we realize more and more what a privilege it is to worship the Lord with our life. We don’t have to serve Him, we get to! So stop waiting on the sideline and get in the game. Join team Jesus today!

What if everything you believed about righteousness was wrong? In Romans 3, Paul reveals that the law was never meant to save—but to show our need for a Savior. The law is a mirror reflecting our brokenness, but Jesus shatters it, declaring our worth in Him. Join us as we unpack sin, grace, and the radical truth that salvation isn’t earned—it’s given.

What if our biggest spiritual blind spot is thinking we don’t need grace as much as someone else does? In Romans 2, Paul reminds us that no matter who we are—Jew or Gentile, believer or skeptic—we all need the Gospel. Join us today as Jason unpacks these powerful verses and challenges us to take ownership of our faith. We are not called to perfection, but we are called to transformation. Our lives should reflect the eternal life we've received by grace, and our actions should align with the faith we profess.

In Romans 1:8-17, Paul shows us what it looks like to be completely captivated by the good news of Jesus. From his gratitude for the faith of the Roman church to his longing for mutual encouragement and his sense of obligation to share the gospel, Paul’s life overflows with an obsession for God’s power to save. His unashamed declaration of the gospel reminds us that it’s not just a message—it’s the power of God itself, transforming lives and shaping eternity. Join us as we explore what it means to live a gospel-centered life in a world marked by discontentment and distraction. Together, we’ll rediscover the joy of gratitude, the strength of community, and the eternal significance and power in building our lives around the Gospel. Let’s ask God to ignite our hearts with the same passion Paul had, so we can live boldly and unashamed, letting the gospel guide everything we do.

Do you find the concept of our Trinitarian God difficult to grasp? You're not alone. The doctrine of the Trinity is challenging to understand, largely because no analogy can fully capture its depth and beauty—not even the common ones involving eggs, clovers, or ice. Join us today as Jason kicks off our journey through the book of Romans. In Romans, Paul is writing to a divided church, and his main goal is to refocus them on the one thing that truly matters: the gospel. Along the way, we’ll explore the perfect community of love that is the Trinity. The gospel flows out of this perfect love—God chose to create us, love us, redeem us, and restore us. Buckle up—this is going to be an epic ride through the book of Romans!

Christmas celebrates the incredible truth that Jesus, the creator of the world, became one of us. Leaving heaven’s perfection, He entered our brokenness as a humble child to reveal His love and compassion. Christmas is not about us striving to reach God. It declares that God came down to us. From the riches of heaven to the poverty of earth, Jesus came to identify with us in every way. He experienced suffering, betrayal, weakness, and even death, taking our sin and shame upon Himself. And now, as our great High Priest, He intercedes for us with deep compassion and understanding of our human experience. Join us for our Christmas Eve message "The God Who Becomes" as we reflect on the incredible love of Jesus, the God who is the light in the darkness and a beacon of hope in a world that desperately needs it.