Rise City Church Podcast

Today, the culture demands that you align with the world’s moral framework. All around us is enormous pressure to conform, concede, cave. But who really determines truth? In a culture shouting for conformity, we are called to a redemptive, Jesus-centered abnormality. In this teaching through Daniel chapter one, Pastor Jason demonstrates that when you stand for truth, it spreads blessing to even those who oppose the truth.

Babylon sounds like a culture and country of old, but have you considered that you enter Babylon on a daily basis? You walk into the world that attempts to influence you through media and entertainment, that tempts subtle compromises, and redefinition of basic terms.  Daniel also walked into this world and had to make some difficult decisions as to how he would respond to the opposition he faced. In the midst of a collapsing culture we cannot isolate; we cannot back down. We must speak truth and grace in these hard moments. This week, Jason opens the word to Daniel 1 to walk us through, how our response to the world we are confronted with, has a tried and true example in Jesus himself. Join us for week 02 of You Were Made For These Times.

Does it sometimes feel like you should have lived in a time when the world was better; when people were kinder and morals, beliefs, and righteousness were honorable? Do you feel like the world around you is becoming harder to recognize and finding your place in all the change is hard? There once was a man named Daniel who was ripped from the world he knew and thrown into a culture that was unrecognizable to him. What he did then was unlike most. He didn't run, he didn't conform, and he didn't hide. He lived in it. He thrived in it. He kept his faith, morals, and righteousness while influencing the world around him toward the source of his very life. How do we learn from him? How do we come to grips with what Daniel knew... that You Were Made For These Times

Pain and suffering are all around us. We each experience the hardships and sorrows of this world. We struggle to figure out why bad things happen and how is that, if there is a creator, that this pain would be allowed. How do you wrestle through the thoughts and emotions of pain? How do you logically understand it, while reconciling the feelings of your heart? Nolan opens up John 11 this week and recounts the story of Jesus and the sorrow he experienced in losing his friend Lazarus. We see how Jesus sits with us in the pain, leads us out of doubts, and moves us toward hope. We see the power that Jesus has over the dead and the hope we have in Him alone. Join us for a compelling vision of what it looks like to work through pain and suffering with a biblical perspective — The Problem of Pain

Are you someone who has always had questions about faith, a creator, the universe? Do logic and faith seem to be in constant opposition in your mind? Do you ponder over science and have uncertainty about your purpose and existence? Has the church seemed like it wasn't the place for questions and doubts about faith? If these questions hit home then take a seat and join us as Nolan walks us through Psalm 19 and explains how God reveals himself through science and creation and invites you to ask hard questions like, Why Should I Believe?

Schedules, agendas, goals — you've planned your Road Trip and laid it out tailored to you. You manage your time and tasks down to the second. But what happens when you hit a detour? What do you do when you get a text from a friend that they need to talk and work through an issue or a neighbor needs you to lend them a hand? There is only this one road trip, but are you willing to make a sacrifice? Are you willing to detour? This week, Jason walks us through 1 Corinthians 13 and shows us what love is, in its truest form, and asks us this question that we can use to work through every decision along our Road Trip... "What does love command of us?" Buckle up, this is the last week of Road Trip.

Do you know that feeling deep inside, the one that nudges you; that voice that tells you to stop, be cautious, or go for it? As we walk through how to make decisions with wisdom and mindfulness, Jason shows us through the Word how the Holy Spirit guides, protects, leads, and so much more. But then you have to ask yourself the question... Are you yielding? Are you yielding to the voice and power of the Holy Spirit and the guidance He has on your life? Take a seat and join us for an incredible, lesser-known story of David, and how he yielded to the Spirit and brought glory to God. This is week 04 of Road Trip!    

Have you ever looked back at your friendships? How they changed you and molded you? How about your current friends? You are the culmination of the five people closest to you. Think about that. Your influences are making an impact on your life either for good or for bad. Your life will be propelled forward or pulled backward by those you spend your time with. So, what's your decision? Who are your people going to be? This week, Jason opens Proverbs to look at wisdom on friendship - how to pursue solid friendships, sustain those commitments, and build a squad that will move you forward in Godly wisdom for your life. Join us as we ask the question, Who is Riding Shotgun?

One of the greatest challenges we face is, well... ourselves! It’s true, isn’t it? No one has ever lied to you like you have. In every difficulty we’ve faced in life, you know what the only common denominator is? Us! So, how do we make wise decisions when we can’t trust even ourselves? This week, Jason explored how Jesus leads us out of ourselves and into grace-empowered decisions through three significant moves: admit it, be curious, and be set free. Listen to this week’s message to learn more!

Have you ever looked back on the decisions you made with regret? Don’t we all long to tell amazing stories with our lives rather than sit in the pain stinging remorse? The way towards that is by making decisions in God’s way. This week we ask the question “What story are you telling with your life?” In this message, you’ll find valuable, biblical principles from the life of Joseph who lived an example of wise decisions in hard situations. And ultimately, we get a portrait of the powerful life and saving forgiveness of Jesus.

A city on a hill. Salt and light to the world. In Matthew 5, Jesus paints a picture of how to live in a world desperate for restoration. How do we shine brightly in a sea of darkness? We've been entrusted with this church, in this city, so how do we continue in a season like this? Join us as Jason and Nolan unpack plans for the new year — how, through innovation, we are fulfilling the call to go and make disciples of all the nations, and our plans to move forward in opening gatherings that are honoring to our community. http://risesermons.s3.amazonaws.com/2021/misc/01012021-vision.mp3

Christmas in 2020 is different than any we have ever experienced before. Hope feels fleeting. People's actions and our current circumstances leave us feeling lost. Join us as Jason walks us through biblical tragedies that lead to hope in the birth of Jesus Christ. We see that amidst our own tragedy and hardships that our hope cannot be shaken if it is founded in the right place. Our circumstances and people's actions do not determine our hope, but Jesus alone does. http://risesermons.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/Christmas-Eve.mp3

Our culture is placing safety as the highest priority in our lives. Safety, health, and the protection of the vulnerable are absolutely some of our responsibilities as Christians, but it’s not the top priority. There is an urgency for the right here and now to bring Christ to this world. A world filled with sorrow and pain. At the end of Matthew 9, we see Jesus is moved with compassion for the people around him. He says that the harvest is plentiful — there are people everywhere that are desperate for salvation, and that the workers are few — we are the people to go out and bring them to Him and His redemption. If we would only pray earnestly, and obey with an urgency for the Gospel.  Nolan Tjaden - The King and His Harvest

Our world is hurting — substance abuse, self-harm, violence, mental illness, suicide. No matter the income level, gender, political stance, or ethnicity we are all experiencing this around us. We turn inward and isolate. We are desperate. Desperate for healing, desperate for the grace of a Savior. There is One who hears us. One who has grace. One who can bring healing. Jesus hears our cries... if we will only cry out to Him. http://risesermons.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/foxeshaveholes/Dec_13th_-_The_Hurt_and_the_Healer.mp3

So often we feel like our past, our personality, or our experience is what makes or breaks our ability to be used in the Kingdom of God. In Matthew 9, we see Jesus calling and connecting with tax collectors and sinners. One of those was the disciple Matthew. The truth is, God wants to use the unexpected to do the unimaginable. If we would just surrender our lives over to His kingdom work—we would experience resurrection of our past and our future.  Jason Clarke - A Tale of Two Wineskins

Our culture has moved to a hyper-focus on the physical dangers we face, and it's been to the detriment of the very true reality of a spiritual realm. Our only hope in a world surrounded by great physical AND spiritual dangers? A big, powerful, and sovereign Jesus. Spiritual warfare is not a battle between equals, Jesus reigns supreme. And if we surrender to Him, he will reign supreme in our lives as well. http://risesermons.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/foxeshaveholes/Nov22nd-SwineintheSea.mp3

Most leaders sell themselves. They want to make it as easy and appealing as possible to join their cause. Unbelievably, not Jesus. Jesus was--and is--up front with the rugged truth: to follow Him is a call to die. But here’s the key: it’s a death the leads to the truest life. Because when we give up everything in order to follow Jesus, we get everything Himself in return. http://risesermons.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/foxeshaveholes/Nov15th-Asleep-in-the-Storm.mp3

Our culture is beginning to understand the power of shame, and we are using it as a weapon against one another. This is what leprosy is, a picture of the shame of sin. Matthew uses the unclean leper so we can understand that in the face of shame, fear, isolation, and sin Jesus is willing to touch and heal us. But this is only possible when we completely surrender to Jesus' lordship in our lives. http://risesermons.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/foxeshaveholes/Nov8th-TheLeperandtheSoldier.mp3

Unity is a great idea in theory. But practically, how does it work when you're genuinely bothered by, angry with, or annoyed around someone else? What do you do when you disagree? In Philippians 2, we find the power to set aside differences and come together. It's purpose. Purpose is not something that originates in us but comes to us in and through Jesus. Listen to this teaching by Scott Bean as he explores the breath-taking humility of Jesus because of His unwavering purpose. Scott Bean | Unity With Purpose

Are we ever going to re-gather as a church? Have you asked that question at any point? Some wonder if it's safe to gather large groups. Others question whether it's even necessary to remain closed. These are both important questions. Yet, the biggest and most essential question remains: "What is Jesus calling His Church to do?" That's exactly what the Rise Leadership team has been wrestling through for months. Out of that wrestling has come clarity. We are convinced that there is a clear, safe, Jesus-exalting, vulnerable-honoring, community-building, city-elevating, mission-advancing path forward. Listen to this vision cast by Jason Clarke for the full plan. Jason Clarke - Vision Sunday