Rise City Church Podcast

Everyone experiences suffering—whether it’s relational, physical, emotional, or through loss. This suffering often leads to an identity crisis, making us feel lost and questioning our worth without the people or things we relied on. The good news is that our true identity is not based on our accomplishments or failures; it is anchored in Christ’s achievements, strength, and victory. Join us as we continue our series in Philippians and discover how Paul’s perspective shows that we can find joy in these trials by seeing how they advance the Gospel.

We live in a culture of picking sides and being on the right team, party, or allegiance. But what if there’s another way? What if there’s a third option that’s more life-giving and radically selfless than the others? Paul, through the book of Philippians, lays out a new way of living, a new citizenship, that is under God’s rule and reign. It not only conquers all the other ways, but it fills us with joy, hospitality, and unity — because it’s all about Jesus’ way of life. Join us for week one of Upside Down Kingdom to grasp a new citizenship in the Kingdom of God.

Have you ever made a promise? Have you ever had someone break a promise to you? With Jesus promises are different. When God makes a promise it's forever, permanent, unchanging. He never breaks a promise.  Through scripture, we read about the promise of the Holy Spirit—a helper who will come to be by our side, guide us, and empower us for His purpose. This week we survey scripture to learn that the promise of the Holy Spirit has already been fulfilled. If you are a believer in Jesus then you have the Holy Spirit. That means that you have the power to tackle impossible circumstances and experience radical life transformation because its the Holy Spirit working through you and in you. Listen in to learn how the promise of the Holy Spirit is ready for you to receive.

The Holy Spirit is a powerful figure in the New Testament who gave spiritual gifts, guidance, and a witness to God's miracles. That same power is available to us today. This week, we celebrate Next Gen Sunday, honoring the kids, youth, and 20-somethings in our church. Youth Pastor Jordan continues our series on the Holy Spirit to remind us that this power is for everyone, including the next generation, who are the church of today and our most important generation. We are called to guide and support them, helping them realize their God-given potential. Listen in as we explore the Power of the Holy Spirit.

If you are a believer in Jesus, you have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit—the helper that Jesus gave to us when He left this earth. One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is that He is always present with us, abiding with us, comforting us, loving us, and strengthening us for His mission and purpose. Listen in to gain a deeper understanding of how you have access to the Holy Spirit’s presence and discover the transformative impact this truth can have on your life.

We love gathering in the heart of our city each summer for Church in the Park. Jesus is the reason we worship. Jesus is why we preach the Word of God. Jesus is why we baptize new believers. You are welcome in the family of God. No matter where you've been or what you've experienced, there's always a place for you with the Father, who offers radical goodness and grace. Following Jesus is a journey that begins with the step of coming home. Join us for this special outdoor service at Gresham Arts Plaza as we lift the name of Jesus high—because He is worthy of all praise.

It's easy to think that missionaries in exotic places are the ones that carry out the Great Commission. But that's not what Jesus teaches. We are all missionaries. Each one of us has been called and equipped to share the gospel, and through the Holy Spirit, we have the tools and the power we need to reach the unreached. Join us as guest speaker Nate Pursley reminds us that our mission field isn't just far-off lands—it's right here in our everyday lives. This is our Jerusalem, our Judea, and our Samaria.

Certain holidays like Father's Day can stir up a range of emotions. While this isn't meant to disregard the family you grew up with, God offers us a new, eternal family. God the Father is the dad we all need, providing protection, provision, and comfort. Tune in to "God's Eternal Family" to discover how Jesus, our older brother, has made a way for us to join this new, eternal family as children of God. Through Him, we are united as sons and daughters of the King.

In a season of singleness, it’s easy to feel like you’re waiting for your real life to start. However, the Bible says that singleness is a gift. The truth is, marriage is not a prerequisite for participation in ministry. Singles are a cornerstone of the church, and a picture of the sufficiency of the Gospel. Join us as special speaker Zach Landes reminds us that marrieds and singles belong together and encourages both groups to push and spur each other on for the benefit of the church and one another.

Have you ever heard the saying, “The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree”? This phrase speaks to the idea of generational cycles and patterns, which are not just mere coincidences. Since the beginning of time, family sin patterns and behaviors have wounded generations - a truth recognized by psychologists, scientists, and, most importantly, God’s Word. Listen in to “Breaking Generational Cycles” where Pastor Jason unpacks how we can bring about generational change through the hope, purpose, and power found in Jesus Christ. Through Him, we can break free from the chains of past generations and write a new story for a new legacy.

What if our marriages could actually lead to joy and happiness? To build a strong and fulfilling marriage, it’s crucial to create an environment where both partners feel valued and appreciated. Ephesians 5 highlights the importance of showing deep love and respect to your spouse. Join us as special guest speakers Phil and Diane Comer, who bring over 40 years of pastoral wisdom, share their insights in our current series, “Established.” You’ll learn the importance of understanding and embracing each other’s differences while maintaining a deep friendship, helping you to live “Happily Even After.”

Beyond just love and companionship, marriage is a beautiful gift from God. It brings together a man and a woman to partner with God in creating new life. But it’s more than just creating life. Intimacy also binds together a husband and wife - it’s a partnership where both spouses can help each other fulfill their calling, and that's just a beautiful thing. Join us for week 2 of Established, where we'll learn that Jesus is our ultimate model and goal. Because when we rely on His power to truly transform our lives, we will build a lasting legacy of faith, love, and mission.

In our society, there's a common misconception that family comes second or that children are a burden. But that's not how it's meant to be. From the very beginning, God instructed us to thrive and grow as families. He saw family as a precious gift, a foundational blessing, and a way to share His teachings with future generations. Our goal is to raise kids to embrace the love of Jesus and become active members of His church. Join us for our new series called "Established," where we'll dive into the Faith, Love, and Mission behind cultivating families that leave a lasting legacy.

You belong here. Our journey toward God begins with His invitation to us. This invitation isn't contingent upon our personalities, preferences, or politics. Instead, it's rooted in His inclusive love that embraces us all. He paves the way and unites us with grace, love and forgiveness. We're called to mirror Him by extending invitations to others, welcoming them into our lives just as God welcomed us into His. Join us as Pastor Jason unpacks Ephesians 2 with the powerful reminder that we are all welcome, and that we should make room for others because He first made room for us.

There is a cosmic battle being fought in this world— a fight of good and evil, and evil is deceptively trying to destroy all that is good and beautiful. The battle is not just around us though, it is in us. Sin and the resulting shame are causing our spiritual death, and keeping us from relationship with the Creator. But there's good news. Jesus came so that His grace could come and make right all that is wrong. By Jesus' grace, we have freedom from our sin, and an identity that is uniquely crafted to glorify God alone. Listen in as we enter Ephesians 2 to understand that our brokenness and pain are not the end of the story. We are His workmanship, created in Him for good works, and for His glory.

Burdens, responsibilities, relationships, work - we are all carrying a lot. And so often these burdens can make us feel overwhelmed with life. But we weren't meant to carry these things alone, in our own strength. In Jesus, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. A power to make a way through life, an energy to sustain you, strength to be victorious, and the might to defeat sin and shame. We can have freedom and power to walk in the hope of Jesus. Join us through the end of Ephesians 1 as we learn to tap into the Spirit and form identity by His power.

In a world where religion can feel like a list of rules without room for grace, Ephesians reminds us of a profound truth: through our union with Christ, we're not just on a religious treadmill; we're embraced by the Trinity, through Jesus' love and mercy. Join us as we dive into our series Identity with guest speaker Rick McKinley to experience the freedom of living in Christ and our true identity in unity with Him.

Since childhood, we've been bombarded by words, wounds, and weaknesses trying to define who we are. But the truth is, Jesus came to give us a new identity, through His blood. In Him, we find redemption, forgiveness, and a place in God's family. Listen in to this week's message, "Identity: Who I Am," as we explore our true identity  that comes from Jesus Christ and nothing else.

On Easter, we reflect on the truth that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again from the dead. The resurrection is the foundation of our faith and the heart of the Gospel, offering salvation to everyone who believes. Listen in to the Easter message to hear why building our faith on anything other than the Gospel will ultimately let you down.

At Rise City Church, we reflect a culture of generosity rooted in our faith in Jesus Christ. We recognize that all we have is a gift from God, and when we give, we are giving back to the One who has given us everything. Our giving of time, talents, and treasures is not driven by guilt or obligation but by a desire to glorify God and advance His kingdom on earth. We joyfully invest in the growth of His kingdom by actively and intentionally raising up the next generation of believers because we firmly believe, 'Win the Kids, Win the Future.' Join us for this week's sermon in our series, "We Are Rise," as Pastor Jason speaks into our core values of generosity and empowering the next generation.