Rise City Church Podcast

In the midst of a busy Christmas season, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of all the activities that get added to to the calendar and in the to-do list of all the things you need to accomplish. It's like Christmas becomes this big event, and we forget to pause and reflect on why a holy and perfect God would become a child in this world.   The greatest tragedy of Christmas is forgetting to make room for Him.   Join us for for "Prepare Him Room," as we learn how to prepare our hearts for the quiet arrival of a savior, and the true reason we're celebrating this Christmas.  

Imagine a life where we boldly proclaim victory over regret and shame, refusing to let our past mistakes weigh us down. How might our lives change if we truly believed that there is no more condemnation for those who believe in Christ Jesus? Romans 8 tells us that we are more than conquerers through Jesus. Listen in to begin to comprehend the truth that He became sin so that sin could be put to death. Because fully understanding our new identity as children of God is the key to genuine victory in our lives.

In the hustle of everyday life, where it often feels like we're navigating challenges that don't end, have you ever wished for a different story? In the twists and turns of life's struggles, imagine discovering a consistent source of hope in every book of the Bible, finding Jesus woven into the narrative. In this week's message, we walk alongside the men on the Road to Emmaus as they encounter the resurrected Jesus, who reveals the truths hidden in the Scriptures and that ultimately, He is the hero of every story. This meeting opens their eyes and sets their hearts ablaze. Join us as we explore how all of scripture reveals hope and encouragement as we seek Jesus.

Have you ever experienced the weight of feeling unseen by God in the middle of struggles? Life with Jesus is not removed from the burden that gets thrown our way. And it's a common response to withdraw when things get tough—leading to feeling even more disconnected. In Luke 19:1-10, we witness how meeting Jesus led to radical change in Zacchaeus' life.  But would Zacchaeus have gone through such transformation if he hadn't made the effort to get Jesus' attention? Join us for Seeking the Overlooked as we learn to be purposeful to pursue His heart and the incredible power that leads us to repentance and salvation.

Financial burdens weigh heavily on all of us. There isn’t anyone who has not been affected by the recession and increased inflation. So how do we respond to God’s call on us to be generous people in our current circumstances? Listen in to learn the story of a woman who had almost nothing, but gave everything — not because God demands or needs it, but because there is Kingdom Power in our generosity. Join us to understand the joy and fulfillment that comes from partnering with Jesus on His mission.

Doubt in the church can be difficult. People with doubt are often pushed away thinking that they lack faith or that they are a hindrance to the Gospel. But we have all experienced doubt. If we're honest, we have all wrestled with our faith. This week, we look at the story of a man often called Doubting Thomas. What we see isn't a story of a man lacking faith but of a man coming to Jesus with his questions. Doubt wasn't Thomas' destination, but it was an important stop on his journey used to strengthen his faith. Join as we open John 20 to find that Jesus isn't intimidated by our questions, but invites us to encounter Him.

Do you ever feel like life is just one painful experience after another? From financial struggle to physical pain, from relational disconnect to emotional suffering. What do we do when we feel like life is in the pit? This week in Mark 5:21-34, we dive into the story of a woman plagued by an illness that deems her unclean and ostracizes her from society. She hears about a man performing miracles and believes that even just brushing the fringe of his clothing will heal her. Jesus was surrounded by people on all sides, yet she was the one who experienced the power of transformation because of the depth of her faith.   Join us for “Healing in His Wings,” where we see how reaching out in faith and what we believe about Jesus will determine how we respond in suffering.

Do you ever feel like your past is too much to overcome? Saul was a persecutor of Christians who had a life-altering conversion after encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus. He emerged with an entirely transformed identity and purpose.   In Acts 9:1-19 we witness how this encounter transformed him from a persecutor of the Church to a proclaimer of the Gospel, inspiring us to embrace transformation through Christ and to see how His grace redeems even our worst histories.

What does it mean to have a posture that pursues Jesus? Merely being in the room with Him is not the same as laying at His feet. In Luke 7, we witness the authentic display of a sinful woman encountering Jesus in a room filled with Pharisees who were brewing with judgment and control. Join us for An Overflow of Grace as we are invited to witness how her beautiful display of love and tears results in radical transformation, prompting us to offer our hearts fully to Him.

What does it look like to help our friends and loved ones encounter Jesus? How can we make a way for them to have their own encounters? The truth is, the church has a massive responsibility in paving the way. We are called to cut holes in roofs so that those far from God can encounter him. Our mission is to get people to Jesus despite the obstacles or criticism that comes along the way. In Mark 2, we see a group of friends that had such a deep faith in what Jesus could do, that they dug a hole in the roof of a building where Jesus was teaching, so they could lower their paralyzed friend down to encounter Him.  Join us for the second week of Encountering Jesus to glimpse faith deep enough to move the heart of God to impact that man’s destiny in this message of Rising Hope.

We all have deep longings in life—we are all thirsting for our souls to be quenched. But here is our issue: we are looking in all the wrong places, and it’s leaving us constantly thirsting for more. In John 4, we see Jesus have an unexpected and socially scandalous encounter with a Samaritan woman by a well. He challenges her to stop thirsting for her spiritual thirst to be quenched outside of Him. Join us for week one of Encountering Jesus, as we are beckoned to come to the well in All Who Thirst.

What does a community of people who follow and love Jesus look like? How does becoming part of the church affect your life?   When Jesus dwells in our hearts, He writes new stories with our lives. This week we learned that Jesus has called and equipped all of us to serve the Church, and that our gifts and skills are for His glory. Listen in to learn that God's love shapes all of our identity, and that He has great things planned for our lives.

Throughout the Bible, we read of people rushing to Jesus in anticipation that he would heal them. Just as Jesus healed the sick and restored lives in old times, he offers the same healing today. So, the big question is: do we come to Jesus with the expectation of receiving his life-altering healing? Listen in to our final week of Daring Prayers,  as we discover that we have direct access to Jesus' power. We learn through Matthew 9 that in faith we can come to our good God, and ask him for healing, pray for other's the be healed, and grow a faith that anticipates God's movement in our lives and city.

What would change in our city if you believed that you had access to the authority of Jesus? Would you use it to bless your neighbors? Would you pray for your schools? Would you have faith that, as you prayed, you were ushering in God's Kingdom? John 16 tells us that whatever we ask in the name of Jesus, it will be given. Listen in to begin to comprehend the power that our prayers have as we ask in the nature and authority of Jesus. Because if we can truly live in the power of Jesus, we will start to see His Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

Is your relationship with God more like calling a distant relative in a time of need rather than a friend you're walking out life with? Is your prayer life just throwing random requests into the atmosphere or sitting down and having coffee with a close friend that knows you through and through? You were made for connection with God. You were made for a close relationship with Jesus. Prayer is simply connecting with Jesus—telling Him about life, sharing your worries and frustrations, and asking Him to provide and care for you. This week, we learn through Luke 11 that God is seeking to connect with us through prayer. Listen in to learn how your persistence in prayer leads to a passion to spend time with your Creator.

You were made for connection. You were made for relationship. You prove it over and over by seeking comfort and control in areas of your life. But what if you knew that the deep longing that you are truly seeking could be satisfied? What if you didn't have to rely on creating your own comfort or being in control of every moment to feel security? In James 5 we're given the call to seek connection with the Creator. If we come to Jesus in our desperation and seek His presence, we can be the church that He desires—one focused on His mission, spreading His Gospel, and bringing life transformation to His city. Listen in as Pastor Jason guides us through a life of praying daring prayers to God who is waiting for us to seek Him.

This week we look at two topics that are some of the hardest for us to work through—waiting and suffering. These two things are difficult. They make us feel pain, they slow down our plans, and they way heavily on us when we are in the midst of them. In James 5, James outlines how to endure these two seasons of life in a way that allows God to work and bears fruit in our lives, bringing us joy. How do we hold grief and hope in the same heart? How do we live knowing that Christ is victorious in the end, but we are living in the "not yet" of His victory? Listen in for a depth of hope that can only be found in the presence of Jesus.

Does your life feel chaotic? You don't know where you're going, what you'll do next, where you'll live, who you'll marry, and on and on. As humans we are prone to chase after control—trying to create and currate a perfect life, all revolving around our plans and ideas. But what happens when things don't go as we planned? This week we look at wisdom from the Book of James, where he outlines how to live a life where our plans are centered on God's will, because ordering life without God disorders all of our life. If you are seeking a life that is blessed by God, trusting in His plans, and obedient to His will, then listen in.

Conflict is inevitable. It’s all around us. But the hardest part is acknowledging that brokenness starts within us. What is the solution to the pain, heartache, and conflict we experience? To conquer conflict we can’t simply try harder, we must lean into the true solution found only in Jesus. Listen in as Pastor Jason teaches through James 4 to show us how the early church experienced the same hardships and difficulty we have today, and how we can find hope when we humble ourselves into the unending grace of God.

You have a longing deep in your heart. Its that spot that you try to fill with all sorts of pleasures, things, and relationships. But it’s never fully satisfied. God made you that way. He made you to have a desire for something that only He can satisfy. Jesus is better than anything we pursue on this earth. He is the beginning and end of all we long for. Listen in to learn how Jesus wants to reveal himself to you, and how a life lived in His presence is what your heart truly longs for.