Rise City Church Podcast

Do you feel tired of the pull from your old way of living? Do you find yourself running back to sin and the slavery you lived in instead of living in the freedom of a new life in Christ? This week, in Galatians 4, Paul explains how through the Gospel we are no longer enslaved by our old life, but we are set free and adopted into sonship. Join us as we see how we've been set free from slavery to both sin & the law and learn all the implications that come with our adoption as heirs to eternity!

Why do some teams thrive, and other teams don't? How do you create a healthy team culture? What are the attributes of a quality leader? Listen to this special Team Night message to explore the biblical principles that apply to your work, home, and ministry that lead toward thriving adaptable teams, and how to avoid habits and culture that lead down the wrong path.

What would change in your life if you were fully secure in Christ? Too often, we try to gain our identity in the wrong things: our success, our possessions, or what others think of us. This week, as we explored Galatians 3, we looked at how Paul intentionally built the foundation of the church upon the Gospel of Jesus: rooting our corporate identity as people of His Grace, not our works. When our identity is tied to His Gospel and belonging to His family—we are given a security that cannot be shaken.

As Paul continues to center the Galatians around the Gospel, he draws a stark contrast between being declared righteous because of Jesus and trying to become righteous by following the law. It’s the doctrine of justification vs the danger of self-righteousness. And if we’re not careful, we can confuse the two in our own lives as well. You are not justified through your right thinking, behavior, or tribe, but only by the work of Jesus on the cross. Through Jesus, God sees you as a son, not a sinner. Join us as we look at the theology of Justification, and how our self-righteousness is in direct opposition to God. Listen in to learn how to restore that relationship, and live in the freedom of Christ.

We all have things in our past that we regret, that hurt others, and that ruined relationships. But what if God used all the brokenness of our past to write a story filled with grace and redemption? This is the story of the Apostle Paul. Paul was known for his hate and persecution of Christians, but then he encountered Jesus and was radically transformed. The hurt and pain he caused were flipped and used for God’s glory. The same can be true in you if you allow the Gospel to penetrate your heart and mind. But be on guard, the Gospel is trying to be hijacked by dogmatism, preferences, and differences. We must never move past the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Listen in to learn how to guard our church against division, unify over the essentials, and be strengthened through our differences.

Do you find yourself confused by reading the words of Jesus and his amazing grace and love, and then look at church and see something that doesn’t speak to the nature of the Gospel? Does the church sometimes look more like the world than Jesus? The church in Galatia was divided over church traditions, interpretations, and tribalism. If we’re not careful we can find ourselves prey to the same distractions and adding to the Gospel. Listen in as Jason walks us through Galatians 1 to see the truth of the word: Jesus + nothing = everything.

What kind of expectations do you have for the new year? Does it spark excitement or anxiety? Do you linger on the worries of your future and that of our world? 2023 could be anything. Regardless of the chaos, conflict, and confusion around you can choose to dwell daily in the peace of Jesus. Join us as we look at Luke 2 at the expectations of the world Jesus entered into, and how to find peace in the presence of Jesus and bring it into the lives of those around you.

Why is it that over 2000 years ago a baby came to earth as the Messiah of the world, but the people who were most anticipating him missed his arrival? How is it that all the prophecies and foretelling of his coming would be fulfilled, but the people would reject the signs of his coming? Are we still missing seeing the Savior in our lives as we also live a world marked by the curse, consumed in our own self-focus? Jesus came as a weak, fragile baby to a world filled with political and cultural complexities and struggles. He came to bring His kingdom and peace— to rule and reign, but He didn’t come as the people expected. Listen in this week as Pastor Jason walks us through Luke 2 and guides us to not miss today what they missed then, that Jesus has arrived and is worthy of all praise and adoration.

To many people, God is a far-off being, a distant creator, a divine holy presence. But God, even in his immense holiness, desires a close relationship with you. How can a relationship with such an enormity be grasped? Drawing near to the Creator of the world requires us to look at the love and sacrifice of Jesus. Without Him, we live in separation from God, but through His sacrifice we are welcomed into God's holiness, to draw near in confidence, and to have unwavering hope in the Savior of the World. Join us as we read through Hebrews 10 to understand that your access to God is ensured.

The curse has left our world broken and, as a result, the loss of things we love is always around us. Maybe it was the death of a family member, or you are dealing with a broken relationship. It could be the loss of a community or changing family dynamics.  In any case, we grieve the life we once had before everything changed. This week Pastor Jason shows us that Jesus comes near to enter our pain and grief and by doing so, He gives us a glimpse of His kingdom.  As His people, we don’t have to grieve as those without hope.

Do you desire a life of fullness, joy, and abundance, but instead find yourself drifting to a life of sin? Why is it that, in our mind, we desire to do the right things, but we end up falling into the same sins over and over? In Romans, Paul lays out a life lived in the tension between doing what is right and being pulled toward what is wrong. Scott Bean talks to us about how God has given us laws that lead to redemption, but this life without condemnation can only be found in Jesus and his sacrifice for us on the cross.

We are all living under the curse and every aspect of our lives is feeling the effect of man’s fall from the Garden of Eden — relationships, work, family, creation itself, and even our direct relationship with God. If everything is infected and polluted with pain and hardship, has the enemy won? Listen in as Pastor Jason teaches through Galatians 3 to show us how this knowledge of the curse actually points us back to Jesus and His love for us. Learn how the curse has been broken, and the kingdom of God is already, and also not yet. Join us to learn how to live in light of this tension.

Last Sunday, we learned about community killers that we need to watch out for. But aside from just knowing what to watch out for, how do we actually combat those relationship plagues that he laid out? Thankfully, God’s Word always gives us the answer. Listen in to this week’s sermon where Pastor Jason walks us through what Paul wrote to a fracturing church in Colossians 3:11-16, as we are called to raid the closet of Christ and clothe ourselves in His characteristics. Join us to learn how to build a unified community, and learn how to PUT ON compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and above all these is love, which binds together the rest in perfect harmony.

Have you ever been in a relationship or community that just felt off, or maybe even ended up completely broken, but you couldn’t put your finger on what went wrong? This week, Zach talked to us about the community killers that Peter laid out in 1 Peter 2. Malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.  But… those are such bad-sounding words and we are pretty good people, so that couldn’t be applicable to us, right? When we pull back the curtain and look at the actual definitions, we realize they constantly surround us. And, if we don’t actively guard against them, they will make their way into our circles. Luckily, Peter didn’t stop with the killers of community, he turns us back to the fulfillment in Jesus. Join us as we learn about how leaning into the identity that God is calling us to can provide all of the protection we need.

Friendship and community are one of the greatest longings of the human heart. We dismiss it saying we are introverts, loners, or enjoy solitude. We build up walls because of shame and pain in our past. We are afraid of deep relationships, and pride holds us back from engaging with others. And let's be real, deep relationships are hard and have conflict. So how do we actually build a life-changing community that is founded on a love that supports one another, calls each other to more, and is ready to weather the hard moments? This week, Pastor Jason walks us through Hebrews 10 to look at how to live in light of what Jesus has done for us. Join us to see how your character is formed in community, how to sustain commitment, and how to stand beside someone to truly build life-changing community.

You are being formed. Whether you know it or not your community and the culture around you are forming you and setting a path for your life. Often we settle for insight and knowledge, but God is calling you to be radically transformed deep within your soul through steps of obedience. This week, Pastor Russell walks us through a theology of community formation and the path of revival in our culture. We open Ephesians 4 to see that Christ calls us to be transformed into the image of Jesus through relationships with others in community. Listen in to catch a vision of the redemptive potential that is in you.

How do you find people that actually get you? How do you create friendships that last the test of time, and can stand against challenging moments? Jesus lived a life filled with friendships of all kinds — from closeness with just a few, to a group that he poured into and that cared for each other. He gives us the example of a life full of relationships but finding those can be hard. Listen in this week as Pastor Jason walks us through the Scriptures to look at how to create friendships, what to look for in people, and how to be a great friend. Let's explore how Jesus lived in relationship with others because discipleship and growth happen in friendship circles.

We are in a friendship recession. Between the pandemic and the false reality of closeness we pursue through social media, we're left with emptiness and loneliness — something God never intended. What if you could replace those feelings and fill the community-shaped hole in your soul with genuine friendships? What if you could truly find your people? This week, Pastor Jason leads us through Genesis 1-3, looking at how God created us in His image and for community and closeness with others, and how Jesus came to restore our brokenness. Listen in to week 01 of Find Your People.

We treat the Devil more like a cartoon character than a threat to us. We have a distorted understanding of who he is, how he works, and how we give him a handhold in our lives. But the Scripture teaches us he is a real enemy on the prowl planting deceptive ideas, that play to our disordered desires—always telling us that God is holding out on us. In John 8, Jesus breaks down the lies of the enemy, and tells us the depth of the deception we are facing. Listen in as Pastor Jason walks us through how to identify the threat and stand in the truth of God’s Word.

Do you know that feeling of wanting what isn't good? Do you feel the pull and temptation of desiring things around you? Do you find yourself battling your mind and heart over your actions and behavior? We are at war with our own flesh — the corrupt inner nature that serves to please ourselves rather than God. We can't escape those desires, but we can address them by arming ourselves with the Word, the Spirit, and prayer. Listen in as Scott Bean walks us through Galatians 5 and teaches us how to practically combat the flesh and drive out complacency so that we can live according to God's plan bearing the fruit of the Spirit.