Rise City Church Podcast

We Are Made One

I am God's Workmanship

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...

I am Empowered

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 l...

Union with Christ

United with Christ

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.

I am in Jesus

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.

Easter Sunday

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.

Generous. Future.

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 Love Our City

In a time when it often feels like the local culture pushes us away from God's calling, it can be tempting to think that moving elsewhere is the solution. However, we are reminded that God placed us here in this particular place, for this particular time. Our mission is to bring heaven to Earth, not look for it elsewhere. We want our city to see, through our actions, that we genuinely care about people. At Rise, we do that by welcoming people in our doors and creating a space for people to ...

Culture. Hope. The Word.

In a world marked by darkness and pain, Church is a foretaste of heaven. Sundays are a day we gather together because it reminds us of Resurrection Day and what we have in Jesus. We gather to be filled with hope, ready to overflow and share that hope with others as we go out into the rest of the week. As community of believers, we are shaped, guided, and surrendered to the Word. And we draw strength and encouragement from the scriptures so that we can support and lift up one another. Join ...

Jesus. Gospel. Spirit.

Rise is TEN! Part of turning double digits as a church is realizing that we’ve learned a bit about who we are too, and one thing is certain...we are all about Jesus! The story of Rise is a story about the power of God moving in our weakness. Our purpose is rooted in His love, so we will never water down the Gospel, and we fully believe, a movement in this city will not be by a new strategy or a system, but by a demonstration of the Spirit's power in our lives. Join us for the first week of...

God is Glorious

Love, at its core, is spelled out through time—time spent in the presence of the one we love. God simply desires access to us, craving moments of connection and intimacy so we can know Him deeply. Unlike Moses, who acted as an intermediary between the people and God, we now have direct communion with the Father through Jesus and the Holy Spirit living in us. Join us for this week's sermon as Pastor Russell Woods teaches that as we spend time with Him, we unlock deeper dimensions of His glor...

God is Just

When you think about judgement, it may spark a variety of thoughts and emotions. So when we speak of God’s justice, it might make you uneasy. But the truth is, God has a divine justice that works on a different timeline. His love, mercy, and perfection are always at work in His justice. He doesn’t call us to offer up vengeance, rather calls us to love our enemies,  resting and trusting in His perfect justice. Join us for this week’s message as our Youth Pastor Jordan teaches us that we serv...

God is Eternal

Have you ever heard stories that happened before you were born and wondered how that was even possible? Pretty crazy to think that time existed before you could comprehend it. But God has always existed! Because He is the Creator of time, God sees all of time. This means He sees every moment of sin and brokenness in our past with the same vivid clarity as He sees our redemption through His Son and with the same clear focus as He sees our story in the future. Talk about a mind-blowing though...

A Life of Faithfulness

What does it mean to be faithful? A life of faithfulness calls us to wait on the Lord and lean in. Listen in as Stacey Cutshall speaks on living a life of faithfulness from Team Night.

God is Compasionate

Kindness is what our world needs more of, but without knowing the origin of true kindness you aren't able to fully express it. Kindness begins with an understanding of God's kindness to us, which is far greater than we can imagine. Kindness is what changes people, restores dignity, and allows for relational closeness. Listen in this week as guest preacher, Daniel Goulding, shares that to be a person of kindness we must first explore God's incredible kindness to us. There is truly none like...

God is Love

If God is love, as it's written in John, how are his people so bad at it sometimes? God's own church struggles to be loving to one another. So how do we grow in something so foundational to faith but so difficult to live out? Join us for this message from our series None Like Him as Pastor Russell explores love and we learn that love is not divorced from truth, but truth comes from love. If we want to get love right, we must live it out in community, and above all we abide with love himself...

God is Holy

The character of God is completely unique. Above all things, He is holy in everything He ever does, He is set apart from evil, and His holiness is always. And that's something that is a little hard to wrap your mind around.   God’s holiness is the essence of his nature and the source of his goodness. It comforts us with his truth and justice, cleanses us from our sinfulness, and ultimately is what draws us to Jesus, the only one who can save us and reconcile us with God.   Join us for the f...

The King’s Message

The birth of Jesus is a beacon of God’s unfailing love and faithfulness. Hope is trusting in something beyond ourselves, and we are called to follow Him to share His hope with others.  Jesus is the reminder that God has not forgotten us. Through Him, we can trust that God has a plan for our lives and for the world; He is our hope. Join us for "The King's Message - Hope in the Manger" to hear how hope in Jesus is the anchor that holds us steady in the storms of life.

The King’s Victory

All you need to do is turn on the news or scroll through social media and you'll see a world filled with tremendous suffering and pain. It's foolish to think that evil doesn't exist. But there is hope. The kingdom of heaven is different from the kingdom of this world. Jesus came as a humble, suffering servant to conquer evil and darkness and to bring peace, hope, and love. Through Christmas, Jesus would put an end to death. Join us for "The King's Victory: Conquering Darkness" to hear how t...

Change The Temperature

How do we influence the people and culture around us? What if you harnessed the character and skills that God has gifted you with to bring about Gospel change that glorifies Jesus and brings joy to those around you? In work, family, and life, we can take steps to make positive shifts and encourage the people around us. Listen to this special Team Night episode to learn four ways to Change the Temperature in situations, culture, and relationships.

The King’s Arrival

From the twinkling lights on a Christmas tree to giving gifts and gathering with our friends and families, this whole Christmas season is filled with stars that are meant to point us to the Messiah. As disciples, we are called to follow Jesus. It’s not just about having head knowledge of a savior, it’s about following Him. It's not about just collecting information or checking a box, but taking action to have a relationship with Jesus. Listen in as our Youth Pastor Jordan walks us through ...

All Bow Down

In Matthew 2:1-12, we learn about The Wise Men who come to baby Jesus, seek him out and worship Him. Their hearts were filled with the desire to encounter and fully worship this God who became a man, in the form of a tiny baby to physically be with His people. Jesus is the invisible God, made visible. Throughout the Bible, both before and after Jesus was born, we find people encountering Jesus and falling on their faces in worship, because He is just that worthy. As we prepare our hearts ...

Prepare Him Room

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 ...

Jesus is our Victory

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 vict...

Encounter Jesus in the Word

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 t...

Seeking an Encounter

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 Ove...

Encountering Generosity

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 m...

An Encounter with Doubt

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...

Healing in His Wings

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 surrou...

An Encounter with Grace

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.

An Overflow of Grace

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.

Rising Hope

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 h...

All Who Thirst

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...

Rise Together

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.

Healing Prayers

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 h...

Kingdom Prayers

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 wil...

Connecting Prayers

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 ask...

Daring Prayers

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 ch...

Hope in Waiting and Suffering

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 ...

Don’t Waste Your Plans

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 disor...

Don’t Waste Your Life in Conflict

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...

Jesus is Better

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.

The Power of Life Transforming Words

Your words carry immense power. They can be hurtful, break people down, and injure someone to the core. Conversely, words can encourage, build someone up, and be positively life transforming. In James 3, we are given both the encouragement to use our words wisely and the warning to be cautious  with our words. But how can you tame your tongue to be used for good, not bad? Listen in as Pastor Jason teaches that only by living in the power of Jesus can we have power over our words and live a ...

A Life of True Faith

Does your life reflect what you say you believe? Do you have a faith that goes beyond your mind and yields work that others around you experience and know? In James 2, James lays out a life of faith without works, as being dead— void of the joy and abundance that a life with a faith lived out in deeds experiences. This week, guest preacher, Daniel Goulding, teaches the difference between cultural Christianity and faith that changes you from the inside out. Listen in to see how Jesus is the ...

The Six Stages of Manhood

Fatherhood and masculinity are being redefined in our culture. But what does God tell us about biblical manhood? Listen in as we walk through Scripture to see the stages of manhood, from boyhood all the way through retirement to see how God has made men with a specific purpose and plan. If you are a man looking for wisdom for how to live a Godly life, raise a family, and love your people then listen in for practical wisdom that leads you to the heart of the Father.

A Gospel Transformed Life

Today we continued in our series on James, and talked about how Jesus brings A Gospel Transformed Life. The call from James is a challenge to look within. God is not aligned with the evil of our world, and more often than not we contribute to the sin and darkness around us. The problem of evil is within us, not just ‘other’ groups. But the call of God is to life. Every good is from God and everything from God is good. But we have work to do on our end as well. James calls us to build a Gos...

An Unwasted Life

Do trials and pain hold you back from believing there is a Good God? Does living a life of purpose and significance seem outside of your grasp? You're not alone. In the book of James, we read about a man that encounters Jesus and experiences life transformation that results in a shift in his identity. This week, Pastor Jason teaches through James 1 to see how trials produce in us something far greater than we could ever imagine. Listen in for hope that sees beyond the pain to a joy that God...

Next Gen Sunday

Do you want to see your church and community revived and transformed by the Gospel? Are you investing in someone that will carry the mission of the church beyond your years? 1 Timothy 4 gives a call to raise up the next generation of believers to spread the Gospel. Listen in as our youth pastor, Jordan, teaches how to lead, equip, and learn from our youth and children because they aren’t just the future of the church, they are the church right now.

We Love God’s Future

Do you have a bucket list—a list of things to experience before you die? Are you living like there isn't anything after life? Do you wonder if there really is a heaven? Randy Alcorn, the foremost scholar of the theology of eschatology, joined us to teach us a right theology of heaven. Listen in to understand what heaven is, how God is reversing the brokenness we experience, and that God longs for us to experience happiness now and in our future life.