Rise City Church Sermon Podcast

The Power of Forgiveness | Alex Lessler

We all know what’s wrong with the world. Or at least we think we do. It’s the system. The culture. The other side. But Scripture turns the mirror toward us. The fracture in our relationships doesn’t begin “out there” — it begins in the old self, the part of us that protects pride, feeds resentment, and quietly keeps score. Until Jesus deals with the corruption in our own hearts, healing stays out of reach. The cross doesn’t just diagnose evil; it defeats it. And forgiveness is how resurrection power starts repairing what sin has broken.

In Colossians 3:5–14, Paul calls us to put off the old self and put on the new — to clothe ourselves with compassion, humility, patience, and above all, love. “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Because we are already chosen and dearly loved, we can release the wound and refuse to let it define our future. Christ’s forgiveness is stronger than our offense. And when we forgive, healing becomes possible — in our hearts, in our homes, and in our church.

A Life of Faithfulness | The Discipleship Pathway

We live in a world that celebrates visibility, scale, and success—yet Jesus tells a story in Matthew 25 that reframes what actually matters. The Master doesn’t commend influence or outcomes; He says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Each servant receives a different entrustment, but the call is the same: steward what you’ve been given. Faithfulness means resisting comparison, surrendering entitlement at the cross, and trusting that what God places in your hands today is neither random nor small.

Faithfulness also unfolds over time. There are seasons of waiting that shape our trust, moments when doubt whispers and fear urges us to play it safe. But the gospel anchors us: the same Christ who entrusted you with your assignment has proven His character at the cross. So we refuse to bury what He’s given. We offer it back—our time, gifts, influence, resources—and trust Him to multiply it for His purposes. And in the end, the reward is not status but relationship: sharing in the joy of the Master, right here and ultimately forever.

Discover & Develop Your Purpose | The Discipleship Pathway

Most people assume purpose is something you must invent or achieve, but Scripture tells a different story. God didn’t just save you from something—He saved you for something. In a world contested by good and evil, every life is shaping the future of something larger than itself. Grace pulls us out of death, but it also places us into God’s unfolding plan to heal what’s broken.

Ephesians declares that we are God’s workmanship—His work of art—formed by grace and shaped through surrender. Like a master sculptor, God chips away through trials, obedience, and service, revealing the image of Christ within us. Good works don’t earn heaven; they bring heaven to earth. As we commit to gathering regularly, joining the team, and stewarding what we’ve been given, we begin walking in the purpose God prepared long before we ever knew His name.

Life Shaping Friendships | The Discipleship Pathway

We long to be known—but we fear what might happen if we actually are. Yet from the earliest days of the church, God’s people devoted themselves to shared life: shared meals, shared prayers, shared needs. Even Paul—the tireless missionary—needed friends, family, and community to remain faithful.

True community is where masks come off and grace moves in. It’s where someone notices when you’re not okay, celebrates your wins, and walks with you through your struggles. Jesus created space to be fully known among His closest followers—and then carried our isolation to the cross so we could belong fully to God and His people. When we step into gospel-centered community, we don’t just find connection—we find formation, healing, and hope.

Find Your People | The Discipleship Pathway

Everyone needs their people. Scripture is filled with them—Adam had his partner, David his mighty men, Esther her mentor, Paul his companions, and even Jesus surrounded Himself with friends when facing the cross. Isolation makes us vulnerable, but community makes us resilient. Like a herd protecting its own, the church becomes the place where faith is guarded, sharpened, and sustained. The enemy isolates; Jesus gathers.

Jesus steps into this fractured world and forms a people. He calls disciples into shared life, sends them two by two, and builds His church as a gathered body. Faith flourishes in community because community reflects the very nature of God Himself. Jesus calls us to something better: a church where burdens are shared, hope is reinforced, and discipleship is lived side-by-side.

Be Shaped By Jesus | The Discipleship Pathway

Most of us want deep change, but we want it fast. We long for peace without patience, love without pruning, and freedom without formation. Yet Jesus tells us the truth: lasting transformation only happens through abiding. Just as branches don’t produce fruit by effort, we cannot become who God intends apart from a life rooted in Christ. We all abide somewhere—and whatever we abide in is forming us.

Jesus reveals Himself as the true Vine, the One who supplies life, love, and growth. As we remain in Him, the Spirit reshapes our desires, heals our wounds, and forms us into people of love, joy, and self-control. This is not an overnight miracle, but a long obedience in the same direction. The invitation is hopeful and freeing: make your home in the love of Jesus, and trust that over time, He will shape your life into something beautiful and strong.

Encounter Jesus in the Word | The Discipleship Pathway

Most of us assume spiritual growth begins with clarity—having answers, confidence, or conviction. But in John 1, discipleship begins somewhere far more honest: curiosity. Before belief, before commitment, Jesus invites two searching men with simple words—“Come and see.” We all need an encounter with Jesus for ourselves. You can’t follow a Jesus you’ve never met.

Discipleship deepens as encounter becomes abiding—when time with Jesus turns from a moment into a rhythm. As we open Scripture, we’re not just reading ancient words—we’re meeting the living Christ. Discipleship flourishes when time with Jesus becomes a daily rhythm, not a distant memory. The invitation still stands: meet Him, remain with Him, and allow His life to reshape yours from the inside out.

Following The Way of Jesus | The Discipleship Pathway

We are always being formed—by what we give our attention to, who we listen to, and the rhythms that shape our days. Every habit is pointing us somewhere. The question isn’t whether formation is happening, but who is shaping us. Jesus’ invitation, “Come, follow me,” cuts through distracted, half-present faith and calls us into an intentional life of apprenticeship with Him.

This week, we’re launching our Discipleship Pathway—a clear way to follow Jesus together. At the center is Jesus Himself, not just what He teaches, but how He forms people over time. As we learn to be with Him, become like Him, and join Him in His Kingdom work, we discover a faith that reshapes every part of life. The invitation is still open to whoever is willing to take their next step on the way of Jesus.

Don't Miss Jesus | The Carriers of The Promise

Jesus often shows up where we least expect Him—in overlooked places, through ordinary people, during hidden seasons. In Luke 1, God begins the greatest rescue story not in a palace but in Nazareth, not with prestige but with humility. Mary isn’t chosen because of her résumé but because of grace. Jesus enters the world quietly, but with eternal purpose, showing us that God often does His greatest work in the places we’re tempted to overlook.

Scripture reveals Jesus as the promised King, the Savior whose very name means “God saves,” and the One the Holy Spirit is always pointing us toward. We’ll see how faith grows not through proximity or effort, but through revelation—and how hidden seasons often prepare us for holy moments. Stop searching elsewhere and recognize the One who has been searching for us all along. Don’t miss Jesus—the Savior who came to rescue, reign, and restore.

What Are You Carrying? | The Carriers of The Promise

Most of us don’t realize the weight of what we’re carrying. Like David, we’re often living inside a story bigger than we can see—faithfully holding responsibilities, wounds, and callings without knowing how God might use them. Long before the crown, David learned dependence as a shepherd, repentance as a worshiper, and courage as an overlooked fighter. His life reveals that God’s promise doesn’t move through perfection or control, but through hearts that return to Him and trust Him fully.

David’s story ultimately points beyond himself to Jesus—the greater Shepherd who carries the wounded, the better King who restores broken hearts, and the true Victor who fights the battle we could never win. Tune in as we discover what David carried, what Jesus has already accomplished, and how surrendering what’s in our hands places us inside God’s unfolding story of redemption and hope.