Rise City Church Podcast

Solitude

This week, Jason worked through an incredible teaching from Mark 1 about intentional solitude. Soli-whaaat?!

Jesus often went into the desert to get alone before the Father. Solitude is a missing ancient practice from most of our lives, but one we find molded by Jesus and vital to our distracted souls today.

What is the value of the spiritual discipline of solitude? What’s the difference between solitude and isolation?

All this in more is what we explored on Sunday! Check out this episode to learn and grow deeper in discipleship to Jesus.

Compassion for the City

You see Churches in almost every city across America. But what impact should the church have in a city? How should they see the brokenness and needs of their community? What's the impact a church should have on the citizens?

Jesus gathered crowds everywhere he went, and when he did he was moved with deep compassion. He was teaching his disciples to bring the Kingdom forth. What do we, 2,000 years later learn from these miracles? Listen in as Pastor Jason teaches from Matthew 14 to a crowd of people in a city park and shares the call of the church — to love, serve, and meet the needs of our community.

The Way of Self-Denial

Have you ever made huge sacrifices to get something? What would make you give up everything, surrender your own will, and make tremendous sacrifices daily? What we find in the pages of Scripture is that Jesus is worthy of losing everything. Discipleship to Jesus always comes with the cost of daily surrender. But what we gain in the process is infinitely better than what we give up. Listen to this message as we walk through a theology of self-denial.

Biblical Fasting

Do you ever go to make a decision and aren't sure that you're doing the right thing? Do you want to be more reliant on God and less hungry for worldly things? Have you ever considered fasting for spiritual reasons, but don't know where to start? All through Scripture you see God lead and desire our growth toward Him through fasting and prayer. But do you understand why, how, and when to do it?

God is seeking you. If you take time to purpose yourself through fasting you will find that you are more deeply connected to Him and relying on Him for something that sustains you far better than food — a rich relationship with God, the Creator. Listen in this week as Scott leads through Matthew 4, the story of Jesus fasting for 40 days and nights as he is lead into the wilderness before being tempted, and see how God is leading to full reliance on Him.

Living at a Purposeful Pace

Opportunity isn't something we are lacking these days. Everywhere you turn there is something or someone pitching the latest idea, trying to get on your schedule, and vying to put their priority at the top of your list. God called us to live life abundantly, but how do you live life with abundance without getting caught up in the hurry? How did Jesus model living life to the fullest — a life that included plenty of time in quiet, solitude, prayer, and margin.

This week, Pastor Jason unpacks Luke 4 on how to identify your most impactful priorities, and live a life that you can look back on without regrets— a life lived at a purposeful pace. Listen in for practical truths to prioritize your life based on the life of Christ.

10 Things to Remember if You Want to be Used by God

Most of us want to be used by God, but have we actually positioned ourselves to be usable? In this Team Night message, special guest, Phil Comer, walks our church through 10 things to remember if we want to be used by God. Listen in, and have your heart and passion for ministry stoked as Phil walks our team through a unique night of equipping, growth, and pressing into the mission of the church.

Sabbath as a Rhythm of Rest

In a technology-driven world that runs on non-stop work, the Scriptures offer an ancient and counter-cultural idea: Sabbath rest. Sabbath is the Hebrew word meaning “to stop” and carries the connotation of delighting in the finished work.

For people in a world of overwork and exhaustion, the Scriptures invite us into a weekly rhythm of rest. The deep longing of our hearts is to experience true and perfect peace—a peace that's found in Jesus alone, and one we live out on purpose through Sabbath. Listen to this message to learn more.

Living the Way of Jesus

Does life feel like running a marathon? You're running and running, but never stop to rest? Is your soul tired and weak from never getting the nourishment from pausing, reflecting, and breathing?

Jesus walked the perfect life. He ran hard after people that needed healing, redemption, and a peace that only He offered. But after He ministered, He rested, but not like we understand rest. Join in this week as Pastor Jason talks us through the Gospels to show us the rhythm of Jesus' life and ministry, and the one thing He always made time for.

The Toxic Way of a Hurried Life

How often do you feel busy, overworked, or overwhelmed? Is your life marked more by stillness, focus, and peace, or rush, exhaustion, and distraction? We live in an age of hurry-sickness; a world where interruption, workaholism, and irritation are the norm. But what if there were another way?

To those feeling burned out and anxious Jesus offers the gentle rhythms of grace. Jesus calls us to what he calls His “easy yoke”. In this message, Pastor Jason invites us into the slow walk of discipleship to Jesus. Listen in to learn more.

Let the Lion Out

Many people think of Bible reading as a task. In reality, it’s anything but that! Scripture offers something nothing else in the world provides.

You are designed with a profound longing that nothing can truly satisfy apart from God in Christ. The Bible is the singular location that fully, accurately, and exclusively exposes Jesus. What can satisfy the deep longings of the human heart? Where does real change come from? The power of Scripture alone.

In this message, Pastor Nolan walks through one of the most exalted texts on Jesus in all of Scripture and explains these ideas.