Rise City Church Podcast

God’s Gospel Not Man’s Gospel

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.

No Other Gospel

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.

The Presence of Peace

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.

Servant King

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.

Your Access Ensured

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.

From Grief to Gladness

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.

Free to Live

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.

The Curse is Broken

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.

A United People

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.

Community Killers

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.