Rise City Church Podcast

Jesus is Unstoppable

One of the main reasons people reject Christianity is because they say “Christians aren’t different”.

In this teaching, our argument is that Christianity is the thing that changes you.

Through the Gospel, God grabs your heart with irresistible grace and sets even the farthest of sinners on the trajectory of becoming like Christ! What about you? Are you different? Join us as we walk through Romans 8:28-30 to explore how God changes us.

The Cycle of the Christian Life

Does your life feel like a cycle of pressure and difficulty? We are all either working through a problem, going through hardship or suffering, or walking through a season of pain. And if you're not, then you're about to. But why is that? Why is that we find ourselves in a place of pain and feeling limitations?

Justin Anderson opens the Scripture this week to the book of Jonah to look at a man, a place, and a people that reflect the image of the Christian walk — one that is a constant cycle of need, confession, and grace. We learn how to respond in our moments of hardship and ultimately find our trust and security in God and His plan for our lives. Listen in to be encouraged and grow in your understanding of the Christian walk.

Find Hope in Your Battle with Anxiety & Depression

Do you ever feel fear well up in you and go out of control? Or maybe it's a deep sorrow that seems to plague you - you just can't shake it. You are not alone! We have story after story of biblical heroes walking through seasons of anxiety and depression, it's not uncommon.

So, how did they move past it? How are we called to walk through these emotions and deep realities, and find hope in the battle with anxiety and depression? What does it look like to take care of our bodies and renew our minds the way God asks us to? Listen in to hear the story of Elijah walking through the lowest of lows, and learn how to rewire your mind and focus on the truth that God is not done with you.

Healing From the Pain of Our Past

Have you ever been hurt by someone, and don't know how to heal from it? Are your own sin and struggles keeping you in a pattern of unhealth? Do you want to break the cycle of pain that has riddled your family and have a different legacy than the generations before you?

Whether your own sin, sin done to you or around you — your past has shaped your present, but it doesn't have to determine your future. This week, we read from the book of Genesis about a family marked by generations of deceit, rivalry, and deep-rooted pain. Listen in to learn how you could change your life through breaking the cycle of sin and pain, by allowing Jesus to bring healing through his work on the cross.

You are Made New

Followers of Jesus look, act, think, speak, and live differently. Why is that? What changes in a person when they choose to follow Jesus with their lives? How do we live in the reality of being a new creation, and not stuck in our old ways?

This week, we look at the life transformation of Paul, a man that had a radical encounter with Jesus, and had his life flip upside down. Listen in to learn what it looks like to live a life compelled by the love of Christ over the approval of culture, and how wholeness and healing are uniquely found in Jesus alone.

Gospel Goodbyes

How do you work through grief when you feel the loss of friendship? What does it look like to send someone into the next season of life with grace and generosity? How can a church say goodbye to Gospel partners — those who you've served and led alongside?

This week's message looks at Paul's parting words in Acts 20 to the church in Ephesus. His example shows us that both deep sorrow and joy can coexist, because when we are moving forward as a body of believers the Kingdom's gain is always our greatest joy, even in the midst of grief. Listen in to learn how to say Gospel Goodbyes.

A Case for Closeness

We live in the most hyper-connected generation in history, but a generation more isolated than ever. We crave a deep nearness that can only be satisfied by the counterintuitive practice of getting alone with God.

Do you struggle to take time with God? Seeking God out will be as natural as breathing once you catch onto the wonder of His presence. In Exodus 33 Moses displays the pure beauty of God’s presence. Listen to this message to learn more.

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.