Rise City Church Sermon Podcast

Rise Up & Saturate | Agape The Church

Ephesians 5 shows us that marriage is not just about husband and wife, but meant to be a picture of something bigger: how Christ loves His Bride, the Church. His love is agape - sacrificial, faithful, and steady. It calls us to lay down pride, to forgive, to serve, and to live in a way that points back to Him.

This matters because we live in a world where it’s easy to walk away when things get hard. But Jesus never walks away from His Church, even in our brokenness. If we belong to Him, we can’t treat His Bride like an option. Our hope is in the One who loved us first and showed us what real commitment looks like.

Join us as Stacey Cutshall reminds us that loving God and loving His Church are not separate. Even when the Church is messy or painful, we’re still called to love it. Because when the Church loves like this, even through hurt and hardship, it becomes the clearest picture of Jesus to a watching world.

Let Us Rise Up & Build | Build This House

We live in a world filled with broken walls—families fractured, cities divided, hope worn thin. Too often we look at the rubble and assume it’s someone else’s job to rebuild. But in God’s Kingdom, a holy burden always comes before breakthrough. Nehemiah’s story reminds us that transformation starts when we allow God to move our hearts and then move our hands. Renewal is not for the gifted few; it’s for everyday people who are willing to step up and join God’s work.

Tune in as we discover how to rise above discouragement, push through opposition, and build shoulder to shoulder for something bigger than ourselves. This is not about leaving our mark but about joining Jesus, the true Builder, in restoring what’s been broken. God is calling us to bring our burden, pick up our brick, and trust Him to raise up a people of hope in our city.

Rise Up & Saturate | The Now Generation

In 1 Samuel 16:1–13, God bypasses the impressive and chooses David, the overlooked shepherd boy, to be king. It’s a reminder that He sees what people miss—He looks at the heart. In every generation, God is raising up leaders who may not fit our expectations. They might be young, unpolished, and unproven, but they are already chosen, gifted, and anointed for His purposes.

The next generation is not the future of the Church—they are the Church. Our calling is to see them, believe in them, and make space for them to lead, even if it disrupts our routines or stretches our comfort. A vibrant church is one filled with the energy of kids, the passion of teens, and the innovation of young adults. When we step aside and lift them up, the Spirit of God moves in ways that can change everything—right now.

Rise Up & Saturate | There Is No Plan B

What if God’s plan to reach your neighborhood, your workplace, your city… is you? In Luke 10, Jesus sends out ordinary people with an extraordinary mission—to go ahead of Him and prepare the way. No titles. No platforms. Just faith, authority, and obedience. This is a wake-up call: you and I aren’t on the sidelines of God’s story—we are the strategy. There is no Plan B. Heaven is still sending, and the harvest is still ready.

The work is gritty, the world is hostile, and still, we go—not relying on our strength, but on His Spirit. Along the way, we learn to recognize the people of peace, to shake the dust when needed, and to rejoice—not in what we do for Jesus, but in who we are because of Him.

Rise Up & Saturate | Sunday Night Lights

Pick It Up | Ali Roohi

Brokenness around us isn’t just something we ignore - it’s something we’re called to pick up.

Join us as guest speaker Ali Roohi walks through Nehemiah’s story, a man who was moved to tears over the broken state of his city. He didn’t start with resources or status - just a burden and a vision of what could be. We’re reminded that God uses the unqualified, the leftovers, and those who simply care enough to pray.

Gospel Power: Gospel Partners

As we approach the end of Romans, Paul’s letter, his most important theological work, closes in a fascinating way. He pulls back the curtain to reveal the people who’ve been partnering with him in spreading the Gospel and building the Kingdom. We notice something powerful: From the beginning of the church, women have been active participants in building the church spreading the kingdom. Women were essential partners in advancing the Gospel.

Tune in as as we walk through Romans 16 where we learn how the early church was shaped by the indispensable contributions of women, and why this partnership remains essential for the church today.

Gospel Power: A Life Well Lived

The reason we keep coming back to the Gospel, week after week, day after day, is because we never outgrow our need for it. Paul’s words in Romans 15 remind us that even mature believers need bold reminders of grace. The Gospel isn’t just how we begin our faith...it’s how we keep going. It’s the power that fuels purpose, passion, and mission. When we forget it, we drift. But when we preach it to ourselves daily, we stay tuned into to what God is doing in and through us.

Join us for "A Life Well-Lived" as we rediscover the power of the Gospel, the urgency of our calling, and the deep joy of living for something that will actually last.

Gospel Power: The Gospel Unites

In Romans 14, Paul reminds us that unity is more important than uniformity. We’re called to accept each other, even when we disagree on secondary matters, like food or specific religious practices. These are disputable matters that shouldn’t divide us but instead should be points of strength as we come together in the gospel.

Living in unity means relinquishing our "rightness" and putting love first. It’s not about being right, but about being loving and kind to those who may see things differently. When we focus on building each other up, instead of tearing each other down over differences, we reflect the heart of Jesus. Join us as we explore what it means to be united in the gospel, living with righteousness, peace, and joy, and focusing on building God’s Kingdom, not just our own tribe.

Gospel Power: Spiritual Transformation

In Romans 12, Paul urges us: in view of God’s mercy, offer your whole life as a living sacrifice. It’s not just about doing more or feeling more—it’s about being transformed from the inside out. We’re not meant to conform to the world but to be renewed by God so we can live lives that are holy and pleasing to Him.

This kind of transformation starts with surrender, is shaped by truth, and shows up in how we treat others. Every believer has a unique gift, and Paul encourages us to use those gifts, not for comparison, but for contribution.

Join us as we discover what it means to live as people changed by God’s mercy and grace.