Rise City Church Podcast

In a world where religion can feel like a list of rules without room for grace, Ephesians reminds us of a profound truth: through our union with Christ, we're not just on a religious treadmill; we're embraced by the Trinity, through Jesus' love and mercy. Join us as we dive into our series Identity with guest speaker Rick McKinley to experience the freedom of living in Christ and our true identity in unity with Him.

Since childhood, we've been bombarded by words, wounds, and weaknesses trying to define who we are. But the truth is, Jesus came to give us a new identity, through His blood. In Him, we find redemption, forgiveness, and a place in God's family. Listen in to this week's message, "Identity: Who I Am," as we explore our true identity  that comes from Jesus Christ and nothing else.

On Easter, we reflect on the truth that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again from the dead. The resurrection is the foundation of our faith and the heart of the Gospel, offering salvation to everyone who believes. Listen in to the Easter message to hear why building our faith on anything other than the Gospel will ultimately let you down.

At Rise City Church, we reflect a culture of generosity rooted in our faith in Jesus Christ. We recognize that all we have is a gift from God, and when we give, we are giving back to the One who has given us everything. Our giving of time, talents, and treasures is not driven by guilt or obligation but by a desire to glorify God and advance His kingdom on earth. We joyfully invest in the growth of His kingdom by actively and intentionally raising up the next generation of believers because we firmly believe, 'Win the Kids, Win the Future.' Join us for this week's sermon in our series, "We Are Rise," as Pastor Jason speaks into our core values of generosity and empowering the next generation.

In a time when it often feels like the local culture pushes us away from God's calling, it can be tempting to think that moving elsewhere is the solution. However, we are reminded that God placed us here in this particular place, for this particular time. Our mission is to bring heaven to Earth, not look for it elsewhere. We want our city to see, through our actions, that we genuinely care about people. At Rise, we do that by welcoming people in our doors and creating a space for people to feel seen and loved. Listen in to the latest message in our series "We Are Rise" as we explore the power of being radically hospitable...because We Love Our City!

In a world marked by darkness and pain, Church is a foretaste of heaven. Sundays are a day we gather together because it reminds us of Resurrection Day and what we have in Jesus. We gather to be filled with hope, ready to overflow and share that hope with others as we go out into the rest of the week. As community of believers, we are shaped, guided, and surrendered to the Word. And we draw strength and encouragement from the scriptures so that we can support and lift up one another. Join us for the second part of our series "We Are Rise" as we explore our foundational beliefs and who we are.

Rise is TEN! Part of turning double digits as a church is realizing that we’ve learned a bit about who we are too, and one thing is certain...we are all about Jesus! The story of Rise is a story about the power of God moving in our weakness. Our purpose is rooted in His love, so we will never water down the Gospel, and we fully believe, a movement in this city will not be by a new strategy or a system, but by a demonstration of the Spirit's power in our lives. Join us for the first week of our new series "We Are" as we look back on the last decade and all that Jesus has done through our church and in our city - and why we are always, only, fully, clearly, all about Jesus.

Love, at its core, is spelled out through time—time spent in the presence of the one we love. God simply desires access to us, craving moments of connection and intimacy so we can know Him deeply. Unlike Moses, who acted as an intermediary between the people and God, we now have direct communion with the Father through Jesus and the Holy Spirit living in us. Join us for this week's sermon as Pastor Russell Woods teaches that as we spend time with Him, we unlock deeper dimensions of His glory and experience the fullness of His love and presence in our lives. For there is truly None Like Him.

When you think about judgement, it may spark a variety of thoughts and emotions. So when we speak of God’s justice, it might make you uneasy. But the truth is, God has a divine justice that works on a different timeline. His love, mercy, and perfection are always at work in His justice. He doesn’t call us to offer up vengeance, rather calls us to love our enemies,  resting and trusting in His perfect justice. Join us for this week’s message as our Youth Pastor Jordan teaches us that we serve a perfectly just God who triumphs over evil by offering a path to redemption through His son Jesus. For there truly is None Like Him.

Have you ever heard stories that happened before you were born and wondered how that was even possible? Pretty crazy to think that time existed before you could comprehend it. But God has always existed! Because He is the Creator of time, God sees all of time. This means He sees every moment of sin and brokenness in our past with the same vivid clarity as He sees our redemption through His Son and with the same clear focus as He sees our story in the future. Talk about a mind-blowing thought! Listen in to this week's sermon as we unpack how God's eternality sets us free from the past, brings clarity to the present, and calms our anxieties of the future. For there is truly None Like Him.

What does it mean to be faithful? A life of faithfulness calls us to wait on the Lord and lean in. Listen in as Stacey Cutshall speaks on living a life of faithfulness from Team Night.

Kindness is what our world needs more of, but without knowing the origin of true kindness you aren't able to fully express it. Kindness begins with an understanding of God's kindness to us, which is far greater than we can imagine. Kindness is what changes people, restores dignity, and allows for relational closeness. Listen in this week as guest preacher, Daniel Goulding, shares that to be a person of kindness we must first explore God's incredible kindness to us. There is truly none like Him.

If God is love, as it's written in John, how are his people so bad at it sometimes? God's own church struggles to be loving to one another. So how do we grow in something so foundational to faith but so difficult to live out? Join us for this message from our series None Like Him as Pastor Russell explores love and we learn that love is not divorced from truth, but truth comes from love. If we want to get love right, we must live it out in community, and above all we abide with love himself, Jesus. Because if we get love right it will ripple outward into our world, and change the face of humanity to glorify God alone.

The character of God is completely unique. Above all things, He is holy in everything He ever does, He is set apart from evil, and His holiness is always. And that's something that is a little hard to wrap your mind around.   God’s holiness is the essence of his nature and the source of his goodness. It comforts us with his truth and justice, cleanses us from our sinfulness, and ultimately is what draws us to Jesus, the only one who can save us and reconcile us with God.   Join us for the first week of our new series exploring the nature of God in None Like Him - God is Holy.

The birth of Jesus is a beacon of God’s unfailing love and faithfulness. Hope is trusting in something beyond ourselves, and we are called to follow Him to share His hope with others.  Jesus is the reminder that God has not forgotten us. Through Him, we can trust that God has a plan for our lives and for the world; He is our hope. Join us for "The King's Message - Hope in the Manger" to hear how hope in Jesus is the anchor that holds us steady in the storms of life.

All you need to do is turn on the news or scroll through social media and you'll see a world filled with tremendous suffering and pain. It's foolish to think that evil doesn't exist. But there is hope. The kingdom of heaven is different from the kingdom of this world. Jesus came as a humble, suffering servant to conquer evil and darkness and to bring peace, hope, and love. Through Christmas, Jesus would put an end to death. Join us for "The King's Victory: Conquering Darkness" to hear how the love of Jesus truly wins.

How do we influence the people and culture around us? What if you harnessed the character and skills that God has gifted you with to bring about Gospel change that glorifies Jesus and brings joy to those around you? In work, family, and life, we can take steps to make positive shifts and encourage the people around us. Listen to this special Team Night episode to learn four ways to Change the Temperature in situations, culture, and relationships.

From the twinkling lights on a Christmas tree to giving gifts and gathering with our friends and families, this whole Christmas season is filled with stars that are meant to point us to the Messiah. As disciples, we are called to follow Jesus. It’s not just about having head knowledge of a savior, it’s about following Him. It's not about just collecting information or checking a box, but taking action to have a relationship with Jesus. Listen in as our Youth Pastor Jordan walks us through "The King's Arrival" to learn to look for stars that point to Jesus. Just as the Wise Men followed the star to find the Messiah, we too can look for stars that lead us to Him.

In Matthew 2:1-12, we learn about The Wise Men who come to baby Jesus, seek him out and worship Him. Their hearts were filled with the desire to encounter and fully worship this God who became a man, in the form of a tiny baby to physically be with His people. Jesus is the invisible God, made visible. Throughout the Bible, both before and after Jesus was born, we find people encountering Jesus and falling on their faces in worship, because He is just that worthy. As we prepare our hearts for the coming of the King this Advent season, we invite you to listen to the message “All Bow Down” for some tangible ways to seek out Jesus this Christmas. May you be filled with awe and reverence this holiday season.

In the midst of a busy Christmas season, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of all the activities that get added to to the calendar and in the to-do list of all the things you need to accomplish. It's like Christmas becomes this big event, and we forget to pause and reflect on why a holy and perfect God would become a child in this world.   The greatest tragedy of Christmas is forgetting to make room for Him.   Join us for for "Prepare Him Room," as we learn how to prepare our hearts for the quiet arrival of a savior, and the true reason we're celebrating this Christmas.