CityRise Sermons

What happens when earthly authorities demand you compromise your faith? In this powerful message on Acts 5, Dr. Roger Patterson unpacks how the early church faced legal pressure, punishment, and persecution with unwavering boldness and radical joy. Through the story of Peter and the apostles standing before the Sanhedrin, we are challenged to wrestle with three crucial principles: The Question of...

What happens when ordinary believers step out in extraordinary, bold faith ? In this sermon from Acts 3 and 4, Pastor Tim Yeager walks through four powerful scenes showing how God transforms life, turns everyday interruptions into opportunities, and moves His church to speak the truth with courage—even when facing opposition . Through the miraculous healing of a man lame from birth , Peter and Joh...

Are you trying to live the Christian life in your own strength? In this powerful message from Acts 2, Dr. Roger Patterson explores the foundational role of the Holy Spirit as God's current, daily gift to believers . When we receive Christ, we don't just gain a future home in heaven—we are sealed and given the Holy Spirit today as our helper, guide, teacher, and source of power . Join us as Dr. Pat...

In this sermon on Acts 2, Pastor Alberto Avila explores the transformative power of the Day of Pentecost . Looking at the profound parallels between the Old Testament and the New Testament, Pastor Alberto contrasts the terrifying, distant fire at Mount Sinai with the inviting, personal fire of the Holy Spirit poured out on believers in Jerusalem .

In this message, titled "The Mission Continues," Ben examines how the Book of Acts serves as the vital sequel to the Gospel of Luke . While Luke's Gospel details what Jesus began to do and teach, Acts reveals what Jesus continues to do through His Spirit-empowered church . Learn how we are called to move past political distractions, lean into prayer, and actively participate in God's global missio...

n the final message of our 13-week series on heaven, Pastor Tim Yeager walks through Revelation 22 to reveal how the biblical story reaches its ultimate conclusion. From the reversal of creation's curse to the promise of seeing God face-to-face, discover why eternity isn't just a future destination—it's motivation for how we live today. Join CityRise Church as we look at the ultimate hope we have...

What will eternity actually look like ? In this sermon from Revelation 21, Dr. Roger Patterson explores what the Bible reveals about our eternal home—a restored creation, resurrected bodies, and the glorious reality of God dwelling with His people . Discover how Heaven is not an escape from Earth, but a complete transformation where sorrow is gone, work is redeemed, and joy is everlasting . Join u...

What does the Bible teach about the Millennial Kingdom, the binding of Satan, and God's ultimate plan for justice ? In Week 11 of the sermon series "Can You Even Imagine?" at CityRise Church, Lead Pastor Dr. Roger Patterson walks through Revelation chapter 20 to uncover God's promises for the Messianic Age—a 1,000-year reign of unprecedented peace, righteousness, and restoration on earth . Discove...

In this message, Dr. Roger Patterson continues our series on Heaven by diving into Revelation 19 and eschatology—the study of end times and future things . Discover what the Bible reveals about the end-time timeline, the significance of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, and how our lives today prepare us for eternity with Christ . As the Bride of Christ, believers are called to live set apart—refle...

What will heaven really be like? In this powerful sermon on Revelation 7:9–17, Dr. Roger Patterson unpacks John's vision of the great multitude gathered around the throne of God. While it is difficult for us to fully grasp the reality of heaven, Scripture reveals three profound truths about our eternal home: Heaven is more global than you can imagine: People from every nation, tribe, language, and...

What will happen on the day you stand before Jesus? In Week 8 of our "Can You Even Imagine?" series on Heaven, Dr. Roger Patterson explores what the Bible reveals about the Judgment Seat of Christ. For believers in Christ, this is not a judgment of condemnation, but a moment of evaluation and reward for how we lived our lives on Earth. Using 2 Corinthians 5 and 1 Corinthians 3, Dr. Patterson expla...

In this powerful sermon, Pastor Ben Hays continues our summer series on Heaven with a deep dive into Jesus' teaching on the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 6:19-24. While many automatically look at this passage as a lesson on finances, Jesus is ultimately challenging our perspective to have an eternal orientation of the heart. What you treasure shapes what you see, and what you see determines who...

What happens to the physical body after death? In this powerful message from CityRise Church, Dr. Roger Patterson unpacks 1 Corinthians 15—the greatest text on the resurrection in the New Testament. While many cultures throughout history have tried to secure their own immortality (like China's famous Terracotta Clay Army), Dr. Patterson reminds us that the empty grave of Jesus Christ is the true b...

In this powerful message, Dr. Roger Patterson continues our series on heaven by diving into Philippians 1:21-26. Addressing a culture deeply rooted in the denial of death, Dr. Patterson challenges us to ask ourselves an essential question: "For me to live is _______?" Drawing from the life of the Apostle Paul—who wrote to the Philippians while facing suffering and imprisonment—we see how settling...

What happens to a believer the moment they die, and what exactly do we receive when we get to heaven? In this powerful message Pastor Robby Dobbs from CityRise Bellaire unpacks 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 to show us how the certainty of heaven should completely change the way we live today. Pastor Robby compares our earthly, physical bodies to temporary "tents" that wear out, fade, and face suffering. But...

In this moving Father's Day message from CityRise Church, Pastor Ben Hays dives into Luke 23:32-43 to examine the powerful interaction between Jesus and the two criminals crucified alongside Him. While one criminal mocked Jesus, the other showed true repentance and humility, uttering the dying plea: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus' immediate response— "Today you will be...

Are you living your life in light of eternity? In this powerful message, Pastor Roger Patterson dives into John 14:1-7 to answer a foundational question: What makes heaven so heavenly? Preaching from one of the most comforted and recited texts in the Bible, Pastor Roger reminds us that heaven is not just a destination—heaven is found in the person of Jesus Christ . If your heart is currently heavy...

Are you feeling a deep, unexplainable longing for something more? In this message, Pastor Ben Hays kicks off our summer sermon series, "Can You Even Imagine?", by exploring the universal human ache for eternity. Drawing from Hebrews 11:13–16, Pastor Ben looks at the lives of the patriarchs—like Abraham and Sarah—who lived as strangers and exiles on this earth, looking forward to a heavenly homelan...

In this final message of the Set Free series on the book of Galatians, Dr. Roger Patterson explores what true spiritual liberty looks like to an outside world . Moving past the traps of legalism ("Jesus plus" rules) and license (using freedom to gratify the flesh), Dr. Patterson dives into Galatians 5:25–26 and Galatians 6:1–10 to deliver three core principles for living in step with the Holy Spir...

Are you tired of feeling trapped by an oppressive system that demands perfection? In this powerful Memorial Day weekend message from West University Baptist Church, Dr. Roger Patterson dives into Galatians 5:16–26 to uncover the true meaning of Christian liberty. Many believers find themselves trapped on opposite ends of the spectrum: legalism (living by strict rules and performance) or license (u...

In this sermon from Galatians 5:1–15, Pastor Ben Hays looks at the profound impact of small influences on our spiritual journeys. Walking through the text at West U Baptist, Pastor Ben breaks down the dangerous shift from a grace-filled life back into works-based legalism. Using the powerful biblical analogy of yeast—and a fun debate about the best pre-dinner restaurant bread—this message delivers...

In this powerful Mother's Day message, Dr. Roger Patterson continues our series, "Set Free," by diving into a deeply theological look at two mothers from the book of Genesis: Hagar and Sarah. While we often think of Mother's Day in sentimental terms, the Apostle Paul uses the stories of these two women to illustrate the radical difference between living under the law and living in the freedom of t...

Are you living in an identity crisis? Many of us feel imprisoned by our thoughts, bound by the opinions of others, or trapped in a cycle of "performance" to earn God's approval. In this powerful message from Dr. Roger Patterson, we dive into Galatians 3 and 4 to discover that in Christ, we are no longer spiritual slaves—we are fully adopted sons and daughters of the King.   In this sermon, you'll...

Are you exhausted from trying to be "good enough" for God? In this powerful sermon on Galatians 3, Ben Hays shares his personal journey as a "recovering legalist" and explores why many Christians fall into the trap of trying to earn their salvation through performance rather than resting in the grace of Jesus Christ.     Using Paul's letter to the Galatians as a guide, Ben addresses four critical...

What happens when the things you trust most—your reputation, your effort, and your ability to perform—are stripped away? In this powerful message from CityRise Church, Dr. Roger Patterson explores the Apostle Paul's defense of the gospel in Galatians 1 and 2. Dr. Patterson shares a personal season of deep refinement and examines how God uses "stripping away" not to hurt us, but to free us from the...