CityRise Sermons

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...

In this opening message of our new series, "Set Free," Pastor Alberto Avila explores the book of Galatians and the timeless struggle of the "human problem": the tendency to add extra requirements to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Using his own experiences with a 20-year marriage and building a backyard fort, Pastor Alberto illustrates how easy it is to deviate from the truth by even a single degree....

In this Easter message, Dr. Roger Patterson dives into John 20 to explore the moment that changed history forever . Many people reject the resurrection not because of a lack of evidence, but because it doesn't fit their existing framework of what is possible . Dr. Patterson challenges us to look past our expectations and examine the five distinct reactions to the empty tomb found in Scripture: dis...

What if what looks like defeat is actually the greatest victory the world has ever known? In this powerful message, Dr. Roger Patterson explores the profound significance of the crucifixion through the lens of John 19. While the world saw a humiliated man in a mock coronation, the spiritual reality was the enthronement of the King of Kings. Using the metaphor of a "hidden gem" found in an old draw...

Is the "blood of Jesus" just an outdated religious phrase, or is it the key to your eternal freedom? In this powerful message from Hebrews 9:11-28, Dr. Roger Patterson of CityRise Church explores why the shedding of blood was necessary for the forgiveness of sins and how Jesus serves as our "Better High Priest." While the modern world often tries to minimize sin as mere "mistakes," Dr. Patterson r...

In this powerful message from our Easter series, "The Power of the Cross," Pastor Ben Hays explores the profound depth of what Jesus endured on our behalf. Drawing from the prophetic words of Isaiah 53, we uncover five specific "weights" that Christ carried so that we no longer have to bear them ourselves. Using the classic imagery of John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress, Pastor Ben illustrates ho...

s the cross God's emergency response to human failure, or was it the plan from the very beginning? In this powerful message from CityRise Bellaire, Pastor Kirby Follis dives into Genesis 3 and Luke 24 to reveal the "scarlet thread" of redemption that runs through the entire Bible. Discover why the cross wasn't "Plan B" but a perfect, pre-ordained blueprint designed to defeat sin, shame, and death....

Is your view of God big enough to handle your bank account? In this powerful message from the "Pathways" series, Dr. Roger Patterson dives into 1 Chronicles 29 to explore the profound connection between our worship and our wealth. Many of us live under the stress of "ownership," clinging tightly to what we have, only to find ourselves in a cycle of lack and anxiety. Dr. Patterson challenges us to...

What does it take to be an authentic leader in a rapidly changing world? In this powerful message, Dr. Roger Patterson continues our Pathways series by diving into 1 Chronicles 29 to explore the leadership of King David as he prepared for the construction of the Temple. Drawing a parallel between the 1804 Lewis and Clark expedition and the journey of the modern church, Dr. Patterson discusses how...

In this powerful message, Senior Pastor Dr. Roger Patterson explores the critical pivot from vision and planning to bold action. Drawing from 1 Chronicles 28, we look at King David's final charge to his son Solomon as he prepares to build the Temple. David's words, "Be strong and courageous, and do it," serve as a timeless blueprint for every believer. Dr. Patterson breaks down four essential prin...

"A man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps". We all plan—daily, weekly, and for the long term—but often our planning is just a disguised attempt to maintain control. Join Senior Pastor Dr. Roger Patterson as he dives into the tension between human preparation and divine sovereignty. Discover how CityRise Church is entering a new season of impact and how your "Pathway of Planning" c...

When life gets foggy and the "land" is nowhere in sight, how do you keep moving forward? In this powerful message from our 40 Days of Faith series, Chris DeArman explores the life of Noah—a man who was called to build an ark for events "as yet unseen." Through the lens of Hebrews 11:7, we learn how to navigate seasons of uncertainty, risk, and danger by leaning into the certainty of God's Word rat...

In this powerful message, Dr. Roger Patterson explores the life of Enoch, the man who "walked with God" and was taken to heaven without seeing death. As part of our 40 Days of Faith series, we examine how every life preaches a sermon and how our daily walk impacts generations to come. Enoch lived in a time of increasing wickedness, yet he maintained a life of integrity, righteousness, and propheti...

Why was Abel's gift acceptable to God, while Cain's was not?. In this powerful message, Dr. Roger Patterson explores what it means to live with a "Faith That Offers Its Best.". Join us as we dive into Hebrews 11:4 to discover how our offerings—given in faith—can continue to speak long after we are gone. As we continue our church-wide series, 40 Days of Faith, Pastor Roger uses the story of Cain an...