Rise City Church Sermon Podcast

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...

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...

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 ou...

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 fir...

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 Matthew 8, Jesus invites his disciples into the boat with a promise: We’re going to the other side. He doesn’t promise calm waters—but He does promise His presence. Even as the waves crash, He’s right there—resting in peace that He offers to us too. Tune in this week as special guest Daniel Goulding walks us through a powerful moment in the middle of chaos, when the disciples begin to realize t...

In Romans 11, Paul tackles the question of whether God has given up on His people, Israel. His answer is a clear “No way!” Even when things seem tough, God always has a group of people who stay faithful to Him. This reminds us that, no matter what we're going through, God is still working through those who keep their faith, and we’re invited to be part of that group.   Even though many in Israel r...

Sometimes we make faith more complicated than it needs to be. But the truth is simple: Jesus alone saves when we repent and believe. You don’t have to earn God’s love by being good enough. In fact, trying to earn it can actually get in the way. The Gospel isn’t about what we do for God. It’s about what God has already done for us through Jesus. And it all starts with prayer. In Romans 10, Paul beg...

Whether you’ve been around church your whole life or you’re just starting to explore faith, the message is the same: God’s grace is for you. In Romans 9, Paul pours out his heart for his people who haven’t accepted Jesus. His pain shows us something important; it reflects the heart of God, who deeply desires for everyone to come home. Salvation isn’t something you can earn by being good, having th...

On Mother’s Day, we reflected on the kind of love that never gives up...the love of God. In Romans 8, Paul reminds us that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. The Greek word used for “separate” is chorizo, which means to divide, cut off, or pull apart. Life can make us feel that way. Shame, fear, suffering, or insecurity can leave us feeling distant from God. Like a piano that drifts...

Suffering isn’t the end of the story. In Romans 8, Paul reminds us that our present pain, no matter how deep, isn’t even worth comparing to the glory that’s coming. From creation itself to our own hearts, everything is groaning for redemption. But this isn’t a groan of death; it’s the pain of labor. Something new is being born. This week, Pastor Jason Clarke reminds us that even when life feels br...

When it comes to the Christian faith, we often think it’s all about us finding God. But Jesus tells a much different story. In Luke 15, He shows that faith doesn’t start with our pursuit of Him—it's all about His pursuit of us. God isn’t standing at a distance, waiting for us to get it together. He’s the Shepherd who leaves the 99 to chase after the one. He’s the woman who turns her house upside d...

Easter isn’t just a holiday; it’s a bold declaration that death has been defeated for good. On Resurrection Day, we celebrate the moment everything changed. In Romans 8, Paul unpacks the incredible blessings we now have because of Jesus' resurrection. Thanks to what Christ has done, we get to live with a brand new identity, new desires, and real power for everyday life. The resurrection takes away...

What does it actually mean to seek first the Kingdom? In Matthew 6, Jesus reminds us that life isn’t about chasing success or security. It starts with putting God first—and trusting Him to provide what we need. When we live with a Kingdom-first mindset, it changes how we spend our time, handle our money, and even how we engage in politics. Join us as we unpack what it looks like to pursue the pres...

Why is it so hard to do the right thing—even when we want to? In Romans 7, Paul gives voice to the tension we all feel: the battle between our flesh and The Spirit. There’s a war going on inside us—and it’s not just a matter of willpower. It’s the reality of sin nature—something that was never meant to be there in the first place. But here’s the truth: Sin isn’t an identity to wear; it’s an enemy...

What if faithfulness isn’t about perfection, but about staying committed to God in a world that constantly pulls us away? Psalm 101 shows David’s desire to live blamelessly—not without sin, but with a heart set on honoring God. God doesn’t reward greatness—He rewards faithfulness. Staying true to Him starts with guarding our hearts, our homes, and the small choices we make daily. Join us as Phil C...

What if the things you’re chasing—success, approval, security—are actually holding you captive? What if true freedom isn’t found in having more, but in surrendering all? Paul reminds us in Romans 6 that we are all slaves to something—whether sin or righteousness. The good news? Because of Jesus, we don’t have to stay chained to sin. Join us as we explore what it means to offer our lives fully to G...

What if you could start to break from from your patterns and cycles of sin and failure? What if you actually had the power to change and become a new person? Paul tells us that when we follow Christ, we die to sin and are raised to a new life. Yet, like an elephant trained to believe it’s still chained, we often live as though sin still controls us. Tune in as we look at Romans 6 which challenges...

Why is our world marked by pain, suffering, and death? Paul answers this question in Romans 5 by tracing it back to one man—Adam. Through his sin, the curse entered the world, spreading brokenness to all. But that’s not the end of the story.   Where Adam brought sin and death, Jesus brings grace and life. Through His perfect obedience, Jesus became the new and better Adam, reversing the curse and...

What if being right with God wasn’t something you had to earn, but something already secured for you? In Romans 5, Paul declares that through faith in Jesus, we are justified—made right with God. This isn’t based on our performance, but on Christ’s perfect sacrifice. Because of Him, we stand in grace, live with peace, and boast in the hope of God’s glory.   Listen in as we celebrate 11 years as a...

What if, in our hardest seasons, when hope feels lost, God is already working? In Romans 4:18, Paul points to Abraham, who “against all hope, in hope believed.” His circumstances made God’s promise seem impossible, yet he trusted anyway. Maybe you’re in an “against all hope” season—struggling in your job, your marriage, or your faith. Maybe you feel stuck in sin or burdened by shame. But the good...

What if we’re chasing approval, success, or trying to be “good enough” when everything we really need is already ours in Jesus? In Romans 3, Paul reminds us that salvation isn’t earned—it’s a gift we receive through faith. Our hope is not in what we do, but in what Jesus has already done. Tune in as Zach Landes walks us through four key truths of the Gospel: Justification, Redemption, Grace, and P...

Your life is a worship song—every choice, action, and word is an offering to God. Our bodies are the greatest instruments of worship. Living a life of service to Him is the greatest form of worship! Listen in as Jason unpacks Romans 12 and invites you to join Team Jesus. God wants you to join His team and He has gifted and wired you with a specific spot on His team.  Even when we serve behind the...

What if everything you believed about righteousness was wrong? In Romans 3, Paul reveals that the law was never meant to save—but to show our need for a Savior. The law is a mirror reflecting our brokenness, but Jesus shatters it, declaring our worth in Him. Join us as we unpack sin, grace, and the radical truth that salvation isn’t earned—it’s given.