Risen Church NC

In the face of persecution, the Apostles made the decision to double down on their faith and the Kingdom of God. In this message, we discuss how this bewildered the authorities and how their response is a tremendous lesson for us in ministry. We also find inspiration and conviction from the early church's faithfulness. They believed that God was unstoppable, that their hope was unbreakable, and that the Church was unshakeable. With that confidence and perspective, they endured every challenge and trial. They believed that if God could be glorified through it, then every obstacle was worth it and wouldn't be wasted in God's greater redemptive work.

Christianity at its very core is all about a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We often emphasize faith, obedience, or Heaven when defining Christianity, but those things are actually secondary to our relationship with God. What does it mean to be in a relationship with God? Listen as we discuss this and much more! If the Creator and Power behind all the Universe can be known deeply and personally, is there anything more valuable than pursuing Him?

In this message, we witness Jesus facing the darkest of nights with a peace and resolve like none other.

BASICS is about understanding the core pillars of our faith. This series will center us around what's most important and position us for spiritual maturity and growth. In week one, we talk about God's Word--what it is and why we can have confidence in it. We also learn how the Word can make us "complete and equipped for every good work". Ultimately, our relationship with Jesus will always be a reflection of time spent in God's Word.

In this message from Mark 14 we discuss: - How the religious leaders, Judas, and Mary all reflect the possible responses to Jesus. What does Jesus mean to us? - Every participant in this story has a free will, but Jesus was the Divine Director of all of these events. Everything was working according to God's definite plan. - Jesus was faithful amidst all the noise, ready to lay His life down for the world. His posture and poise through it all should move us to respond with devotion and sacrifice.

The early church was motivated by a brand of faith that will always inspire and challenge readers. However, this faith is not stuck in the past, but is very much still available to believers today. The Holy Spirit radically changed their lives, showing them their higher purpose and making them bold. In this message, we see this ambition take them to an even greater level, as they once again stand before the authorities. Listen as we hear them articulate their sense of ought, as we consider how we *must* take on this same kind of dedication.

Psalm 139 invites us to rest in the unchanging attributes of our good and loving God. Listen as we consider the access we have to God by faith and how this offers us grace and peace amidst our uncertain, challenging circumstances.

The boldest faith creates the brightest witness. In this message, we look at the boldness of the early church, from their testimony before the courts to their generosity towards others. We notice the undeniable correlation between boldness and brightness. Listen as we consider what drove the early church to take such bold steps and what might be preventing our own obedience.

Few people have enjoyed the blessings and security that King David knew in his generation. Aside from the material possessions, he knew the heart of God like none before Him. Even still, one day he was overcome with an existential conviction--His life was not centered around God. He could have easily gotten lost in his many gifts from God, but he could not shake the notion that his life was still unbalanced. He knew he needed to make more room for God. So often in life, we reduce God down to a category and a provider of necessities. We file our faith away as a policy or a tool. All the while, we miss out on what God truly desires to give us and what only comes by way of walking with God in a personal relationship. In this message, we learn of the joy that is found in knowing and walking with God. If God is the greatest source of good in the universe, then it stands to reason that the greatest measure of joy is found in Him. We spend our days pursuing happiness and satisfaction, but we are mostly looking for it in the wrong places. David reminds us that pure, lasting joy is found in a desire and passion for God. The question is: Will we make room for Him?

Psalm 121 reminds us to worship when it's the last thing we feel like doing. So many times we associate worship with feelings, but worship is about overcoming, overpowering your feelings with something much greater: Faith. Listen as we discuss how worship can transform our lives by opening our hearts to receive God's peace and power.

The early church displayed a brand of fearlessness that could only be explained through supernatural cause. They had witnessed the most supernatural event possible--The Resurrection of Jesus. After seeing Him alive and sitting under His teaching, they were compelled to continue His movement with confidence and courage. Jesus warned them of the risk and cost, and yet they were unfazed and determined. In this message, we see how committed and convinced they were in the face of the same threatening authorities which sentenced Jesus before them. Jesus taught His followers to see opposition as an opportunity to maximize their witness, which is on full display in Acts 4. Listen as we observe Peter and John before the courts and be inspired by their incredible faith. Acts 4 confronts us with a reality that many believe is contrary to God's Will for our modern church. Yet, this is consistent with what the New Testament teaches should be the expectation for Christians. How can we follow suit in fearlessness and boldness? Listen and discover that the same Spirit who moved through the Apostles can transform our outlooks and attitudes.

The book of Acts is more than a collection of incredible miracles—it’s a record of how God established and authenticated His Church while also providing timeless principles for every believer. In this message, we look into the important distinction between the extraordinary signs God used to validate the apostles and the enduring patterns the Church is called to follow. When we recognize this, Acts becomes the greatest defense of the Church as God’s choice vehicle in our world today. It also helps us to understand what principles are meant to be adopted and practiced by all believers. Focusing on Acts 3, we discover that the healing of the lame man was never meant to draw attention to given person's 'ability' to perform miracles, but was always about exalting Jesus. The miracle opened the door for the gospel, reminding us that every act of compassion, every opportunity to serve, and every testimony should ultimately point people to Christ. While miracles may capture our attention, the greatest miracle is still the transforming power of Jesus, who refreshes hearts today and promises complete restoration for all who trust in Him.

In this message, we learn that one of the most valuable things we can ever have in our possession is ANSWERED PRAYER. For God to hear our cry and entrust us with His amazing grace is truly beyond us. Hezekiah saw God intervene in his life more than once, responding to his prayers for mercy. One of the most striking verses in all the Bible tells us that he failed to recognize the priceless gift and did not honor God with his life in the aftermath. Perhaps the greatest consequence of his pride and arrogance came in the impact it had on his son, Manasseh. The text tells us that Hezekiah and Manasseh's leadership ultimately sent Israel down a path of no return. Listen as we discuss the grace behind every answered prayer and set our hearts to properly respond to the favor God shows us.

One of the most important themes of Acts is how the Gospel creates a transformed, Christ-centered community. In this message, we break down the different facets of the Church Community and how they all are essential characteristics in making Christ known.

In this message, we discuss how our fears can be exchanged for faith and boldness, even if trouble and uncertainties linger. If we are willing to suspend our doubts and turn up Heaven's volume, we can find the supernatural strength to endure and overcome even the greatest of odds.

A reflection on 250 years of American history, how the Scriptures inspired our founders, and how they might continue to guide us into accountability, unity, and compassion.

In this message, we learn how a humble approach and a pure desire for God is key to receiving true, spiritual blessings.

In this message, we hear King David's final, public prayer in which he calls Solomon and the rest of Israel to consecrate themselves to God. Through sacrifice and prayer, we can position ourselves to become the person God desires us to be, with a pure, devoted heart. Listen as we marvel at David's example of sacrifice and seek to follow his posture of prayer.

1 & 2 Chronicles were written to inspire a new generation of Israelites to not repeat the mistakes of their ancestors and teach them the power of prayer. From the earliest days of humanity, dating back to Adam's grandson, Enosh, prayer was key to helping people overcome their sinful nature and draw close to God. 1 Chronicles 4 spotlights a forgotten hero of ancient Israel, named Jabez, who was cursed from his youth and considered to be destined for failure. Through prayer, Jabez saw that curse broken and reminds us that we too can be redeemed.

What does it look like to put God at the center of our lives? And why is it so critical that we revolve our lives around Him? Listen as we look at King David's initiative to place God at the center of the nation's heart and how we can learn practical lessons from his approach. Our three main takeaways from 1 Chronicles 13-16 are: Through prayer, obedience, and endurance God will become the center of our attention and affection.

Acts 1:1-11 gives us the promise of Pentecost and foreshadows all of the incredible moments ahead for the church. It's tempting to move right into chapter 2 to see the Holy Spirit fall and His flame begin to spread, but the interstitial passage offers us tremendous insight and convictions. To overlook Acts `1:12-26 would mean skipping over an account that emphasizes the love and passion the early church had for Jesus. In this message, we discuss this essential preparatory passage that sets the stage for Acts 2. Make no mistake, there would be no Acts 2 without the simple acts of obedience and faithfulness that preceded it. Acts 2 power only comes on the back of Acts 1 preparation. Listen as we discuss the importance of each step of preparation and how we might follow in the early church's footsteps.

In this message, Haggai confronts and challenges us in our priorities and reflects back at us the futility of putting anyone and anything above or alongside God's place in our lives.

Of all the systems and ideals that Jesus came to turn on their heads, the definition and concept of Greatness is probably the most significant. In this message, Jesus challenges the world's understanding of what makes one great and shows us a better way forward. Listen as we discuss how 'losing' now can mean 'winning' in eternity--how victory in God's Kingdom is found down a rather unconventional path.

For years, Israel repeated a cycle of rebellion and remorse, returning to God only when they began to yearn for the worldly goods they had cost themselves. The prophet Joel looks forward to a day when true repentance produces a better kind of and enduring restoration--where God heals our hearts and gives us His Spirit.

In this message, we discuss the importance of being a church willing and ready to help all people, especially those who may seem beyond rehabilitation.

The story of Jonah often gets reduced down to cartoonish caricature of a defiant, rebellious unbeliever. However, the story of Jonah is actually a very relevant, reflection of the average, complacent believer. By all accounts, Jonah is a good man - better than most in his generation. Jonah had served many years as a faithful prophet in Israel, but at some point, he drifted to a place of self-righteousness and religious pride. Jonah was ready to serve God... up until a certain point. One day, God asked him to do something that challenged his comfort levels and worldview, and that's where Jonah drew the line. Listen as we discuss this threshold of obedience that all of us are guilty of setting in place and learn how Jonah offers us all a reflection of where complacency and selfishness can take any believer.

By this point in Mark's Gospel it is clear that Jesus is more than an ordinary man and everyone is suspecting that He had a connection with God the world had never seen. Some were spectulating, hoping that He could be the long-awaited Messiah, but they weren't really sure what all that would entail. In this message, we hear Jesus respond to Peter's famous confession by detailing and clarifying what Messiah actually meant. More specifically, Jesus began to disclose the ontological phenomenon that made His status as Messiah so unique and extraordinary. Listen as we hear Jesus emphasize both His humanity and His divinity. Jesus' dual ontology is the distinction between Him and any other faith leader or would-be messiah. It is also what makes Christianity the exclusive way to God and the only means of redemption and restoration for sinful humanity. P.S. If you can guess what the thumbnail is referring to, great is your reward in Heaven.

The Disciples are at their most relatable in this passage, where we find them repeatedly doubting and stumbling in their faith. Jesus offers a soft and gracious rebuke, but makes it clear the risk of ignoring this kind of disconnect with God.

What does God want from us more than anything else? What will set us apart as His people and distinguish from those who don't believe? The prophet Micah answers these questions simply and succinctly. Ancient Israel had lost touch with what it meant to truly know God and society was collapsing all around. With a disconnect from God, there was no moral compass with how people should be valued and treated. There was no justice. There was no mercy. People had become hardened and careless. However, religion was thriving in Micah's generation, because it served as an effective substitute for a true relationship with God. It eased people's conscience while not demanding true devotion or change. So God raised Micah up to condemn the charades of his generation and call the people back home to true devotion. Listen as we discuss how Israel fell for religion's trap in the first place, and why we all should be on guard of its devices. Once we understand what God wants most from us, we will be properly compelled and empowered to honor Him with our lives.

The first chapter of Acts is more of a continuation than it is a beginning. That's because it's literally part two of the story of Jesus and the movement He set in motion. For that reason, Acts 1 reflects on the foundation that has been laid in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and looks forward with confidence. In this message, we discuss how the certainty of Jesus' resurrection provides continual inspiration and momentum to the Church in every generation.

The Old Testament contains many efforts by God to breakthrough the hardened hearts of Ancient Israel, and the book of Hosea may be the most powerful and moving. God raised up Hosea as a prophet in a day when His people had turned from Him and charged them with committing spiritual adultery. In this message, we see how God led Hosea into a devastating personal struggle in order to reflect back at Israel the gravity of their unfaithfulness. Listen as we look at one of the most passionate displays of God's redeeming love in all the Bible.

After a tense stand-off with the Religious Leaders on the subject of sin and true righteousness, Jesus departs Israel on one of His most surprising missions ever. He takes His group north to the regions of Tyre and Sidon. Known for their notorious role of influencing the Jewish people in all the worst ways; thus any Jew seeking to maintain purity would never so much as look in that direction. Wanting to punctuate our inability to save ourselves and our reliance on God's grace, Jesus took the Gospel to this infamous people group. In this message, we see how unlimited God's mercy truly is to all who come to Him in humble, sincere faith. We also see how important it is to help bring people to Jesus who are unable to approach Him on their own. If we understand His grace's impact on us, we will be compelled to help everyone come to Him.

Welcome to our newest series, BLUEPRINTS- a study on the first generations of Jesus Followers and the path the paved in founding and building the Church. While the majority of this study will be rooted in the book of Acts, this introduction launches from Matthew 16, where Jesus Himself cast the original vision for His Church. Listen as we discuss the early church's motivation, mission, and power-source. If we want to follow in their footsteps, we will embrace the blueprints they left behind.

In this conclusion to our DISCIPLESHIP series, we study the last part of Jesus' prayer in John 17. Whereas the first part can be extracted from the text and applied to individuals, the last portion addresses every disciple as members of a collective body. What makes this so important is that it explicitly defines a true disciple as a faithful, engaged member of a community of God's people, set apart for His cause-- that is, a local church. Listen as we look back on the challenges, distractions and divisions that have plagued the church in America over the past few decades, forcing us all to return to God's Word for fresh wisdom and direction. We arrive at a pretty conclusive understanding that the future of the Church must be a return to true, devoted discipleship.

In Mark 7, Jesus peels back the religious facade of Ancient Israel and exposes the truth. The Religious Leader's' self-righteous efforts could not compensate for or remedy their sinful hearts. The most unfortunate part of this, however, was how the masses had been misled into relying on gimmicks and traditions to improve their standing with God. Listen as we discuss religion's inability to save and our heart's desperate need for God's grace.

In this message on Discipleship, we learn how Jesus actively intercedes for all of His followers to stay faithful and true. John 17 is a record of the prayer that He prayed on the last night of His earthly life, but it serves as a reminder of the daily intercession He offers for us. We unpack four discipleship truths, which direct us in realizing our full potential as believers. Rest assured, Jesus does not lord over us with pressure, but rather champions and empowers us through the Holy Spirit. We have the capacity and are fully capable to receive His help. It comes down to our willingness to surrender and readiness to serve Him above all.

John summarizes the Gospel as being an invitation to a new, deeper, full brand of life. This begins with understanding why Jesus died, but it continues with being transformed by His resurrection. This series is about realizing our true purpose as Christians in becoming devoted disciples of Jesus. At the crux of this distinction is possessing a genuine love for Jesus. He said that if we love Him, we will obey Him. In this opening message, we answer the question, "How can we fall in love with Jesus?" If we come to understand all that He 's done for us, love will come naturally, and with it, obedience.

In Christ, we all have been set apart for God's work. This message is about pursuing God's anointing and being best positioned to receive all He has to offer.

Most of us see acquiring money and possessions as one of our goals in life. Jesus tells us that these things are actually tools to attain a much greater goal in the afterlife. He spoke of "true riches" that we can only receive if we are faithful with and properly leverage our temporary riches. In this message, we hear Jesus cast His vision for how we should handle our money and possessions, and look back through the Scriptures for even more insight. Listen as we learn about the origins of tithing, the 23 % three-fold tithing system of Ancient Israel, and how all of this translates from Old to New Testament. Ultimately, we realize that our earthly goods are only as good as we leverage them for eternity. When we understand why God gives us any measure of wealth, we will be moved to honor Him with all of it. Generosity is an overflow of love. Just as God loves and gives, when we truly love Him, we will be compelled to give, thus tethering our hearts to His Kingdom above.

The Pharisees were self-designated as the religious elite of Israel. In an age where everyone was desperate to hear from God, they believed they were best positioned to get His attention and earn His approval. They boasted of their superiority and manipulated the religious system to magnify others' sinfulness. Naturally, Jesus and His Gospel upset the establishment and threatened to dismantle the hierarchal system. In this message, we hear Jesus' strong words against their self-righteousness and learn how empty their religion truly was. We also examine the current church and discuss if and how Mark 7 still resonates to this day.

In this message, we study why Jesus left the scene so abruptly in the aftermath of one of His most famous miracles. We also discuss Jesus' intentions in sending His followers into a storm and why this shouldn't cause us to lose heart at all. Listen and uncover a truth that Jesus' original audience so often missed...

Easter invites us to "come and see" what God has done to change our world and our lives. Rest assured, if there's any part of us that wonders if we can rise above our sorrows and sin, Easter also reminds us that Jesus is well acquainted with our brokenness. Once we understand that everything we need to know God and find new life is provided through Christ's death and resurrection, we will have unshakeable hope and peace.

A walk through Matthew 27, where we see how Satan's attempts to destroy Jesus actually created the platform for the Gospel. The redemptive power of God is on full display, from how He leverages evil for our salvation and how Jesus was forsaken in our place, for our forgiveness.

When the Gospel accounts reach the events of Passion Week it's as if time slows to a crawl. Every last detail is included as the story nears its climax. Thursday night, the last night of Jesus' life, is no exception. Matthew shares with us everything that transpired from that evening until deep into the night. Every expression of our fallen world is on full display and we witness Jesus navigating it all, feeling the intense gravity of the moment. Listen as we breakdown the Passover meal, the New Covenant, the high stakes of Gethsemane, Jesus' arrest and trial, and much more.

Every generation knows what it's like to want a revolution. From politics, to culture, to moral issues - we've all hoped and advocated for radical change. 2000 years ago, the people of Judea were desperate for a revolution. Many would-be revolutionaries had come and gone, being unable to put even a dent in Rome's armor. In this message, we look at how many had high hopes that Jesus would answer their cry and deliver Israel into a golden age. Jesus had indeed come to change everything, but His sights weren't set on Rome or any other worldly kingdom. Listen as we see how Jesus identified a much more deadly enemy and provided true, lasting salvation.

The allure of power and authority has captivated every mind once or twice across life. For those with a real shot at obtaining such privilege, it becomes a mesmerizing possibility. For the few that ascend to such heights, they can't imagine ever losing it and spend most of their rule wondering how they may retain it. In this message, we consider how Jesus was truly a king like none other. He had within His grasp all that any man could ever want and He turned it all down. Not only that, He laid His down His supremacy and leveraged His power to arrange the most perplexing of realities: His own death. Listen as we marvel at Jesus' choice to decline the offer to be a king, choosing rather to sacrifice His life for something He valued much more.

Few chapters of the Bible speak to us all as powerfully as John 11. It contains deep theological insight and revelatory practical wisdom. As we walk through this famous account, we discuss: - How Jesus response/delay to a dear friend's need offers vital perspective for our own trials - Martha's willingness to trust Jesus without knowing all the details of His plan - Jesus' emotion in the face of brokenness offers us great comfort - Lazarus death and resurrection is commentary on our sinful condition and potential spiritual transformation

The Redemption Plan involved atonement from the very beginning. God initially warned Adam and Eve that rebellion would result in death. However, in His mercy and grace He chose an animal to die in their place. In this message, we chronicle God's promise to provide a substitute to pay our penalty from Genesis to Exodus to the Gospels. We discuss all of this and more: - The reason a sacrifice is required to atone for sin - How Passover was a display of God's Wrath and God's Mercy - Why sin deceives us into *thinking* we are independent and free only to set us up for shame - What makes Jesus the ultimate substitute for our sin

In this message, we discuss why the people of Nazareth dismissed the notion that Jesus might be more than just a ordinary man. Their rejection of God's revelation stunted their faith and shut the door on Jesus performing miracles in their midst. After being rejected by His own people, Jesus encourages His disciples to join Him on the mission field. Just as He pressed on in spite of challenges, He charges us all to stay focused and keep our eyes on God for motivation.

In this message, we consider what made Jesus and His movement so irresistible to His original audience and what the church could learn from His approach. We also look at some familiar stories, in which Jesus answers the desperate plea of a father and visits a woman who had endured an excruciating wait.