Risen Church NC

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.

The Bible contains many promises from God, but all of them fall under a single, overarching promise- The Promise of Redemption. In this message, we take a look at the initial promise of our great redemption story and follow the thread all the way through the Bible. We marvel at God's boldness to make a promise that would bless "all the peoples of the earth", which no one could have possibly taken literally when it was originally shared. However, 4000 years later, the entire world has heard of this promise, or at least brushed up against the people of the promise. Listen as we learn about God's plan to redeem the world through Abraham's family and how His work of restoration continues to this day.

A message about Spiritual Blindness and how it often causes us to miss/resist what God is doing. - Learn how Jesus interprets suffering and promises all of us hope - See how one man's simple testimony carries tremendous weight - Contrast the Pharisees' arrogant skepticism with the Blind Man's authentic gratitude

In this message, we learn what it means to be transformed by the saving power of God. We don't just need to be freed from sin, but we need to be filled with the Life and Presence of God. We learn from two famous stories from Scripture about the longing within all of us for a real, authentic connection with God. We see what happens when we are filled with all the wrong things, and how only true, lasting satisfaction comes through Jesus.

In this first message of our "REDEMPTION" series, we discuss why we need to be reconciled to God in the first place. Romans 5 explains how sin entered creation, by contrasting Adam's rebellion with Jesus' sacrifice. We come to understand that all that is broken in the world stems from the Fall in Genesis 3. We also realize that the first temptation is a preview of the temptation that we face every single day. The first humans' sin caused a systemic fracture in Creation, setting all of us up to inherit a nature of sin and shame. The fallout from all of this? Well, we all own a piece of our broken world. We all fall short of God's standard. We all hide our sin in shame, until eventually we become defiant and even make excuses for our sin. This is just the beginning of our study on redemption, but even in this first message, we hear the Gospel's invitation to bring our sin to Jesus and find forgiveness. By confessing our sin, we can access and receive the gift of salvation.

In this special message, we look back at the story of Esther and learn about God's sovereignty over the nations and the unique responsibility He has given His people, which He has placed in the various kingdoms of the world. Esther tells of the only time in history where Israel faced oppression from the Persian kingdom. We discus why this is significant, especially in light of a prophetic passage in Ezekiel and recent real-world events. 2500 years later, on the eve of celebrating Purim, this story demands a fresh look...

In this message, we discuss what it's like to feel a sense of urgency while lacking the agency or opportunity to properly respond. We've all felt this tension—knowing that something needs to change, but being unable to make the change. We often face these kinds of waiting periods, where the pressure only builds and builds as time presses on. Listen as we wrestle with this burden and the emotions that go hand in hand. God's Word speaks into this common scenario, by reminding us that we can still honor and serve God in the midst of our waits. We may feel held back by many limitations, but God promises to do much with whatever we have to offer.

In one of the most theological rich passages in all the Bible, Jesus teaches us about the nature of discipleship, the sovereignty of God, and our hope in the face of fears and uncertainty.

We've all sat in plenty of waiting rooms, where it seems like time stands still as we sit on the edge of our seats or pace the floors in distress. Other waits aren't confined to clinics, but still render us frozen and full of emotions. The problem with our waits is that the world continues to turn and life moves forward whether or not we are able or ready to. As ideal as it would be to be able to bring our burdens to God in prayer and sit still until the answer comes, this simply isn't how the process goes. In fact, the Bible teaches us that God uses our waits and is in their midst. Prayer has never been touted as a means of erasing our waits, but rather enduring them and redeeming them for God's glory. Listen to this first message in a series all about life's most challenging waits and learn how Jesus promises to be our source of strength during and throughout our trials.

A look at Jesus' first parables, focusing on the story of the seed and different types of soil.

Peter closes out his first letter by admonishing Christians everywhere to reset their expectations for how the world will treat us and react to our faith. He admits that it may feel strange to expect trials and persecution, but he reminds us of what our ultimate goal should be as followers of Jesus. Jesus called all of us to take up our cross and follow Him. The Way of the Cross is not just a means of salvation, but a lifestyle for all who are saved. In this message, we discuss what it means to bare a cross for Christ and how it should inform and influence our stance and response to whatever the world might throw at us.

If you were in and around the church in the late 90's, odds are you remember everyone being on "Rapture Watch". The New Millennium had everyone on edge, wondering if "the end of all things" was at hand. That fervor continued into the 2000's, but eventually faded into the background. Nowadays the subject is barely breached in the local church, with an emphasis on political and cultural dominance having become the new favorite topic within the evangelical church. The Bible has a lot to say about the Last Days, warning us that we are exiles on this earth and that we should live out every day as if it could be our last. The promise of Jesus' return is certain and the reminder that we are strangers who will never truly belong to this world is stressed particularly by the Apostle Peter. In this message, we discuss how we might conduct ourselves and live out our lives until Jesus returns. He warns us to live with sobriety and seriousness, so that we don't lose focus on who we are and our purpose as missionaries for Christ.

In this message, we learn how Jesus' miracles were signs of an even greater work that He came to do. Our flesh focuses on the sign, but they were always meant to point to God's plan and provision of salvation. We'll unpack how this frames miracles of all kinds, past and present. Then we discuss the way and method in which Jesus welcomed and accepted people, just as they were. When Jesus passed by Levi's house, he was captivated by the matchless grace of God, while convicted by His unwavering truth. Listen as we consider how we might strike the same perfect balance of acceptance and accountability.

A message about Jesus showing us how to navigate to honor God with our daily lives, while also making it clear that He came to do for us what we could not do for ourselves.

A message about the power of a testimony and the transformation that follows an encounter with Jesus.

In this message, Peter shows us how our freedom in Christ should inform us as we face opposition in this world. As exiles, the empires of this world push us to the margins, and thus, to our limits. As believers, we can thrive in the fire and realize that God is using these moments to amplify our witness and shine His light into darkness.

After the resurrection of Jesus, Peter returned to his old lifestyle, assuming the "Jesus Movement" was all but over. However, Jesus came looking for Peter and reminded him that His ministry was only beginning. Peter confessed to Jesus that he wasn't sure he was willing to be as devoted as He was asking and expecting him to be. Jesus informed Peter that in due time, he would come to see the value and necessity to surrender all to God... Years later, Peter sat down and wrote to the churches scattered throughout Rome and called every believer to step into their new identity in Christ. He called them (and us), "a chosen generation", "a royal priesthood", and "a holy nation". He compelled us all to taste and see that there is so much more to life than what this world offers to us. Listen as we hear Peter's invitation and learn what is fully offered to us from our new birth in Christ.

Acts 10 represents a watershed moment in not only Church history, but world history. The Church faced a crossroads early on in its establishment - How would it handle growth and expansion? To whom would it carry the Gospel? How wide-open were its doors? The Apostle Peter is confronted with a divine appointment, wherein he refuses to stand in God's way and takes the church into its next phase. On the other side of the story is a man named Cornelius, who had many reasons to doubt that there would ever be a place for him in the story of Faith and Redemption. Listen as we dive into this incredible story and hear how the meeting of these two men changed the world.

Mark 1:1-14 underscores Jesus as the one and only Savior, emphasizing that He came to save by way of serving, submission, and substitution. Listen as we go verse-by-verse through Mark's prologue to see how he introduces us to Jesus and several core principles of our faith.

1 Peter refers to Christians as both "elect" and "exiles" - two words that you wouldn't think go together. While we welcome being called elect or chosen by God, the thought of being an "exile" isn't the most encouraging notion. Yet, our true purpose and true power from God lies in our accepting and embracing this role. Listen as we discuss how Peter's message would've encouraged his original audience and why it offers both uplifting and challenging truths to modern ears.

In this message, we reflect on the past year and consider what remains unfinished. Perhaps many of our goals, aspirations, and plans didn't come together. Does this mean they are now abandoned or will be forever incomplete? Listen as we remember the story of Joshua and think on some of the challenges, delays, and setbacks that his generation faced. As he resolved to keep pursuing the Lord into the next chapter of his life, so must we as one year transitions to another.

Listen as we take a look at an ancient Messianic prayer that was answered through the birth of Christ. From there, we unpack 3 promises that Christmas brings to all who believe and 3 challenges that it presents to us.

Because of Jesus, joy is obtainable and sustainable. Having been born disconnected from God, we know all too well the struggle to find and keep joy. We battle the enemy day in and day out, as he attempts to suppress and steal our joy. Listen as we discuss our shared quest for joy and how Christmas makes it a reality.

RESET: Ground Zero - Ezra 3 by Risen Church NC

RESET: Realignment Assignment - Ezra 7 by Risen Church NC

A message on Job's gratitude and peace in spite of his devastating circumstances. Discover the secret to maintaining a thankful heart at all times.

In this message, we look at a story that doesn't have the happy ending we assume its featured character deserved. Instead, tragedy and injustice strikes a man who played a key role in preparing the way for Jesus and introducing Him to the world. While there isn't an easy way to make sense of the story, we hear Jesus invite us to trust Him and have hope in spite misfortune.