Risen Church Nc

In this message, we see the church officially take on the next phase of its mission. In Acts 1:8, Jesus commanded His disciples to go beyond Jerusalem--to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. From this point forward until Kingdom come, the Church would be in "the ends of the earth" phase. Acts 8:26 marks the beginning of this most important chapter of Church history. Listen as we discuss Philip's faithfulness and obedience when God called him to go in the most unlikely direction, into a scenario that most would've excused themselves from. We learn how this experience foreshadowed many to come, and discuss how we can make the most of every similar opportunity. Also, we see how the Gospel brought the exact message that a certain individual was desperate to hear. When a hungry world encounters a faithful church, the Gospel truly knows no bounds. To the uttermost parts of the earth, Jesus can save to the uttermost.

In this message, we discuss the common struggle within every person, across every generation: We are all looking for something to hope in and trust in, to provide us relief and security. We wrap ourselves in various identities, chase after specific metrics, and strive for superiority--hoping desperately that we can trade our anxiety and insecurity for peace and confidence, In this message, we listen to God's definitive word on true salvation and see how a relationship with Jesus offers us a wholistic transformation. Philippians 3 calls us to take our faith out of counterfeit saviors and anchor our hearts in Christ alone.

In this message, we learn how availability and malleability are the most important factors in being effective servants of God. We also study contrast between those who seek to be used by God and those who seek to use God for their own gain.

Philippians 2 teaches us that when we consider what Jesus has done for us, we will consider others above ourselves. Paul identities this as our greatest opportunity to exemplify Christ and emphasizes that this is the only logical way for a true believer to live. Listen as we discuss the selfless Christian way of life and how it actually promises us our greatest joy.

In this message, we discuss King David's last days as king, Adonijah's self-exaltation, and the Sovereignty of God amidst it all

One of Paul's main reasons for writing Philippians was to address the concern for him following his recent imprisonment. Many were wondering how even someone as resilient as the Apostle Paul could find any positives amidst such misfortune. In this message, we hear Paul offer more than just an optimistic outlook, but a deep, theological understanding of what he was going through. Listen as we hear Paul offer an eternal perspective to our earthly troubles. Philippians 1:12-30 brings to us insight and conviction, so that we might respond to life's challenges with faith and confidence.

In Acts 8, the church finds itself on its heels, as state sponsored persecution ramps up. Following the death of Stephen, the religious leaders are emboldened to put an end to the Jesus Movement once and for all. However, what they thought was a move to destroy the Church, actually deployed the Church and its message to new people. What the enemy believed would silence the Gospel, only amplified it even more. In this message, we seek to understand how the Church stayed motivated and focused amidst this turmoil. We learn how the early Christians thrived after being pushed to the margins of society and how the New Testament teaches that we would always experience this same marginalization. While there's nothing wrong with longing for prominence and influence, the Bible makes it clear: Christians are exiles in this world, placed on mission to prepare for a world to come. Listen as we break down our calling and purpose in the margins of the kingdoms of man. As it turns out, the margins present us an incredibl

Philippians teaches us how valuable and vital it is to always keep Heaven in view--to always bring today under Eternity's perspective. In this introductory message , we hear the Apostle Paul remind the church at Philippi of the Good Work that God has been preparing them for from the very beginning of their story. Likewise, we reflect how our salvation is an entry point into the presence and power of God. With Heaven in view, we will always be mindful of the Good Work that God wants to do in us, and we will be compelled to surrender, participate and thrive therein.

Just as we rely on bandaids to cover our wounds, we often turn to temporary fixes for our spiritual struggles. Throughout the Bible, God is consistent in His plea for us to turn to Him and find true, lasting rest. Listen as we look at an age-old plight across the human race and hear Jesus call us to surrender.

In this message, we discuss Stephen's earnestness and passion for ministry and how it should inform our approach. We also listen to his summary of the Old Testament and learn why his interpretation of it received a standing ovation from Jesus. What was controversial to the Religious Leaders is truly inspirational to every reader of the Bible, seeking to understand how the New Covenant fulfills the Old and shows us a greater way forward.

Our BASICS series concludes with a conversation about the Great Commission. We all love to tell others about our greatest joys. From life's simplest pleasures to its most exciting moments, our heart overflows naturally. We love to share what we love with others. We get this from our God, who first shared His nature and glory with us. We were created because He loves to share. We are blessed because He loves to share. Thus, it's not too hard to connect the dots--We are supposed to share God's impact on our lives with others. The Bible is filled with stories that illustrate this. There are numerous passages leading us in a life of evangelism. Our greatest joy comes from God's gift of salvation and our greatest purpose is found in making Jesus known.

In this message, we study the history of Rome's occupation of Israel and how this set up the circumstances surrounding Jesus' crucifixion. God's plan all along was for Jesus to step into our place our sin, and Mark 15 spotlights the stage on which salvation would finally come.

In this message, the early church begins addressing its needs for structure and leadership to enable effective, efficient ministry. We see how this gave the church a powerful voice in its community and also made it stand out beside the old, ineffective religious systems.

In this message, we follow Jesus from Gethsemane to his trial before the Jewish council, focusing on these points and more: - We consider how preposterous it was for Jesus to be seized and led by the religious leaders . The ultimate authority was at the mercy of those whom received their limited authority from Him - We see the desperation of the disciples, from Peter's reaction to their collective departure. - We study how Jesus fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy, facing the courts in silence and resolve. Like a lamb led to the slaughter, Jesus was ready to be sacrificed for us all.

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.