Risen Church Nc

Jesus said that following Him leads us into an abundant, extraordinary life. In this message, we hear how our lives can go above and beyond for God's Glory.

God is not the least bit impressed, moved by, concerned with physical appearance or experience. Religion loves to emphasize appearance, experience- the sights, sounds, feelings. However, God cares about our hearts, what kind of person we are.

Extraordinary: Can't Miss It - Ecclesiastes 7:1-2 by Risen Church NC

Dueling Kingdoms: Told You So - 1 Samuel 10-12 by Risen Church NC

While it was never God's perfect will for Saul to be Israel's king, God was more than willing to bless and guide him. Refusing to defer the glory to God and humble himself, Saul set out on a path of self-destruction. Listen as we learn about Saul's downfall, a reign that was quickly disgraced through foolish, short-sighted decisions. We discuss the difference between putting God first and putting one's self first, and learn where the greatest gain is found.

When his father sets aside his duties as king and takes the day off, Jonathan steps up to the plate and is determined to protect God's people. Unsure of what he should do, he turns to the Lord and puts all of his trust in Him. Listen as we discuss what it looks like to fully rely on God and be willing to obey Him even amidst uncertainty.

Dueling Kingdoms: Well Spent - 1 Samuel 15 by Risen Church NC

From our ears to our hearts, there's often a disconnect between we've heard and what we feel able to do. When it comes to hearing God's Word, we all have had intentions of following through, yet somethings frustrates our hearts again and again. In this message, we talk about the importance of clearing our minds and giving priority to God's promises and guidance. If our minds are preoccupied or distracted by lesser things, then our hearts will never be filled with God's peace and power. Listen as we study about this battle within all of our minds and learn how we might can endure and overcome.

Many things in life leave us broken and can make us bitter, but what if God has a plan and intends all along to make us better than before? Listen as Job's story inspires us to take heart in the midst of all uncertainty and find hope in God's promises.

In one of Jesus' most dramatic sermons, He addressed how serious it is for us to continue in sin and what great extent we ought to go to in order to overcome it. His proposed solution is intentionally extreme, meant to make all of us pause and consider how detrimental it is to remain out of God's Will. Listen as we discuss the nature of sin and how it causes all of us struggles in various ways. We hear Jesus offer us grace and true deliverance from the many stumbling blocks that we all face. We all know what it's like to face temptations and trials, but we can likewise know and experience the help God promises to provide.

With every new year comes unknowns and unpredictability. We often wonder and worry over what we cannot be certain about. However, there is far more that is known and predictable about any given year than we may realize. Every January, a new cycle begins, with much of what we've experienced before set to repeat. Having been there and done that, we have the wisdom we need to face whatever comes our way. In this message, we focus on the constants and certainties that we can count on this year. Most important of them all, is the promise and assurance of our God. We've witnessed Him work, provide, deliver, and comfort us year after year - surely He has prepared us for what lies ahead? Listen as we reflect on what we've learned from years past and set our sights on what might come next. Whether 2024 brings many opportunities or challenges, we know that God will show. He always has and He always will.

God intended on building a kingdom through the prophet Samuel, that would unite Israel around His Will and Way. Yet after glimpses of revival, the people chose to prioritize their own kingdom. In this message, we examine the poor choice made by Israel and how it reflects our own common misunderstandings of prayer and submission to God. We'll see how the people took the bait of worldly looks and power and shifted their faith from God to mere man. In this study, we learn how easy it is to repeat this mistake and also how to easily avoid it. As Saul is chosen to be their king, God invites him to use his position to seek after a greater glory - an invitation that we all receive with every gift that is given to us. Listen and learn what it means to be a good steward of God's varied grace. By remembering and honoring Him in all that we do, we will faithfully manage and leverage our lives for His Kingdom's sake.

Christmas changed everything History bears witness to the indisputable mark that Christmas and the birth of Jesus left on this world. There's just no denying just how significant a day that first Christmas was. The question is, do our hearts bear witness to a similar impact? Has Jesus and the reality of Christmas changed us?

Christmas explains so much about God. It brings clarify and understanding to His approach throughout history and adds context to what may guide His decisions over any of our lives. The finer details of the Christmas story, particularly those God selected to be front and center of it all, are meant to underscore the nature of the salvation He brought into the world. In this message, we discover the joy that's available to us all through the Christmas gift. We observe how He chose the most unexpected cast of characters to bring about a universal gift for every unique individual. No matter what may work against us, God has chosen us and offers us true and lasting joy.

The romanticized version of the Christmas story that we all know so well is accepted by most as the picture of peace. We sing songs about how that first Christmas night was filled with an otherworldly peace. Indeed, it seems as if Heaven and Earth became one for a small moment of time. In reality, the story behind Christmas was anything but picture-perfect. Every person in the story faced so much uncertainty and so many unknowns. From the immense pressure that was placed upon Mary, to the doubt within Joseph, to the horror that came from Herod's decree - Christmas is far from a fairy tale, that lacked any drama. In this message, we dive into the details and factors at play in the Christmas story and discover how God brought peace in spite of these challenges. While it's often hard for us to imagine peace in the storms of life, Christmas reminds us that it's actually in those storms that we find and receive true, heavenly peace.

There are many verses and passages in the Bible that direct our attention to the skies above as proof of the wonder and glory of God. The ancients were especially in tune with the stars believing that something was being communicated by God through the many celestial phenomenons. In this message, we zero on a particular group of people who spent many centuries tracking the stars, hoping to hear a word from God. While the people of Israel had many signs and prophecies concerning the coming Savior, this foreign group knew only what the skies told them. Listen as we learn how their many years of observation paid off in the most spectacular, famous of ways. Perhaps no revelation punctuates God's thorough preparation for that first Christmas than what is revealed in this message...

Nothing sweeps over our world quite like the Christmas season. The Spirit of Christmas is unlike anything, utterly dominating and overshadowing anything in its vicinity. Many generations have come and gone, where some wondered if Christmas would remain such a powerful force. Of course, it has persisted and proves unstoppable. In this message, we discuss why Christmas' continuation and ever-growing relevance should embolden every believer with confidence in God. We look back at the many ways Satan attempted to stop the first Christmas from every happening, only to fan its flames in the end. The enemy has not and never will prevail at thwarting God's plans. God's sovereignty over history proves that we can absolutely trust Him with our lives. Christmas promises that God will always be with us and will always be for us - What more could we need to have endless peace and joy in our hearts?

The Christmas season brings a sense of wonder and joy along with it, unrivaled by every other time of year. It's often said that Heaven draws closer to Earth every December. In this message, we learn how this might very well be the case. However, the true intersection of Heaven and Earth may surprise you. Listen as we discuss how Christmas parties could resemble Heaven more than any other scene on earth.

The short book of Habakkuk is unlike any other book of the Bible. It also stands out in contrast to all the other prophets. In it we get to read a back-and-forth conversation between Habakkuk and God, as the prophet brings his concerns before the Lord. Long lay the world, in sin and error pining - with the nation of Israel especially feeling the effects of the world's brokenness. Now facing invasion and captivity, Habakkuk comes to God wondering how much longer Israel would have to wait for God to move. This is a position that we can all easily relate to. In this message, we discuss the hope that is promised to us through the Advent season and how Christmas offers us an assurance that those in the ancient world never knew. We hear God's response to Habakkuk and discover how we also can find a renewed sense of hope.

In this message, we hear the Bible command us to give thanks to God, no matter the circumstances and detached from feelings. We discuss how this may fly in the face of human nature, but how it also offers us the ultimate freedom and powerful perspective. Listen as Psalm 100 and King David show us the the true heart of worship and how our lives can be transformed through giving thanks.