Risen Church Nc

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.

In this message, we take a broad look at Revelation and seek to understand how God will reclaim and restore the earth one day. We focus on the Enemy's tightening grip on this world and how God will use a revived nation of Israel to overcome evil once and for all.

The Bible contains many prophesies, most of which have already been fulfilled. From the promise of a Savior, to the story of Ancient Israel, God's Word proves trustworthy time and time again. There are in fact many prophecies that are yet unfulfilled, that give us a glimpse at what is to come in this world. This message shows us what's in store for the earth and how God has a definite plan to restore and reclaim our fallen planet.

In part two of "Whole Heart", we hear from Jesus on how we might experience the fullness of God in our lives. After commanding us to "seek first the Kingdom of God", He makes it clear that God wants our whole heart so that He might make us whole and complete. Listen as we discover how committed Jesus is to restoring us and empowering our lives, and embrace the challenge to be as committed to Him and obtaining His will for our lives.

This is the first of a two part study on God's desire to make our hearts whole. In this message, Jesus reveals to us that our hearts are compromised and weighed down by so much from this world. As uncomfortable as it may be to hear, Jesus doesn't mince His words and shows us the only pathway forward... Listen as Jesus reflects our hearts back at us and offers us a way to be untangled and set free.

God's choice way of evangelism has always been through inspired people sharing how their lives have been transformed. While the Gospel is based on objective truth, Gospel witnessing has always, also leaned on our own personal testimonies. Ultimately, Jesus does the same work in all of us, but our individual circumstances allow for unique opportunities to tell others about Him. In this message, we hear the Scripture's call for every Christian to share their testimonies. If our eyes have been opened, then we've got a story to tell.

Who is Jesus? This is the question that matters more than anything when defining our faith and sharing it with others. In this message, we discover how God worked across generations to set the stage and prepare the world for its Savior to arrive. Jesus came to take on sin and death, and bring redemption to all people. Knowing who Jesus is, what He did, and what He wants to do in all of us is essential when it comes to sharing our faith and leading others to God.

As Christians we are expected to be ready to share our faith at any given time. We are all well aware of this imperative. We've heard countless messages on the Great Commission and about evangelism. This series isn't another reminder of why we must do this, but all about helping us narrow in on the story we have to tell. In this message, we trace our faith back to its earliest stages and observe the odds stacked against every believer. Somehow, someway the church endured and expanded across the ages, and left an undeniable impact on our world. Listen as we marvel at the journey the church has taken to allow us the opportunity we enjoy today. As we consider all the details, we realize some of the most incredible reasons to believe are found in this story.

"Make Us Like All The Other Nations" Israel made this infamous request to Samuel and to God, after years of deflecting God's calling over them. He desired for Israel to be a light unto the world, unlike all the rest to hopefully make Him known. In this message, we relate Israel's request to the desire of our own fleshly nature and discover their one in the same. We hear how the Bible calls us in a different, better way and learn what it means to be set apart to God. How can we be a people unlike all the rest, driven by completely different motives and desires? Thankfully, the way of Jesus and the way of His Cross show us exactly what to do.

When God installed Samuel as Israel's Judge, the nation was deeply immersed in sin. For Samuel to reach them, he would be engaging with a people given over to idols, with hearts far from God. In this message, we talk about the approach Samuel must have taken and relate that to our own Christian mandate under the Great Commission.

Sometimes God sees us going in the wrong direction and prevents us. Sometimes He says "No" to our misguided requests. However, there are times when He observes our ungodly desires and permits us get exactly what we wanted. This is the Permissive Will of God. God is always sovereign, even when He lets us walk away. It's His mercy at work, hoping that we will one day realize our error and return to Him. In this message, we discuss Israel's desire for a king and how God granted them their request. They asked for permission to replace God at the center of their nation, and He obliged. We spend the bulk of the message dissecting exactly what Israel was looking for in a king, and why it was far from God's Will. We then talk about God's Perfect Will vs His Permissive Will, and conclude around one simple question: In your approach to God, are you asking for permission or are you coming to Him in submission?