Risen Church Nc

In this chapter, Paul uses the subject of Spiritual Gifts to address an overarching concern he has about the Church at Corinth - and all local bodies of Christ for that matter. Even just a few decades into the Church movement, Paul was noticing a trend that Church services and Church communities were becoming very insider-focused and mostly about appealing to the senses of those who already belonged. By spotlighting the gift of prophecy, emphasizing the ability church members have to encourage one another and build up one another, Paul warns the Church of becoming obsessed with spectacle and emotion. This path would lead (and has led) the church in a direction that effects its ability to reach outsiders and is detrimental to believers' faith. Paul desires that the Church produce Christians with faith not tied to feelings or a time and place, which is strong enough to stand on its own no matter the environment or circumstance. In this message, we take a "behind the scenes" tour at what goes into producing a

In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul returns to the subject of Spiritual Gifts and enlightens us even more about their intended use. God envisions a Church filled with devoted members, filled with His Spirit, and leaning in each others direction. Paul makes it clear to us that Spiritual Gifts only find their true purpose when in service to one another within the Body of Christ. In this message, we break down what Paul determines is the most important Spiritual Gift, which we should all pursue. We define and discuss the gift of prophecy, and how it punctuates the design and importance of Church fellowship for every believer. We also hear Paul contrast this edifying gift with those gifts that lend themselves to being more individualistic and more about the spectacle. As we learn His Word and are led by His Spirit, God desires to give all of us a prophetic voice to speak His truth out to our worlds and insight that we might help build up our brother and sister in Christ.

In our final installment of our "We Believe" series, we take a look at the place Jesus says that all true, devoted followers will end up eventually. When He called His original disciples, He cast a vision over them concerning what would become their number one passion, even if it would take years for them to arrive at it. Listen as we discuss how God wills that all of us be filled with a heart for reaching the world with the Gospel. We've all been called to make disciples and reach the nations for Jesus, through direct and indirect means. God is at work in our world to remind us daily that this should be our greatest passion. Reaching the world begins with reaching our worlds, and beyond what we are called to do, we are expected to support those who labor alongside of us. It all comes down to how much our faith means to us and realizing how great an impact sharing Jesus can have. One things for sure, we only know Jesus because someone first reached us.

We believe that if we have been reconciled to God, we will seek to be reconciled to one another. Early on in the story of humanity, God confronted one of the first people about the risk of unresolved and unchecked anger. As it turns out, the Bible has tons to say about how dangerous anger and hatred are. In this message, we discover that anger and hatred ultimately stem from a disconnect in our relationship with God. The light of the Gospel shines on this emotion and subject in particular, because our very salvation is based in God's love and forgiveness. Listen as God reveals to us how crucial it is that we overcome any anger and hatred in our own hearts, so that we might allow the power of the Gospel to work in and through our lives.

The New Testament anchors the entire Christian ethic and lifestyle in love. On every page and from every author, we find and hear reminders of the love of God displayed and demonstrated through Jesus. We are invited to receive that love and we are commanded to share that love. In this message, we look at Paul's definition of this selfless, sacrificial love. Paul details how we can embody this love, from our attitudes to our actions, so that we are without excuse. He also declares that the true mark of maturity and growth in a Christian is in how we love and our persistence in love. Every Christian has been saved by God's love and is compelled from His Spirit to remain in His love and refuse to live by any other way. If we want to change the world, like God has changed our hearts, it will only come through love.

We Believe that Redemptions leads to a Relationship, and that leads to our Renewal and Restoration. As we continue our "We Believe" series, we dive into the New Life that is available to us in Christ. We take a look at an Old Testament story of a great man who had a major, devastating secret and see how his healing is a picture of God's power at work in our lives. That story of renewal and restoration points to how we come to new, abundant life in Christ, and fully realize what it means to bear the image of God. We learn what it means to put off the old life and put on the new. Designed, prepared, and directed by God - in Christ, we can be renewed unto true life. If we've been redeemed by God... If we're in a real relationship with Jesus... we will experience renewal and restoration.

In his explanation of the Spiritual Gifts and different ways that we all can serve in the church, Paul expressed concern over the contention and judgement that may settle upon the church in this area. He knew that the church was prone to go the way of religion, and allow each members' aspiration for holiness create within them a sense of self-righteousness and arrogance. He warns the Corinthians that they not forget that before they discovered their giftedness as Christians and before they made strides in their devotion, they were saved by grace and that same grace sustained them still. And so, Paul leads them in understanding a More Excellent Way, which is the only way that *every* Christian is required to perfect. In this message, we discuss this Most Excellent Way - the Way of Jesus - the Way of Love. Listen as we realize that this one thing is what makes the difference in our devotion to God and service to His Church. No matter how gifted we may be and no matter how devoted we may become, if we fail to

We believe that redemption leads us into a relationship. In week two of our "We Believe" series, we discuss what comes after salvation and forgiveness of sin. While this is our foundation, the Bible makes it clear that in tandem with our redemption comes a real relationship with God. Everyone who sees their sin washed away in Christ, also receives a new heart and the very Spirit of God within them. When the Gospel of John introduces Jesus as the Lamb of God, we immediately begin to hear Jesus' invitation that we "follow" Him and that we "come and see" what God can do in our lives. All throughout the Gospels, we see that Jesus always encouraged people passed simple faith, inviting them to walk and truly fellowship with Him so that God might transform their lives with His power. Listen as talk all about what it means to have a personal relationship with God through Christ. Has believing in Jesus changed your life? Has He become the center that all of your life revolves around? If we've been redeemed, we s

Chapter 12 is really the heart of Paul's letter to the Corinthian Church, wherein he reveals why he's stressed unity and accountability in the preceding chapters. In this text we see Paul's high and sacred view of Church membership come into full light, as he defines and details what it means to say that we are the Body of Christ. In this message, we discuss all of this and more - focusing in on our identification and representation as Christ's Body. With a clear understanding of how the church embodies Christ, both literally and spiritually, we are equipped with a better idea of how serious our membership and participation within the church is. It turns out, each members' care for and support of one another is essential in our living up to our name and true identity as the people of God.

There was a time when the core, foundational beliefs of any given local church were practically impossible to miss. They were apparent in how the church conducted and promoted itself. As faith and culture have blended, and all sorts of opinions and agendas began to have greater influence, it became a lot harder to identify these key beliefs. However, it's not hard at all to figure out what the church should be all about. If we stay true to the source material, it becomes very clear. For the sake of every church's clarity, community, and convictions, it is a necessity that we keep front and center what were primary from the very beginning. In our first message in this series, "We Believe", we discover what the Bible tells us should be of most importance for every church. We listen to the both Paul and John explain how Jesus and His atoning work should always be The Main Thing on every Christian's mind. Listen as we discuss the heart of the Gospel and the source of our salvation. Jesus came and died for a

Paul has established that being saved means all of us are being transformed by the Spirit of God. With this new nature, comes new desires and new opportunities in life. As the natural body breathes and moves, the Spirit-filled body will seek to do and participate in Spiritual things. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul introduces us the gifts of the Spirit, which every Christian can receive and experience in their service to God. Paul's approach in this chapter, in line with his overall agenda in the entire letter, is to teach the Corinthian believers how their gifts are meant to be in service to the whole Body of Christ. In this message, we break down all the Spiritual Gifts and discuss how they play a whole in edifying and supporting the work of every local church. While they may not all show up in a church service, they all play a vital role in serving the church. Listen and learn how these gifts function and how they may be more accessible to you than you realize.

There's no way to talk about the life of a Christian without discussing the Spirit of God. We are literally products of His Resurrection power. The same power with which Jesus arose from the grave lives in the heart of every believer. This means that we are now supernaturally transformed, given a new nature and new desires. This also means that our lives are being guided in a new direction. In chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians, Paul talks to the Church about their new Spiritual nature and introduces some of the many gifts that God wants to bless His people with. It's tempting to think of these gifts as mere tools we pick up from time to time, but they are better understood as spiritual encounters a believer has with God as they daily pursue Him. Just as our natural bodies breath and have muscles and organs that serve specific functions, our Spiritual nature introduces us to new, Spiritual traits that can become natural. From gifts of wisdom and insight to wonderful, glorifying experiences with God - God invites

Did you know that the man known for his wisdom, power, fame, and success is also known for his tremendous regret? King Solomon was the envy of his day, yet in his own reflections on his life, he spoke of shame and disappointment. In this message, we conclude our series on our Souls and how we should give priority to them, by listening to the words of Solomon. He contrasts a life well-lived with a life wasted on vanity, and points us in the direction that both honors God and preserves our souls. What may seem instinctual turns out to be contrary to what our souls need the most. Solomon sums up the whole duty of man in a simple, yet convicting way - and thanks to Jesus, it becomes all the more clear to us what is the path to a fulfilled, purposeful life.

1 Corinthians' thesis is that the Church is the Body of Christ, detailing how we should love each other and why we truly need one another. In chapter 11, Paul teaches how we share in His Body through worship and fellowship. He highlights how celebrating the Lord's Supper particularly emphasizes the importance of our joint participation in Christ and our partnership together in Him. Listen as we discuss all of this and more!

Building off of Jesus' most thought-provoking question about the value and importance of our souls, we take a look at the story of Ruth. Her story turns out to be a reflection of all of our stories, having come from our family which was far from God, she received an opportunity to step into His story. There were all sorts of reasons as to why Ruth shouldn't have been so committed to staying with her mother-in-law and relocating to Judea, but after weighing her options, she knew what she had to do. In this message, we consider the Ruth's story and dive into the details of her family history to discover how unlikely it was that she found herself at the crossroads of faith. Ruth makes a great exchange, embracing God's invitation to her and we realize that this same invitation has been given to each of us.

Amidst all the resolutions we may make and work towards in 2023, it's important that we consider what goals we should make for our souls. After all, our souls are us *with or without* the material statuses or possessions of this world. Our soul is our inner self, the seat of our emotions, and the center of our personality and conscience. Needless to say, our soul is the most valuable part of us. When Jesus came on the scene, He promised and offered to change lives for the better. People came to Him seeking healing and provisions, and He provided again and again. Until one day, however, His message shifted and He began calling people to tend to a greater need. In this message, we look at one of the most pivotal moments in the Gospels, where Jesus notices that none of the hundreds of people following after Him were seeking Him with concern for their souls or a desire that He would help reconcile their hearts to God. Most of them, didn't even acknowledge that there was any sort of need within their souls - w

We return to our study in 1 Corinthians and once again hear Paul talk about the importance of considering the greater good of Christ's Body over our own interests and desires. He reminds us of the way of Christ, which is an others-first lifestyle. Being members of Him, we now understand that to glorify God, we must make decisions that edify His Body. From there, Paul launches into addressing a more specific issue, concerning gender identity and gender roles within the Body of Christ. He offers a unique, sacred perspective on how Biblical manhood and womanhood is as tied into our spiritual attributes as they are our physical distinctions. To disregard God's spiritual design of men and women is as concerning as disregarding our physical differences and callings. Ultimately, this all ties into what properly edifies His Body and what best reflects His image to our world. Listen to this message and more of our study in 1 Corinthians for a deep dive into how we all called into the Body of Christ and made to fu

Every new year presents an opportunity for renewal and rededication. It also lends itself to setting goals and making resolutions. In this first message of our new year, we set out to pursue the goodness of God and make the most of every day that He gives us. He promises to make Himself known, if we simply seek Him and desire Him above all else. Regardless of what has happened or may happen, we can have confidence that God can be found and His goodness felt in the Land of the Living.

As another year comes to an end, we consider the brevity of this life and seek to put in proper perspective our time on earth, under God's rule and care. This leads us into an even more serious conversation about the general purpose of all of our lives, and how we might seek to complete our God-given tasks here on earth in an honorable way. In this message, we pray for God to fix our eyes on His coming Kingdom as the passage of time signifies an important milestone in our journey towards Him. Listen as we search the Scriptures to better understand the greatness, graciousness, and goodness of our God, and learn how we might finish our coarse well.

A Christmas reflection on the gifts of love and life exclusively found in Jesus.