Risen Church Nc

It's easy to excuse people who have been dealt the worst hand and have become bitter as a result. We understand that if only things had went better, maybe they wouldn't be broken. However, we know exceptions to this rule - people who consistently rise above their troubles who choose to respond to life's unexpected turns with extraordinary perspective and grace. In this message, we see how Daniel responded to some of the worst news anyone could ever receive. We marvel at his faith and discuss how we might remain strong when confronted with adversity. Discover how choosing to be thankful no matter what is key to remaining faithful throughout life. We too can choose the extraordinary path in our lives, by which we see and are full of God's goodness whether or not we feel good.

Every Christian should be full of gratitude towards God. Thankfulness isn't an emotion, but rather a decision and an attitude that we must constantly possess. If we don't choose to be thankful, we will become forgetful of what the Lord has done. The Bible also calls us deeper, beyond just saying that we're thankful. We are called to show that we're thankful by leveraging our gifts for God's glory. In fact, God desires that we mimic in Him in generosity so that others may become aware of God's goodness and join in with praise. In this message, we connect the dots between God's blessings on us to God working through us. What begins with giving thanks is meant to produce a lifestyle of giving and serving. By this, others will discover our God and we can take hold of an even greater reward.

Revelation 21 is *the* longing of every heart. We may not realize it. We may feel as if other desires are stronger. Truthfully, every desire we have is an overflow of this ultimate longing for Heaven. The Bible teaches that God has set Eternity at the center of every heart, and deep down, we want to be with Him more than anything. Revelation 21 gives us a glimpse of a future we can have with God, and offers to set our hope in the right direction. In this message, we discuss this longing within us all and talk about the core promises of Heaven. We learn how the hope of Heaven can give us perspective and purpose for every day life. Also, we hear one final warning of how foolish it is to jeopardize our souls, attempting to find satisfaction in all the wrong places.

In this message, we discuss the sobering subject matter of Hell and eternal judgment. We discuss the reason there is a place called Hell and then learn what an eternity of judgement might be like. More importantly, we also learn how Jesus offers everyone a way to be saved. On the cross, He welcomed on Himself a torrent of judgement, that was the combined punishment due to every sinner across all time. In His three hours of suffering, He experienced an eternity's worth multiplied by all in need of salvation. In light of what our Savior suffered for all and the extent He went to pardon us, the subject of Hell cannot be ignored.

We all know what it's like to lose hope. So often the many variables we place our hope in prove unsustainable and as they falter, we faint. In this message, the Bible exposes the futility in placing our hope in fragile, uncertain variables. We are invited to trust only in the one and only constant, the God of the Universe. Daniel teaches us that God truly is in control of all the elements of this world. Daniel brings a word of challenge and conviction to King Nebuchadnezzar, which sends him off the deep-end of insecurity. The king attempts to secure his power, making an example out of Daniel's three friends. Their response sends shockwaves throughout all the world and all time to come, as they showcase what it looks like to have a hope that is unshakeable and fireproof.

In this series, we study the lives of four sons of Judah who have their entire worlds turned upside down, and yet they retain their faith. Everything that they had prepared for and dreamed of was taken from them, setting in motion a series of unpredictable events. This message spotlights Daniel's determination and resilience in the face of adversity and uncertainty, and shows us a core pillar of the Christian faith. Our foundation in a Resurrected Savior anchors and aims our lives in an ever positive direction, instilling within us a "refuse to lose" attitude.

We all struggle with purpose. What is our purpose? We turn to and lean on worldly systems for affirmation and confirmation of purpose. We long for a sense of peace and power, which comes from feeling good about our place in life. In this message, we peel back all the distractions and detours this world offers us, and clue into our shared purpose as Christians. We discover that when we keep our God-given mission at the center of our lives, then we are freed from being so sensitive to this world. Listen as God's Word clarifies our true purpose, calls us to our ultimate mission, and promises us an out-of-this-world peace and power.

In this message, we discuss how our faith intersects with our political landscape. How should Christians process and react to the outcomes of elections and attitude/actions of our government? Listen and be encouraged, challenged, and filled with God's peace... We learn 4 major truths about how God is at work over and above our current events: - God is Sovereign (Colossians 1:15-17) - God is Right (Daniel 4:34-35) - God is Purposeful (Acts 8:1-8) - God is Merciful (Jonah 3:1-5) We also talk about 4 crucial things that Christians ought to value and prioritize: - Kingdom > Country (Acts 17:7) - People > Politics (1 Peter 2:13-17) - Unity > Division (John 17:20-23) - Witness > Winning (Matthew 5:13-16)

The mastermind behind the kingdoms of man has always been our Adversary, the devil. His most sly, subtle, underestimated tactic through the ages has been to incite a spirit of rebellion in the heart of every person. The easiest route to deceiving people is through the kingdoms we call home and how they offer us an immediate semblance of comfort and peace. However, the Bible makes it clear that every nation, from every age and generation, is just another beast, in which God's people are placed to be lights and prophetic witnesses. In this message, we begin with Genesis 11 and hear the rally cry that is at the heart of every nation, kingdom, and empire. Mankind sets out to make a name for itself and build something for itself, to protect and preserve its own. Ultimately, this has always led to God being an afterthought and His greater purpose being forsook for something temporary. Listen as we navigate the tension of our desire for God to sanction and support the beasts of this world, while hearing the Word

Samson is known for the riddles he told, but his life and story are a riddle in and of themselves. He was clearly gifted and used by God, while also being blatant and defiant in his sin. God's patience and sovereignty over Samson's life is contrasted by his own casual mishandling of sacred, serious moral issues. In this message, we look at Samson's remarkable strengths and startling weaknesses. We see how he eventually succumbed to the consequences of sin, which offers us a reflection of our own vulnerabilities. Listen as God's word brings us both conviction and healing.

In this message, we discuss what Heaven will be like for those who die in Christ and who are taken up when He returns. We look at how worship and a devotion to Jesus will be a constant according to Revelation. This leads into a reflection on how we understand worship here on earth and discussion about our unity with other believers. We also discuss the judgment that Christians will face and THE event that God the Father is most looking forward to when all His children are finally home.

When the final kingdom of this world has fallen, after 21 different judgments are poured out - there's still more to the story. When everything this world has called good and relied on for generations has been consumed and fades away - there's still something better on the horizon. In this message, we let the words of Revelation 19 instill us with hope and joy. After all of the doom and dread of Revelation 6-18, an Eternal Kingdom appears and shows us the destination that God has always promised. When the kingdoms and domains of this world are long past, there is a home in the Heavens that promises believers an eternity of bliss.

The Bible talks a great deal about strongholds of evil that are established by the devil, meant to frustrate and inhibit the work of God within the people of God. We often assume that these strongholds are built around places or groups of people, but they are actually most present within every heart. Misidentifying our true enemy has caused many of us to engage in the wrong battles and ignore the true battles within us. In this message, we discover how Satan builds fortresses in our hearts and how we cannot underestimate our own weaknesses. Ephesians gives us a battle strategy that has proven to be the only path forward in our fallen world.

Satan's greatest deception and most successful tactic against Christians has always been through religion. He has constantly worked to turn the movement of God, into a museum about God, where the mission is emphasized and mood and memories are prioritized. Through religion, Satan lulls us into a state of comfortable detachment from God, where we are deceived by a superficial association with Him. We fall for this artificial alternative, because it offers a quick ease for our conscience. Like the Jewish faith before ours, Christianity often devolves into just another religion. Churches become more about pacifying than propelling people forward and igniting passion with them. Listen as we discuss Satan's unnoticed stronghold at the center of our faith and how we might restore our churches to being the movement and mission that God intended.

Early on in life we learn how to monitor and modify our behavior based on our surroundings. While this may quell our bad habits and repercussions, eventually it begins to enable a worse habit. Overtime, we ignore the impulses behind the actions. We may not say or do the wrong things in front of the right people, but we still carry the sinful desires in our hearts. In this message, we examine our hearts through the many Biblical warnings about the origins of sin. Every sinful action flows from a sinful desire that has established a stronghold in our hearts. If we settle for pretending and masquerading, continually suppressing and excusing the enemies of our heart, then we will never truly break free from sin or be filled with better, godly emotions.

Being a Jesus follower means we've received a brand new identity, with access to a brilliant, unbelievable opportunity in God's Kingdom. In this message, we consider the wonder of Jesus' invitation to us all and how privileged we are to be included in God's plan. In spite of who we are compared to Him, He has chosen us to be key players in His mission to save the world and offers us an out-of-this-world anointing and purpose.

Everybody wants to be great. We want to be great in every category and on every level. Politicians promise greatness. Advertisement campaigns are all about making people feel and look great. Revelation looks forward to the final kingdom of man, which in many ways is the ultimate form of all the preceding kingdoms. Revelation 18 refers to Babylon as being great, exceeding everyone's expectations. However, it also previews Babylon and all of its greatness going down in flames. In this message, we take a look at how greatness according to this world is so vastly different than greatness according to God. Jesus came to a people so desperate to be greater than all the rest and showed them a brand new way forward. Listen as we discuss what makes one great in the Kingdom of God and how futile it is to chase greatness in this world.

Presiding over every kingdom of man, permeating the structures on every level of society is the spirit of Babylon. This agenda has long been leveraged by the Enemy to solidify and further the separation between God and man. In this message, we look at how the beastly kingdoms have always deceived the masses with illusions of power, treasure, and pleasure. These all have proven to be empty promises to every generation that falls for the traps set by the devil. What outwardly presents as beautiful, appealing to our flesh and pride, only ever leads to loss and death.

In an age of multitasking, we are also prone to multi-worship - that is, split our devotion between God and many other masters. We may not bow at idols like the ancient pagans, but we certainly order our lives around vain, lifeless rulers. In this message, we examine the many idols we have elevated above God and realize that much of our behavior reveals the altars we bow at. If we are going to follow Jesus, we must unfollow any and all that competes for first place in our lives. Good things that we've made ultimate. People that we've elevated to unholy heights. The things that our time, talent, and treasure flows to. All of these can become idols that not only rival God, but take His place in our hearts.

Revelation 16 gives us a glimpse of the day on which Earth's last mortal kingdom will fall. No matter how peaceful, prosperous, or powerful any nation or empire of this world may seem, there is an expiration date on them all. In this message, we look at the series of plagues that will fall on the earth in the last days. These all serve as judgements on a world that has believed itself to be invulnerable and self-sufficient. Truthfully, our world is pummeling towards a final day of distress and conflict. Our only hope is in the King above all kings, and His Kingdom to come.