Rise City Church Sermon Podcast

Don't Come Down | Rise Up and Build

Build With Open Hands | Rise Up and Build

In Nehemiah 5, the walls are rising, but the people are hurting. Families face hunger and crushing debt while their own neighbors profit from their desperation. Having stood strong against outside opposition, God’s people must now confront the greed within. We can be passionate about God’s mission while keeping parts of our lives closed to Him. Our money, our comfort, and our desire for control can quietly take priority over the people He calls us to love. Nehemiah calls the community to repentance that becomes action: return what was taken, restore what was broken, and live differently. Everything we have has been entrusted to us by a generous God. Through Jesus, we have received grace we could never earn—and that generosity is meant to flow through us.

Press Forward Through Opposition | Rise Up and Build

What if the opposition you’re facing is where God is calling you to keep building? In Nehemiah 4, ridicule turns into threats as God’s people rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. Nehemiah responds with prayer, discernment, and action. With tools in one hand and weapons in the other, the people keep working—trusting that their God will fight for them. We know how criticism, fear, and painful words can stop us in our tracks. But people are not our enemy, and holding on to offense can keep us from the very work God has called us to do. He invites us to release bitterness, pursue peace, and put on His armor so we can move forward in faith.

Let Us Rise Up & Build | The Book of Nehemiah

What if God has a place for you in the very work that could change someone else’s eternity? In Nehemiah 2–3, a broken city becomes a shared calling. Nehemiah quietly prepares, calls the people to rise up and build, and watches as ordinary men and women take responsibility for their section of the wall. Together, they become part of a story far greater than themselves. Jesus is still building His church—a people joined together around His Word, filled with His Spirit, and sent to bring His hope to the world. Every prayer, every act of service, and every generous gift can help make room for one more person to encounter Him. That person has a name. They may be your child, your neighbor, or the friend you’ve been praying for. We each have a part to play. As we offer what God has placed in our hands, we trust Jesus to do what only He can do: redeem lives and build His people. There is a section of the wall for you. Let’s rise up and build—and let every life changed point to Jesus.

Build With Bold Prayers | Rise Up and Build

In Nehemiah 2, four months of prayer lead to a moment that could change everything. Standing before the king, Nehemiah is afraid—but he asks boldly. God has been preparing the way and shaping the man who will walk it. We often want God to open a door before we’ve let Him work in our hearts. Prayer aligns our desires with His, strengthens our character, and prepares us to recognize the opportunities He places before us. When the moment comes, our confidence rests in the God who sends us. Jesus invites us to approach His throne with confidence and promises to go with us. Whatever He is calling you to build, you don’t have to step forward alone. Pray faithfully. Ask boldly. Go knowing you are backed by the King.

Revival Starts With Us | Sunday Night Lights

What if the greatest moves of God aren’t just stories behind us—but moments He is inviting us into now? In John 21, Jesus meets Peter on the other side of failure with forgiveness and a renewed calling. The disciple who denied Him becomes a bold witness in Acts—and the transformation that begins in Peter spreads through the church and into the city. We long to see God change our world, but are we willing to let Him begin with us? Revival takes root as we surrender the sin we’ve grown comfortable with, build our homes around Jesus, and step out in faith to share Him with the people already in our lives. You don’t have to wait for the perfect moment to say yes to God. This is your city. These are your people. This is your moment. What if revival begins with a simple prayer: “Jesus, start with me”?

The Door to Abundant Life | I Am He

We all want abundant life—but we keep wandering through doors that promise freedom and leave us empty. In John 10, Jesus makes a breathtaking claim: the life your soul was created for is found through Him alone. He is the Door who welcomes you, the Shepherd who knows your name, and the Lamb who gave His life to save yours. When you are lost, He searches for you. When you are too weak to return, He carries you. When every other voice competes for your trust, He keeps calling you home. Jesus is closer than you think—and He is still knocking. Will you open the door?

The Fruit That Comes From Abiding in Jesus | I Am He

We spend our lives chasing success, comfort, recognition, and even religious achievement, believing they will produce the life our souls crave. But in John 15, Jesus warns that knowledge, morality, and spiritual activity can look impressive while remaining disconnected from the source of life. Jesus reveals that the evidence of discipleship is fruit: inexhaustible joy and sacrificial love. Yet this fruit isn’t produced by trying harder. A branch cannot manufacture life. It can only remain connected to the vine, allowing the life of Jesus to flow through it. Stop striving to look fruitful. Abide in Jesus—and let His joy and love become the unmistakable fruit of your life.

When Jesus Makes Room | Daniel Knutson

What if Jesus isn’t waiting for you to get your life together—but simply inviting you to come back? In Mark 2, a group of friends refuses to let a crowded room keep a paralyzed man from Jesus. They tear open the roof and lower their friend into His presence. There, Jesus meets the man with forgiveness, healing, and a grace greater than anything that had kept him separated or ashamed. Many of us carry hidden places we are afraid to surrender. We wonder whether Jesus will receive us as we are, so we build walls and hold tightly to what feels safe. But His invitation is not reserved for people who have already changed. It is extended to every person willing to come near and trust Him with the process. Make room for Jesus. The grace that welcomes you back will become the grace that makes room for others.

Jesus Is the Only Way | I Am He

What if Christianity isn't primarily about having the right answers—but walking with the One who is the answer? Thomas wants directions. Philip wants understanding. But Jesus offers them something greater than instructions or information: a relationship with Himself. The disciples do not need to solve every mystery about the road ahead. They need to remain close to the One who knows the way. In John 14 , Jesus promises that He is preparing a place for His people and will return to bring them home. He is the Way who leads us, the Truth who anchors us, and the Life who transforms us. Following Jesus is not simply adopting a better way to live—it is learning to live every moment with Him. Jesus is not inviting you into an empty religion. He is inviting you into life with Him. The question is: are you merely learning about the Way, or are you walking with Him?