Rise Community Podcast

July 12, 2026

[Wk10] Have You Seen God? - 1 John 4:12-15

<p>This weeks' message invites us to reconsider where we've been looking for God. Drawing from 1 John 4:12-15, we're reminded that while no one has ever seen God in His fullness, He is actually all around us—in the sprouting seed, the comforting of a crying baby, the healing of a broken heart, and every act of love we witness or perform. The sermon challenges our tendency to search for God only in grand, spectacular moments while missing the thousands of daily opportunities to experience His presence. At the heart of this teaching is the Greek word 'agape'—unconditional love that is not merely a feeling but a deliberate choice and action. When Scripture declares that God is love, it means God embodies patience, kindness, protection, hope, and perseverance. Through Jesus, this divine love was made manifest, and remarkably, we are invited to continue that manifestation. Like a seed that contains everything needed to become a fruit-bearing tree, God's love was planted through Christ's sacrifice, and we are the fruit that grows from that tree. The Holy Spirit makes this seemingly impossible standard of love actually achievable in our daily lives, transforming the impractical into the practicable and empowering us to love when our human nature falls short.</p>

July 5, 2026

[Wk9] Experiencing God's Transforming Love - 1 John 4:7-11

<p>What does it truly mean when we say God is love? This profound exploration of 1 John 4:7-11 takes us beyond sentimental notions into the transformative reality of divine love. We discover that authentic Christian love isn't something we manufacture through effort or willpower—it flows directly from experiencing God's love ourselves. The passage reminds us that we are beloved before we are called to love others, a crucial truth that changes everything. When John writes that whoever loves has been born of God and knows God, he's speaking of experiential knowledge, not mere intellectual understanding. This is ginosko—a deep, personal encounter with God's love that fundamentally transforms who we are. The most striking revelation comes in understanding that God's love was made manifest at the cross, where Christ became the propitiation for our sins, absorbing the wrath we deserved. This isn't abstract theology—it's the greatest demonstration of love in history. God didn't wait for us to deserve His love; He loved us first while we were still sinners. The challenge then becomes clear: having received such undeserved, sacrificial love, we are called to extend that same love to others. Not because they've earned it, but because that's how God loved us. The story of Zacchaeus beautifully illustrates this—Jesus didn't demand change before offering relationship; His love prompted transformation. This is the love we're invited to radiate in a world desperately needing to experience the genuine article.</p>

June 14, 2026

[Wk6] 1 John 2:29-3:10