Arise Church Denver Weekly Messages

If we have been following Jesus for a long time, it can be easy for many of us to become overly confident in our own righteousness instead of the righteousness of Jesus. In our section out of Luke for this week, Jesus tells a parable that speaks to overly proud people. Listen to this message as we all are reminded of our need for repentance whether it is the first time or the thousandth.

Many of us have questions about prayer, but the most asked question is: "Does prayer actually work?" In this first message of (Un)Expected Examples, Pastor Matt dives into this important question by working through the parable of the persistent widow.

President and Executive Minister of Converge Rocky Mountain, Paul Mitton joins us this weekend for a special message about Joy.

When we think of the church, we often think of a building or the church that we attend, but the Church is so much bigger than we think it is. The church is growing and expanding all throughout the world through missionaries, rallies, pastors, and regular Christians caring about the people in their lives. Listen to this message from our missionary to Estonia Crick Porier as we kick off a short series about the church BEYOND OUR WALLS.

Throughout this series we have been talking about being lost and being found, but what happens when we are really lost? Can we actually become eternally lost by the choices we make? Listen to this message as Pastor Matt dives into the important words of Jesus regarding his return, salvation, and the true realities of being lost and being found.

Listen to a weekly Sunday message from Lead Pastor Matt Wolf or another speaker from Arise Church or learn more at arisedenver.com.

We all deal with sinners every day. How do we love the sinners around us? Learn two ways Jesus teaches us to deal with other people's sins. Listen to this message as we hear from Jesus about how we are actually called to deal with the sins of other people.

The existence of heaven and hell are often things we don't think about and if we are honest don't really want to think about. Despite our apprehension, the Bible and Jesus have a lot to say about the afterlife. Listen to this message as we dive into a very interesting parable Jesus told about the afterlife and the eternal implications it has for all people.

From a young age, it is engrained in us that certain topics are off-limits to talk about in group settings. That it is not polite to discuss politics or religion, or gossip about others. And yet, the one thing that no one wants to talk about is #money and finances. Despite our hesitancy, Jesus spent A LOT of time talking about money and the impact that it can have on our relationship with God. Listen in as we discuss how money can so often leave us lost and where true security can be FOUND.

All of us are searching for something... for our purpose, for the next step, for direction, for connection. But what if everything we are searching for has already been FOUND. Listen in to this message we start our new series, Lost + FOUND. #arise #comehome

Many of us have heard the famous quote attributed to Gandhi, "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." This sentiment rings true for many people both inside and outside of the Church, but can the Church really be better than we think? Listen in to discover what the Church is really called to be like and how we all have a responsibility to live up to this calling.

When you ask people about their thoughts on Christianity, many of them are likely to respond with something about, "ALL of the RULES!" Even for those who are followers of Jesus, many still believe that the main purpose of the Christian life is just to follow a bunch of rules like living in a straitjacket. Listen in to find out that following Jesus is so much more than just rules.

Listen in to a special guest speaker, Dr. Scott Wenig of Denver Seminary. Dr. Wenig taught our very own pastors Matt and Sawyer how to preach while they attended the seminary. Dr. Wenig has been on the seminary faculty since 1994 and teaches in the areas of preaching, church history, and pastoral ministry. He has pastored multiple churches throughout the greater Denver area and is excited to be able to preach at Arise Church Denver.

Climbing Everest is the dream of adventure seekers and is the pinnacle of a lifetime of mountain climbing. But when we think of what it looks like to follow Jesus many of us honestly feels like it is climbing Everest. Always striving, always pushing, always working all while low on energy. But God's grace is so much better than we think. Listen to this message as we find out following Jesus isn't based on our striving at all!

Many people think that heaven will be boring, that Christianity is just a bunch of rules, that Christians are hateful, outdated hypocrites. But following Jesus is so much better than you think. Listen in as we dive into what Heaven will really be like.

Many of us feel broken down by our lives, our relationships, our pasts. But what if it’s time to RISE UP? In this Easter message, Pastor Matt dives into the risen life found only in the Resurrected King - Jesus.

We all that it is not about how we start, but how we finish. But that leads us to the question, "How do we finish?" In this final message of the Doomsday Preppers series, we dive into this important question when it comes to following Jesus. Make sure to listen to this message, the way to finish will surprise you!

One of the things we have missed the most during the pandemic has been large gatherings and celebrations with others. Often when we think of God's kingdom, we honestly think of a stuffy worship service for eternity, but Jesus over-and-over again describes it as a PARTY --a feast and banquet beyond our wildest imagination. Listen in to hear about the amazing party that God has been planning; the guest list may surprise you!

Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God more than just about any topic. It is mentioned over 110 times in the Gospels, but what does God's Kingdom have to do with the end of the world? And why should we want to help bring it about? Listen in as we dive into the unexpected reality of God's Kingdom.

For millennia, people have been trying to properly interpret the events that are happening in order to anticipate and predict the end. Whether looking at cosmological, political, or natural events, all of these endeavors have proven fruitless. Listen to what Jesus says is really fruitful when we are trying to determine the end.

Many people are asking: Are we in the End Times? When is the world going to end? Is this THE end? But those are the wrong questions, what you really should be asking is: AM I READY? Listen in as we kick off our new series Doomsday Preppers.

From the defeating of aliens to finding the Holy Grail, every quest ends with the heroes reaching the goal and the celebration beginning. But for the Christian life, our goal is not reached in a two-hour movie or 12 chapters of a book. Listen in as we wrap up our series and find encouragement as we all press onwards toward the goal of following Jesus.

It has been famously said that "Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell." In our world, temptations seem to be around every corner and we are going to have to face them on our quest of following Jesus. But we don't have to face them alone. Listen in to find the key to overcoming temptation.

Imagine one of your friends gives you a call and asks you this question, "Is Jesus really God? I know a lot of different faiths respect Jesus... I mean even I like some of the stuff he said, but is he God?" What would you say? Would you know what to say? Where would you start? Listen to this message from one of our elders Kynton shares a special message answering these important questions and shares with us an amazing opportunity that God has opened up for their family.

We all know what it is like to go through obstacles. It seems that we always come across them when everything is going well and then we hit that wall and it all comes crashing down. We wonder where God is, why this is happening and what we need to move past this hardship. Listen in as Pastor Matt helps us dive into the obstacles that we will face on the quest of following Jesus.

We all know the story: an adventurer sets out on a quest and is joined by companions along the way to help them reach the goal. And yet many of us like to think that we can do it all by ourselves. Listen to this message to discover the companions you need for the quest of following Jesus and what it takes to be a good companion for others.

Luke had Yoda. Frodo had Gandalf. Katniss had Haymitch and Effie. Every one of us is following something or someone. Whether it is on social media or in real life, we look to others to lead us and direct us in our lives. But we often forget that no matter how insignificant we think we are, other people are looking to us to help and guide them. As we continue our series on The Quest of following Jesus, we dive into the importance of having a guide for the journey.

An unlikely hero answers a call. And begins a journey, aided by a wise guide, surrounded by companions, overcoming obstacles and temptations to reach the goal. This is not just the plot that occurs in our stories, again and again, it is the journey that Jesus has invited us on. Join us on THE QUEST, the journey begins in this message.

As we begin this new year, 2021, we are at an important point. Even as many of us are still dealing with the pandemic, as we have people in our lives who are sick, as we mourn the people we have lost and we still are experiencing the financial impact of the pandemic, as cases still rise….we are at a crossroads. Listen in to hear about the resolution God is calling us to make in 2021.

As we look forward to the future, especially after a year like 2020, it is hard to be hopeful. How can we still hold onto hope even after the holidays as we move into the next year and beyond? Listen in to find out!

This year didn't turn out the way anyone expected...From masks to stay-at-home orders, to bathing in hand sanitizer, this year has knocked us off balance, but it doesn't have to knock us down. In this difficult holiday season, find HOPE. The Thrill of Hope - Christmas Eve 2020.

President Ronald Reagan is famously quoted as declaring, "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help." Whether you agree or disagree with Reagan's politics or sentiment, ALL of us put too much faith in government. Even when we know that our and any government is made up of sinful, flawed people who will ultimately fail and not live up to our expectations. However, the good news is that there is a future coming when the government will no longer be in the hands of people but on the shoulders' of the Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace - Jesus.

Throughout our lives and especially in a year like 2020, many of us have wondered if God is really with us? As we go through challenges, it often becomes harder and harder to feel God's presence with us. Listen in for a need reminder that Jesus is our Emmanuel - God with us!

This year didn’t turn out the way anyone expected. From uncomfortable masks, to stay at home orders, to bathing in hand sanitizer, this year has knocked us off balance. But it doesn’t have to knock us down. In this difficult holiday season, find hope! Listen in as we start our Christmas series, The Thrill of Hope.

We all know 2020 has been a year like no other and certainly a year that has caused us all to worry. Is it really possible for us to remove our worries in a year that is filled with them? Listen in as we wrap up our Untangled series focusing on how to get rid of our worry and what to do instead.

If I could just move up to that pay scale, then I would be okay... If I only made what they made... I wish I could have... So often when we begin to think about money or finances, we are ensnared with ideas of greed and envy. It is something we try to do, yet over and over, we continue to be trapped with wishes and desires for more. Listen in for the real secret to being rich.

Many of us remember the sorting toy from our childhood with the many shapes that each had a corresponding hole that fit the shape. This toy teaches children about shapes and helps with dexterity. And although we may have fond memories of this toy; too often our lives feel that way. We feel like we are always trying to fit into a situation, a group, a relationship that doesn't quite fit us. We often feel like a square peg in a role hole. But God does not want us to fear fitting in, he wants to call us to something even greater.

We live in a world that tells us how to look, how to dress, how to act. But what if we could find freedom from that desire to look good, to fit in, to be rich? What if we could find freedom worry? That's what this series is all about: finding freedom from the worries of the world. Listen to this message as we begin a new series, UNTANGLED.

If we are truly honest, many of us are afraid to talk about our faith; let alone share it with the people in our lives. We feel overwhelmed, under-prepared, and foresee any discussion about faith and religion likely ending in an argument. BUT, what if we began to view evangelism differently? What we began to change our mindset from one of fear and retention to one of joy and multiplication? Dive into our last and most important core value.

Each week at church, we sing songs, we worship, we praise our God together. Some people raise hands, others are more reserved. But would you describe your worship as passionate? Would people know how much you love God if they observed how you worshipped? Listen to this message for the next core value on why passionate, authentic worship is transformation not just to us, but even to the unchurched.

Each of us wants to be remembered, to leave a legacy, to make an impact on the world that lasts after we are gone. Too often we focus on what we can do instead of what God can do through us? What if our legacy wasn't about us at all, but the lives that we touched and how we made an investment in the future. Listen to this important message from Sawyer Trapp and Ariel Trucke as they dive into why investment in the next generation is at the heart of our church.

No matter how good our lives are, every single one of us wants to be happier. Often we turn to recreation, our hobbies, spending time with others to improve our happiness. What if when we desired greater happiness, we turned to generosity and giving to others? Science has shown that generous living and charitable acts activate the brain associated with rewards and contentment. Listen to this important message as we dive into our core value of Generous Living and the desire that God has for us to live lives of cheerful giving.

When we look out at our world today, it is easy to see the DARKNESS - the hurt, the pain, the injustice, the depression. For many of us, our lives, even if we follow Jesus, are often characterized by the same DARKNESS, but what would it look like for us to start living in the LIGHT? Listen to this message of hope to be encouraged to arise to life that God has planned for you and shine the light of hope to every heart. Sermon Notes Available at https://bible.com/events/42825259

If we look at the words of Jesus throughout the Bible, so much time is devoted to his call to his followers to go assist those in need and tell others the Good News of his Gospel. If we are going to be a church that listens to this call, then BOLD Outreach must be at the core of our church. Listen in to be reminded of the bold call we have to be sent to seek and save the lost locally and throughout the world.

We all long for connection, for relationships, for community. In fact, a need for community is built into the very nature of humans by God. And yet, in a world that promises connections and relationships aplenty, so many of us feel alone, lonely, and forgotten. Listen in as Pastor Sawyer dives into the vibrant community that God wants the church to be and how each of us can experience the connection we so desperately long for. Sign up for a Community Group: stapletonchurch.com/communitygroups

Any church service at any church in the world will likely feature a message or sermon as a part of it, but what does transformational teaching look like and why is it one of our CORE values. Listen into this message as we start our new series At Our CORE and dive into teaching that is not only accurate and relevant to your life, but will transform it.

It can be pretty easy to look like a "good" Christian on the surface - say the right things, go to church, act nice towards others, live a tidy life. But God doesn't want us to just be good, he wants to be sold-out followers who are completely transformed. Listen to this important message that wraps up our RADICAL series with a focus on the sweeping transformation that Jesus wants for your life.

According to a 2017 Barna study, prayer is the most common spiritual practice in the United States with over 79% of adults saying that they have prayed in the past three months. And yet despite its common practice, so many of us struggle with what to say, what to pray for, and how to make prayer a consistent part of our lives. Listen to this message that unpacks the radical life of prayer that Jesus is calling us too.

2020 upended the lives we knew. Our work, our school, our church, our country, our entire culture got shaken up like a snow-globe. The “experts” are predicting what the changes mean longterm, but no one really knows. That means we have an incredible opportunity now to shift our priorities for the future. Learn this week how Jesus calls us to radical priorities.

Used to describe hospitals, heroes on the local news, and the people who stop to help you change a tire, most people, even many non-Christians, are familiar with and even use the phrase - Good Samaritan. If everyone is aware of the story, what does it still have to teach us? How can it call us into the broad and radical idea of love that Jesus is speaking about? Can we move beyond religious obligation and allowed ourselves to live a life of radical love? Hear about to make this radical love a part of your life.