How to Be a Christian

Wk 19: Living the Sermon on the Mount

September 5, 2021 • Peter Pera • Matthew 7:21–28

As we wrap up our study in the sermon on the mount Jesus is describing the results of a life on the wide and narrow road. Our obedience to His words is what determines whether we have built our house on the rock or the sand.

Wk 18: The Fruit of Character

August 29, 2021 • Peter Pera • Matthew 7:15–23

Pastor Peter Pera teaches us how to discern false prophets and calls out the modern church in America. Good fruit is not found in a successful ministry, good fruit is found in someone's character. A lack of character is too common in our society today and the effects of bad character is a line of hurt people.

Wk 17: The Narrow Way

August 22, 2021 • Frank Ares • Matthew 7:13–14

Pastor Frank shares his personal struggle with walking the wide path that leads to destruction and teaches why we should always choose the narrow way because it will always lead to life.

Wk 16: Asking, Seeking, Knocking

August 15, 2021 • Frank Ares • Matthew 7:7–12

Wk 15: Judging Others

August 8, 2021 • Jon Doud • Matthew 7:1–6

What does Jesus say about judging others?

Wk 14: Worry & Anxiety

August 1, 2021 • Peter Pera • Matthew 6:25–34

In this section of the sermon on the mount Jesus is saying clearly if your treasure is on earth you are in darkness and your master is not Jesus. As a result, you will live a life consumed with anxiety and worry, trying to gather that treasure up.

Wk 13: Treasure!

July 25, 2021 • Peter Pera • Matthew 6:19–21

This is the only place where Jesus names a rival that threatens discipleship and our relationship to him and he calls it money. It is possible for our possessions to own us as much as we own them. Jesus is saying it’s not the having of possession but the constant declaring that your possessions are yours that prevents you from being a disciple!

Wk 12: Fasting for Fame

July 18, 2021 • Peter Pera • Matthew 6:16–18

In this message as we look at what Jesus says about praying and fasting, Pastor Pete explains how any aspect of our life with God can be corrupted when we become more worried about what people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Wk 11: Beware of Self-Righteous Behavior

July 4, 2021 • Frank Ares • Matthew 6:1–14

Wk 10: Loving Your Enemy

June 27, 2021 • Peter Pera

God is indiscriminate in His love. If you want to boil down to what God is like, God is like loving your enemies. Self-sacrifice for the good of your enemies. That's what God is like and his children are most like God when they do that.

Wk 9: Dismantling Revenge

June 20, 2021 • Peter Pera

Moses limited revenge through laws in the Torah, Jesus taught the abandonment of vengeance for personal insult and instead to react in creative ways that value dignity as an image-bearer. Jesus is deconstructing the way we live and see ourselves and other people.

Wk 8: Manipulating Truth

June 13, 2021 • Frank Ares

Let your yes be yes and your no be no! Our need to "put a spin" on something comes from a deep desire for control. Jesus calls us to be honest and transparent by simply saying yes or no. There is no need for manipulation or "spin" in God's kingdom.

Wk 7: Jesus & Divorce

June 6, 2021 • Peter Pera

Pastor Pete dives deep into the topic of divorce and re-marriage. He explains what the Bible tells us about divorce and the difference between concession and God's ideal. We live in a time when the divorce rate is no different in the church than outside the church. What is God's true ideal and purpose for marriage? Why does God hate divorce? In the sermon on the mount Jesus is reminding us that marriage is not a consumer product that exists for our personal satisfaction. It's much, much more than that.

Wk 6: The Problem With Lust

May 30, 2021 • Peter Pera

Pastor Pete delivers a powerful and timely message on the problem with lust and its destructive pattern. He also points out that in this portion of the sermon on the mount Jesus is explaining that the kingdom of God is a safe place for women.

Wk 5: The Truth About Anger

May 23, 2021 • Frank Ares

Our anger reveals the real issues of the human heart. When we hold someone in contempt we are erasing their humanity. This is the reason Jesus relates anger with murder in the sermon on the mount. Jesus is constantly showing his disciples and us that we are all God's image-bearers, and so we must treat each other with dignity and respect. In a world where anger and outrage have seemingly become a fruit of the spirit, we must resist the culture's call to celebrate outrage. We cannot allow our anger to erase the humanity of another person or group, no matter our differences.

Rise Community Church

Audio & Video Messages