How to Align Your Plans with God's Will | The Pathway of Planning | Dr. Roger Patterson
CityRise Sermons
"A man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps". We all plan—daily, weekly, and for the long term—but often our planning is just a disguised attempt to maintain control. Join Senior Pastor Dr. Roger Patterson as he dives into the tension between human preparation and divine sovereignty. Discover how CityRise Church is entering a new season of impact and how your "Pathway of Planning" can lead to a lasting legacy for the kingdom of God.
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How to Have Faith When You Can’t See the Land | The Life of Noah | Chris DeArman
CityRise Sermons
When life gets foggy and the "land" is nowhere in sight, how do you keep moving forward? In this powerful message from our 40 Days of Faith series, Chris DeArman explores the life of Noah—a man who was called to build an ark for events "as yet unseen." Through the lens of Hebrews 11:7, we learn how to navigate seasons of uncertainty, risk, and danger by leaning into the certainty of God’s Word rather than our own sight. Whether you are facing a health crisis, financial strain, or a difficult family situation, Noah’s journey offers a "gold jacket" example of how to live out a faith that...
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Walking With God: The Life and Legacy of Enoch | Dr. Roger Patterson
CityRise Sermons
In this powerful message, Dr. Roger Patterson explores the life of Enoch, the man who "walked with God" and was taken to heaven without seeing death. As part of our 40 Days of Faith series, we examine how every life preaches a sermon and how our daily walk impacts generations to come. Enoch lived in a time of increasing wickedness, yet he maintained a life of integrity, righteousness, and prophetic warning. Discover how your habits, your words, and your faithfulness can shape the spiritual legacy of your family and community. Key Scriptures: Genesis 5:21-24 (The Genealogy of Faith) Jude 14-16...
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Faith That Offers Its Best: Lessons from Cain and Abel | Dr. Roger Patterson
CityRise Sermons
Why was Abel’s gift acceptable to God, while Cain’s was not?. In this powerful message, Dr. Roger Patterson explores what it means to live with a "Faith That Offers Its Best.". Join us as we dive into Hebrews 11:4 to discover how our offerings—given in faith—can continue to speak long after we are gone. As we continue our church-wide series, 40 Days of Faith, Pastor Roger uses the story of Cain and Abel to illustrate the difference between a life of zeal and intentionality versus one of carelessness.. Just as some approach a workout with a competitive drive to "get the t-shirt," our...
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How to Have Enduring Faith in 2026 | 40 Days of Faith (Part 1) | Tim Yeager
CityRise Sermons
Are you ready for a fresh start in 2026? As we kick off the New Year, Student Pastor Tim Yeager opens our "40 Days of Faith" series by looking at what it means to have a faith that doesn't shrink back. Using the book of Hebrews, Tim explores the "need for endurance" in our spiritual lives. We often start the year with big resolutions—gym memberships, healthy eating, or new habits—but research shows that 80% of people fall off by mid-March. The problem isn’t starting; it’s staying. In this sermon, you will discover: The Reality of Resistance: Why pursuing your calling often leads to...
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Jesus the Servant King: Finding Joy in Serving Others | Philippians 2 Sermon
CityRise Sermons
Is your Christmas season feeling more stressful than soulful? In this powerful Christmas message, Pastor Chris DeArman explores Philippians 2 to reveal a side of Jesus we often overlook: The Servant King. While the world competes for status and "selfish ambition," Jesus offers a different way to live that leads to true connection and community. In this sermon, you’ll discover three profound ways Jesus serves you right now: He Sits With Us: Jesus isn't a distant God; He entered into our suffering and "emptied himself" to be with us in our mess. He Saves Us: He bore the full weight...
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The Worshiped King: Gold, Frankincense, & Myrrh | Dr. Roger Patterson
CityRise Sermons
The Magi traveled a great distance and expense to offer Jesus gifts. But what do gold, frankincense, and myrrh truly signify, and why is Jesus worthy of our worship today? In this Advent sermon, Dr. Roger Patterson of CityRise Bellaire walks through the story of the wise men in Matthew chapter two. He explains that each gift answers the question, "Who is this child and why is he worthy of my worship?". Discover the profound spiritual significance of the Magi's offerings: 👑 Gold acknowledges Jesus as King: Gold has always been a symbol of royalty, and to worship Jesus is to submit...
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The Humble King: Why God Doesn't Do Long Distance Relationships
CityRise Sermons
Join Pastor Chris DeArman from CityRise Church as he explores the profound meaning behind Jesus's humble arrival, challenging the idea that God keeps His distance. This sermon focuses on the core Big Idea of Christmas: God does not do long distance relationships. 👑 Key Takeaways from the Sermon The Big Idea: God doesn't do long distance relationships; He draws near to us by sending His son to step into our world and stories. The Humble King: Jesus, the promised King , laid aside the rights, status, and visible display of divine glory ("Mild He lays His glory by") to fully enter the human...
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Hope for a World in Instability | The Promised King
CityRise Sermons
Join Pastor Ben Hays of CityRise West U Baptist for the first message in our Advent series, The King Has Come! As our world faces widespread governmental instability and longs for peaceful and righteous governance, this sermon unpacks the powerful, ancient messianic prophecy from Isaiah 9. We live between the first and second advents of King Jesus. Discover the profound difference between the kings of this world and the promised King of Kings. The King is NOT: A military conqueror, a political operative, or an aristocratic figurehead. The King IS: The Light Bearing King who makes the darkness...
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Trusting God in the Wilderness: How to Navigate Adversity & Uncertainty
CityRise Sermons
Join Student Pastor Tim Yeager as he explores the Book of Exodus, specifically chapters 15 and 16, to draw powerful lessons on navigating the "wilderness" of life. This sermon, part of the "Can I Still Experience God" series , addresses how we often lose perspective during times of adversity, just like the Israelites who quickly grumbled after witnessing God's miracles. Key Takeaways from the Sermon: Pastor Yeager outlines three principles for navigating moments of crisis, uncertainty, and adversity well: Look Back on God's Past Faithfulness: In moments of trial, remember how God has shown up...
info_outlineFacing a moment when you realize you're "flying the wrong direction"? This sermon from Dr. Roger Patterson, based on the story of Moses in Exodus 4, offers four essential principles for adjusting your course and moving forward in obedience to God.
Dr. Patterson emphasizes that spiritual transformation begins with a change in direction, drawing a parallel with the story of "Wrong Way" Corrigan and the profound journey of Moses. Learn how to overcome the fears and private disobedience that hold you back so you can embrace God's plan for your life.
In this message, you'll discover:
Key Principles for Adjusting Course:
1. Be truthful with yourself and with others: Moses wasn't completely honest about his return to Egypt, driven by fear of his father-in-law and fear for his life. God’s specific word to Moses—that the men seeking his life were dead—served as a reinforcement and encouragement against his fear. The practical question for us is: What fear is holding you back, and what one step will you take in spite of it?
2. When you take action, resolve the unresolved: You cannot move forward in public obedience while remaining in private disobedience. Just as Moses had neglected the covenant command of circumcision for his son, God will deal with a leader's unfinished obedience. This principle calls for repentance: owning your failures and agreeing with God, saying, "You are right, I am wrong".
3. Trust God to bring you the right people for the journey: God brought leaders like Aaron (spokesman, wingman) and others to provide capacity, strength, and a succession plan for Moses. The work God calls you to is far too great to do alone. Proverbs 24:6 states, "in the abundance of counselors there is victory".
4. Your aim is to influence others and show God's faithfulness: When you adjust your course and obey, others will see the faithfulness of God and join you. Your private faith is turned into a public witness. Dr. Patterson illustrates this with the life of Nelson Mandela, whose internal reorientation from anger to grace and revenge to reconciliation ultimately led to him influencing a nation.
Action Points (The Four A's):
Identify the direction of God's calling.
Address the area he's asking you to surrender (Repent).
Accept the help he's sending you.
Act—take your first step today.
Scripture Reference: Exodus 4:18-31