Catch The Fire Church Raleigh Catch The Fire Church - Raleigh

This week our pastor, Jess Ninaber, preached from Matthew 28:18-20 on The Great Commission. This commission is active, it involves not just sharing the gospel, but intentionally engaging in the lives of others, teaching them to follow Jesus, and encouraging spiritual maturity. The mission is global, reaching out to every ethnic and people group. As believers, we're called to go boldly, knowing Christ empowers us every step of the way.

This week we heard from Justin Rife, our Community Pastor, on the importance of embracing the city! As believers, we have a mission to go out into our local communities to bring the good news of redemption through Jesus Christ. The world is growing with anticipation for us to go. Are we willing to be people of mercy in cities that don't deserve mercy? Are we willing to party when the prodigals come home instead of blame and shame? This is the call of every believer. Now, more than ever, we need to be speaking resurrection and redemption to the dead and dark places in our communities. The power of the gospel is transformative. It is not about our deeds but about receiving Christ's life, death, and resurrection. Together, let's pray, bless, and participate in bringing the good news to our community.

We had a powerful Pentecost Sunday with a wonderful message from Senior Leader, Duncan Smith, on “The Empowerment of the Holy Spirit.” While religion often focuses on what we can do for God, Christianity is about what God has done for us, particularly through Jesus’s sacrifice and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. Drawing on John 7:37-39, Smith highlights Jesus’ promise that believers would be filled with "rivers of living water," symbolizing the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ death and resurrection provides believers with the Holy Spirit, enabling us to live in union with Christ and perform acts empowered by the same Spirit. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, which can be likened to new wine that requires new wineskins. This emphasizes transformation and renewal. Embrace this empowerment and allow it to visibly change your lives and witness.

Check out this week’s message from our Lead Pastor, Aaron Ninaber: "The Gift of Holy Spirit.” The ministry of the Holy Spirit moving through our lives is to glorify Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins! Through repentance and walking in the Spirit, we recognize that the nine gifts laid out in 1 Corinthians 12 are not distant goals but integral to our identity in Christ (Romans 8:14). Joel 2 says these gifts are for all believers, each playing a unique role in the body of Christ. It is time to embrace our spiritual gifts and grow together in unity and love, as we carry the nature and heart of Christ.

Check out this week’s message from our Lead Pastor, Jess Ninaber: "Who Is The Holy Spirit?". As believers, it is so important to understand the multifaceted nature and character of the Holy Spirit, desiring the fullness of His presence. In John 14:12-18;26 Jesus reveals to the disciples how the Spirit empowers, comforts, and guides believers. The Holy Spirit is necessary to our Christian walk and it is only by His power and wisdom and revelation that we experience transformation in our lives.

This week Pastor Aaron kicked off our new sermon series, Pneuma. His sermon, “The Necessity of the Holy Spirit” highlights the indispensable role of the Holy Spirit in every believer. In John 16, we see the kindness of Jesus to reassure His disciples that though he had to leave this earth, it was necessary so that the Helper could come. For the Spirit to descend, the Son must ascend. Holy Spirit is not merely a presence, but a person, a close friend who understands us deeply. He was sent for you and I as the body of Christ, but also for us as individuals to guide us, empower us, and reveal truth. The friendship of the Holy Spirit is necessary to our faith, and we have an open invitation to encounter Him throughout our every day lives.