What are the opening hours?

Thursday 6:30pm - 8:30pm Sunday 10:30am - 12:15pm

Release City Church

Home
United States
Chiefland, FL
Release City Church

Directions Website

A church for our city SUNDAY SERVICE: 10:30AM

WEDNESDAY STUDENT NIGHT: 5:30PM

LEAD PASTOR: Bradley Webber

11/05/2026

𝗗𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
November 5, 2026

Fear God, Not Man

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28 (NIV)

The room grew quiet when the question was asked. Everyone seemed to have an opinion about what should happen next, and the pressure to agree was hard to ignore. One person glanced around the table before speaking, carefully measuring the response they might receive. They knew what they believed, but they also knew what it might cost them to say it aloud.

Sometimes the hardest part of doing what is right is accepting that not everyone will understand or approve.

Jesus spoke directly to this struggle when He told His disciples not to fear those who could harm the body, but to fear God, who holds authority over both body and soul. His words were not an invitation to live anxiously, always wondering whether God might turn against us. They were a reminder of who deserves the highest place in our hearts. Human beings have influence, and their words can hurt. But their opinions are not the final authority over our lives.

It is easy to forget that when we want to be accepted. We may soften what we believe to avoid criticism, stay silent when truth needs to be spoken, or make choices based on how others might respond. Sometimes the pressure is obvious. Other times, it hides behind comparison, insecurity, or the quiet desire to fit in. We begin asking what people will think before asking what God has said.

When that happens, the approval of others can become our master. We give it the power to direct our words, shape our decisions, and determine whether we feel secure. Yet approval is never a steady foundation. People change their minds. Expectations shift. Even when we do everything we can to please others, someone may still disagree with us.

God offers us a different foundation. When His opinion matters most, the opinions of people begin to lose their power over us. We can listen to wise counsel without being controlled by it. We can treat people with kindness without needing their agreement. And we can stand for what is right without becoming harsh toward those who see things differently.

This kind of courage does not come from thinking we are stronger than everyone around us. It grows from remembering who God is and learning to trust Him more than we trust the reactions of others. Proverbs 29:25 warns that “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe” (NIV). The fear of man traps us because it makes another person's response feel bigger than our responsibility to God. Trust in the Lord loosens that hold.

This does not mean every disagreement is a test of faith or that we should stop caring how our actions affect people. Scripture calls us to love our neighbors, live peaceably where possible, and speak with grace. But there is a difference between caring about people and being ruled by their approval. Love seeks another person's good. Fear of man seeks to avoid their disapproval, even when that means stepping away from what we know is right.

You may face a decision today that puts those two desires in conflict. Perhaps you need to tell the truth, hold a boundary, or take a step of obedience that others will not understand. You do not have to approach that moment with pride or defensiveness. You can ask God for wisdom, choose your words carefully, and move forward with a settled heart. Your responsibility is to honor Him. The response of others is not yours to control.

REFLECTION
Whose approval has been carrying more weight in my heart than God's approval? What is one decision I can bring before Him today and make with greater trust in His Word?

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me see where the opinions of others have begun to shape my choices more than Your truth. Forgive me for the times I have stayed silent or compromised because I was afraid of being rejected. Teach me to care for people without being controlled by their approval. Give me the courage to stand firm in what is right, with humility, wisdom, and love. Let my greatest desire be to honor You, trusting that Your approval is worth more than the acceptance of the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

For more devotions like this one, visit: https://jentezenfranklin.org/daily-devotions

11/04/2026

This Sunday, we were reminded that following Jesus means trusting Him even when we can’t see the whole picture. 🙌

God is faithful in every detail, and we can walk confidently knowing He is working even in the things we don’t understand.

Don’t let what you see today make you forget what you know about who God is!

🎧 Want to hear the entire message? Listen to the full sermon on our podcast! Catch up anytime and take Sunday’s message with you throughout the week.

We’ll see you next Sunday at Release City Church! ❤️

11/04/2026

𝗗𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
November 4, 2026

When Pleasing People Becomes A Trap

“Then Saul admitted to Samuel, ‘I have sinned. I violated the LORD’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men, and so I gave in to them.’” - 1 Samuel 15:24 (NIV)

King Saul stands before Samuel, searching for a way to explain himself. The prophet has confronted him with a question he cannot easily escape. God had given Saul clear instructions, yet Saul has chosen to do things his own way. He has already tried to defend his actions, insisting that he obeyed while overlooking the very command he ignored.

Now, face-to-face with Samuel, Saul finally admits what happened. He was afraid of the people, and he gave in to them. The man entrusted with leading a nation had allowed the opinions of others to lead him instead.

Saul's problem was not a lack of authority. He was king. He had a position of influence and knew what God had asked him to do. But the fear of disappointing people had become stronger than his willingness to obey the Lord. His story reminds us that knowing what is right and having the courage to do it are not always the same thing.
The Subtle Danger of Compromise

The pressure to please others rarely announces itself as a spiritual danger. It can look like staying silent when something needs to be said, agreeing with a decision that conflicts with your convictions, or avoiding an honest conversation because someone might be upset.

You may tell yourself you are keeping the peace or protecting a relationship. Those desires are understandable. But when another person's approval becomes more important than obedience to God, compromise can begin to feel like the reasonable choice.

Saul eventually confessed, “I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.” He knew what God required, but fear shaped his decision. Earlier in the same chapter, Samuel had made God's priority clear:

“To obey is better than sacrifice” - 1 Samuel 15:22 (NIV)

Saul could point to the things he had done right, but those actions could not replace the obedience God had asked of him. What mattered was not how well Saul could defend himself. It was whether his heart was willing to follow the Lord.
Shifting Opinions vs. Secure Faith

We can fall into the same trap when we depend on people's approval to feel secure. Expectations change. One person may applaud a decision that disappoints someone else.

If keeping everyone happy becomes the measure of whether we are doing well, we can spend our lives adjusting to opinions that never stay the same. Over time, the fear of rejection can leave us divided between what we believe God is asking and what we hope will make us accepted.

This does not mean God wants us to disregard other people. Scripture calls us to love our neighbors, act with humility, and treat others with kindness. But love and people-pleasing are not the same.
Love seeks what is good and right, even when a difficult conversation is necessary.
People-pleasing often seeks to escape the discomfort of disapproval.

One can require courage; the other can quietly lead us away from our convictions.

You can treat someone with grace without agreeing with everything they say. You can set a necessary boundary without becoming bitter. You can make a faithful decision even when someone does not understand it.

Not everyone will approve of every step you take, but their approval was never meant to be the foundation of your faith. God offers something more secure than shifting opinions: the confidence of knowing you are seeking to walk in His will.
Reflection
Think about one situation in which you may be letting the fear of someone's reaction influence your choices. Perhaps you have been avoiding an honest conversation, agreeing to something you should decline, or hesitating to follow through on a conviction. Before responding, pause and ask yourself: Am I choosing this because it honors God, or because I am afraid of disappointing someone?

Today, take one step of obedience you have been postponing because you are worried about another person's reaction. Approach it with humility, kindness, and prayer. You do not need to be harsh to stand firm, and you do not need everyone's approval to remain faithful. Ask God to help you act with both courage and compassion, trusting Him with the response you cannot control.
Today's Prayer
Father, help me recognize when the opinions of others begin to carry more weight than Your voice. Forgive me for the times I have compromised my convictions because I wanted to be accepted or avoid conflict. Give me the courage to obey You with a humble heart, even when I cannot predict how others will respond. Teach me to love people well without allowing fear to direct my decisions. Help me find my confidence in You and remain faithful to Your Word. In Jesus' name, amen.

For more devotions like this one, visit: https://jentezenfranklin.org/daily-devotions

11/03/2026

𝗗𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
November 3, 2026

Have We Lost The Fear Of God?

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” - Proverbs 9:10

The room grew quiet as the king entered. Conversations stopped. People straightened up and watched their words. They understood who stood before them, and they knew his authority was not to be taken lightly.

Now imagine what would happen if, over time, that room stopped falling silent. What if people began ignoring his commands, dismissing his instructions, and treating his authority as optional? The king’s title and power would remain unchanged, but their view of him would be completely reshaped.

Comfortability robs reverence.

Could the same subtle shift be happening in our walk with God?

We know how to sing about His goodness, thank Him for His blessings, and call on Him when we need help. But have we grown so familiar with the things of God that we have lost sight of His holiness? We want Him to comfort us, but are we willing to let Him correct us? We ask Him to bless our plans, but will we surrender those plans when His Word points us in another direction?

The fear of the Lord is not about living in terror of God. It is about recognizing who He is and responding with the reverence He deserves. He is our loving Father, but He is also the holy God who created heaven and earth. His Word remains true whether or not it aligns with our preferences, and His ways remain right even when obedience costs us something.

Proverbs 9:10 reminds us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We cannot walk wisely if we treat God's instructions as suggestions. Reverence means taking Him seriously enough to obey Him, not only when it is easy, but especially when it challenges what we want.

Proverbs 16:6 adds another layer of insight, telling us that through the fear of the Lord, people turn away from evil. When we truly honor God, it transforms our daily choices. It affects what we watch, how we speak when we are angry, how we respond to those who hurt us, and what we choose to do when no one else is watching.

Reverence for God is rarely lost all at once; it fades one small compromise at a time. We excuse a habit we know is wrong. We quiet a conviction because addressing it feels uncomfortable. We hear God's instruction, yet we delay our response because we prefer our own way.

Eventually, what once troubled our conscience barely makes an impression. We can keep attending church, reading scripture, and saying all the right things, all while growing increasingly resistant to real transformation.

We must never confuse knowing about God with walking in obedience to Him.

Jesus brought this into clear focus: “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). Obedience does not earn God's love; it is our natural response to the love He has already lavished on us. We honor Him because He is entirely worthy of our trust, even when His guidance leads us down an unexpected path.

Perhaps you already recognize where this message meets your life today. Maybe there is a conversation that needs to be handled differently, a habit you have been defending, or a decision you keep putting off because you know what obedience will require. You do not need to wait for a crisis to turn. You can respond to God right now.

If you realize you have grown careless, do not let shame drive you into hiding. God's correction is not a signal to run away; it is an invitation to return. He loves you too much to leave you stuck, and His grace provides the freedom to confess, realign, and start fresh.

Take an honest look at your heart today. Are you letting God's Word have the final say, or are you only following Him when it is convenient? The fear of the Lord takes root the moment we step off the center stage and acknowledge that He is God, and we are called to follow Him.

You do not need all the answers today. You simply need a heart willing to say, “Lord, You know better than I do. Help me trust You enough to obey.”

A life that honors God is built step by step, decision by decision. May we never become so accustomed to His goodness that we forget His greatness.

Reflection
Is there an area of your life where you have grown casual about something God asks you to treat with sacred care? Bring it honestly before Him today. Ask Him to renew your reverence, soften your heart to His correction, and give you the courage to walk in complete obedience.

Today’s Prayer
Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I have treated Your Word casually or placed my own desires above Your direction. Help me see You as You truly are: holy, powerful, faithful, and worthy of my full obedience. Show me where compromise has taken root, and grant me the humility to receive Your correction. Give me the strength to trust You when obedience is difficult, and the grace to follow You with an undivided heart. In Jesus' name, Amen.

For more devotions like this one, visit: https://jentezenfranklin.org/daily-devotions

11/02/2026

𝗗𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
November 2, 2026

The Power Of The Secret Place

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” - Matthew 6:6, NIV

The wilderness was quiet, the air dry and unforgiving. For forty days and forty nights, Jesus fasted, enduring the physical weakness that comes with hunger and exhaustion. Then, in the midst of His vulnerability, the tempter came. Satan challenged His identity, questioned His trust in the Father, and offered Him shortcuts to power and authority. Each temptation presented an opportunity to step outside the Father's will, yet Jesus did not waver. He answered every attack with the Word of God, remaining faithful even when obedience came at a cost (Matthew 4:1–11).

The wilderness was not the end of Jesus' story. After overcoming temptation, He began His public ministry, teaching, healing, and proclaiming the kingdom of God. Before the crowds gathered and the miracles unfolded, there was a season of solitude, testing, and unwavering obedience.

Sometimes, the seasons that feel like they are holding us back are the very seasons God uses to prepare us for what lies ahead. We pray for new opportunities, greater influence, and open doors, but we may overlook the quiet work God wants to do in us before He works through us. The trial itself does not automatically prepare us for the next season. What matters is how we walk through it. Will we remain faithful when the outcome is uncertain? Will we trust God when the process is uncomfortable? Will we continue to obey when taking a shortcut seems easier?

Public resilience is often forged in the hidden moments of obedience, prayer, and personal surrender.

Look at how Jesus responded to temptation. He did not allow hunger to dictate His decisions, pressure to determine His identity, or the promise of an easier path to compromise His devotion to the Father. Each time Satan tempted Him, Jesus stood on the truth of Scripture. His strength was not displayed before a crowd. It was demonstrated in the wilderness, where no human audience was present to applaud His faithfulness.

Jesus addresses this same principle in Matthew 6:5–6. He warns against praying to impress others or gain their approval. Instead, He calls His followers to enter a private place, close the door, and pray to the Father who sees what is done in secret. The issue is not whether we pray publicly, but whether our relationship with God is genuine when no one else is watching. The secret place is where we learn to seek His presence for who He is, not for what others might think of us.

It is easy to appear strong when people are watching. We can share encouraging words, quote Scripture, and show up for others while quietly struggling in our own faith. But what happens when the prayers seem unanswered, the waiting stretches longer than expected, or obedience requires us to surrender something we desperately want? Those hidden moments reveal where our trust truly rests.

Perhaps you are in a wilderness season right now. The door has not opened. The answer has not come. You are doing your best to remain faithful, yet you cannot see what God is doing. Remember that a difficult season does not mean God has abandoned you, and a delay does not mean He has forgotten you. Not every trial signals an immediate breakthrough, but every trial presents an opportunity to deepen your dependence on Him. The goal is not simply to get through the struggle. It is to remain rooted in Christ as you walk through it.

This week, set aside fifteen uninterrupted minutes each day to meet with God in private. Put your phone away, open His Word, and speak honestly with Him about the season you are facing. You do not need impressive words or a perfect prayer. Bring your questions, your fears, and your hopes before Him. Let your time in the secret place become an act of trust, a daily declaration that His presence matters more than public recognition and His direction matters more than an easy path.

After Jesus faced temptation, Luke 4:14 tells us that He returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. The wilderness was not wasted. And while our journeys are not identical to His, we can trust that God is able to work in us through seasons of testing, teaching us to depend more fully on Him.

You may not understand your current season, but you can choose to remain faithful in it. Keep praying when no one sees. Keep obeying when no one applauds. Keep trusting when the next step is unclear. The character God develops in private will shape how you stand when life places you in the public eye.

Reflection
What is your current season revealing about your trust in God? Where is He inviting you to surrender control and remain faithful, even when no one else sees?

Today’s Prayer
Father, help me remain faithful to You in the hidden places of my life. When trials come and the path ahead is unclear, teach me to trust Your heart and stand on Your Word. Guard me from seeking the approval of others or choosing shortcuts that lead me away from Your will. Strengthen my faith in the secret place so that I can stand firm when the pressure comes. Use this season to draw me closer to You and prepare my heart for whatever lies ahead. In Jesus' name, amen.

For more devotions like this one, visit: https://jentezenfranklin.org/daily-devotions

11/01/2026

WHAT’S ON YOUR FRIDGE? 👀

This week, we’re putting Sunday’s message into practice! 🙌

Pastor B challenged us to make a list of 5–10 ways the Lord has been faithful in our lives and put it somewhere we’ll see it every single day.

Why? Because when our circumstances feel overwhelming, we need reminders of what God has already done.

Rehearse His faithfulness. Remember His goodness. Don’t let temporary circumstances make you forget His eternal faithfulness.

We want to see your lists! 📸 Share a picture of your list or drop one way God has been faithful to you in the comments below. Let’s celebrate His faithfulness together!

11/01/2026

Good Morning and Welcome to Church!

We’re so glad you’ve joined us today and are excited to worship with you!

To watch today’s service, click the link below to be taken directly to our YouTube channel:

https://youtube.com/?si=HGg4X9ETTc-2Q4WS

As we begin, take a moment to prepare your heart and mind to encounter God. Let’s worship together, experience His presence, and grow deeper in His Word today.

We’re glad you’re here! 🙌✨

11/01/2026

It’s SUNDAY, and we can’t wait to see YOU at church! Grab your family, invite a friend, and come worship with us!

⏰ 10:30 AM
📍 Release City Church

We’ll see you there! ❤

11/01/2026

𝗗𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
November 1, 2026

Oiling The Armor

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." - James 4:8

Long before the trumpet sounded or the dust rose from the battlefield, a Roman soldier spent his quiet hours in preparation. His armor was heavy, crafted from iron and leather, and it required steady care to remain effective. Left unattended in the damp morning air, the metal would begin to rust and the leather would harden and crack. The maintenance was not flashy or dramatic. It was done in silence, long before any enemy appeared on the horizon, because a soldier knew that the middle of a battle was the worst time to discover his gear had failed.

In our walk with the Lord, preparation works much the same way. Spiritual strength is rarely built in the heat of a sudden crisis. Instead, it is cultivated through small, daily habits that shape our hearts over time. When we make space to seek God, we are taking care of the faith He has entrusted to us. These quiet routines might feel repetitive or unremarkable in the moment, but they build a deep resilience within us for whatever season lies ahead.

Scripture reminds us that our eyes and minds require intentional care. Jesus taught in Matthew 6:22 that the light of the body is the eye, meaning that what we allow our eyes to dwell on directly influences our inner life. When we fill our days with constant noise, comparison, or worry, our spiritual focus grows blurred. Returning daily to God's Word clears away that clutter and grounds us in His truth.

Consider the journey of the Israelites as they walked through the wilderness. God provided manna for them to gather fresh every single day. They could not store up yesterday's portion for today's strength, and they could not live on what they hoped to gather tomorrow. God invited them into a daily cycle of dependency and trust. In the same way, yesterday's time in Scripture was precious, but your heart needs fresh fellowship with God today.

Connecting with God is not about managing a complicated list of spiritual requirements. It is about bringing your real, everyday life into His presence. When you wake up facing a difficult work decision, a heavy conversation with a friend, or a mountain of ordinary responsibilities, God invites you to lean on Him right there in the middle of it.

The practical truth is simple: you cannot control every challenge that crosses your path, but you can choose what you invite to stay in your mind. Choosing to spend ten focused minutes in God's Word before checking your phone changes the way you react when frustration strikes later in the afternoon. It shifts your perspective from panic to peace because your anchor is already set in His truth.

To put this into practice, pick one specific time today to read a single chapter of Scripture without any digital distractions nearby. Read it slowly, ask God what it reveals about His character, and let that truth guide your thoughts as you go about your day.

Reflection
What is one distraction you can set aside today to create space for a quiet, uninterrupted moment with God?

Today's Prayer
Lord, thank You for meeting me right where I am today. Forgive me for the times I try to face life's challenges in my own strength instead of turning to You first. Help me to cultivate daily habits that draw my heart closer to Your truth. Give me the grace to guard my mind and focus on what brings You honor. I trust that as I draw near to You, You are drawing near to me. Amen.

For more devotions like this one, visit:

10/31/2026

We’d love to see you tomorrow at Release City Church! Join us for a morning of worship, fellowship, and growing together in God’s Word.

⏰ Reminder: Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour tonight! We’ll see you at 10:30 AM!

Address

2202 North Young Boulevard, Suite 162
Chiefland, FL
32626

Opening Hours

Thursday	6:30pm - 8:30pm
Sunday	10:30am - 12:15pm

Website

http://www.releasecitychurch.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Release City Church posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.